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Hello,

I've started a new game and I'm a berserker Dwarf dual wielding 2 longswords. Now I am thinking about who to take with me, Minsc or Valygar? Both are quite capable fighters and rangers. Minsc has a lot of funny character parts while Valygar hates magic.

Wich one would you choose? And why?

Thanks

There is no particular reason to take any of them. Thus i would choose neither. Or Minsc, he has funny dialogs. And you get him early. and need a fighter anyway.

It depends on play style. Minsc is your standard tank while Valygar requires a bit more subtlety. Valygar actually makes a pretty good first-strike backstabber, especially in the vanilla game where mages aren't prepped with stoneskin and mirror image before the fight. You can backstab with Valygar knowing that he has the fortitude to not immediately be squashed by powerful opponents like a normal thief would (even with invisibility potions because you know their mage is going to find you with True Sight unless you finish him off before he throws his stone skins on).

I would like to make a note to the previous post that thieves will still be better at backstabbing than stalkers in terms of damage due to the larger multiplier. The only advantage that a stalker has, aside from greater survivability (we're not counting potions and scrolls here mind you) is a greater THAC0, which a thief CAN achieve. As for True Sight, it is easily countered by Non-Detection (or the Cloak of Non-Detection which is available almost immediately).

Yes, personally I've always preferred Minsc over Valygar. Valley Girl is just more of a flavor character like Haer'Dalis. They're not that useful but they're an interesting alternative to the standard options.

maybe it is good to say that I allways play with full party's. This is propably gonna be my party:

Dwarf Berserker
Minsc/Valygar
Aerie
Nalia/Imoen(after spellhold)
Anomen
Jan Janssen

I beg to differ. Haer' Dalis is one of the most powerful NPCs from the game, after all of the mage characters. As far as fighters go, he can best ANY of them.

The only problem I see with Haer'dalis is that his constitution score is almost non-existent. If he gets hit by the wrong mob without protections up, he's as good as dead.

As for the Minsc/Valygar situation...I've got some experience with each.

Minsc makes a great straight-up tank, and in many parties he will be the leader in the kills column. I prefer to equip him with a two-handed sword because of his banter (SWORD!! MEET EVIL!! Etc.), but he was more deadly when I equipped him with Crom Faeyr and Runehammer than with Gram/Grief.

Valygar hits like a truck if used properly. You won't necessarily want him on the front line as he is wearing leather, but take him on back-stab runs and he's one of the more deadly NPCs in the game. Equip him with his sword and Celestial Fury and watch the carnage.

I personally prefer Minsc because of the nostalgic attachment I feel from BG1, and his banter was great, but with the right group Valygar can be a very interesting companion.

I prefer Minsc because I am used to him since I used him all the time in BG. Minsc has good strength, good with a two handed sword and an excellent fighter. Valygar is just emo to me. I get sick of him and his whining about magic, not going to fit well with <CHARNAME> being a mage of some kind.

Haer' Dalis's constitution score can easily be fixed with the use of a certain girdle.

As for Minsc and Valygar, both of them are like tanks (as Valygar CAN use a certain type of non leather armor). Aside from a nice AC, they have the support of spells to help them. I'd say that in terms of power, Valygar is stronger, but I always choose Minsc for the same reason as Berethor.

Crenshinibon wrote:I beg to differ. Haer' Dalis is one of the most powerful NPCs from the game, after all of the mage characters. As far as fighters go, he can best ANY of them.

Who would you leave out of the party to take Hear'Dalis with you?

If it were up to me, I'd kick either Anomen or Korgan. Haer' Dalis would be able to do Korgan's role as a fighter and tank (when buffed) and Anomen, well, he can be a good fighter too, but you already have divine support from Aerie (which can be an amazing fighter when properly buffed). I'm leaning towards kicking Anomen more because Korgan has some great banters with your party.

Korgan isn't in his party, and if you've got Jan, Aerie and Nalia/Imoen you need a Bard like a hole in the head.

I'd always take Valley Girl out of the two, better in combat, and I hate, loath and detest that evil scumbag Minsc. However, I'd take Korgan over either of them if I have the happy party mod running.

galraen wrote:Korgan isn't in his party, and if you've got Jan, Aerie and Nalia/Imoen you need a Bard like a hole in the head.

I'd always take Valley Girl out of the two, better in combat, and I hate, loath and detest that evil scumbag Minsc. However, I'd take Korgan over either of them if I have the happy party mod running.

I'm with Galraen: your party has some serious magical power in the wings, but also some of the weakest melee types around. Korgan is the tank you need to compensate.

I saw "Dwarf Berserker" and instantly thought of Korgan. My mistake.

As for the choice, I'd drop Anomen. By comparison, Korgan might be more useful in SoA, but when you approach ToB, Haer' Dalis will be a better fighter. As a Blade, even now, he can take on many situations by himself.

Blades are fine if you enjoy micro-managing (and don't mind exploiting glitches), but you get far better banter with Korgan in the party, and there is the potential romance problem with Haer' Dalis in the party with Aerie.

The banter gets even better with Korgan and Mazzy together, throw in Valygar with them and it can get really entertaining.

galraen wrote:The banter gets even better with Korgan and Mazzy together, throw in Valygar with them and it can get really entertaining.

There are also some great banters for Korgan in the Improved Banter mod.

Blades are great even without exploiting glitches.

I often make Minsc a Barbarian since I feel its a beter fit for his personality and back story not to mention his wisdom score. Minsc as a Babrbarian with your Berzerker and Anomon give you a rediculous trio of tanks leaving Aerie, Jan and Nalie/Imoen free to cast away.