Minion Criticals

[Revinor]

Sure, at first level they are still a threat because the Wizard only has one Per Encounter power and few other classes have area powers.

Wizard who has not taken any of area at-will attacks should be sent back to Hogwart for retraining.

Bigger issue can be with party having NO wizard. But then it is a problem regardless of level.

 

[keterys]

There are lots of close blasts and bursts among the other classes - I was quite surprised by how much even the rogue had, for instance.

 

[Staffan]

But your area booms will likely not wipe all the minions. A legion devil hellguard (level 11 minion) has Ref 22, +2 if adjacent to at least one other legion devil. A level 11 wizard has an attack bonus in the neighborhood of +13 (+5 level, +5 Int (base 16, +2 race, +3 level-up), +3 implement). That means he has to roll 9 or 11 to hit them - a 60-50 percent chance.

 

[That One Guy]

My on the spot house rule was double the damage.

 

[Mort_Q]

When a minion crits a PC, the PC takes ongoing embarrassment damage (no save) equal to the minions normal attack damage every round until the player reaches zero or the minion is killed.

 

[Kithran]

So how is a minion rolling a natural 20 and doing the same damage as if he had rolled a 19 to hit different from someone rolling an 8 on a d8 for their for their damage when they crit (assuming they like a lot of people roll attack and damage at the same time).

Kithran

 

[jonrog1]

I'd remind you, also, that for area attacks you now make attack rolls against each creature in the area. As the Defenses are balanced for party level, I assure you (base don play experience) that some of the minions are gonna come limping out of that Scorching Burst and want some payback.

 

[Lord Xtheth]

I would add +1 to minion damage on a crit.
Even with critters that already do +1 on a crit, (+2 total).
Why? PCs need to have some kind of urgency. At least MY tres-experienced players do, (They know when to run from a fight, not fight to the TPK).

I'm not saying your parties automaticaly DO fight to the bitter end... I'm just saying that my people on more than a few occasions regrouped and took battles from different angles.

Critical hits make me smile. Players calling out in pain at extra damage helps me sleep at night. TPKs make sexual harrasment panda cry.

 

[silentounce]

Well, a 20 isn't automatically a crit even for PCs. If the result of 20 + their mods would actually miss, then it only counts like a normal hit. In my mind, saying that minions never do extra damage from a crit is very similar to this.

Also, when running minions, it's fun not to make it obvious to the PCs who the minions are. Yeah, they'll figure it out eventually, but if you don't have them scream out, "Here! Hit me! I'll go down easy!" then the PCs won't be able to target them as easily. It shouldn't always be obvious to the PCs. And it adds a touch of realism. Heck, every once in a while when you're describing the start of combat go into detail about one of the minions like you would a standard or elite monster, maybe gloss over the description of the actual elite. Then watch the look on their faces when he goes down after one hit! Gotta keep those players on their toes!!