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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Celebrim" data-source="post: 4241092" data-attributes="member: 4937">The problem is that the Needlefang Drake Swarm is not only a better Soldier than the rats, but a better Skirmisher too.As I understand it, 'Soldier' is the 'Defender' role class for monsters.  It's meant to have high defences to have powers which are 'sticky'.  I can certainly see the high defences in the NFDS, and you can think of its knockdown power as being 'sticky'.As I understand it, Skirmishers are one of the 'Striker' roles for monsters.  They are meant to have highly damaging attacks (often ranged attacks) and very good battlefield mobility, but not be able to take a punch as well as a 'Soldier'.  So compared to a NFDS, we'd expect the positives of a level 2 skirmisher swarm to be things like:a) Greater mobility, but it doesn't.b) Higher damage (shudder!), but it doesn't.c) Greater ability to act at range, but it doesn't.d) Better or at least comparable dodge defence, but it doesn't.e) Better ability to assist thier allies, but they don't.  In fact, the internal synergy of the needlefang drake swarms knocking down the foes for each other is huge.Moreover, we've been given no reason to think that 'Soldiers' are supposed to be tougher fights than 'Lurkers', 'Skirmishers', 'Brutes', 'Artillery', or 'Leaders'.  They are supposed to be different, just as the PC classes are supposed to be different, butSo what we have here is two monsters, both of which are supposed to be level 2, but one of which (no surprise, the fantastic one) is given every advantage and the other isn't.If Needlefang Drake's were a card, they'd be blue.</blockquote>

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