Irda Ranger
First Post
I don't see why you need a special "Minion" designation, unless you're just trying to do some "thinking" for the DM (not a pejorative; I buy the DMG so I don't have to write my own system).
The easiest way to have a horde of mooks that are still a threat to the PC's is to just take a regular "level appropriate" baddy and fiddle with HP and damage output while leaving BAB, AC and Saves untouched.
With a high-ish BAB and AC they can hit the PC's and are somewhat challenging to hit. But with only 1/2 or 1/3 HP and damage they don't stay up long and don't do a lot of damage (individually).
Of course, you can make "Elite" and "Solo" monsters the same way, just by doubling or trebling HP and/or damage output. They still have the same 70% chance of hitting the PC's that a "normal" monster of the level do (and have the same chance of being hit), but when they hit they hit hard, and they don't go down easy.
That's how I do it anyway, and it works quite well.
The easiest way to have a horde of mooks that are still a threat to the PC's is to just take a regular "level appropriate" baddy and fiddle with HP and damage output while leaving BAB, AC and Saves untouched.
With a high-ish BAB and AC they can hit the PC's and are somewhat challenging to hit. But with only 1/2 or 1/3 HP and damage they don't stay up long and don't do a lot of damage (individually).
Of course, you can make "Elite" and "Solo" monsters the same way, just by doubling or trebling HP and/or damage output. They still have the same 70% chance of hitting the PC's that a "normal" monster of the level do (and have the same chance of being hit), but when they hit they hit hard, and they don't go down easy.
That's how I do it anyway, and it works quite well.