How does soak work in relation to minions? Do you apply it once to the group or each member? For example, I have three minions with Soak 5 and a WT 5. That gives a group WT of 15. Good so far. Now, the group's shot for a total of, let's say, 17 damage. 17-5=12 damage and that would be enough to take out two. Or does each minion benefit from the Soak and, to take out two, 22 points of damage would need to be dealt? I've done it both ways (having Soak apply to each made sense as they each do have a Soak rating), but even my players felt minions were dropping too fast. We're just curious as to what's the "correctest" way as the book doesn't clarify the Soak issue.

Soak applies once to the group in total, if they have been grouped using the minion rules. If you deploy them separately, then it is applied separately.

The invidual soak of one is calculated for each hit. The soak of 15 does not apply to each one. You have it right in your first example. If you find minions are dropping too fast, increase their numbers. Remember for each one after the first they get an additional ranks to thier skills. So a minion group of six, with a WT of 5 and soak of 5 gives them WT 30 and soak of 5. Thier AG is 2 so they'd are shooting light ranged at 2Y and 3G. That is nothing to scoff at. If you find they are still too weak, make a few batches of minions and place them around the "battle map". Still not enough, you can up thier ranks in the skills if you want to, it is not RAW; but you still can, increase thier WT and Soak, and give them a Politico Rival "Lt." who can boost them up. Or if you want a super tough group of minions, give them a rank or two of Adversary.

But yes, minions are just that. They are me at to be burnt though pretty quickly. They are the speed bump on the way to the BBEG and his Henchmen (Rivals).

Thanks!

NP, enjoy.