outfitting Mr. Minsc

[Ascendency-Down]

Hmm, I always rated Minsc as one of the weaker NPCs powergaming-wise - despite his versatility. But he can become a worthy addition to any party, if you use him properly.

Minsc starts with weapon proficiencies in mace, two-handed sword and long bow. Very handy at the beginning, when good two-handed swords are easy to obtain (Sarevok's Sword of Chaos, Lilarcor) and bows are still quite effectiv. So Minsc's role is that of an hard-hitting second-row fighter and occasional bowman at first. As soon as the Mace of Disruption is acquired, he becomes the party's prime undead hunter, too.

Since you get plenty proficiency points to distribute later on, you can just attune him to wield those powerful weapons which the rest of the party isn't using. So nobody else is using the Flail of Ages or Celestial Fury? No problem, just skill Minsc to do so. I tend to let him dual-wield then as I use him as flank attacker who isn't meant to soak up all the pain. As a ranger Minsc gets two points in two weapon-fighting style anyway, so why not make use of them? Sure, he could make a half-decent tank in case of emergency, but others (Korgan and Jaheira for example) excel him due to his rather bad saving throws and lack of magical defences.

His Armor? Full plate usually. I seldom let him scout ahead in light armor. Minsc as a stealthy stalker? Come on, that's out of character... I just can't imagine him sneaking up to some malevolent miscreants, when he could just smash open the door instead while shouting something weird about swift hamster justice.

[Klorox]

I like outfitting Minsc in that black dragon hide.

but the whole stealth thing loses a lot when you dont have a backstab multiplier. Still, with his STR (especially if he has Crom) He can usually take out a wizard before the fight begins.

[Kestrel Daystar]

After reading Ascendency-Down's post I am swayed to agree. Personally, as I have said earlier I use the Two-Handed Swords (purely because it was the first sword I gave to him and it just stuck) but Ascendency-Down makes a good point. I usually give the rest of my party two swords or weapons to wield, despite if they are profitient with them (really just because I like to make use of all the good weapons, heh [img]tongue.gif[/img] ).

For the RP side of Minsc I agree also about the armour. From hearing all of Minsc's battlecries about smashing and bashing evil, I dont picture him tip-toeing around in dark corners.

What I really wish is that Minsc was a paladin (or a thief for the 'use any item') so he could make use of Carsomyr) but hey, thats life.

--Kestrel--


p.s. Ascendency-Down, d'you like Nightwish?

[krunchyfrogg]

I like the stealthy Minsc, assuming I have another two people as tanks in the party. The armor made from the black dragon in SoA (and later there's a better armor in ToB), look great on Minsc.

I like having Minsc dual-weild, with either Crom Faeyr or Belm in his off-hand. As noted above, even without a thieves backstab ability, Minsc usually takes out a Mage in one unprotected attack. I think it's the ring of Air Control (or something like that) which has the Improved Invisibility ability 1x/day, which really helps Minsc out too. Every once in a while, he'll get exposed from hiding and need a getaway! It's also cool to do an attack and then hide again.

[Cerek]

I also picture Minsc as a hack-n-SMASH tank type. I give him full plate armor, two-hand sword, and long bow for 2-hand weapons.

Since Minsc IS a ranger, you can't overlook the advantages he gets for dual-wielding. I know he has proficiency in mace, but that just doesn't seem to fit his character to me. In my first BGII game, I used SK to change his mace proficiency to war hammer (seemed more appropriate). Then I equipped him with Crom and a second Hammer of T-Bolts (courtesy of SK again). Yeah, it was a bit of cheating with the second hammer, but Minsc absolutely ROCKED with that combo. I gave him the Cloak of Chee...uhm...Mirror and he cleaned out the Beholder lair in the Underdark practically singlehandedly.

Other cool dual-wield options would include Frostweaver and Stonefire or the Axe of Undead Blasting from Bernard in the Copper Coronet (dang, I'm having a brain cramp and canNOT remember the name of that axe).

And there are plenty of long swords available with very cool abilities.

If you want to mix the weapons Minsc duals with, then Flail of Ages and Crom is probably the most devastating combo you can give him. But other good mixes would be Kundane (which gives him the first attack in each round with a speed factor of 0) and Crom ({in off hand} which gives him Strength of 25). In fact, just equip Crom in his off hand for the Strength and then put the weapon of your choice in his other hand. Use Adjatha to make him immune to charm and domination and to heal damage with each hit. Or use Namarra and Sword of Balduran to turn him into a pseudo-Wizard Slayer. Namarra casts Silence 15' rad and Balduran gives 10% Magic Resistance.

If you want a stealthy ranger, then Valygar is a better candidate.

You can also go to Arundor's Abode to find and download more weapons. Fair warning, though, some are VERY powerful and may be too "powergame-ish" for some members.

As for 2-handed weapons, I have to agree that Minsc and Lilarcor just seem to be made for each other.

[ 12-24-2004, 08:25 AM: Message edited by: Cerek ]

[Magness]

Even from a roleplaying standpoint, Minsc and Lilacor are made for each other!


Rangers and hamsters and talking swords of the world UNITE!!!

[Rockstar]

Assuming you be a man and go for the whole saga:

BGI: two handed swords (spider's bane) or long swords (greywolf or +1 sword depending if your main character is proficient in long swords and you give him greywolf's sword)


BGII: i found that a combination that worked wonders.

Dual Wield: +++

Axe: ++


dual wield the frost axe from de arnise and the fire axe from copper cronet. This is AWESOME. These axes have elemental damage that will penetrait MOST mage spells where any weapon ... even the mighty holy avenger *said sarcastically* cannot hit, the elemental damage will send mages crawling away in fear holding thier wounds. These weapons spit on the two-handed sword. I think that you should only use two-handed swords if you are short of an archer because otherwise it is pointless for SOA. If you are short of an archer go twohanded swords because you can easily switch in battle (and it is minsc's trademark weapon)


late SOA/TOB: if you visit the watcher's keep you can get a +4 axe and then a +5 axe when you upgrade it (one of THE best weapons IMO). Here on you are better off finding another weapon of choice for your off-hand. May i suggest katanas or warhammers which are both good choices.

maybe even a long sword for your other hand. I don't dual wield long swords because it's just too painfully gay to see. Katanas/short swords/simitars (go drizzit!! ) are all wicked to use but ... nah not long swords lol

When you