shadowguidex
First Post
I personally use minions in the same way they are used in action movies. Everybody knows Darth Vader isn't hiding in with the stormtroopers wearing similar white armor. He's the BBEG in the back with the dark black armor and clearly above and beyond the other monsters. I think, that do do anything else but highlight non-elites, is very uninspired use of a sweet mechanic.
I will always intend to make it obvious that my minions are cannon fodder. They aren't the fight, they are an obstacle, so make them clearly an obstacle. Heroes fight their way through the minions to get to the real bad guys, this is echoed in every single action/adventure movie ever made. Indiana Jones never has a problem knowing who the real bad guys are. Even in real life, soldiers and officers are clearly different one can ascertain the difference.
DMs who try to hide or confuse the lines between minions and other monsters are really doing a disservice to their games.
Edit: small caveat - if the normal non-minions are Lurkers or maybe skirmishers, then some obfuscation is definitely useful, but if the non-minions are Soldiers, Brutes, Artillery, etc (especially Leaders), then they need to be made distinctly different in flavor - whether you explicitly state: These are minioins, these are not..that's up to the DM, but do not just put 10 figures out there and fail to describe each different monster type.
I will always intend to make it obvious that my minions are cannon fodder. They aren't the fight, they are an obstacle, so make them clearly an obstacle. Heroes fight their way through the minions to get to the real bad guys, this is echoed in every single action/adventure movie ever made. Indiana Jones never has a problem knowing who the real bad guys are. Even in real life, soldiers and officers are clearly different one can ascertain the difference.
DMs who try to hide or confuse the lines between minions and other monsters are really doing a disservice to their games.
Edit: small caveat - if the normal non-minions are Lurkers or maybe skirmishers, then some obfuscation is definitely useful, but if the non-minions are Soldiers, Brutes, Artillery, etc (especially Leaders), then they need to be made distinctly different in flavor - whether you explicitly state: These are minioins, these are not..that's up to the DM, but do not just put 10 figures out there and fail to describe each different monster type.
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