Minion Status: Private or Public?

[VannATLC]

My minions will generally be described as having less gear, etc.
I'll be using perception checks (Yay for sensible mechanics!) to determine if the PC's realise something is different between two sets of characters.

My standard tactic is going to be 4 minions with a brute/soldier in the middle, and a set of minion bodyguards for the controller/leader.

However, I've got a party of 7 for me 4e campaign, with an irregular 8th, so I've got a much higher budget.

I'm looking forward to hitting them with 2 young dragons just leaving the nest >.>

 

[WhatGravitas]

I'll keep it semi-private. They're going to know - if there are twice as much zombies as characters and in the middle is still a lich, it'll be obvious. Once they see'em dying like flies, it will be obvious.

So, I'm not going to say "Minion!", but I'll (usually) drop some hints. And sometimes not - for the surprise effect/to mess with the players.

This also allows me to put a bunch of minions there, then "converting" the last monster standing into a "real" monster of the same appearance.

Cheers, LT.

 

[Nahat Anoj]

In the demo I ran, I told PCs these were minions, and I plan on doing the same thing again. It's just a pain in the next when they waste their dailies on a bunch of shmucks, IMO.

 

[Lacyon]

These guys over here that aren't rolling dice for damage? Yeah, they're probably minions.

 

[ruleslawyer]

I'd say that in most cases it'll be obvious (Insight check DC 0). If anyone's actually trying to hide non-minions among minions, I'll allow an Insight check (DC 10-15).

 

[Vaeron]

There's usually an equipment difference in what minions carry versus what others carry. At least for kobolds. There's no reason at all players should know, definitively, whether they're facing minions or not. In the case of kobolds, there are kobolds with slings, with bows, with orbs, and with spears. Kobolds with spears are either skirmishers or minions. If the players figure out that most kobolds with spears die quickly, but not all of them, that keeps the edge on. And if ya wanna be real nasty about it, change out the minion's weapon so that he's carrying a shortbow or a sling himself!

Someone raised this issue as a reason they didn't like 4e, providing an example of a wizard with a dagger taking down hordes of kobolds... I said that's only an issue if, instead of storytelling, you just came right out and said "You're attacked by kobold minions!" I think that's shoddily done, myself. "You see several kobolds with spears and slings" is better, but still not as exciting as it could be.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

In the demo I ran, I told PCs these were minions, and I plan on doing the same thing again. It's just a pain in the next when they waste their dailies on a bunch of shmucks, IMO.

It will be up to the players to figure out which, if any, of their opponents are worth using the daily power. Just like the soldier who gets into a firefight, panics and uselessly unloads his rifle on full auto, the PCs might do the same with their daily. If they do, they are more likely to die, but hopefully the players will learn from their mistakes.

I don't think it will be that hard to figure out the difference between minions and nastier opponents.

 

[Voss]

It will be up to the players to figure out which, if any, of their opponents are worth using the daily power. Just like the soldier who gets into a firefight, panics and uselessly unloads his rifle on full auto, the PCs might do the same with their daily. If they do, they are more likely to die, but hopefully the players will learn from their mistakes.

I don't think it will be that hard to figure out the difference between minions and nastier opponents.

But if the DM doesn't give them any clues, they're reduced to guessing.
There isn't any learning curve there.

 

[RandomCitizenX]

It's one of those things I will most likely let my players know if they ask and make a skill check, but even then I won't come out and say "These guys are minions."

 

[Evilhalfling]

between the groups leader and minions = described difference.
between 3 soliders guarding a leader and 3 minions? no probably not.
leaders could be controllers, artillery, or lurkers.

Is there going to be a visual difference between a brute and an eliete brute? in the asme fight? yes, in different fights? no.

I have used minions for recent 3.5 games and described them as peasents, tiny spiders and in due course goblins.