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Message: <blockquote data-quote="KidSnide" data-source="post: 5948960" data-attributes="member: 54710">This.  The real point here is that the D&DN designers have recognized that low-level humanoids should also have a useful "horde" role for high-level characters.  Humanoid hordes are part of the fantasy genre and have been under-represented in D&D editions of the past because the rules rarely provided effective support for this type of scenario.  I love this type of story, and am excited by the idea that D&D might support it out of the box.At low levels, you might see an Orc Champion who's special abilities make an encounter with him and his orc followers interesting.  At middle levels, it's the Hobgoblin King, his War Wizard and his Priest of Bane that make things interesting.  And, at the highest levels, Yeenoughu himself could make a horde of gnolls something to worry about.In any of these scenarios, the humanoids aren't interesting as individuals.  As a general matter, "orc 7 of 12" just isn't interesting and it's a mistake to attempt to give each orc a significant role when the PCs just want to cleave through them.  Instead you want a plentiful supply of generic orcs (where the number is appropriate to the level), and use a combination of an interesting leader along with formations/tactics to make the encounter what it is.  -KS</blockquote>