Mooks
For a given EL, there exists a sweet spot for flunkies, minions, and peons. These rules are used explicitly for the extremely rapid creation of monsters for simple encounters, throw-away additions to other encounters, and things like city guards attacking that you may simply not have planned for. When using mooks, keep several details in mind:
- Mooks do not have a KOM or KDM. Instead, they use the number in the UAM (Universal Ability Modifier) column, below.
- Every mook has an Archetype that defines their role, speed, inherent attack range and damage, and whether their maximum hit points are based on the High or Low HP column. The attack described in each mook Archetype is considered an Unarmed Strike for the purposes of all abilities and effects. If a mook gains a weapon through an ability or effect, that weapon's base damage is replaced with the damage for this attack.
- A mook's attack bonus, AC, saves, and the DC of any abilities they possess is based on the table. They also gain a bonus indicated on the table to three skills which are considered trained skills, except it does not grant them skill ranks in these skills. These are in addition to any other bonuses.
- A mook can make a number of attacks during an attack action as indicated on the table.
- Mooks have ability scores, but never add their ability modifiers to skills, saves. or DCs, nor do they gain the special benefits of Strength and Constitution. They use the following array, assigned however you choose: 16, 16, 10, 8, 8, 8.
- Mooks do not gain feats or items and only some mook Archetypes have tracks.
- Mooks have whatever creature type you see fit to grant them and are considered to have a BAB equal to their level, except it does not grant them any bonuses to attack rolls, AC, or additional attacks on an attack action.
- Armed Mooks: If you wish to reflect armaments in a mook’s possession, you can make it an Armed Mook, granting it the benefits of one or two weapon properties. Additionally, an Armed Mook can be disarmed. If an Armed Mook is disarmed, it loses its weapon properties, its attack range becomes [Melee], and the damage per level from its archetype is halved while disarmed.
Mook Archetypes
| Level | Low HP | High HP | Saves | Attack Bonus | AC | # of Attacks | Ability DCs | Skill Modifier | UAM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 | 24 | 2 | +4 | 13 | 1 | 13 | +2 | +2 |
| 2 | 31 | 39 | 3 | +5 | 14 | 1 | 14 | +3 | +2 |
| 3 | 41 | 53 | 4 | +7 | 16 | 1 | 15 | +4 | +3 |
| 4 | 53 | 69 | 4 | +8 | 17 | 1 | 17 | +5 | +3 |
| 5 | 64 | 84 | 5 | +9 | 18 | 1 | 17 | +7 | +3 |
| 6 | 77 | 101 | 5 | +11 | 20 | 1 | 18 | +8 | +4 |
| 7 | 89 | 117 | 6 | +12 | 21 | 1 | 18 | +9 | +4 |
| 8 | 103 | 135 | 7 | +13 | 21 | 2 | 19 | +11 | +5 |
| 9 | 116 | 152 | 7 | +13 | 21 | 2 | 20 | +12 | +5 |
| 10 | 131 | 171 | 8 | +17 | 25 | 2 | 20 | +13 | +5 |
| 11 | 145 | 189 | 8 | +18 | 26 | 2 | 21 | +14 | +5 |
| 12 | 161 | 209 | 9 | +20 | 28 | 2 | 21 | +16 | +6 |
| 13 | 176 | 228 | 10 | +22 | 30 | 2 | 23 | +17 | +6 |
| 14 | 193 | 249 | 10 | +24 | 32 | 2 | 23 | +18 | +6 |
| 15 | 209 | 269 | 11 | +26 | 33 | 3 | 24 | +19 | |
| 16 | 227 | 291 | 11 | +28 | 35 | 3 | 25 | +21 | +7 |
| 17 | 244 | 312 | 12 | +30 | 37 | 3 | 26 | +22 | +7 |
| 18 | 263 | 335 | 13 | +32 | 39 | 3 | 27 | +23 | +8 |
| 19 | 281 | 357 | 13 | +34 | 41 | 3 | 28 | +24 | +8 |
| 20 | 300 | 380 | 14 | +35 | 42 | 3 | 29 | +25 | +8 |
Standard Mook Archetypes
Scouts
Scouts are light ranged attackers designed for harassment. They use the Low HP column and have a ranged attack ([Close] range) that deals 1d6 damage plus 2 damage per level.
Scouts have a movement speed of 40 ft + 5 ft per 4 levels and at 8th level they gain either the Fly or Swim movement mode.
Grunts
Grunts are heavy melee attackers that can suffer significant amounts of punishment.They use the High HP column and have a melee attack that deals 1d6 damage plus 2 damage per level.
Grunts have a movement speed of 30 ft + 5 ft per 4 levels and gain a +1 deflection bonus to AC, which increases to +2 at 11th level.
Strikers
Strikers are light melee attackers who can dish out a lot of punishment but can’t take much. They use the Low HP column and have a melee attack that deals 1d6 damage plus 3 damage per level.
Strikers have a movement speed of 40 ft + 5 ft per 3 levels and at 8th level they gain either the Fly or Swim movement mode.
Turrets
Turrets are heavy ranged attackers that have difficulty getting out of Dodge. They use the Low HP column and have a ranged attack ([lose] range) that deals 1d6 damage plus 3 damage per level.
Turrets have a movement speed of 20 ft + 5 ft per 5 levels and gain a +1 bonus to attack rolls, which increases to +2 at 11th level.
Advanced Mook Archetypes
Minions
Minions are mooks of the more dangerous kind and combine the benefits of any two of the following mook Archetypes: Scouts, Grunts, Strikers or Turrets. They gain the higher hit point total and movement speed of the two Archetypes and can use the attack granted by either.
Experts
Experts are mooks with more varied and sophisticated abilities who can be used to create more substantial challenges.
Experts use the High HP column, have either a melee attack with a range of [Melee] or a ranged attack with a range of [Close] that deals 1d6 damage plus 1 damage per level, and have a movement speed of 30 ft + 5 ft per 3 levels. At 8th level, Experts gain either the Fly or Swim movement mode. Experts have a single track, which they gain at Fast Progression. In addition, higher-level experts have the following more advanced ability score array:
- Level 8-14: 20, 18, 10, 8, 8, 8
- Level 15-20: 24. 20, 10, 8, 8, 8
Untyped bonuses that are granted to AC are halved when used for Experts.
Elites
Elites are identical to Experts except they gain a second track at Medium Progression. Untyped bonuses that are granted to AC are halved when used for Elites.
Aces
Aces are identical to Elites except they gain a third track at Slow Progression. Aces have the potential to rival full characters in power. (Note that there is no distinction between an Elite and an Ace at 1st level).
Untyped bonuses that are granted to AC are halved when used for Aces.
Minibosses
Minibosses are identical to Aces except they gain a fourth track at |Medium Progression. Minibosses should be used with care, as in some cases they may overpower full characters.
Untyped bonuses that are granted to AC are halved when used for Minibosses.