Favorite "Cannon Fodder" [Archive] - Wizards Community

Favorite "Cannon Fodder" [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Skritz_the_Lizardmen
05-06-07, 11:30 AM So, just wondering...every Dm has a favorite "Cannon Fodder" or "Foot Soldier" that he use very often in the game.

Of course, every Dm almost alway use the following because the low-level need weak ****** thing:

-Orc
-Goblin
-HobGoblin
-Zombie/Squeletton
But, strangely...i really enjoy using Ghoul. Not in huge swarm...just 1 to 4.

So, what your Favorite "Cannon Fodder"?
CryoSilver
05-06-07, 11:50 AM Humans.
Return of the Flumph
05-06-07, 12:16 PM Orc: not canon fodder-shock troopers. I like to send a small number of relatively high-level orcish barbarians to even out the massive swarms of lower level opponents that the PC's usually fight.

Goblin: Never used them much, but when I do they are basically cannon fodder.

Hobgoblin: While I do enjoy using hobgoblins (my favorite humanoid race, from either side of the DM's screen), they are not mindless cannon fodder to march into death. They use some scary tactics, most often involving longspears and Combat Reflexes.

Zombies/Skeletons: Utterly useless on their own; use them in conjunction with other monsters, or don't use them at all.

Gnolls: Now we're getting somewhere; they're big, they're stupid, and they travel in large packs. I often use these as cannon fodder against mid level parties.

Kobolds: Sort of cannon fodder in that they use numbers to their advantage, but also sort of not, as they are careful about protecting their own lives. Kobolds prefer ranged combat, and have almost TPKed more than one first level party when they get a chance to shoot from cover. "Sniper" cannon fodder. I guess if goblins were Grunts, kobolds would be Jackals.
Naderion
05-06-07, 12:26 PM Gibberlings! I love these little guys...

especially see them burning. :D
fiendish_platypus
05-06-07, 03:16 PM Super Kobold of Doom.
FatMonkey13
05-06-07, 03:40 PM I just got through a game with a lot of cannon fodder.
The PC's must have killed at least 60 Bugbears in one game session. They almost got killed once, were captured once, and three times they killed at least 70% on their first turn.

I find that low level cannon fodder can be very deadly if it attacks from retreating ambushes in the dark and 75% PC's lack darkvision.
Dracomortis
05-06-07, 04:24 PM Unarmed, wood elf children.
Galahdeon
05-06-07, 04:45 PM I agree on using the Gnolls they are effective and i can use them to herd or just annoy the PC's.

Zombies: ok I use Zombies as cannon fodder also they are usefull and a swarm of them with some cordination can be nasty especaily for low level players. I also supe some of them up to be more a challenge more Hp more armor and more tactics. sometimes i will give some magic items to them too just to bother the PC.

Another thing i do with creatures that wear armor is when ever the PCs kill them with more than two hits is ruin it especaly the light armors padded and studed. same goes with some weapons, and potions that are in a pack or fragile items.

Skelotens: another undead that is fun to use i usualy use them when i want to rush the PC's, they move faster and are more agrresive than zombies. also skelotal creatures like the chimera and the troll are nice to use if having the real thing might be to much for them.

other than that Humans, Elves, half-Elves and other simple races.

one of my friends started using Tanaki as his Cannon fodder too.
Thiez
05-06-07, 05:14 PM Unarmed, wood elf children.

May these wise words serve as an inspiration for us all :D

I usually use goblins. The leaders are usually mad. They run around wearing carrots on a rope around their necks, talking about how their deities inspire them to do the things they do :P
thinkhard
05-06-07, 05:21 PM I usually make up new campaign-specific fodder, just so it's not quite as boring. One of my favorites are canracks--demon posessed wolves!
laurent1
05-06-07, 05:37 PM ogres are a favorite of mine; not at low level but at mid level and even high level, they make great encouters.
Vultawk
05-06-07, 05:37 PM Most of my current campaign's adventures have been orc-filled, next one will be an ogre fest.
Silversheen197
05-06-07, 06:42 PM In my current campaign I'm most fond of sahuagin, but scyllans will do in a pinch (for 4th-5th lv. PCs :D ).
graddlin
05-07-07, 12:00 AM I dig using Giant Vermin alot. They can be of all shapes and sizes, all CRs (mostly), and can be thrown at parties in waves! I also enjoy the use of Gnolls and Undead, for they make excellent encounters and can be thrown at mid to high level parties by the dozens. Good stuff!:D

Take care, friend.
Rickiel
05-07-07, 01:58 PM The PC's :evillaugh

Wait :blink: you mean cannon fodder to throw AT the players?

Well, I like skeletons in Medium Combat Armor armed with H-23 Dual-Ammo Assault Rifles and equipped with Necro-Patches in case one of them gets injured, oh, and they typically come in squads of 5-7 and led by a Centurion Seargent (Charismatic Ordinary Zombie equipped same as the grunts but with added a Double-Chain Sword).

What can I say? I LIKE threatening my players in D20 Future :D
Dracomortis
05-07-07, 03:47 PM Let's see, when my players aren't slaughtering elven children...pixies are always nice. They're small, they're annoying, but they also go down in one shot. Driders are a popular choice in my subterranean campaign, as are monstrous spiders of every size (as mentioned before, vermin really are useful in a wide variety of situations and environments). Other than that, the quintessential skeletons, zombies, 1st-level goblin warriors, and human guards are all pretty prevalent. And let's not forget the first boss of every campaign, the gnoll in full plate.
allenchan
05-07-07, 04:11 PM ogres are a favorite of mine; not at low level but at mid level and even high level, they make great encounters.

Agreed. I like them because if they get a chance to swing, they still might have a chance or hurting some higher levels PCs.
Salla
05-07-07, 08:56 PM I like using kobolds, solely for the way they're eternally underestimated, especially by one of my players.

Y'see ... he's an elf fanboy. Almost always plays an elf, and he's been playing since Elf was a class. He also, I've noticed, tends to stay 'stuck' in earlier editions ... he frequently calls Low-Light Vision 'Infravision' for instance.

And he seems incapable of realizing that kobolds can have more than 1d4 hit points. Thus, we frequently get the 'it's just a kobold' take.

Just a 10th level kobold sorcerer ...
SilverFoxKnows
05-07-07, 09:15 PM Goblins and Gnolls. They work at low levels and if you tack class levels on them they work as long as any other bipedal race. The first time the PCs ran into Goblin Rangers on Worg-back was priceless.

"I do 12 pts of damage". It was a low level game

"He looks hurt but..." rolls ..."he stays in the saddle".

"Oh @#$%! These aren't normal Goblins".

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Skritz_the_Lizardmen 05-06-07, 11:30 AM	So, just wondering...every Dm has a favorite "Cannon Fodder" or "Foot Soldier" that he use very often in the game. Of course, every Dm almost alway use the following because the low-level need weak ****** thing: -Orc -Goblin -HobGoblin -Zombie/Squeletton But, strangely...i really enjoy using Ghoul. Not in huge swarm...just 1 to 4. So, what your Favorite "Cannon Fodder"?
CryoSilver 05-06-07, 11:50 AM	Humans.
Return of the Flumph 05-06-07, 12:16 PM	Orc: not canon fodder-shock troopers. I like to send a small number of relatively high-level orcish barbarians to even out the massive swarms of lower level opponents that the PC's usually fight. Goblin: Never used them much, but when I do they are basically cannon fodder. Hobgoblin: While I do enjoy using hobgoblins (my favorite humanoid race, from either side of the DM's screen), they are not mindless cannon fodder to march into death. They use some scary tactics, most often involving longspears and Combat Reflexes. Zombies/Skeletons: Utterly useless on their own; use them in conjunction with other monsters, or don't use them at all. Gnolls: Now we're getting somewhere; they're big, they're stupid, and they travel in large packs. I often use these as cannon fodder against mid level parties. Kobolds: Sort of cannon fodder in that they use numbers to their advantage, but also sort of not, as they are careful about protecting their own lives. Kobolds prefer ranged combat, and have almost TPKed more than one first level party when they get a chance to shoot from cover. "Sniper" cannon fodder. I guess if goblins were Grunts, kobolds would be Jackals.
Naderion 05-06-07, 12:26 PM	Gibberlings! I love these little guys... especially see them burning. :D
fiendish_platypus 05-06-07, 03:16 PM	Super Kobold of Doom.
FatMonkey13 05-06-07, 03:40 PM	I just got through a game with a lot of cannon fodder. The PC's must have killed at least 60 Bugbears in one game session. They almost got killed once, were captured once, and three times they killed at least 70% on their first turn. I find that low level cannon fodder can be very deadly if it attacks from retreating ambushes in the dark and 75% PC's lack darkvision.
Dracomortis 05-06-07, 04:24 PM	Unarmed, wood elf children.
Galahdeon 05-06-07, 04:45 PM	I agree on using the Gnolls they are effective and i can use them to herd or just annoy the PC's. Zombies: ok I use Zombies as cannon fodder also they are usefull and a swarm of them with some cordination can be nasty especaily for low level players. I also supe some of them up to be more a challenge more Hp more armor and more tactics. sometimes i will give some magic items to them too just to bother the PC. Another thing i do with creatures that wear armor is when ever the PCs kill them with more than two hits is ruin it especaly the light armors padded and studed. same goes with some weapons, and potions that are in a pack or fragile items. Skelotens: another undead that is fun to use i usualy use them when i want to rush the PC's, they move faster and are more agrresive than zombies. also skelotal creatures like the chimera and the troll are nice to use if having the real thing might be to much for them. other than that Humans, Elves, half-Elves and other simple races. one of my friends started using Tanaki as his Cannon fodder too.
Thiez 05-06-07, 05:14 PM	Unarmed, wood elf children. May these wise words serve as an inspiration for us all :D I usually use goblins. The leaders are usually mad. They run around wearing carrots on a rope around their necks, talking about how their deities inspire them to do the things they do :P
thinkhard 05-06-07, 05:21 PM	I usually make up new campaign-specific fodder, just so it's not quite as boring. One of my favorites are canracks--demon posessed wolves!
laurent1 05-06-07, 05:37 PM	ogres are a favorite of mine; not at low level but at mid level and even high level, they make great encouters.
Vultawk 05-06-07, 05:37 PM	Most of my current campaign's adventures have been orc-filled, next one will be an ogre fest.
Silversheen197 05-06-07, 06:42 PM	In my current campaign I'm most fond of sahuagin, but scyllans will do in a pinch (for 4th-5th lv. PCs :D ).
graddlin 05-07-07, 12:00 AM	I dig using Giant Vermin alot. They can be of all shapes and sizes, all CRs (mostly), and can be thrown at parties in waves! I also enjoy the use of Gnolls and Undead, for they make excellent encounters and can be thrown at mid to high level parties by the dozens. Good stuff!:D Take care, friend.
Rickiel 05-07-07, 01:58 PM	The PC's :evillaugh Wait :blink: you mean cannon fodder to throw AT the players? Well, I like skeletons in Medium Combat Armor armed with H-23 Dual-Ammo Assault Rifles and equipped with Necro-Patches in case one of them gets injured, oh, and they typically come in squads of 5-7 and led by a Centurion Seargent (Charismatic Ordinary Zombie equipped same as the grunts but with added a Double-Chain Sword). What can I say? I LIKE threatening my players in D20 Future :D
Dracomortis 05-07-07, 03:47 PM	Let's see, when my players aren't slaughtering elven children...pixies are always nice. They're small, they're annoying, but they also go down in one shot. Driders are a popular choice in my subterranean campaign, as are monstrous spiders of every size (as mentioned before, vermin really are useful in a wide variety of situations and environments). Other than that, the quintessential skeletons, zombies, 1st-level goblin warriors, and human guards are all pretty prevalent. And let's not forget the first boss of every campaign, the gnoll in full plate.
allenchan 05-07-07, 04:11 PM	ogres are a favorite of mine; not at low level but at mid level and even high level, they make great encounters. Agreed. I like them because if they get a chance to swing, they still might have a chance or hurting some higher levels PCs.
Salla 05-07-07, 08:56 PM	I like using kobolds, solely for the way they're eternally underestimated, especially by one of my players. Y'see ... he's an elf fanboy. Almost always plays an elf, and he's been playing since Elf was a class. He also, I've noticed, tends to stay 'stuck' in earlier editions ... he frequently calls Low-Light Vision 'Infravision' for instance. And he seems incapable of realizing that kobolds can have more than 1d4 hit points. Thus, we frequently get the 'it's just a kobold' take. Just a 10th level kobold sorcerer ...
SilverFoxKnows 05-07-07, 09:15 PM	Goblins and Gnolls. They work at low levels and if you tack class levels on them they work as long as any other bipedal race. The first time the PCs ran into Goblin Rangers on Worg-back was priceless. "I do 12 pts of damage". It was a low level game "He looks hurt but..." rolls ..."he stays in the saddle". "Oh @#$%! These aren't normal Goblins".