Monster Role questions

[Rechan]

With the examples of monsters we've seen, something is losing me.

Is the controller's sole job to move people around the battlefield?

What about enemy mages that use things like Fog Clouds/blindness/other tricks that effect perceptions? Or Debuff spells (negatives, slows)? Illusions/other confusing effects?

Whose job is it to throw fireballs or other AoE effects at the PCs? Artillery?

And can monster Leaders heal?

 

[Belphanior]

Monster roles, much like PC roles, can't be explained with just a single word.

The controller's main schtick is that he'll alter conditions to hamper the enemy. This includes moving them around, but also has area effects, debuffing enemies, fooling them with illusions, reducing their senses, and so on.

Roles are also not limitations. The paladin can heal, even though he's a defender instead of a leader. The rogue and fighter can knock people back, even though they're not controllers. Roles simply indicate what the class or monster is particularly good at.

Fireballs and other AoE is usually the purview of controllers, but don't be surprised if you see some other roles with them as well.

Leaders might be able to heal others, but not necessarily. An orc shaman is probably a leader who can heal. The pit fiend is a leader but he can't.

 

[Rechan]

The controller's main schtick is that he'll alter conditions to hamper the enemy. This includes moving them around, but also has area effects, debuffing enemies, fooling them with illusions, reducing their senses, and so on.

The issue for me is just that I have not seen much of this from the examples that we have seen.

I understand how the roles work in theory, it's the execution which I question.

eaders might be able to heal others, but not necessarily. An orc shaman is probably a leader who can heal. The pit fiend is a leader but he can't.

This is an example of what I mean. I understand that not all leaders may heal. But have we seen any NPCs that do?

 

[senna]

This is an example of what I mean. I understand that not all leaders may heal. But have we seen any NPCs that do?

The kobold Wirmpriest has a ability to give temporary hit points

And to the controler sdeof the equation track down the rpg side of the new DDM set card for the rakshasa, it was realy the first good controler i have seen so far.

 

[jackston2]

As far as I can tell:

Soldier: Stop the striker from harming the controller. Is vulnerable to Controllers.

Striker: Assassinate the controller while running away from the soldier.

Controller: Peel the soldier off the Striker, so the striker can do his thing. Vulnerable to the enemy striker.


Brute: Not exactly sure...

 

[Saitou]

Brutes deal damage.

Soldiers soak damage.

Strikers deal damage similar to the brute, but do so while moving.

Controllers hamper their opponents, with AoE effects usually in the form of sliding, damage, status effects or all of the above.

Lurkers use hit and run tactics and depend heavily on a means to conceal themselves.

Leaders make their allies better at whatever it is they are doing by either bolstering them or debuffing its opponents.


I think that's all? Anything I might've missed or botched?

 

[Rechan]

Monster strikers are called skirmishers.

There's also artillery. They are purely ranged combatants.

 

[the Jester]

Do we have a confirmed list of monster roles?

More and more, I think Dungeonscape was a preview of 4e encounter design (traps too, I bet).

 

[small pumpkin man]

Fireballs and other AoE is usually the purview of controllers, but don't be surprised if you see some other roles with them as well.

For monsters, AoE is generally the purview of Artillery.

 

[keterys]

Do we actually know that, SPM? Our stat list at this point is pretty small for controllers/artillery.