[D&D 4e] What is your favorite monster role?

[Matt James]

Being a successful DM entails providing a rich environment, depth in your storyline, and challenging your players in combat. What are your favorite monster roles in 4e D&D?

[Brian R. James]

If I had to pick one, I'd go with Artillery. Few things are more fun than lobbing hell upon your players from a distance!

[4649matt]

I have to second the Artillery vote
Artillery open up combat by adding depth to the field of play.

Skirmishers keep the battle shifting around.

[Steelfiredragon]

skirmisher

followed by lurker

[JeffGupton]

Brute: nothing lets the players know that the DM is in charge like some big thug ringing their bells.

[D'karr]

I must admit that brutes are my favorite. Nothing more satisfying than taking a character from healthy to bloodied in one critical hit.

However, when I'm designing encounters I use a balance of monsters. I also tailor some of the encounters based on the party and the desired "feel" for the combat.

To a party that's entirely melee based nothing says "I love you" better than entire squads of minion artillery on an unreachable ledge...

[Matt James]

I like brutes too.

[Sartredes]

I'm a fan of a controller with swarm of minions

[bargle0]

I like artillery and controllers with ranged powers and sufficient damage. That can be a quick route to a deadly encounter if the party is not prepared to deal with it. The party had better have a competent ranged striker or control that can nullify the advantage at range.

IMHO, pre-MM3 brutes are just fat sacks of HP that die too fast. For the most part, they're just not worth the price in the encounter budget because they can't hit the side of a barn.

[Matt James]

I agree. Post-MM3 brutes are made of pure win.