11 Reasons Why I Prefer D&D 4E

[vagabundo]

All of the above are valid points that I agree with. My issue is with the perceived achievement of killing a minion. AC and tactical advantage aside, killing a monster with lots of hit points has a great deal more kudos than killing a monster with one hit point. I do not find killing minions satisfying.

The simple solution is not to use them. They are a tool for the DM and you should ask yours not to include them or up their HPs to something like 3*level.

You can replace every four minions with a non-minion monster of the same level.

 

[Gort]

The simple solution is not to use them. They are a tool for the DM and you should ask yours not to include them or up their HPs to something like 3*level.

You can replace every four minions with a non-minion monster of the same level.

Seriously. I have no idea why minions are such a supposed sticking point for so many people when they're entirely optional.

 

[Zustiur]

Seriously. I have no idea why minions are such a supposed sticking point for so many people when they're entirely optional.

Wizards are entirely optional. Fighters are entirely optional. Heck, even monsters are optional. That doesn't mean they're not going to get used. Pre-written modules assume you're using minions in the same way that they assume you're using wizards and fighters.

 

[D'karr]

Wizards are entirely optional. Fighters are entirely optional. Heck, even monsters are optional. That doesn't mean they're not going to get used. Pre-written modules assume you're using minions in the same way that they assume you're using wizards and fighters.

I think you are missing the point the previous poster was trying to make.

If minions bother your group so much that the DM or players can't work with them then there is a "conversion path" and it is quite simple, replace every 4 minions for one regular creature.

A DM should know his group, and if minions are causing such a fuss for his group he should adjust, even if he is reading from a pre-written module.

Replacing wizards & fighters from a pre-written adventure might not be so simple, but replacing minions is a no-brainer.

Minions are a "tool" for the DM to use for a specific effect, to increase the number of opponents in a combat to make it more exciting. If he can't use them in that manner or they are not producing that effect for his specific group then he should refrain from using them. But that decision is left up to each individual DM.

 

[qstor]

1. Easier Prep Time: DnD 4E is easy to run and prep for. So much is streamlined and handwaved that it makes it an easy game to run. It is also easier to make characters and get the game underway. It is easy to make decisions on characters, though I miss the customization of 3E.

I don't know if this is a thread jack But I've run 4e twice, two Living Forgotten Realms mods. So I can't comment on 4e 'home games'. That 4e is easy to run and Prep for is is most common 4e benefit mentioned for DMs that I've seen. but after skimming through the 4e DMG, I don't agree. I think skill challenges are "artificial" and at times you need a specific reason to create one. I mean if you're running a wilderness encounter, what's a wizard to do except make a nature check?

Also it wasn't clear about the rules for creating minions. It seems that 4e takes as long as or longer than 3e to prep games for.

Mike

 

[ferratus]

Also it wasn't clear about the rules for creating minions. It seems that 4e takes as long as or longer than 3e to prep games for.
Mike

It really, really, really doesn't. Then the monster builder came out this month and even that time was cut. Being able to create 20 new monsters in under an hour is soooo good.

 

[Scribble]

I don't know if this is a thread jack But I've run 4e twice, two Living Forgotten Realms mods. So I can't comment on 4e 'home games'. That 4e is easy to run and Prep for is is most common 4e benefit mentioned for DMs that I've seen. but after skimming through the 4e DMG, I don't agree. I think skill challenges are "artificial" and at times you need a specific reason to create one. I mean if you're running a wilderness encounter, what's a wizard to do except make a nature check?

Also it wasn't clear about the rules for creating minions. It seems that 4e takes as long as or longer than 3e to prep games for.

Mike

I spend roughly the same amount of time prepping for my games in 4e as I did in 3e.

The difference is I'm no longer spending 90-100% of that time just figuring out the stats. Now I spend a lot of time working on the smaller details, that make the encounter more fun, and the flavor of the whole thing.

It also doesn't hurt as much to see an encounter not get used.

 

[Obryn]

Arise, vile thread, from thy eternal slumber!

-o

 

[Amphimir Míriel]

Arise, vile thread, from thy eternal slumber!

-o

BRAAAAIIINS!! Tasty, edition-warring braaaaaainss!!

 

[Agamon]

This was a thread that needed to stay dead...threads based solely on edition wars are so 2008.