Wow, I just realized how inactive I've been...
Anyway, I thought I'd try my hand at encounter design. It's not quite finished yet, but I'll give you guys the read-aloud text and a stat block.
Encounter in the Workshop[350XP]
As the PCs enter the room, read: You burst/slip* through the large double doors into a large curved workshop. Against a bright light on one of the workbenches you are able to make out the shadow forms of two men, one slightly shorter and squater than the other. **They both look up as you enter the room.** The taller one presses a large red gem built into the work bench, producing a moderately high-pitched whine. Several machines come whirring out of small alcoves built into the walls, each with a small weapon mounted on it. Three of them are armed with crossbows and another three come swinging serrated blades. The two artificers pull repeating crossbows from racks underneath the workbench.
*use the word appropriate to the PCs' approach
**If the PCs elected to enter stealthily, read this instead: Absorbed in their work, the artificers do not notice your approach. When you are about 15 feet away, *name of clumsiest PC* suddenly trips over an unfinished machine. Looking around for the source of the disruption, the two men notice you. and continue with the whole battle preparations stuff.
Micro-bot (Crossbow) Level 1 Minion
Tiny Construct XP 25
HP A minion dies when hit by an attack that deals damage.
Initiative +2 Senses Perception +1
AC 14 Fort 18 Ref 12 Will 9
Speed 4
R Mini-crossbow (standard, at-will) * Weapon
+3 vs. AC, 5 damage
R Team Shot (standard, at-will) * Weapon
+3 vs. AC, 2 damage +1 damage for every adjacent Micro-bot (crossbow)
Group shot
The micro-bot does not receive attack roll penalties when shooting past an ally.
Skills Acrobatics +3 Perception +2 Athletics +3
Str 10 Dex 14 (+2) Con 15 (+3)
Int 8 (-1) Wis 9 (-1) Cha 13* (+1)