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Message: <blockquote data-quote="(Psi)SeveredHead" data-source="post: 5488558" data-attributes="member: 1165">Since minions have little in the way of abilities, there's little to comment on.He's called a "barbarian" but he's more like a rogue. A barbarian would have some kind of charging bonus (which would still suit the skirmisher role).However, perhaps you mean "uncivilized" and not "berserker" in which case disregard that comment.I'm also unsure why his javelin attack has a lower attack bonus, but that's not a big issue.Simple, generic, useable. Again, little to comment on. While soldiers tend to have marking or "target me!" abilities, these guys work in groups, so it's fine not having one. You were worried that the damage was low. It is. He should be doing 8 + level in damage on average, or 13 damage per swing. His average is 10.5. He has combat advantage most of the time though, and +2d6 might be a little high for a low heroic tier NPC. There's no hard and fast rule for it, but usually I wait another level before giving out +2d6 damage with combat advantage, given how often it can potentially occur. It would take playtesting rather than just me looking at a chart to figure how balanced this NPC is.I had actually statted out an NPC with Ambush Trick. I haven't used her yet, but IMO Ambush Trick should be a recharge ability (say, recharge 4) rather than at-will. I'll try mine someday. I hope you try yours, and we'll see how Ambush Trick works out. (None of my PCs use Essentials, but I occasionally steal class abilities for NPCs.)I don't know much about these guys; why do they use necrotic daggers rather than skill? But that's a flavor issue, and you know your world better than mine.You can give NPCs magic items, but they only enjoy a +1 numerical bonus from it (other than bonus damage on a crit). So this guy should be doing +1 to hit and damage with the dagger plus 1d6 necrotic damage on a crit (in return for giving up more valuable loot).What sort of action is Veil of Shadows? It should probably be an action rather than a trait, even if you make it a minor action (which would be great for ambushes, since they could be invisible out of combat basically all the time). It should also state when the condition is canceled, otherwise they're getting total concealment at all times.Given the powerful combat advantage, a once-per-encounter backstab is fine. However, if you gave them combat advantage as a trait, it could apply to backstab too.I'm assuming this guy is a "cleric" rather than a wizard, hence the stats. They look pretty good for a death cleric.This guy does a little too much damage with his grave bolt attack; it needs to be about 2 points less. Usually controllers have a minor control effect on their at-wills (eg slide 1 square) but not always. I would suggest slowing the victim until the end of the necromancer's next turn; I think that works well and gives him space to run away/take cover behind a zombie, etc, and it's not too horrible to be dishing out round after round.I don't understand the flavor behind deathwave. Tactically it's sound, but I don't understand why it pushes opponents. If anything, you'd think necromantic magic would freeze them in place.So I guess my real issue is, other than a few "off" numbers, he doesn't seem very "necromanty".Edit: Controllers usually have an extra encounter or recharge ability, so this guy is kind of lacking. I wonder... since this guy is a cleric, you could give him a leader ability, or even an aura, which gives undead resistance to radiant damage. It's kind of like bolster undead, but works against pretty much any radiant effect, so even if there's no use of turn undead it's still useful. It would mean a PC cleric has to work a little harder rather than rocking undead when they're backed up by a necromancer.One of my favorite NPCs (which I also haven't gotten to use, but should be able to this Saturday) summons minions during combat from the dead. Very flavorful. Potentially horribly broken. I figured it was okay based on the black pudding, but I might find it to be horribly wrong.</blockquote>

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