Minsc?

roguekiller · Post by **roguekiller** » Mon Sep 24, 2001 10:06 pm

Is he any good? i had him in BG1 and i liked him!

nael · Post by **nael** » Mon Sep 24, 2001 10:10 pm

well, it's hard to beat him for sheer charm and appeal. you just gotta love boo.
he's a good tank as well. definitely worth taking if you have a good aligned party

Astafas · Post by **Astafas** » Mon Sep 24, 2001 10:20 pm

He's not that bad so try him if you like his personality. I don't and I much prefer Valygar with his backstabbing ability and mage spells.

UserUnfriendly · Post by **UserUnfriendly** » Mon Sep 24, 2001 10:27 pm

I'm sorry, I like him a lot too, but hes just not welcome in my party.

I run a mage heavy and cleric heavy party, so I have only one fighter type, ever, and his job is to protect the party and my body while my projected image goes dragon hunting. also in case everything falls into toilet, like the time I got zapped with anti magic ray in underdark/ so that char has to be a pure killer, and minsc does not qualify. keldorn is better, has the same weps skills limits only specialized in all slots except dual wield, because of his great dispell magic and true sight abilities. and holy avenger.

both minsc and keldy are good fighters, but for the best pick korgy or saverok.

but if you take other fighters along, he is by far the funnest char to have in party. take jan too for some really funny dialogs. oh, one dialog between him and aerie in tob almost made me pee, I was laughing so hard!

Xyx · Post by **Xyx** » Tue Sep 25, 2001 12:22 am

I think Minsc is nice, but not good. His stats suck, he spread his points over two-handed weapons while he's obviously better off dual-wielding, his spells suck... Sure, if you deck him out with the right goods and give him Greater Whirlwind he rocks, but who doesn't?

He does have some appeal, of course, especially with Lilarcor. The two even have a special reaction to each other, where Lilarcor claims to be the "brains with the edge", and Minsc is the "brawn with the hamster". One can only shudder at the thought of a combination in which Lilarcor is the brains...

[edit] Oh, I think he was very useful in BG1, where his incredible Strength gave him a real advantage in melee. In BG2, such Strength is easily acquired with items or the level 2 spell Strength.

[ 09-25-2001: Message edited by: Xyx ]

oggeboy · Post by **oggeboy** » Tue Sep 25, 2001 6:02 am

if you had him in bg1 then you should have him in bg2 as well, think of all the things you've experienced together

and won't you miss boo?

nemo · Post by **nemo** » Tue Sep 25, 2001 6:05 am

mmmhhhh.... boo can't understand question.... and minsc neither.... you saying????

Xyx · Post by **Xyx** » Tue Sep 25, 2001 9:11 am

Boo's sensibilities need to be shielded from all the nasty things I will do to my enemies... BG1 was nothing compared to what'll happen this time!

But really, Minsc stinks.

I dragged his sorry a$$ across half of Athkatla to try him out, but he has no redeeming qualities other than that Boo and that he means well.

Luther · Post by **Luther** » Tue Sep 25, 2001 10:34 am

I've had Minsc in my party all throughout BG1 and BG2. He rules. I have a good party and he is one of my main tanks. I like him not only for his personality, but because he's more a specialized class than a ranger. He gets priest spells, stealth ability, and berserking, plus the ranger special abilities. I load him up with healing spells so I can give my cleric and druid more offensive stuff.

Not only that, but he kicks butt in combat. He's my two-hander and dual wielder.
He easily matches Keldorn and Korgan in fighting ability. His great strength means you can give him a strong weapon and give the early strength items to other characters.

Aramant · Post by **Aramant** » Tue Sep 25, 2001 4:34 pm

I have always had Minsc in all of my games, but that's because I'm crazy and pick ALL of my party members based on personality, not stats. My friend can never understand why I exclude Edwin and Korgan from my group every time. My answer is always "Because I don't like them", and he says "So, what? They kick some serious butt!" Ah, powergamers. Gotta love 'em.

UserUnfriendly · Post by **UserUnfriendly** » Tue Sep 25, 2001 9:16 pm

Yep, i used to play that way too...ran all of bg2 my first run thru with minsc, but he jsut doesn't cut it any more. now that the mosters are tougher, I can't afford slacking off to talk to hamsters.

minsc is exceeded by all ther other tanks in the game, and while I like him a lot, I have mentioned I have only one tank ever in my spell heavy party. he jsut doesn't cut it in my party.

the way to dump him is to do it quick, in the beginning, and give him hope you will come back for him later. other wise boo cries, and have you ever heard a hamster weep? its heart breaking!

THE JAKER · Post by **THE JAKER** » Tue Sep 25, 2001 9:23 pm

It's funny different people's tastes - when I got Baldur's Gate and found minsc, I thought he was funny and cool for about 10 minutes, then I got so sick of him. His voice is so loud and boisterous, and what really bugs me is his sound that he makes when he takes damage - it seems like he gets hit more than he should with his AC, and he's always crying out like a little female dog in combat. I just hate it and never use him in any party, even for a good party I would get Mazzy over him in a second.

On the other hand, I NEVER get tired of Korgan and Edwin. It's not just that they are so bada$$, but their portraits, voices and dialogues never fail to crack me up. I was just playing, and my group whacked some bunch of losers. Edwina was improved invisible and stoneskinned, so when the last opponent was left I let Edwina take him out with the staff of air. After landing a hit Edwina said "even hand to hand, I am dangerous", and that dracula accent - I was laughing so hard! I wish there was some books on tape:

Tape One: Korgan's hand to hand combat tips and stories about his previous companions (now deceased)

Tape Two: Red Wizard's guide to spells. This could be Xyx's guide, but read with Edwin's voice. I always imagine Edwin endlessly lecturing the group about magic - the way the words "immunity" and "invisibility" would sound with his accent.

Anyway, that's just me, but it just shows there's no accounting for taste. I think at least we can all agree that Valygar and Cernd are as boring as dry toast.

UserUnfriendly · Post by **UserUnfriendly** » Tue Sep 25, 2001 10:31 pm

too bad, I have to say jakes and my tastes are identical...i also loath vaygar, who probably has by polar syndrome--manic depressive, and cerned is just a complete loser...

too bad I already have 4!!!mages in my paarty, so no justification what so ever for taking edwin, he sounds funny!

myself, improved sorc mark 24 (no crap, really, this is approx my 24th or so time redisigning my sorceror! I should submit a sorc guide to game banshee!!!!)

aerie, never leave home without her, (and of course my dungeon express card)

jaheira,
jan
korgan
immie.

far too much magic power and not enough cleric power, but thats ok, I understand mages better than cleerics.

see? as funny as edwin would be, I would do the same thing as some people do...take along a npc for their personality rather than a mix of utility and personality.

evil parties rule!

Xyx · Post by **Xyx** » Tue Sep 25, 2001 11:09 pm

Originally posted by THE JAKER:
a little female dog

How politically correct.

Originally posted by THE JAKER:
After landing a hit Edwina said "even hand to hand, I am dangerous"

I almost fell out of my chair when I heard that one. Priceless!

If Edwina wouldn't be complaining about her "condition" all the time, she would make for an excellent soundset. I know Edwin does.

Originally posted by THE JAKER:
Tape Two: Red Wizard's guide to spells. This could be Xyx's guide, but read with Edwin's voice. I always imagine Edwin endlessly lecturing the group about magic - the way the words "immunity" and "invisibility" would sound with his accent.

I'd love to hear that one!

Strange, though... I never played with Edwin in the party. Maybe, if I ever decide to playtest a bunch of scripts again, I'll take him along.

Vivien · Post by **Vivien** » Wed Sep 26, 2001 6:04 am

Well, I have to admit that Edwin has grown on me, having just played with him in BG1 for the first time, and now with him in BG2 for the first time. Too bad my main character flirted with that elf in the copper coronet thus making him run away, I hear something funny happens when he flirts with Edwina.

As to Minsc, well, it really depends on your party. He's decent, and his ending storyline really made it worth it for me *almost gets a tear in her eye thinking about it*. He can handle many useful weapons, and is a nice loyal addition.

But, having played through the game with Minsc, and now for the first time with Korgan. Well, there's a tank and then there's a tank. Korgan rips through enemies like a little blender, leaving the other members of my team (me cleric/mage, Imoen, Edwina, Viconia, Jan) free to work our magic.

THE JAKER · Post by **THE JAKER** » Wed Sep 26, 2001 6:22 am

Originally posted by Vivien:
Well, there's a tank and then there's a tank. Korgan rips through enemies like a little blender

Couldn't say it better myself. Dual wield axes, improved haste, 14th level, 7 attacks per round @ -3 THACO (!) I haven't even gotten him "the good stuff" yet!