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Message: <blockquote data-quote="alberand" data-source="post: 4386868" data-attributes="member: 61150">I no longer tell my players which monsters are minions up front, because when I did, I found that they were generally eliminated before they could have any effect on the combat.Now I will generally mix 2-3 different types of minis to represent minions, and only descibe them as dirty, rag-tag, in response to knowledge checks if it seems appropriate based on the creature type, the disparity of equipment between minions and other monsters, or the particular setting (minions in a band of goblin warriors are probably not discernible as such, whereas goblin slaves being driven to attack by a larger monster probably seem weak and uninterested in fighting except by force).A fight containing minions is generally descibed something like this: "All of these guys are wearing well-worn leather armor; some of them brandish short swords, while others hold javelins at the ready. This one over here in the robe holds a staff with various bits of cloth and fetishes hanging from it. She shouts something in a sharp, guttural language and the rest begin to advance on your position."I will mix up the weapons that minions wield (some swords, some spears, etc), and always roll a die when minions deal damage, occasionally varying it (perhaps from 3-5 instead of a straight 4).  I also make the players roll damage for every attack.This approach keeps the players from knowing which monsters are minions right out of the gate, so they do not immediately wipe all of them out with area attacks, but still allows them to sort out which are minions within a few rounds and then start to act accordingly - not unlike a band of warriors assessing their foes during combat and beginning to exploit their weaknesses as they are discovered.I have no problem with players using encounter powers on minions, because they are still eliminating one opposing creature from the fight in a single shot, and they generally get the power back before the next fight.However, if they use a daily, I will often do one of two things: 1) pump the minion so that it takes an extra hit or two (regardless of damage) to drop, so that the player does not feel they have "wasted" their daily, or 2) if they roll high damage, I will say something like "with a mighty swing of your axe, you lop the creature's head clean off of its shoulders and kick the body down the well."Even if the player later realizes that the creature was a minion, they still feel pretty badass about the maneuver and rarely regret it.From the other side of the screen, I once wanted to use an encounter power to hit a monster and push it into a pit trap, but the DM said "uhh, you know that's a minion, right?"  I probably should have realized that, but I would have felt better walloping it and sending a corpse down the pit than saying "oh, then I guess I won't do that" and ending up not finding another use for my power until after the fight.</blockquote>

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