Who should be my pickup tank?

Klorox · Post by **Klorox** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 9:15 pm

Korgan just died (I'm in Chapter 6, and this is a no-reloads game). He was chunkified (by my own party... long story), and now my party needs a new tank.

Here's my current party:
Gnick O'Thyme, Gnome Cleric/Illusionist
Jaheira
Imoen
Keldorn
Valygar

The party ranges from levels 13-15.

Here are the people I've considered so far:
Minsc (He's level 8 though)
Anomen (I think he's level 8 or 9, I picked him up briefly after exiting the first dungeon)
Mazzy (she'll spawn at level 12, I think. I think Mazzy can be a great tank, but she'll take a while to get there (I'd have her dual-weild with Crom Faeyr in the offhand).

If I reach ToB, Sarevok would be the obvious answer, but I've only just exited the Underdark, and I need a stand-in (at least) for quite some time! Any and all suggestions are appreciated.

fable · Post by **fable** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 9:31 pm

I'd suggest Mazzy. But remembe, whomever you use, they should gain experience more quickly than the rest of your party. I'd suggest taking some lesser quests to help build them up.

Crenshinibon · Post by **Crenshinibon** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 9:33 pm

I'll have to say, hands down, Haer' Dalis. This late in the game you should already have great equipment for him, and you should be more than capable of doing any quests that you haven't thus far, in order to boost his level (such as any dagons you haven't killed or Watcher's Keep).

As a Blade, he is a very versitile character and can effectively best any other NPC (yes, even your brother). Not only does he make an effective tank (Defensive Spin's imobility can be easily countered) but he makes a great frontal assult man. The equipment that he, in my opinnion needs, are very easy to find, and you should probably have those items... or hopefully have access to the shopkeeper that you sold them to.

SSoG · Post by **SSoG** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 11:29 pm

Jaheira's another really nice pickup if you just want a damage sponge. She's not anywhere near the killer that a Haer'Dalis or a Mazzy could become, but I find that a little bit of Iron Skins goes a long way towards glossing over a lot of weaknesses, especially when you can pair it with all of the standard Cleric tanking spells, heavy healing, and the best armors.

Plus I like elemental princes. They're different. They're fun.

C-K'R[PhoEniX] · Post by **C-K'R[PhoEniX]** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 12:06 am

Try Viconia. As much as I know she can use all types of hammers and maces, and she can also have a really nice AC, plus you get all the evil cleric spells.

Raven_Song · Post by **Raven_Song** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 7:09 am

Another vote for Mazzy.

Ian Kognitow · Post by **Ian Kognitow** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 6:01 am

I'd give a nod for Haer'dalis, but only if you plan to keep him in ToB, so that you will eventually be able to benefit from Enhanced Bard Song. And I suppose it also depends on how many quests you already did in Chapter 2 to make sure he even gets that far.

Otherwise, how about this: no replacement. Keldorn and Valygar should be adequate to your needs. If anything, just spawn more fodder or get Keldorn a Vhailors helm for added support. Your team (particularly with your multi-class PC and Jaheira around) will level-up faster through the remainder of SoA which may be more of a benefit. And you can still always add Sarevok later, without the annoyance of having built up a different, perfectly good character.

Reso · Post by **Reso** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 12:37 pm

Personally, I think you have enough tank-power already, with Keldorn, Jaheira and Valygar, up until you get Sarevok. However, if you really want another tank for the meantime, get Haer'Dalis. If you want one off that list, I'd choose Minsc. It shouldn't take him too long to catch up with the rest of your party in experience.

Klorox · Post by **Klorox** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 4:58 pm

1)Haer'Dalis, while a neat character, is not my cup of tea. I've never really learned how to utilize a Blade effectively, and I'm not going to find out in a no-reloads game. He also wasn't an option I put in there.

2)Viconia wasn't an option I put up there, she's not a tank, and I have a Cleric already.

3)Jaheira is already in my party.

4)I'm in a NO RELOADS game. I'm taking as many characters as possible!

Thanks for the help everybody. Mazzy it is.

I have the "ToB-style NPCs component of the G3-Tweak Pack installed, which allows you more control over NPCs proficiencies (they spawn at their minimum level each time, but will have as much XP as they usually would. You can choose some of their proficiencies this way). Mazzy will eventually be a Axe of Unyeilding/Crom Faeyr dual-weilder (if she lives that long). I figure she might be the best tank in the game that way, since she already has an awesome DEX of 18 (really helps with no shield), great "shorty" saving throws, and a STR of 25 with Crom Faeyr. Maybe it's not so bad I'm not getting her until Chapter 6!

Celacena · Post by **Celacena** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 10:28 am

I avoided Haircutleast for ages, but recently included him - as the party were already fairly fit, he came in at a decent level and his mage spells are an often-fogotten resource. I stuck him in a defensive spin in one encounter and it worked a treat - he can triple-wield which I have done by adding another weapon to his favourite 2 - he likes short swords so I started with Sword of the Mask +4. the drinker at +2 is handy as a mind-shield protection in some circumstances.

I always found Mazzy a little boring, even though I did equip her with either the Tuigan bow or the bow that shoots flaming arrows.

I echo other people in wondering whether you should bother at this point - Keldorn with carsomyr +5 and potion of speed is pretty awesome as a front line attacker - backed up by summoned creatures and missiles by the rest.
with Jaheira at a decent level too buffed up - they can take a fair bit of punishment.

Klorox · Post by **Klorox** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 4:55 pm

Hey guys, I picked up Mazzy, and she seems to be working well.

Unfortunately, very shortly after getting her, Valygar got himself chunkified by a greater mummy. I need a scout type: Do you think a much lower level Minsc can contribute (he's level 8 while Mazzy is level 12 and Keldorn is level 15 or 16)?

Either that, or I'm going to go with Haer'Dalis.