Fighter Cleave vs Minions?

[Sir Brennen]

Seriously? You think a 10th level minion, equal to 1/4 10th level monster in power, would be auto-kilt on a single hit? I don't think that's what's going to be happening. Average damage for a 10th level PC might typically be enough to kill a minion of equal level, but I don't think it will be automatic.

 

[hong]

Seriously? You think a 10th level minion, equal to 1/4 10th level monster in power, would be auto-kilt on a single hit? I don't think that's what's going to be happening. Average damage for a 10th level PC might typically be enough to kill a minion of equal level, but I don't think it will be automatic.

We're (or at least I'm) talking specifically about the kobold minion, which dies as soon as it takes any damage.

 

[Mad Mac]

Seriously? You think a 10th level minion, equal to 1/4 10th level monster in power, would be auto-kilt on a single hit? I don't think that's what's going to be happening. Average damage for a 10th level PC might typically be enough to kill a minion of equal level, but I don't think it will be automatic.

Kobold Minions are level 1 and die when successfully hit. They should have just given them 1 HP to avoid confusion. We've seen Vampire Spawn as 6th level Minions with 10 HPs, so minions do scale (slightly) with level.

 

[Sir Brennen]

I think the kobold minions we've seen might have that feature to simplify them for the demo game.

Otherwise, a 20th level minion, equal to a 5th level monster for xp value, goes down in one hit but the standard 5th level could last a couple of rounds?

 

[PHGraves]

I do if their rules say this:

HP: A minion dies when hit by an attack that deals damage.

I also note that the Vampire Spawn minion card from the DDM lists HP and does not have this rule.

 

[keterys]

In the game I played, the cleave killed a minion.

Apparently there is some confusion on how to handle things... the stats were a month and a half old, perhaps they've even changed them over to 1 hp just to be done with it.

 

[Khaim]

Otherwise, a 20th level minion, equal to a 5th level monster for xp value, goes down in one hit but the standard 5th level could last a couple of rounds?

FYI, I very much doubt a 20th level minion is worth the same xp as a 5th level normal. In fact, it will probably mop the floor with a party of 5th level characters.

 

[Sir Brennen]

FYI, I very much doubt a 20th level minion is worth the same xp as a 5th level normal. In fact, it will probably mop the floor with a party of 5th level characters.

Going by "the math", a minion Kobold is worth 25xp, exactly a quarter of a level 1 kobold (100xp). We've been told already that balanced encounters can be created by simply adding all the xp of the creatures you want to throw in.

Of course, if xp isn't linear (a 20th level creature's XP is worth more than 20 x a 1st level creature's XP), you might be right, in which case you would end up with even tougher minions at higher levels, and even less likely that "hit = auto-kill" for those higher levels. Which was really my point, anyway.

 

[Fifth Element]

Does anybody else think it's funny that fighter abilities are called "exploits" in 4E?

Kinda. But only because some people are reading it "exploit" (verb) rather than "exploit" (noun).

I would prefer the term "feat" for the fighter powers (can't be abilities since that term is already taken). Of course, "ability" is a terrible name for Str, Dex, etc. But that one sure isn't going to change. And since the names used doesn't affect anything, none of them bother me.

 

[am181d]

Does anybody else think it's funny that fighter abilities are called "exploits" in 4E?

Can anybody explain this? I've seen some references to a "gamer meaning", but I have no idea what it is.

The problem with "exploit" as a term is that it should more properly describe achieving a larger task, like slaying a dragon or freeing a princess, etc. Swinging a sword real well isn't actually an exploit, because it doesn't involve an achieved goal (unless you set your standards really, really low).

"All hail Sir Rodrick, Doer of Damage to Yon Kobold While Moving Slightly Faster Than Ye Olde Average of Squares!"

I agree with the poster that suggested that exploits would be better named feats. I'll go further to say that feats should be called talents and that ability scores should be called attributes. Of course, it took 3+ editions to get divine spells renamed prayers, so I'm not expecting miracles (which, coincidentally, will be what we call prayers in 7th Edition).