Uses / day

[gnrrrg]

From the level 1 iconics:

Lini's spell-like abilities:

"1/day—dancing lights, ghost sound (DC 12), prestidigitation, speak
with animals"

Seoni's Level 1 Spells:

"1st (4/day)—mage armor, magic missile"

In the first case, Lini has four abilities and she can use each of them once per day. In the second case, Seoni knows two first level spells and she can cast them in any combination so long as she doesn't cast more than four a day.

The only difference in the presentation of these is the use of parenthesis - 1/day vs (4/day)

So, I am preparing a low level scenario where a minion type NPC has spell-like abilities:

"3/dayblink, entangle (DC 13), invisibility (self only), pass without
trace, speak with animals"

If this is interpreted as Lini (no parenthesis are used) then this NPC can use each of these abilities 3 times. That seems a bit much for a minion in a low level scenario.

If this is interpreted like Seoni (despite the lack of parenthesis) then this NPC can only use 3 special abilities a day but has a pool of 5 to choose from. A little more believable for the level of play, but seemingly restrictive for the NPC's race (atomie).

Both seem plausible, how does one determine which is to be used?

[Jeraa]

With spell-like abilities, it always means you can use each ability that number of times. So 3x blink, 3x entangle, 3x invisibility, and so on.

[CampinCarl9127]

It is the first interpretation. The creature can use each ability 3/day.

If you think it's too strong for your players, either don't use all of the abilities (action economy hurts) or have the creature fight unintelligently.

[Diego Rossi]

Knowing what is the minion or what class/template give it the SLA will help. If you are using a shortened description there could be a problem with it.

[kinevon]

Just as an FYI:
The basic Atomie has a few differences there.

They always have the ability to speak with animals going, as it is always on
And the 3/day invisibility (self only) is standard for the race.

And a lot weaker, overall, than a similar CR creature, the Devil, Imp, who gets invisibility (self only) at will.

Do remember that, unless the ability itself specifies otherwise, SLAs still usually take either a Standard action to use, or whatever time the spell that they are like takes to cast. So those SLAs are, IIRC, all Standards to activate. If there were an SLA for Lesser Restoration, as an example, it would take 3 rounds to activate, unless the write-up says otherwise.

Also note that the scenario you mention is from Season 0, so the version of the Atomie modified is the old 3.5 version, not the Pathfinder version I cited above. Also remember to stay within her tactics, which makes most of the abilities mentioned superfluous. If she winds up having to attack, she is tiny, so she has to actually enter someone's square to attack them, and that will break her invisibility[, as well, which is probably why they gave her [i]blink[/]i, so she can survive more than one attack.