The Merits of Minsc

Chanak · Post by **Chanak** » Fri Jan 18, 2002 8:30 pm

I am sure this topic has come up time and again in this forum; since I am new (and don't want to go back 12 pages to look) maybe someone can humor me and comment on this.

Beyond some catchy little sayings - you know, "rangers and hamsters everywhere, rejoice" - Minsc doesn't impress me that much. Due to his low wisdom score, he's more prone to being zapped by spells, especially when it's really irritating - for example, being zonked by a confusion spell, and having to move my party out of his way as he roams around taking swings at everyone. It's at times like those that I consider allowing my NPCs to wax him, instead of stopping them. I won't, though, despite the temptation.

I think that Korgan would be an excellent replacement for him. I also think that in TOB, Sarevok is a great replacement for him (I kind of like Sarevok anyway, despite him being an evil and rude jerk).

I guess to put it bluntly, I would replace him with anybody, even other characters I don't like.

Does he have merits that I am not aware of, beyond sentimental value?

DaJir · Post by **DaJir** » Fri Jan 18, 2002 9:43 pm

bah. minsc rules cause a little insanity makes everything better. Wish i knew how to take the lilacor soundset and use it with my ranger/cleric (weak as hell when come'n from my uber f/m/t...)pc. We'd be like the insane nature boy duo.
Minsc rules cause he's a good aligned melee type. That means he can use good only weapons and you can also rain holy smites on his head w/o any effect to him. He also has some of the best dialogue in the game, especially with the evil folks.
If you don't want minsc to eat confusion spells just have him use Lilacor or use a 1h weapon with that nifty shield from trademeet. You can also spell him up to be immune to it. Immunities are always better than rely'n on saves and stats to help you avoid something nasty anyway.
Dealing with a confused minsc is nothing. If you want a real headache have a dual wield'n korgan (that +3 axe from nalia's keep and belm) miss a freak save on domination just when you improved hasted him. He smacked down vic faster than i could hit the pause button.

Since he had on boots of speed i could only invis and run like a little girl.

Chanak · Post by **Chanak** » Fri Jan 18, 2002 10:31 pm

The Holy Smite issue is a good one, I must say. I like using those; they're handy. Poor Sarevok. Unless he has some Magic Resistance, those hurt.

By the way, I haven't used Korgan yet. The idea of an evil dwarf grosses me out, I have to admit.

Ollamnh · Post by **Ollamnh** » Fri Jan 18, 2002 11:17 pm

I just crushed the Twisted Rune crowd. Minsc PERSONALLY took out the beholder, the human hitter, a pit fiend, then finished off the lich, the mage and a few efreets. Only the vamp escaped his wrath. I don't care if he does believe in Santa, Minsc is my main man!

And he wasn't even berserk.

UserUnfriendly · Post by **UserUnfriendly** » Sat Jan 19, 2002 1:01 am

I tried to raise his stats using potions to see if I could dual him to ranger cleric. just how much of a boost to stats does he need anyway?

minsc sucks, pure and simple. the only thing minsc can do keldy cant do is squeek with hamster.

keldy has minsc beat in every way.

pls note I am the one who cam eup with the only way of making minsc half way decent, for a short time. drink potions of insight to raise wis to 18. load up the extra spell slots on minsc. cast wish and hope for rest. for about 8 hours minsc has about 4 extra spells. hardly seems worth it, eh?

if minsc can be raised in stats enough via watchers keep and machine of lum the mad to dual to ranger cleric, maybe I'll consider keeping him.

other wise,
keldy
korgan
savvy
even mazzie is better.

Fnord · Post by **Fnord** » Sat Jan 19, 2002 3:00 am

Originally posted by UserUnfriendly:

minsc sucks, pure and simple. the only thing minsc can do keldy cant do is squeek with hamster.

Ha!

Hmm, let's see. Minsc can attain mastery in Two Weapon Style; Keldorn can't. Minsc can smack the crap out of Kangaxx all by himself; Keldorn can't (without a protection from magic scroll, that is). Heck, for that matter, Minsc can smack the crap out of Keldorn.

Carsomyr is nice, but it doesn't compare to the Flail of Ages and Crom Faeyr.

In general, I really like Minsc. He's got a (un)naturally high strength, allowing you to put strength-enhancing items on other characters that may need it more. As well, he gets free specialization in two weapon fighting style. Top it all off with an enrage special ability, and you've got one buttocks-kicking, evil-smiting ranger.

If you've got Confusion and Chaos problems, just give Minsc Lilarcor. They compliment each other quite well, both being intellectualy challenged and all.

[ 01-19-2002: Message edited by: Fnord ]

Bobsy · Post by **Bobsy** » Sat Jan 19, 2002 1:00 pm

Originally posted by UserUnfriendly:
keldy has minsc beat in every way.

Except for strength and dexterity, two of the most important stats for a fighter class, eh?

UserUnfriendly · Post by **UserUnfriendly** » Sat Jan 19, 2002 2:34 pm

whoa...

keldy can get mastery in two handed, I am sure of it. I usually give all fighters teh same stats in the wield grouping, and every body has 3 stars two handed.

bedides, both are really for ttwo handed weapons, the damge potential plus greater whirlwind makes it optimal.

berserker enrage is immune to imprison, but minsc enrage is not...proven by various people who know infinity editor better than me.

minsc has good dex, but keldy with gauntlets of dex is better sure, minsc can wear gauntlets of extra ordinary weapon specialization, but jahiera gets that to go with dual wielding spectral brand with belm and this gives her natural 5 attacks per round.

in fact, I condiser his 16 dex to be marginal at best and usually give him gaunlets of dex too.

warriors get grandmastery, and if you think that doesnt hurt monsters lots, are you kidding?

high mastery is almost as good, with good str better in many cases, but paladins get wonderful perks, and this makes up for the lack of high or grand mastery.

rangers get the short endo fo the stick, by far the worst catagory of the archer kit.

only the beast master is worse. the archer kit is lethal for magic disrupt and the stalker kit gets nifty steath skills, and backstab, but the ranger kit stinks, pure and simple.

sure I have taken minsc for fun, and my pc made up the deficiencies in fighting effectiveness, but really, if you wank a killer ranger like abilities, take MAZZY.

better dex, and with good belt, good str. add resist fear, and youre set.

hmmm...

charm animal or resit fear....

charm animal!!!

minsc you take along for amusement. and boo!!!

"a den of stinking evil!! cover your nose boo, ( i forget the rest)

Craig · Post by **Craig** » Sat Jan 19, 2002 2:53 pm

Originally posted by Ollamnh:
I just crushed the Twisted Rune crowd. Minsc PERSONALLY took out the beholder, the human hitter, a pit fiend, then finished off the lich, the mage and a few efreets. Only the vamp escaped his wrath. I don't care if he does believe in Santa, Minsc is my main man!

And he wasn't even berserk.

Don't you???Any way I prefer some one else(my Half-"Drow" is a bit stern) ie viconia

fable · Post by **fable** » Sat Jan 19, 2002 3:58 pm

Despite his lines and Boo, Minsc is really another one of the "strategy-challenged" crowd, IMO. He takes some finesse to play, like Haer'dalis or Cernd, as opposed to the straight-forward types who do what they do the best, without any obvious drawbacks (Korgan, Edwin, Viconia). That said, I think Minsc is great. Like Jan, he's just fun to have around.

Chanak · Post by **Chanak** » Sat Jan 19, 2002 9:09 pm

The uses of Minsc are not readily apparent, unlike with other NPCs. The berserk immunity to certain things has definite advantages that are pretty important. I think I'm going to give those a shot and see what can happen.

It's funny you mention Edwin. I don't really like him, except for that 18 intelligence. So what I did with Edwin ended up being alot of fun - buffer him up as usual with stuff like haste, stoneskin, etc., and then cast Black Blade of Disaster and Tenser's Transformation. The results are pretty interesting. If you haven't tried it, you ought to. (of course, you need to have ToB installed to access this in SoA).

firewings95 · Post by **firewings95** » Sat Jan 19, 2002 9:52 pm

Minsc is the best. I don't care what anyone says. Minsc is especially good with lilacor and his racial enemy is vamps. which u do meet alot of in chpt. 3 allied with the shadow theives. Minsc is also profiecent in the long bow which is also great in tight situations and the sorts. Minsc is multi talented. the stealth rating he has is especially good when u try to backstab with him. Keldorn is just stupid because you can't do 1 bad thing without him saying something cuz he's a stupid paladin. although keldorn as some nice stats Minsc is just to good just to have that comparison.

rumagent · Post by **rumagent** » Sun Jan 20, 2002 2:04 am

Originally posted by DaJir:
Wish i knew how to take the lilacor soundset and use it with my ranger/cleric (weak as hell when come'n from my uber f/m/t...)pc. We'd be like the insane nature boy duo.

You can download the Lilarcor soundset from
[url="http://www.attcanada.net/~hitch/IEEAIS/"]here[/url] Along with the acension mod, which is pretty good

PoD · Post by **PoD** » Sun Jan 20, 2002 3:08 am

It doesn't matter whether Minsc is the best Fighter around (which he's not, although with the right kit I doubt whether there's too much difference in most situations), the point is...

BG2 isn't BG2 without Minsc!!

Robnark · Post by **Robnark** » Sun Jan 20, 2002 3:00 pm

Hell yeah! Minsc is the man! Honestly, how can you have an entourage that doesn't include a schizophrenic righteous madman? He is the only character who has a soundset that adequately expresses how i feel after winning a particularly difficult battle - with style. Who cares about stats? i used him since BG1, and he isn't leaving anytime soon.

lompo · Post by **lompo** » Mon Jan 21, 2002 4:29 am

How can you get a mastery (3 stars) for Keldorn and Minsc in two handed weapon or two weapon style.
Rangers and paladins shouldn't get maximum to specialization (2 stars)?
Enjoy the game!

Fnord · Post by **Fnord** » Mon Jan 21, 2002 4:57 pm

Originally posted by lompo:
How can you get a mastery (3 stars) for Keldorn and Minsc in two handed weapon or two weapon style.
Rangers and paladins shouldn't get maximum to specialization (2 stars)?
Enjoy the game!

As a ranger, Minsc starts off with free specialization in Two Weapon Fighting style. Beyond that, you can add one extra proficiency to make him a master at two weapon fighting. Personally, I prefer to give him Lilarcor, but it remains an option if you want him to dual-wield. For instance, in one of my games, I gave him the Flail of Ages and Crom Faeyr. Nice combination.