I absolutely love this resource, this is my go-to when creating sidekicks for solo adventures. The material is presented in a well laid-out and logical way, and the sidekick classes are interesting without being overpowered. Top notch stuff, and essential content for adventure creators.

This is a great book to have in your repertoire! If you need more members for your party or want to get a pickup game going fast, this supplement helps make an adventure fun for a small group! The quality of the book is good overall, and the thoughtful new sidekicks help to expand the basic ones provided in the Essentials Kit. Plus, the price is right, so you can't go wrong!

In Sidekicks Essentials, you'll find an expanded supplement to the Sidekicks that WotC put out this past summer/that they've been working on with Unearthed Arcana. This supplement talks about the history of sidekicks, the purchase of sidekicks, how to use sidekicks, and, to a lesser extent, how to make your own sidekick. It also provides you with seven unique sidekick types, including the Archer, Berserker, Medic, and Minstrel, plus sample sidekick characters in each of these types. Finally, it introduces personality traits to the sidekicks and how to add those, which I loved.

Overall, I thought this was a great supplement. I wasn't 100% sold on sidekicks before I read this or really sure how to make my own. However, after reading this, I was able to create a monster sidekick that leveled up, and my party really enjoyed it. From a content creator perspective, I enjoyed learning how to make a sidekick, and I loved the layout of this supplement, especially the narrative descriptions of each sidekick type.

If you want to learn more about sidekicks, especially how to make and use them, I definitely recommend this supplement. It's a quick, easy read that contains a wealth of information. Worth the buy!

[Video: https://youtu.be/kK85IRp-Qlo ] Sidekicks Essentials is exactly what it claims to be: a much-needed expansion on the official sidekick rules presented in the D&D Essentials Kit.

The core sidekick classes - warrior, spellcaster, and expert - are great for brand new players and DMs using strictly the included basic rules. When you’re ready for a taste of the Players Handbook options, or if you have more experience with the game, these new sidekicks provide the perfect level of specialization without overshadowing the player characters’ abilities.

The medic sidekick stands out as a much more effective alternative to the spellcaster-healer, and this class would be great to include if there’s no cleric in the party. Similarly, classes like the archer and the berserker provide support from the background or the frontline to give small parties an edge when they would otherwise be outnumbered.

For a complete overview of these classes, check out my video review linked above!

• Bob World Builder https://www.youtube.com/BobWorldBuilder

When WOTC advertised a campaign—Dragon of Icespire Peak—as a true single player campaign, they really dropped the ball. This product, however, has picked it up and ran with the concept. It's always tempting to hand your players a sidekick, to add that firepower to theirs, especially in sub-4-player parties, but the NPC often boils down to a robot that follows their lead with a few minor quips.

Sidekicks Essentials really thrives when it comes to adding an easy-to-run but in-depth personality for your party's sidekick. They even come as cut-out cards (with portrait art!) so you can quickly refer to their bonds, ideals, and flaws. It's pithy, it's to the point, and it only adds to your game. For $2.99 you can't go wrong with this product, especially when Metzger has embraced complete transparency and previewed the entire product on DMs Guild.