GameBanshee Forums

Korgan can't use Azureedge, it's good players only!

Minsc is a mental and so is Boo

Valygar is better double equipped..+ better with bows

No blabbling makes me feel better too...I will never have Minsc in my party!

Valygar is probably the better ranger in terms of more powerful, but I really adore Minsc and Boo and would never leave them out of my party. I just like the funny character of Minsc, whereas I found Valygar pretty boring.

Before summoning up the poll so far, I'd like to give my own vote.

This will go to Valygar. His strenght are already well explained above. I usually let him Dual Wield CF and the Corthala Family Blade while equipping him with every AC lowering item I can.

Yesterday my party met a Ankheg up in Windspear. Remember how tough these could be in BG1? Valygar ran fourth with Boots of Speed and, very casually it looked to me, took a swing with his left Katana. Critical hit for 50 HP - the Ankheg was dead before any of my other NPCs had the time to lift a finger. A good hit, Valygar calmly stated. I like him even more after that incident...

Minsc on the other hand, I find extremely annoying. I like both Anomen and Nalia, but can't stand Minsc. Maybe I have to try harder.

So, the result:

Valygar - 8 votes

Minsc - 8 votes

(I counted TheDude's vote(s) as one for each). We're at a draw here people, so keep voting. Every reason for your opinion is valid.

Although for rp reasons, I find Minsc terribly lovable, (I played BGI more times than I could count, and he was my favorite NPC hands down), I prefer Valygar. A good offense is the best defense, and with the duel wielded katanas and the backstabbing script, the enemies are usually close to dead before they think about focusing their attacks on him. Then again, my main character is a monk, so armor class is not one of my main obsessions

I just find duel wielding katanas much more useful than maces. I did not keep the illithium and can't upgrade the mace of disruption anyway. I seriously considered hacking the game and rearranging Minsc's proficiencies, but am reluctant to submit to the temptation to "Cheat". Maybe my next time through (and I have no doubt there will be a next time) I'll keep the illithium and Minsc.

Minsc and BOO are great fun, Valygar is just too boring and I think a ranger should always have some animal companion.
Personality is most important for choosing NPCs, if I need power, I'll let the PC do the job.

I prefer Valygar as well. Duel wielding katanas is much more useful than duel wielding maces (as mentioned in a prefvious post). But what thing that really frustrates me about Minsc is that he's too stupid to last long against Mind Flayers (low int.).

If you ask for the better ranger, I think that's Valygar.

He actually can use his ranger abilities like stealth and the two extra points in dual wielding. His spellcasting also benefits from his higher wisdom.

Minsc is just to good a tank to be a ranger. If you give him full plate he has no stealth and I never let him dualwield anything, when I saw him first I thought that's the guy for the two handed sword.

However I still prefer Minsc as an NPC, whether one like it or not he has more personality and somehow I never saw much use for Valygar in my parties.

I would have to say Minsc is the best ranger. I love his comments and he makes a great tank. Valygar always seemed kind of weak, and not very ranger like. He always seemed more like a theif to me.

Valygar fits the ranger profile a lot more than Minsc does. I can easily imagine Valygar tracking foes and hiding in trees to pick off foes with arrows, but Minsc? He's a lot more like the Barbarian from Diablo 2, a fearsome warrior with shamanistic tendencies.

I like Minsc, but I don't find him to be much of a ranger. Next game I play that has him in it, I'm hacking him to a Barbarian. (hopefully, Boo will remain in his inventory).

Valygar's a great stalker- very quiet. However, I just never really got a feel for his character.

Of course, I've been a bit biased, ever since "Stand and deliver, so that my hamster may have a better look at you".

Personality is everything to me, and Valygar has about as much personality as a wooden clothespin.

Minsc already has ++ in maces, so all that's required of you, the player, is to give him ++ in flails as well. The Celestial Fury and Corthala Family Blade are great, and so are the Improved Mace of Disruption and Flail of Ages. True, aside from Boo, Minsc isn't very Rangerly. Still, you could have a more thoroughly engaging conversation with Boo than you could with Valygar...

[ 06-16-2001: Message edited by: TheHellion ]

In terms of pure fighting power I have to say Valygar. Celestial Fury and his Corthala family blade kick ass. Especially in with the added bonus of backstabs and some useful spells for backup. He just needs a few items such as a strength belt.

Minsc makes a better tank because of his armor. He does seem more like a barbarian to me, though, except for Boo. I would take Minsc if I needed a tank, but Valygar if I needed a middle-line fighter. Also, I agree that NPC personality adds a lot to the game (after trying a multiplayer party I decided this) and, for better or for worse, Minsc has a whole lot more personality than Valygar. Talking to Valygar is like talking to a tree while talking to Minsc is like talking to a raving drunk maniac . Some people find this really annoying but I think it is funny. Anyways, I also can't wait to see how Boo becomes more useful like they claimed he would. That should be great.

Possibly the main reason why I prefer Minsc than Valygar is his personality.
Without it he is still a really good fighter.
Those who think that valygar is better than Minsc beacause he can dual wield his sword and the fury, well, quite frankly, minsc can do the same. He has two profs. in 'Two Weapon Style'. Equip Minsc with the Blackrazor and the Celestial Fury. That, mixed with a cool personality, makes Minsc a really enjoyable character. Besides, games are for fun, and Minsc really highlights the playing expierence.

"I've grown Tierd of sreaming Battle cries to this Wizard!!"
"Evil, meet sword, SWORD MEET EVIL!!!!"