Minion Status: Private or Public?

[Thornir Alekeg]

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

True. But if a DM refuses to give clues, why would you think they would just announce the types of opponents?

 

[Novem5er]

My only problem with the players not knowing would be that they'd really gripe if they wasted an encounter power on a minion. This might fix itself, as players would inevitable "test" each monster first by hitting it with a basic or at-will power before burning an encounter power. Unfortunately, there may be many situations where monsters are positioned just right, so that an encounter power might be useful at the start of the battle (like Force Orb if the monsters start off grouped together).

But then again, maybe it's quite satisfying to wipe out 4-5 minions with a single spell? I don't know... I think I'll have to make it obvious by having minions just "swarm" PCs, and if a PC wants to burn an encounter power to prevent a possible swarming, then so be it.

 

[webrunner]

In most cases, it will be somewhat obvious: That dragon is not a minion, and that extra-scrawny vampire is not a lord. When peppering regular soldiers in with minions, then it's a bit of a surprise, but chances are the NUMBER Of them will make them realize that many are minions- it's more likely they'd use a weak attack on a strong monster then waste a powerful one on a minion.

There is the possibility of having one minion in the middle of a room, wearing ornate clothes and chanting, appearing to be the main baddie of the dungeon.. but that's really just to act as a trap (as soon as he falls then the real one swoops in)

 

[Wormwood]

I would never inform my players that an NPC is, in fact, a Minion.

The ninja outfits are a dead giveaway, however.

 

[mearls]

Do you, as a DM, plan on informing players during combat as to which enemies are normal and which are minions (or solos, elites, etc), or do you intend to let them judge for themselves which enemies they believe fall into which categories?

I tell the players. The way I see it, a minion is essentially a game construct. If in the world of D&D, this orc can take one hit before crumpling up in a bloody heap, and this orc takes 4 or 5 punches to the face to go down, the characters can tell the difference.

In play, I describe minions as poorly armed and armored, or moving as a faceless mob. Those cues tell them that they're dealing with cannon fodder.

 

[Voss]

True. But if a DM refuses to give clues, why would you think they would just announce the types of opponents?

I wouldn't. I'm not sure why this is a question.

 

[Korgoth]

Let them find out.

Of course, there will be some non-minions who are obvious ("who's that orc with the BIG SWORD?") but other than that, minions shouldn't have their status tattooed on their foreheads.

Agreed. Most of the time it will probably be fairly obvious, anyway. And there is always the opportunity for verbal clues, like "the guards approach resolutely, but their eyes are darkened by fear and doubt" ('cause they're about to get Conaned) or "for such a large group, these guys look really tough" (uh oh!).

 

[Stilvan]

I'd say internal - others in the same assembly should know who the minions are.

Har har sorry couldn't resist.

Seriously though - I think minions are like candy for the pcs - opportunities to really show their stuff and wade through hordes of enemies. I will generally make it clear who the minions are unless the plot suggests some reason for their non-heroic character to be hidden.

 

[am181d]

In my experience, in previous versions of the game, whenever you have a crowd of minions, be they kobolds or kuo-toa or what have you, there's always that one minion of the lot that stubbornly refuses to die. (This being through dumb luck rather than specific rules.) If I'm feeling cheeky, these minions sometimes wind up with a name before they die ("You think you can kill Vogroth?"), maybe an impromptu battlecry ("None can vanquish Vogroth the Unvanquishable!"), and may even get the chance to beat a hasty retreat as the odds turn against them ("Vogroth left something in the oven! Vogroth will see you later!"), only to show up once again down the road. ("Crud. Not Vogroth again. We NEVER vanquish him!")

Minion/Non-Minion in the new rules seems like a fine way to deliberately model this phenomenon.

 

[D'karr]

In my game it will be easy to identify them. They will be wearing red shirts.