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Since I wanted to find out how to roleplay an assassin, I decided to run through SoA (and maybe ToB) again.

To make the game more interesting I decided to bring along at least one character I have never really used before, so I recruited Cernd. I have found that having both he and Jaheira able to cast insect swarm, summon fire elemental, and summon mountain bears quite handy His dialogues with Minsc are quite entertaining as well! But I am wondering how to make Cernd slightly less prone to dying. So far I have him equipped with bracers of AC 3, the cloak of displacement, and the belt of hill giant strength. These items have already made a significant improvement, but I am wondering if other people have also experimented.

BTW, I mean without cheating. It would be quite easy to go into SK and manipulate his stats but I would rather not do that

It's a long time since I took Cernd on board. IIRC, AC isn't the problem, as I gave him a ring of gaax and other AC-enhancing items and he still died pretty often. I found out via sk that his saving throws are quite yucky, especially against magic and breath weapons, if memory serves me right. I would use him as a backliner to make him less prone to dying.

@Baldursgate Fan, Thanks !
That would explain why the cloak of displacement helps, since it gives +2 to death, breath and wand saving throws. So part of the answer might lie in equipping him with items that aid saving throws. I do keep him as a backliner for the most part, but occasionally I bring him into melee

no use giving him the belt when he's a backliner.
you could give him belt of innertial barrier instead

I*ve had no prblems with im..... just keep him in his greater wolfware state and just unchange if you really need his spells.......which shouldn't happen that often.....

Originally posted by globester
no use giving him the belt when he's a backliner.
you could give him belt of innertial barrier instead

That's what I generally do when he's at the back I tend to switch items around depending on what I have the NPCs doing.

@garazdawi,
Yup! always an option But I like the variety of being able to switch him back into human form without him crumpling at my feet every time an enemy takes a swipe at him

More seriously, I have discoved that equiping him with the various items above helps a lot, I was just curious if anybody knew of other useful equipment he can wear

Barkskin and ironskins work quite well too, come to think of it.

Cernd,
well that's a difficult NPC,
he recuirs lot's of guidance
(luckily he can heal himself)
Use him as a backup spellcaster, or shapchange, but I don't find that very effective.
But you right about the saving trows (weird that they are so low)
I used potions on him, I never ever use potions, except the healing potions.\, but on Cernd they can do mirracles, try it sometime!

staff of the woodlands?

@dragonwench

You are welcome!

@globester

Now, that's a great idea! Never thought of giving him the woodlands thingy.