D&D 4E 4e FAQ

[DonAdam]

My question:

Do drow PC's choose which of the two encounter powers to use (a la Channel Divinity) or choose once and for all at first level?

 

[Bold or Stupid]

I see that you have appropriated my kitty. You must be... Bold or Stupid!

That's actually the first time my name has been used as a joke. Thanks it makes me smile.

 

[brehobit]

Temporary hit points add to minion's 1 hp normally, giving them (effectively) more than 1 hp.

I don't have search functionality, there was a thread here concerning KotS if you want a citation. If you search for "wyrmpriest" you should find it.

Yeah,
But that appears to contradict the actual rules.

A minion is destroyed when it takes any amount of damage. Damage from an attack or from a source that doesn’t require an attack roll (such as the paladin’s divine challenge or the fighter’s cleave) also destroys a minion. However, if a minion is missed by an attack that normally deals damage on a miss, it takes no damage.

 

[Gargoyle]

Yeah,
But that appears to contradict the actual rules.

Here are the relevant rules:

Temporary Hit Points pg 293 PHB:

"A variety of sources can grant you temporary hit points - small reservoirs of stamina that insulate you from losing actual hit points.
Not Real Hit points: Temporary hit points aren't real hit points. They're a layer of insulation that attacks have to get through before they start doing damage to you. Don't add temporary hit points to your current hit points. (if your current hit points are 0, you still have 0 when you receive temporary hit points). Keep track of them as a separate pool of hit points."

Since temporary hit points are not counted as taking damage....they are taken before the minion actually start to take damage, they do help minions stay alive longer.

 

[Gargoyle]

Also, Chris Sims, a WoTC designer, stopped by in this thread: http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=226755 to confirm that minions do benefit from temporary hit points.

Fantastic question! Minions interact normally with temporary hp rules (that's one reason why they have 1 hp). So, yes, the wyrmpriest makes the minions a little bit badder.

 

[brehobit]

To answer you about Masterwork armor:

I agree with the answer, but it could probably do with an example showing the armor bonus for a given +4 or +6 magic armor.

Edit: I tried to do this. Does it read okay and do people agree with it?

 

[brehobit]

Here are the relevant rules:

Since temporary hit points are not counted as taking damage....they are taken before the minion actually start to take damage, they do help minions stay alive longer.

Wrote it up as being in debate (as I think it is). It just isn't clear which rule is the "rule" and which is the exception.

Mark

 

[Surgoshan]

My question:

Do drow PC's choose which of the two encounter powers to use (a la Channel Divinity) or choose once and for all at first level?

Once per encounter, one or the other, like Channel Divinity.

 

[Gargoyle]

Wrote it up as being in debate (as I think it is). It just isn't clear which rule is the "rule" and which is the exception.

Mark

I feel this is a case of "Specific Beats General" from the PHB page 11. "If a specific rule beats a general rule, the specific rule wins."

The general rule is that "any damage destroys a minion, misses never damage a minion."

The specific rule is that "temporary hit points add another pool of insulation from taking damage".

Rules on minions are a general case, minions with temporary hit points is a more specific case.

 

[brehobit]

I feel this is a case of "Specific Beats General" from the PHB page 11. "If a specific rule beats a general rule, the specific rule wins."

The general rule is that "any damage destroys a minion, misses never damage a minion."

The specific rule is that "temporary hit points add another pool of insulation from taking damage".

Rules on minions are a general case, minions with temporary hit points is a more specific case.

Yeah, I can see that. I can also see the temp hit points being the rule, and the minions being the exception. I'm just suspecting that temp. hit points for minions goes against the whole idea of minions (minimal tracking) and so it will get ruled as not working. Time will tell.