Minions

4e Homebrew
Classes
Rune Magus
Sorcerer, Truenamer
Warlock - Accursed Adepts
Feats
Gestalt Feats, Racial Feats (Rune Races)
Items
None Currently
Monsters
None Currently
Paragon Paths
Knight of the Silver Sigil,
Viper Fang Disciple
Races
Rogue Modron, Runic Races
Rituals
None
Templates
None
Appendix A: Other Projects
Feat Fixes, Gestalt, Minions, Saving Throws
Appendix B: Wiki Templates
Race, Item (Multiple levels), Item (One Level), Item (Special), Feat, Ritual, Class, Paragon Path, Schema, Templates Monster: Top, Power, Bottom Power: At-will, Encounter, Daily Homebrew Index

These Mechanics were created by Yakk. I'm just shamelessly stealing them.

This is a rule variant to make Minions capable. It basically works the following way:

Number of Minions

With this variant, Yakk recommends a minion ratio 4:1 in heroic, 5:1 in paragon, and 6:1 in epic. (Minions:NormalCreatures)

Minion Stats

• Minions can be damaged on a miss
• Minions have HP equal to their level.
• Minions do roughly 25% to 50% more damage if they are from the monster manual. (Monster Manual 2 has upped minion damage already).
• Minions have a +1 bonus to all defenses.
• When creating your own minions, shoot for average or just under average damage.

Minions as a Collective

Each group of minions, or possibly all minions, in an encounter share a Damage pool.

Damage Pool

When a minion is attacked and dealt damage, the following algorithm is used:

• Does it exceed the minion's level?
  • Yes: Kill minion. Done.
  • No: Add damage to minion damage pool.
• Does the damage pool exceed the minion's level?
  • Yes: Kill the minion, and subtract the minion's level from the damage pool.
  • No: Minion lives.

For example, Archer the Warforged Ranger deals 15 damage to a level 5 minion, and 3 damage on a miss to a level 5 minion.

• 15 >= 5?
  • Yes, minion is killed done.
• 3 >= 5?
  • No, 3 damage now in damage pool.
• 3 >= 5?
  • No, Minion lives.

Drunkbeard the Dwarf Fighter then deals 4 damage to a different minion, and cleaves for 3 on a second minion.

• 4 >= 5?
  • No, 7 damage now in damage pool.
• 7 >= 5?
  • Yes, Minion dies. 2 damage now in the pool.
• 3 >= 5?
  • No, 5 damage now in damage pool.
• 5 >= 5?
  • Yes, Minion dies. 0 damage now in the pool.

At the end of this example, 3 minions have died.

For AOE damage

• Does the damage exceed minions level?
  • Yes: Hit Minions die.
  • No: Add the damage for each hit minion to the damage pool.
• Does the damage pool exceed minion level?
  • Yes: Kill one hit minion, subtract damage from damage pool. Repeat question.
  • No: Surviving Hit Minions live.

Example: Bob the Wizard uses a Scorching burst, dealing 5 damage to level 6 minions. He hits 4 minions.

• 5 >= 6?
  • No: 5*4 = 20 Damage in the damage pool.
• 20 >= 6?
  • Yes: 1 minion dies, 14 left.
• 14 >= 6?
  • Yes: 1 minion dies, 8 left.
• 8 >= 6?
  • Yes: 1 minion dies, 2 left.
• 2 >= 6?
  • No: Minion survives.

Bob then APs and hits 5 minions with 6 damage.

• 6 >= 6?
  • Yes: 5 dead minions.

Reducing Bookkeeping: Minions and conditions

• When a minion takes a status effect that is weaker than prone, they fall prone.
  • Example Conditions: -2 to hit, Weakened, Slowed, Deafened.
• When a minion takes a status effect that is stronger than prone, they immediately save against it. If they fail the save, they are eliminated. If they pass the save, they fall prone.
  • Example Conditions: Immobilized, Blinded, Dazed.
• The above doesn't apply to marks, hunter's quarry, warlock's curse, etc.