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2 years ago ::
Aug 31, 2011 - 12:27PM
#1
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I wasn't sure if I should put this here or in the Monster Manual Eratta section, but here goes...
Monster Manual 2 started the practice of giving the Minions monsters their regular roles as well [a Podspawn (Demon) is a Lv15 Minion Skirmisher, for example] but the Eratta for the original has not extended DMs this courtesy of helping them balance Minion roles with the rest of the party.
Is this an oversight, or were MM Minions really not leaning towards any specific roles? Were they all leaning towards the same role?
Did some friendly fan maybe post pointers on this somewhere that I'm mission?
Any help would be appreciated!
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2 years ago ::
Aug 31, 2011 - 12:53PM
#2
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There's no need for "errata" - it's not like adding a role actually changed the mechanics of the minion in a meaningful way - but the role listing gives you a clue about how the minion should be effectively used.
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2 years ago ::
Aug 31, 2011 - 1:35PM
#3
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Date Joined:
Jul 21, 2004
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Monster Manual 2 started the practice of giving the Minions monsters their regular roles as well [a Podspawn (Demon) is a Lv15 Minion Skirmisher, for example] but the Eratta for the original has not extended DMs this courtesy of helping them balance Minion roles with the rest of the party.
Encounter balancing isn't that precise.
Is this an oversight, or were MM Minions really not leaning towards any specific roles? Were they all leaning towards the same role?
Minions were originally meant to be minions. They can't really fulfill a "role" when they're not intended to be around for more than a couple rounds. I'm still not sure why they felt compelled to put "roles" on them.
[N]o difference is less easily overcome than the difference of opinion about semi-abstract questions. - L. Tolstoy
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2 years ago ::
Aug 31, 2011 - 1:36PM
#4
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Minions were originally meant to be minions. They can't really fulfill a "role" when they're not intended to be around for more than a couple rounds. I'm still not sure why they felt compelled to put "roles" on them.
To tell the GM how the minion works best, of course.
a "Minion Brute" is going to run in and hammer away. A "Minion Artillery" is going to hang out at 10+squares and shoot from there.
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2 years ago ::
Aug 31, 2011 - 1:38PM
#5
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Date Joined:
Jul 21, 2004
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To tell the GM how the minion works best, of course.
a "Minion Brute" is going to run in and hammer away. A "Minion Artillery" is going to hang out at 10+squares and shoot from there.
A minion brute is going to run in and get blasted. A minion artillery is going to stand back and get blasted.
Encounter design isn't that precise.
[N]o difference is less easily overcome than the difference of opinion about semi-abstract questions. - L. Tolstoy
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2 years ago ::
Aug 31, 2011 - 1:40PM
#6
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To tell the GM how the minion works best, of course.
a "Minion Brute" is going to run in and hammer away. A "Minion Artillery" is going to hang out at 10+squares and shoot from there.
A minion brute is going to run in and get blasted. A minion artillery is going to stand back and get blasted.
Encounter design isn't that precise.
I'm just saying, the "role" on a minion is a style indicator. And costs 'em nothing but a few character's worth of ink.
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2 years ago ::
Aug 31, 2011 - 2:09PM
#7
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Date Joined:
Aug 30, 2010
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a "Minion Brute" is going to run in and hammer away.
I always thought a minion brute was a contradiction in terms.
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2 years ago ::
Aug 31, 2011 - 5:34PM
#8
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Date Joined:
Aug 17, 2009
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The 'role' also gives you an idea of how its defense numbers should look.
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2 years ago ::
Aug 31, 2011 - 7:48PM
#9
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Date Joined:
Jan 30, 2007
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To tell the GM how the minion works best, of course.
a "Minion Brute" is going to run in and hammer away. A "Minion Artillery" is going to hang out at 10+squares and shoot from there.
A minion brute is going to run in and get blasted. A minion artillery is going to stand back and get blasted.
Encounter design isn't that precise.
What if the party's only ranged attacks are from the rogue throwing his dagger? You have the ability to threaten the party with ranged attacks that take advantage of their weakness, but aren't as overwhelming as, say, an Eladrin Arcane Archer.
While, for experienced DMs, spelling out minion roles might seem trivial, you have to remember that there are *gasp* people who are new to DMing, either to 4e or just RPGs in general. Giving some extra text to help support those people is worth it, even if you and I think it's silly to have to tell me that a minion named Gnoll Archer has no business going into melee.
Salla, on minions: I typically use them as encounter filler. 'I didn't quite fill out the XP budget, not enough room left for a decent near-level monster ... sprinkle in a few minions'. Kind of like monster styrofoam packing peanuts.
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2 years ago ::
Sep 01, 2011 - 2:21AM
#10
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Date Joined:
Dec 28, 2010
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Nope, so I'll be thinking of the appropriate roles right now and will be posting them somewhere (I'll edit this post) EDIT: Here it is! Most of them are pretty unimaginative and useless, though.
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