Jan doesn't have a lot in them, and I'm wondering if they're worthwile, in terms of damanging monsters and... whatever, anything else.

I've taken Jan both times through my game, and I do so specifically for his set traps and pickpocketing abilities. As he progresses, he will get to set more traps.

And when you move on to TOB, you are really going to love all those special traps he has!

Just my opinion http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...iles/smile.gif

traps are very useful and in ToB you get a few very powerful new ones.
however, most people resort to using traps to trap spawn areas, i.e. setting traps in exactly the location, where you know a tough monster is going to appear, or setting them around neutral monsters before they turn hostile (Firkraag for example). this in my book qualifies as ultra cheese and that's one of the reasons I only use thieves in a very limited capacity (after getting her back, Imoen is all the thief I need; if she's not in the party, then I just play without a thief).

Although I didn't use traps a lot, they really come in handy at certain difficult battles, especially with dragons, the liches etc.

as far as the cheese aspect of traps go, since the game doesn't allow you to set them during combat, you have no choice but to set them before. whether you do this at a spawn point or just lure the enemy to the trap seems a pissy technicality.

otoh, the whole aspect of these things seems out of balance anyway. a 15th level thief has enough traps that do enough damage (over several rounds) to wipe out every wave of cowled enforcers that come after you in athkatla, as well as every lich in town. a bounty hunter's traps (yoshi) are even deadlier. im not sure how the designers saw them fitting into the game.

in actuality they are nothing more than a skull trap or delayed blast fireball that thieves can use, though the fact that they won't harm the party nor is any creature immune to their damage makes them kinda silly in an otherwise reasonably balanced game.

so to answer your question: yes, traps can kick much tail with little brainpower (i.e. tactics/strategy) on your part.