Minions and Temp HP

[fissionessence]

So a minion's stat block says that it has 1hp, but the MM glossary and the DMG monster roles description both state that a single hit takes down a minion (neither of those sources directly reference hit points).

I would assume that the MM and DMG override the "1hp" in the stat block and that the hp listing is just to show that they do indeed go down in one hit . . . on the other hand it could be that the MM and DMG stated what they did without thinking of potential temp hp.

Anyway, what are your opinions on how this works, and how you think it should work.

I think giving minions temp hp kind of destroys their whole point (go down in one hit); on the other hand, it severely downplays the potential of some leader monsters.

~

 

[Stalker0]

by the book, they would get temp HP.

How I would run it is don't get them the temp hitpoints, instead give them +1 to all defenses. This allows them to still be tougher without losing the one shot, one kill aspect of minions.

 

[FreeTheSlaves]

That's a good fix Stalker.

We had that situation last session and the dm said no extra temp hps. 1 hp defines the minion, toughen them up but don't mess with their purpose.

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

I'm 90% sure that the MM states that minions can't get temporary hit points (unless it's in the PHB) - but I don't have my books on me to check.

 

[Contents May Vary]

I'm 90% sure that the MM states that minions can't get temporary hit points (unless it's in the PHB) - but I don't have my books on me to check.

It doesn't say that, but it DOES say that minions are always killed when they are hit (unless the damage was done as a special ability that triggers on a miss).

 

[Lurker37]

Chris Sims says they do

 

[ForbidenMaster]

I remember a post on the Wizard boards asking this very same question and someone from wizard said that minions do in fact get temp HP (I believe it was in relation to a kobold that gave temp HP for keep on the shoadowfell, but I am not sure exactly).


EDIT:

Chris Sims says they do

Thats the post I was remembering, I guess I got everything wrong except the answer

 

[Contents May Vary]

They need to errata the MM then.

It quite clearly states, under Minion:

"A minion is destroyed when it takes any amount of
damage."

So as written, even if the Minion has temporary hitpoints, it will still die if you do 1hp damage to it, since it took some amount of damage.

 

[GnomeWorks]

by the book, they would get temp HP.

How I would run it is don't get them the temp hitpoints, instead give them +1 to all defenses. This allows them to still be tougher without losing the one shot, one kill aspect of minions.

Seems like a solid solution.

I'd think it should scale, somehow, though, with how many temp HPs are gained. Increasing the defense bonus would quickly throw them out of whack with the math, though... perhaps some kind of duration on the effect? The minion makes a save with +X modifier each round, to keep the bonus?

 

[GnomeWorks]

Chris Sims says they do

That seems to be totally against the point of minions.