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<blockquote data-quote="S'mon" data-source="post: 5516921" data-attributes="member: 463">Kaomera - the trick is to keep the XP Value the same, so standard monsters become minions 8 levels higher.&nbsp; You do this whenever the standard monster would be 4 or more levels below the PC level, possibly 3 levels (DM's judgement).&nbsp; Eg:&nbsp; Gnolls - I use the standard MM/MV gnoll stats as gnoll leaders, heroes, battle-hardened gnolls, etc.The first time the PCs met 'mook' gnolls, it was a scout party of 6 2nd level standard monsters.&nbsp; It was a long fight.The next time the PCs met 'mook' gnolls from the same tribe, the PCs were 6th level, and the 10 gnolls were 10th level minions, just one small part of a big Chaos army.So the gnolls' XPV and absolute threat level didn't change, they could still hurt the PCs, but now they die fast (although I set a minion damage threshold: level+5 to kill, 1/2 that to bloody.&nbsp; Takes 10 damage to kill a minion-10 in 1 blow).An alternative is to always use the standard monster stats for enemy scouts, but stat the main body of the enemy as higher level minions, about the same level as the enemy commander.Eg: The orc tribes' scouts are 3rd level standard monster Orc Raiders.&nbsp; The Orc Chief is an 8th level elite.&nbsp;&nbsp; The main body of the orcs are 7th level minion Orc warriors.Eg: The bandit scouts are 2nd level standard monster Human Bandits.&nbsp; The chief is a 6th level standard Bandit Chief.&nbsp; The main body are 5th level minions.That way the PCs can fight the scouts, rise in power a couple levels, then go take on the main body, and it all works.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="S'mon, post: 5516921, member: 463"] Kaomera - the trick is to keep the XP Value the same, so standard monsters become minions 8 levels higher. You do this whenever the standard monster would be 4 or more levels below the PC level, possibly 3 levels (DM's judgement). Eg: Gnolls - I use the standard MM/MV gnoll stats as gnoll leaders, heroes, battle-hardened gnolls, etc. The first time the PCs met 'mook' gnolls, it was a scout party of 6 2nd level standard monsters. It was a long fight. The next time the PCs met 'mook' gnolls from the same tribe, the PCs were 6th level, and the 10 gnolls were 10th level minions, just one small part of a big Chaos army. So the gnolls' XPV and absolute threat level didn't change, they could still hurt the PCs, but now they die fast (although I set a minion damage threshold: level+5 to kill, 1/2 that to bloody. Takes 10 damage to kill a minion-10 in 1 blow). An alternative is to always use the standard monster stats for enemy scouts, but stat the main body of the enemy as higher level minions, about the same level as the enemy commander. Eg: The orc tribes' scouts are 3rd level standard monster Orc Raiders. The Orc Chief is an 8th level elite. The main body of the orcs are 7th level minion Orc warriors. Eg: The bandit scouts are 2nd level standard monster Human Bandits. The chief is a 6th level standard Bandit Chief. The main body are 5th level minions. That way the PCs can fight the scouts, rise in power a couple levels, then go take on the main body, and it all works. [/QUOTE]

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