So your saying that the PC's should look above the monster's heads for the namesIf this was Feng Shui, the minions wouldn't have names.
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Who's a minion? You are!
- Thread starter Caliber
- Start date
Invisible Stalker
First Post
It should be obvious from the description I give the players. If not, the use of 12 weaponless kobold monk minis should be the clincher.
Well I use different kobolds for each type. I have enough.
I also don't like the fact that a fighter can say "I swing at the skirmisher and cleave into the minion." I don't mind if he figured out which is the minion, but if the Player can determine the differerence just from meta game knowledge and (knowing that they only have 1 hp) so cleave will kill it is a bit unfriendly to the minions.
The minions are a road block at best and usually are only meant to grant some sort of bonus for the real threats... combat advantage... mob bonus to speak of.
My minions fortunately were blessed by the wyrmpriest and most had 5 temporary hitpoints. This actually caused a minion on more than one occasion to survive a hit.
I describe the figures when I place them on the battlemat, I tell players the armor, weapons, colorations, etc... I don't tell them if they are a minion. I usually describe the elite or special enemies... 2 swords, pike, hurlers, slingers, wyrmling etc.. more specifically and usually use an obvious figure. I would try not use the same figure as a minion. I however do use multiple different figures for my kobold minions... the skirmisher, the soldier, the miner, and the trapmaker. This ads some varierty and confusion for players but it also prevents me from having 10 kobold soldiers on the board easily identifiable as minions.
I also don't like the fact that a fighter can say "I swing at the skirmisher and cleave into the minion." I don't mind if he figured out which is the minion, but if the Player can determine the differerence just from meta game knowledge and (knowing that they only have 1 hp) so cleave will kill it is a bit unfriendly to the minions.
The minions are a road block at best and usually are only meant to grant some sort of bonus for the real threats... combat advantage... mob bonus to speak of.
My minions fortunately were blessed by the wyrmpriest and most had 5 temporary hitpoints. This actually caused a minion on more than one occasion to survive a hit.
I describe the figures when I place them on the battlemat, I tell players the armor, weapons, colorations, etc... I don't tell them if they are a minion. I usually describe the elite or special enemies... 2 swords, pike, hurlers, slingers, wyrmling etc.. more specifically and usually use an obvious figure. I would try not use the same figure as a minion. I however do use multiple different figures for my kobold minions... the skirmisher, the soldier, the miner, and the trapmaker. This ads some varierty and confusion for players but it also prevents me from having 10 kobold soldiers on the board easily identifiable as minions.
CharlesRyan
Adventurer
I think so, at least much of the time.
Think of the fight under the flying wing in Raiders. When the big bald mechanic shows up and cracks his knuckles, Indy knows he's in for a fight. Meanwhile, Marrion is up in the turret hosing down troopers with little attention given to one or another.
Certainly it isn't immediately obvious every time, and like most of the posters here I would rely on description to clue in the players (rather than outright saying "these guys are minions"). But overall I expect the players to identify the minions pretty quickly--and there's nothing wrong with that.
Fredrik Svanberg
First Post
I voted "yes, it's obvious". I won't tell them who the minions are but they will hopefully figure it out by the description.
Jan van Leyden
Adventurer
I'm still undecided. It should not be necessarily clear on first looks, but after one or two combat rounds an observer could point at the minions.
I plan to tell the players - if they ask that is - after the first round of combat.
Up to now, I didn't have any character with Minion Sweeper powers. May be I change my oppinion after having seen that.
Huldvoll
Jan van Leyden
I plan to tell the players - if they ask that is - after the first round of combat.
Up to now, I didn't have any character with Minion Sweeper powers. May be I change my oppinion after having seen that.
Huldvoll
Jan van Leyden
Joshua Randall
Legend
I'm in the "it's a game" camp.
It's a game, minions are a game construct, and the players/PCs know what they are and can identify them.
In the same vein, I will tell the players "this column grants cover, this rubble is difficult terrain, and this tapestry can be yanked down with a DC 15 Str check but until then it blocks line of sight." I don't make them guess at game features.
It's a game, minions are a game construct, and the players/PCs know what they are and can identify them.
In the same vein, I will tell the players "this column grants cover, this rubble is difficult terrain, and this tapestry can be yanked down with a DC 15 Str check but until then it blocks line of sight." I don't make them guess at game features.
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