Jan Jensen, one of best NPCs!!

Scrable · Post by **Scrable** » Thu Dec 14, 2000 12:36 am

I have found that Jan Jensen is probably one of the best NPCs that you can have in your party.
Right now i have his pick-pocket ability up to 132 and thats without the potion of master thievery. Even though his trap-setting sucks he makes up with it in personality and grace. The bruzer mates have killed many a foe, and his constant attempts to steal boo is hilarious.
I talked to one guy that said that yoshimo was the best thieve, but i disagreed. Right, now i don't have to buy a single thing (except at vendors that don't let you steal, adventurers mart; which does have the best of stuff).
Many of you will say that this is post is just a statement and not a question or topic. But, i just can't help myself saying that he is one of the best.

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scrable

rumagent · Post by **rumagent** » Thu Dec 14, 2000 12:57 am

I agree, his interaction with the other characters makes up for any other faults he may have.

I also like the fact, that he is not just a sterotypical gnome. There is more to him, than just stealing Boo and turnip-talk (btw: am I the only one that thinks of Baldric from Black adder, when Jan speaks of turnips).

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"Beyond the grave they will find nothing but death. But we shall keep the secret, and for their happiness we shall allure them with the reward of heaven and eternity." -- Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Brothers Karamazov

Scrable · Post by **Scrable** » Thu Dec 14, 2000 1:02 am

He only gets annoying when there is something important going on and he jumps in with one of his extemely long stories.
I haven't finished the game yet (i have had for about 2 months, don't play it that often, only because of work) But, so far he is a clutch player. I will take that lovable little midget to meet my mother (joke). Anyways i gotta go to the basement

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scrable

BadLoser · Post by **BadLoser** » Thu Dec 14, 2000 8:12 am

Yes, Baldric =)

WizWom · Post by **WizWom** » Sun Aug 12, 2001 12:05 pm

Well, he only makes it to L16 Thief/ L13 Illusionist before the cap raises in ToB, whereas a pure thief will make it to L23.
But a thief that can cast invisibility is a cool thing. And his gadgets rule.
It's kind of hobsons choice, though - if you want a thief who it's not a waste to level, you have to either be one yourself or take Jan.

Musashi Miyamoto · Post by **Musashi Miyamoto** » Sun Aug 12, 2001 12:20 pm

LOL he may be lower level, but correct me if i'm wrong when thiefs gets use all items can they use armor like plate mail and still cast?

Path of Wind · Post by **Path of Wind** » Sun Aug 12, 2001 12:38 pm

Originally posted by WizWom:
Well, he only makes it to L16 Thief/ L13 Illusionist before the cap raises in ToB, whereas a pure thief will make it to L23.
But a thief that can cast invisibility is a cool thing. And his gadgets rule.

Well, I love Jan to have around, but I guess I am doing something wrong with his gadgets. They never seemed to be important to me, may be I do not know something? Can you tell me why people think so high of them? They get better with time or something else?

fable · Post by **fable** » Sun Aug 12, 2001 5:55 pm

Originally posted by Path of Wind:
Well, I love Jan to have around, but I guess I am doing something wrong with his gadgets. They never seemed to be important to me, may be I do not know something? Can you tell me why people think so high of them? They get better with time or something else?

His crossbow really isn't that great; I usually trade it for one of the better crossbows encountered later in SoA. But his bolts are excellent, and they've even stunned demons on occasion.

koz-ivan · Post by **koz-ivan** » Sun Aug 12, 2001 6:39 pm

jan's gear:

the gloves and goggles are well worth keeping for the thief point bonuses. in addition to the aformentioned bolts.

and he rocks. fun to have in the party. very good fire support char. and the best trap and lock npc thief.

THE JAKER · Post by **THE JAKER** » Mon Aug 13, 2001 12:31 am

I used Jan as main thief and backup mage in a group. The main mage was a fighter/mage dual who fought with swords, so I gave Jan the staff of the magi. He was so great, because he was invisible all the time, and had the cloak of non detect. He is not the best fighter, of course, so I just had him hanging out invisible, cruising around and picking locks and disarming traps the whole time.

I think the worst thing about him is his low STR - just because he can't carry anything, not for fighting. He finds stuff, and then other characters have to come and pick the heavy stuff up. As far as ranged weapons, I traded his crossbow out, too, then I ended up equipping him with the throwing dagger you get somewhere. Is it Firetooth? It does good damage and it is very light, lighter than a crossbow, so his carrying capacity goes up...

His other gear is OK. His detect illusions ability is very good - he can detect/dispel away misleads, shadow doors and other mage tricks. He can detect while invisible.

Some of his gear would be worth taking from him if you have a thief or thief/mage in your party even if you don't like Jan...take the stuff and then Use Any Item later on in the game...that adventurewear that gives you 25% damage resistance would be hand for any thief/mage.

Astafas · Post by **Astafas** » Mon Aug 13, 2001 1:03 am

Originally posted by Musashi Miyamoto:
LOL he may be lower level, but correct me if i'm wrong when thiefs gets use all items can they use armor like plate mail and still cast?

They cannot cast spells when equipped with Plate Mail. Elven Chain Mails work fine though but Mage/Thieves can use these without the Use Any Item ability.

Skeelo · Post by **Skeelo** » Mon Aug 13, 2001 6:33 am

Jan sux...I've never found a use for him. Crap strength makes him worthless as far as a thief goes. I rather have a thief that can backstab than take Jan. Better mages in the game as well. Who cares about pickpocketing (cheese). Even though my assassin doesn't have full blown thief abilities he sure makes up with it pulling 180 dmg backstabs.

Astafas · Post by **Astafas** » Mon Aug 13, 2001 7:00 am

Originally posted by Skeelo:
Jan sux...I've never found a use for him. Crap strength makes him worthless as far as a thief goes. I rather have a thief that can backstab than take Jan. Better mages in the game as well. Who cares about pickpocketing (cheese). Even though my assassin doesn't have full blown thief abilities he sure makes up with it pulling 180 dmg backstabs.

1) Strenght isn't a prime requisite for a thief. And you can always raise his strenght to 19 as soon as you get the money to buy the Girdle of Hill Giant Strenght. Strong enough for backstabbing?
2) Better mages? Certainly, but not with so high, and improving, thief skills. Many people, me included, find pure thieves somewhat unnecessary, since there is no real need for more than 100 % in all theif skills (maybe with the exception of finding traps and picking pockets but there are always potions). A multiclass Thief/Mage makes perfect sense. And Jan leveling up lower than an ordinary thief is well compensated for with all his gear.
3) So you don't care about pick pocketing and you don't think Jan can backstab. Then what about finding all traps, disarming them, dispelling illusions, opening locks and laying own traps?

Lots of people don't like Jan because of his attitude or similiar reasons. This will have to be a personal preference. But if you have tried Jan and never found use for him, I can't help but question your knowledge about thieves.

THE JAKER · Post by **THE JAKER** » Mon Aug 13, 2001 9:07 am

I want to reiterate: Detect Illusions

Use it, love it.

Raven Avenger · Post by **Raven Avenger** » Mon Aug 13, 2001 10:45 am

I like Jan because of his attitude. I love hearing his stories of griffins and turnips. His armor and his crossbow is useless but the rest of his equippement is good. Then, it's handy to have an illusionist in the party.

Lews Therin · Post by **Lews Therin** » Mon Aug 13, 2001 10:48 am

Originally posted by BadLoser:
Yes, Baldric =)

I have a cunning plan.

fable · Post by **fable** » Mon Aug 13, 2001 11:06 am

Agreement with Astafas. It's all a matter of playing style and personal taste, but Jan definitely isn't a weak NPC. I don't think of him as a second-rate mage; he's a first rate thief with great second-stringer mage skills. Is an opposition magic caster winding up a spell, and your main mage or druid is preoccupied? There's always Jan to cast a Magic missile or wave a wand. And for that matter, sending Jan invisibly ahead to scout with a few wands is truly, truly evil. Leaving a trail of Cloudkill spells as he retreats comes periously close to cheesing--but it's damned effective.

[ 08-13-2001: Message edited by: fable ]

Musashi Miyamoto · Post by **Musashi Miyamoto** » Mon Aug 13, 2001 1:47 pm

LOL, even after buying nearly everything that both of the two bonus cdrom merchant had i still have execussive of over 190k worth of gold, which i usualy wase on buying massive amount of magic scrolls for my mages to learn then delete them from spell book then learn it again gets xp very fast, in a party of 4 i had something like 90+ scrolls saved up in the copper corent and i bolted from 1 to 10 with my mage

he dualed from kenshi at 13

Astafas · Post by **Astafas** » Mon Aug 13, 2001 1:54 pm

Pick Pocketing is useful early on in the game before you've got yourself a small fortune. Jan already have enough thief points (if he drinks a potion of master thievery first, that is) in order to steal the Ring of Regeneration (AM) and Tancheron's, Dwarven Thrower, Blackblood and many other items (Trademeet).