Minion Tactics

Ah minions. They go down in one hit, can usually be beat up all at once, and tend to have power levels less than that of a PC. So what can they do? Why would the PCs even pay them any attention?

Here are some things minions can do to make them a viable target for the PCs, and make them more than just simply background guys in the combat.

HEALING- they can heal the big bad(s), or they can use empathic healing to take fatigue from the big bad. Think about it- the big bad uses extra effort every turn, and the minions take turns absorbing his fatigue! Good way to get the PCs' attention!

INTERPOSE- Especially mind controlled, robots, or fanatics. They can jump in the way, bull rush the boss, or similar, as readied actions, when the PCs target the big bad. Sure, they can't do much against perception attacks, but they can mess up aim.

ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS- They can maintain obscurements, high temperatures, fricton control, gravity control, or other effects that make the battleground more complicated- so that defeating them can help the PCs focus their attacks properly on the main boss.

TEAM ATTACK: Whether it's a mass grapple or a legitimate team attack, when minions join up they can drastically increase their DC. In 3rd edition DC max is +5, but in second edition there's no limit.

AFFECTS OTHERS: They can provide the boss with "affects others" powers, effectively granting the boss immunities, regeneration, flight, or other powers he doesn't normally have, making defeating him difficult (if not impossible) without defeating the minions first.

CAUSE CHAOS: Minions can hold civilians hostage, destroy buildings, operate doomsday devices, etc. They may actually be a bigger threat here than the boss! They can disarm, trip, or steal things from the PCs in combat.

VOLTRON: They can use powers like gestalt- either combining together, or combining with the big boss to grant higher PL and powers.

MIRROR IMAGE:They can use disguises, illusions, morph, or similar to disguise themselves as the main boss, making it difficult for the PCs to know who to target. When escape is needed, they can scatter, making it hard to know WHO to chase.

BE THE COLLATERAL DAMAGE: When minions are mind controlled or possessed innocents, they can be damaging the PCs without the PCs wanting to hurt them back, causing a battle complication.

BE ANNOYING: They can mimic PC powers as readied actions, use teleport to move the PCs out of combat, ready actions to nullify the PCs' powers, summon blocks or things to disrupt charges and blasts.

AID IN ESCAPE: They can physically cast the teleport, or they can drive the getaway car while the big bad shoots out of it, or fly in the helicoptor, or simply engage all the PCs while the big bad runs.

OPERATE EQUIPMENT: A helicoptor with turrets, a tank, shoot a bazooka or other weapons with set toughness DCs, minions can easily hold even powerful party members at bay if they're over-equipped.