should I keep Minsc?

SubTerran · Post by **SubTerran** » Tue Jan 23, 2001 11:10 pm

first time I played the game, Minsc was with me all the way and did ok I guess, now I am planning to pass it completely second time(I played with many characters but not all the way through) and I am wondering if I should keep Minsc in my party, or is getting some other fighter would be better.

Drakron Du´Dark · Post by **Drakron Du´Dark** » Tue Jan 23, 2001 11:22 pm

Minsc is a good fighter, but if you are going to play evil take Korgan insted.
Besides Minsc, there are Korgan(of couse), Kaldorn(a paladin[iquisidor],Valyar(ranger[Stalker]) and Mazzy.
Minsc is Very good, there are no better Fighters in the game expect Korgan but he is evil.

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"He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not became a monster... when you gaze long into the abyss the abyss gazes into you..."
Friedrich Nietzsche

[This message has been edited by Drakron Du´Dark (edited 01-24-2001).]

Aegis · Post by **Aegis** » Tue Jan 23, 2001 11:50 pm

Regardeless of how good Korgan is, Misc shall always be better! Just hearing him shout "Go for the eyes Boo! The eyes!" is worth having him.

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I am the defender of the light! The champion of Justice! And the slayer of really big lizards!

Astafas · Post by **Astafas** » Wed Jan 24, 2001 3:49 am

I would say that Mazzy is a better fighter than Minsc. Minsc's only advantage is is higher strength. This can easily be compensated for with the Girdle of Hill Giant Strenght or the Gauntlest of Ogre Power right from the beginning. The higher degree of weapon specialisation makes Mazzy the better fighter. However, you have to consider the profiencies of all your party members. If you for example need a figthter armed with a mace or two-handed sword, Minsc is your man.

geh4th · Post by **geh4th** » Wed Jan 24, 2001 4:19 am

I have had Minsc and Korgan in my party for some time now, and my opinion is that Korgan is nothing special. Sure, he is a good fighter, but all this raving about how much better he is than everyone else is something I simply do not see. Specializing in a weapon more than 2 slots is a waste of effort IMO. I'd rather put the points into a style or into other weapons.

I find that Minsc is more effective with his 2-handed sword than Korgan with his axe. Since I am a mage in this game, I need the 2 tanks, so I keep them both.

Mazzy...well, I haven't ever had her in the group for long....I still see halflings as, well, hobbits...Bilbo Baggins and such...I have a lot of trouble accepting the idea of a hobbit paladin (because that's what she is.) True, she is great with the bow, but I have other people for that, and a short sword is not what I want in a front-line fighter.
Mazzy vs. Korgan is a good study in fighter comparison, but I would take Minsc over either if forced to make a choice.

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"If you prefer, you could say EXPERT treasure hunter!"
--Gandalf the Grey, the Hobbit

Black Hand · Post by **Black Hand** » Wed Jan 24, 2001 4:27 am

I agree with all your points geh4th. What was Korgans dexterity score again? I think it was quite low, while Minsc has about 16 or 17 dex.

Astafas · Post by **Astafas** » Wed Jan 24, 2001 4:37 am

Korgan dex is 15, while Minsc has 16. This means a AC bonus difference of 1. On the other hand, equip Korgan with a shield +3, and his AC drops 4 point. This is not possible when using a two-handed sword. Also, the better weapon specialisation of a fighter gives a to hit of +3 (Minsc only +2) and an extra attack (at least it is supposed to do this, but I remember a problem with this not being implemented as it should). Finally, Korgan has more HP due to his con of 19 (whereas Minsc only has 16, right?). Conclusion: Korgan is statistically a better fighter than Minsc.

geh4th · Post by **geh4th** » Wed Jan 24, 2001 4:40 am

But in game play (at least for me), it doesn't work out that way. Maybe I just haven't paid close enough attention. Minsc does more criticals because of the points in 2-handed wpns I gave him, maybe that is where I see the difference.

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"If you prefer, you could say EXPERT treasure hunter!"
--Gandalf the Grey, the Hobbit

Black Hand · Post by **Black Hand** » Wed Jan 24, 2001 4:40 am

No the weapon mastery in BG2 is really crappy. Effectively Grand Mastery (5 slots) only gives a +1 to-hit, damage and initiative bonus. It's surely better to spend your slots elsewhere.

Astafas · Post by **Astafas** » Wed Jan 24, 2001 4:47 am

No, Mazzy is not a paladin. She is a true fighter with some paladin like abilities as a bonus. There are plenty of good short-swords in the game, and you can get many of them right from start. Of course, they do less damage than a two-handed sword but they have other advantages, for example the free action, haste, mirror image and so on. Short-swords are supposed to be a favoured weapon of many of the shorter people as halflings, gnomes and even dwarves. These races have as good fighters as the other races. Therefor, why not a short-sword for your front fighter?

geh4th · Post by **geh4th** » Wed Jan 24, 2001 4:56 am

Dont' get me wrong, I have nothing against the "short peoples" and their weapons of choice. My game style is that I want a bruiser up front, with a big weapon. I am sure that I could do nicely with any of the 3 (Minsc, Korgan and Mazzy) doing the fighting. It seems that there really is no clear choice, just what fits your style; as it should be.

Does anybody else think that Minsc should be the posterboy for the Beserker class? I think he missed his calling, and should have been one...and yes, I know about the blow to the head.....but all beserkers are a few cans short of a sixpack.

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"If you prefer, you could say EXPERT treasure hunter!"
--Gandalf the Grey, the Hobbit

Garcia · Post by **Garcia** » Wed Jan 24, 2001 4:59 am

Keep Minsc! Minsc and Korgan are a great duo. Minsc can do fine in an evil party as well as a good on (just don't kill to many peasants) and who wouldn't miss "He who sneaks up on Minsc losses teeth!" "Jump on my sword evil I...wont be as gentle" "go for the eyes boo" e.c.t.

Astafas · Post by **Astafas** » Wed Jan 24, 2001 5:05 am

Absolutely, Minsc should have been a Berserker (I never understood why the made him a ranger in first place). Valygar should have been a Wizard Slayer and Nalia a pure Thief. Anomen would have been better as a Paladin than this "knight", though he could become it during the game.

geh4th · Post by **geh4th** » Wed Jan 24, 2001 5:45 am

Hmmm. So who among the NPC's DO fit their class? I was saying in another thread that I though Jaheira acts too "Good" to actually be a druid, so in my current game I took the liberty of changing her into a Ranger/Cleric.

I looked at the rest, I guess they seem to be appropriate...don't know about haer'Dalis, though....

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"If you prefer, you could say EXPERT treasure hunter!"
--Gandalf the Grey, the Hobbit

vixen · Post by **vixen** » Wed Jan 24, 2001 8:23 am

You've got to keep Minsc in for pure comedy value if nothing else!

Gruntboy · Post by **Gruntboy** » Wed Jan 24, 2001 8:28 am

Classic Minsc line rarely heard (few people use all his ranger skills) when stealthed:

"[hushed voice]None shall see me... [loud voice] though my battle cry may give me away"

Ha ha!

Drakron Du´Dark · Post by **Drakron Du´Dark** » Wed Jan 24, 2001 8:35 am

Two things I said.
Minsc is a VERY GOOD FIGHTER. I use him but he cannot go besides +2 in weapons(I have him with 2 hands swords), the bezerker was explained by bioware, minsc was to be a bezerker but since that was not kits on BG I, he became a Ranger, and it works fine with him.
Korgan is good for a evil party.Minsc, being good, should have problems with solving things the "evil" way, so he ends up atacking you(like if you do the Druid grove the evil way).

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"He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not became a monster... when you gaze long into the abyss the abyss gazes into you..."
Friedrich Nietzsche

Aegnor · Post by **Aegnor** » Wed Jan 24, 2001 8:54 am

Minsc is OK but I would never take a party without Mazzy. I have no problem with the hobbit-Paladin concept (wasn't Pippin heading that way when he swore fealty to Theoden?). The thing to do with Mazzy is get her early, and put all her proficiencies in one-handed weapon style. I gave her one in flail so she could use a +3 weapon when needed (Flail of Ages).

Also, if you have Aerie in your party but can't stand her flirting/whining, brush her off and Mazzy will take over responsibility for healing the "inner child" of the crippled elf

But back to the topic at hand - Minsc seems to get more than his share of criticals, its true. His racial enemy is an extremely helpful pick. But that missing quick item slot is a pain....why can't Boo just stay where he belongs, "hidden" in the vastness of the Rasheman's musculature

Foss · Post by **Foss** » Wed Jan 24, 2001 8:58 am

I think Mazzy is a better fighter than Minsc, I have had the both in my party, and Mazzy were alot higher lvl and had more hp, and then she have some good special abilities, but I like Minsc to...Keldorn I thinkm only have 9 in dex, so his AC were very low when I first meet him, so I just gave him "Gauntlest of dexterity" I think it was called.

Hex92 · Post by **Hex92** » Wed Jan 24, 2001 9:33 am

Subterran:
Dump Minsc. I dumped him the first time through as soon as I picked up Keldorn. This time through with my all evil party (+ Jaheria) I kicked him out as soon as I began chapter 2. I don't think he would like being in a party with reputation of 8

You have already played through once (and I assume BG1 too) so you have done the minsc experience. Get some other NPCs in your party and experience more of BG.

Hex92