Elite minions

[UngeheuerLich]

I´ll keep it short:

What about using the elite template on a minion?

Minion gains all benefits of an elite monster (+2 attack, damage and defense, an action point maybe)
xp = half that of an equal level normal monster.
First hit bloodies, second hit kills

Does it sound interesting?

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

I´ll keep it short:

What about using the elite template on a minion?

Minion gains all benefits of an elite monster (+2 attack, damage and defense, an action point maybe)
xp = half that of an equal level normal monster.
First hit bloodies, second hit kills

Does it sound interesting?

That sounds very odd. What would you be trying to achieve by doing this? Being as we don't know exactly how minions work (apart from Level 1 minions) we're not sure that ALL minions die as soon as they're hit.

Surely a slightly more powerful base creature, and then convert to minion would be simpler?

 

[Pistonrager]

so... why not just throw real monsters at the group?

 

[Grimstaff]

we're not sure that ALL minions die as soon as they're hit.

Minions do get more powerful as they level, case in point, may I introduce Mr. vampire minion:

Vampire Spawn
Medium Natural Humanoid (Undead)
Level 6 Minion (Brute)
AC 18, Fort 15, Ref 16, Will 15, HP 10, Bloodied 5, Init +11, Spd 7
Senses darkvision; Perception +4
Immune poison, Resist nec 10, Weakness vuln rad 5
Attacks: Melee Claw +11 vs AC; 3 (5 to Bloodied)
Group Attack +3 dmg per additional vampire spawn (+5 to Bloodied)
Abilities: Regenerate 3
Skills: Stealth +11
Str +5 (14), Con +5 (14), Dex +6 (16), Int +3 (10), Wis +4 (12), Cha +5 (14)

6th lvl attacks, a mob special ability, and too many hp to get taken down by a 1st lvl fighter's 3hp of cleave dmg.

 

[Larrin]

heh, i like the idea, but i'd actually give them hitpoints, since i'm betting its only the low low level minions that are the one hit kills (see vampire spawn). for the low levels i'd say give them 2+con hp.

WHY DO THIS? Because you can. If the players get cocky with minions and then you say "okay, this one survives the hit, and uses its action point to hit you twice" it mixes things up, and maybe it entertains you a little while the players either get scared and paranoid that its actually a really powerful. Its a little like attacking with a lvl 1 human commoner with the half dragon template in 3e. silly but momentarily scary for the players.

 

[hong]

WHY DO THIS? Because you can. If the players get cocky with minions and then you say "okay, this one survives the hit, and uses its action point to hit you twice" it mixes things up, and maybe it entertains you a little while the players either get scared and paranoid that its actually a really powerful. Its a little like attacking with a lvl 1 human commoner with the half dragon template in 3e. silly but momentarily scary for the players.

... why not just use non-minions?

 

[UngeheuerLich]

what larrin said, actually.

I am not sure that the vamire spawn minion has hp in the current book. that may have changed.

My idea is a monster that is a half as tough as a regular monster and can survive one hit. its a gap to be filled and maybe makes a good squad leader for minions. (a regular could still be wasted or inapropriate for such a job)

I just thought: use regular minion template and just give them two hits to be killed, or a trshold, but then i thought: why not just apply a template with all benefits and doubling hp and xp.

Maybe it is silly, but i can see me trying it out soon. (would make a good adition in a Level 0 campaign... which you may also find silly)

 

[UngeheuerLich]

... why not just use non-minions?

50 xp monster needed badly^^

 

[Enoch]

I´ll keep it short:

What about using the elite template on a minion?

Minion gains all benefits of an elite monster (+2 attack, damage and defense, an action point maybe)
xp = half that of an equal level normal monster.
First hit bloodies, second hit kills

Does it sound interesting?

Sounds too easy to break. Sounds like I'll blast a minion with 40 points of damage and it won't go down in one hit. While I'm at it I'm also blasting the normals with 40 points and they go down in one. So... the minions are more powerful, because they can take ANY level of damage for the first hit and not die.

-Joshua

 

[Enoch]

50 xp monster needed badly^^

I don't know the effect of using much higher monsters, but wouldn't a fourth level minion be worth 50xp?