Minsc: Fighter or Archer?

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Information about my party:
Lvl 9 Fighter (me)
Minsc
Jaheira
Arie
Nalia (to be replaced later i think)
Jan Jansen

so, im planning to get rid of Nalia and put Minsc on a bow and then get Keldorn as a second fighter, is this a good solution?
Since im in Firkraags dungeon, and im gonna kill him one way or another (without cheating!)
I'd like to use the Carsomyr and a friend of mine told me that only Paladins may use it, so if that is true, i need to get Keldorn so i can use this great weapon! =D

so what do you think about this?

 

Hmm, Minsc is both - fighter *and* archer once he has the gauntlets of dexterity. since they, however, are only available once in the game, you indeed do have to make the choice between both of them (if you want them to b in this roles: Missile weapon fighter vs. carsomyr-wielder.

Just like Keldorn, Minsc is a very solid char and I always found his melee abilities with halberds and two-handes swords outstanding. Compared to him, Keldorn IMO always was weaker. Well, unlike Minsc he can use carsomyr (an impressively powerful (or better overpowered) weapon and I always found his true-sight & dispell magic very valuable. So he's a useful char.

Minsc is very useful as well, since he has str-18/93 iirc and his dex isn't that bad either. The dex boni are not that important once you reached higher levels and you may achieve about the same result by giving him the bracers of archery (without improving his AC though ). For me Minsc was always very powerful, both in melee and ranged weapon fighting.

It's totally up to you and btw - little Mazzy is better than both minsc and Keldorn

 

Well, yes i know that he is Both an Archer and fighter, but which weapon should i equip him with? Bow or Sword, cause it would be nice to have an archer that can use the good bows in the game,

my own fighter has ***** i katana... stupid? well, maybe, dunno, but i like Katanas and last time i played with a fighter i dubblewielded 2 katanas and it kicked ass!

but i think i will get rid of Nalia and get keldorn as a second fighter and get Minsc on Bow, or is there any other Archer i should get instead and continue using Minsc on greatswords?

eh!

 

I use Minsc as an archer until the enemies are close and then I make him use the greatsword - no reason to melee enemies without weakening them first

 

Give him both weapons and decide how to make him fight according to which enemy you face.
No need for shooting at enemies who have missile resistance, though the gesenbow usually gets thru.

 

I use minsc with Sword of Chaos, Crom Fyr, and Heart Seeker +3. The script I use is standard attack. This works great for me. However, my party is almost all melee, due to the fact the majority of my characters are level 15+ and can actually fight. Also each character has a ranged weapon equipped, except Valygar and Imoen.
Monk - Fist / Darts
Jaheira - Club / Sling +3 + str bonus
Minsc - See above
Keldorn - Holy Avenger +5 / Giant Hair Crossbow
Valygar - Original Katana & Celestial Sword
Imoen - Dagger +3 / Staff of the Air +2 (also uses darts and sling +3)

Most of the weapons I use are based more on their ability to stun, weaken, or any other effect that will slow an enemy down. My monks fists do 1 - 20 damage and are effectivly +3 weapons. Not to mention my thac0 is -6 or -7.

Anyways my answer is to use Minsc as both, because he has skill in both areas. Apart from my main he is my best, then Keldorn or Valagyr.

RD

 

Get Mazzy as your archer because she Rocks at shooting people, with the Tuigan bow she is like a minigun
And then get Keldorn to wield the Carsomyr and a halberd or something, And if you are annoyed about the strngth just give him a strength girdle with that and the gauntlets of dexteruty he is very good.

And to answer your Topic question: Minsc is not either fighter or archer: Minsc=CRAP.

 

I'd have to agree with Firestorm.In my opinion, Mazzy is the best NPC archer in the game, with Haer'Dalis a close second. (the advantage of Haer'dalis is his ability to cast spells.

Unless of course, you dual class Yoshimo into a fighter and have him specialize in bows, but that might take a long time...

Personally, I prefer Minsc a melee fighter, to maximize his great strength. Although I also have him wield a bow, especially as a first shot strategy against mages, then I make him close in. In this way, I save those magical arrows.

Besides, there are more powerful magical two handed swords than bows to my recollection. I could be wrong though...

 

I'm sorry, but I just can't imagine Minsc with a bow. I always think he can't wait to get to grips with the enemy in close combat, and probably makes thinks that anyone who doesn't wield a bloody great two-handed sword is a bit of a sissy (to put it lightly).

 

Hi,

Not sure what the problem is here? Minsc as a ranger has three quick weapon slots, when you get him he is specialised in long bow, mace and two handed sword.
I equip him with a long bow, mace and two handed sword. I guess you could use the quick slots for three melee weapons, but why not make use of his bow?
My fighting style tends to let the enemy come to me, while they are doing that, I hit them with spells and ranged weapons and then switch to melee weapons when they are close. Classic BG1 style.
I only tend to send characters running in if I know exactly what is in the fog of war or I want to rush one particular enemy (invariably a mage) and bring them down quickly. Of course everyone plays differently.
My current party consists of minsc, keldorn, jaheria, aerie, imoen and me (mc f/m). Currently minsc has that talking great sword +3, mace of disruption and heatseeker bow. I also made him specialised in flail (he is level 16 now) and he carries the flail of ages. He also carries a couple of other maces (one for demons and the other for humaniods). He is great with his bow, mace (against vampires, his racial enemy, he rocks) and 2 handed sword, and does the occasional dual wielding action with the flail and one of the maces.
Never understood why he gets such a bad press.

Cheers,

WittyNewt

 

What he said.

[Now, now, Mr. level 5 Xvart, you should know better than to make posts like this - BTA]

[This message has been edited by Blackthorne TA (edited October 22, 2001).]

Edit:

Apologies. The previous poster summed my feelings up exactly. In the future, if I have nothing additional to add, I will refrain from posting.

[This message has been edited by Jack Funk (edited October 22, 2001).]

 

I always took a different approach to Minsc, given that his dexterity (and therefore his AC) is very bad.

He comes with a proficiency point in battle ax, so I eventually up that to specialized. Arm him with one of the two returning throwing axes you can get in the game, and Frostreaver (from the D'Arnise Keep), that way he has good missle and melee capability, and you can equip him with one of the fancy shields available: the +4 tower shield or the shield of harmony comes to mind.

After all of that, you don't need to ressurect him nearly as often.

[This message has been edited by ArtEChoke (edited October 22, 2001).]

 

Hmm, if I want someone to weild silver sword, I'll take Minsc, else he has no chance.

 

Minsc is a ranger. Rangers are normally fighters AND archers. But, a ranger can specialize in 2 weapon fighting (3 slots instead of 2 for fighters) So they can be deadly fighters when they fight with two weapons. I have always seen minsc as a better fighter then archer, at least with Two Weapons. Minsc shouldn't fight with a two handed sword IMHO. Go for 2 weapons (Flail of the Ages, Crom Faeyr or Mace of Desruption +2 for example) and you would be suprised how powerful Minsc really is!

And you also shouldn't forget Boo. When Minsc attacks someone with a bow, from a 60 ft range, how could Boo then ever go for the eyes!?

Indeed only paladins can fight with a Holy Avenger sword like Carsomyr. But Keldorn can use this sword AND a good crossbow. Then in a fight, just stand and attack the enemies ranged, until they reach you. Then simply swith to melee attack with the whole party. It doesn't have to be a choice between melee and ranged... just choose both.

[This message has been edited by Headbanger (edited October 23, 2001).]

 

Fighters can't have *** in two-weapon style?

Anyway, the main reason I don't let Minsc use two weapons is his line when an enemy is immune to his damage: "No effect? I think I need a bigger sword!"

I just can't imagine Minsc without a huge, preferably talking, sword and a bow.

 

The point about rangers and two-weapon-style is that they get 2 bonus ** in that skill on their normal weapon proficiencies (I'd rather like to see it on single-handed-weapon style, but noone asked me .... )

 

I've had Minsc dual wield with Celestial Fury plus an axe or blunt weapon...Next favorite would be to use Lilacor

Right now my party has me (Cavalier), Minsc, Viconia, Aerie, Yoshimo, and Keldorn...and I'm going through the cult of the eyeless. Only Minsc and Viconia are mainstays in my party...maybe Aerie cause I need a mage until I find Immy.

[This message has been edited by Sir Belisarius (edited October 23, 2001).]

 

Ragusa, it's not about your rules but about the D&D rules, and in both 2nd and 3rd edition (I am a ranger so I can know this) the best thing of a ranger is the Two Weapon Fighting Bonus and the Spellcasting. So use this benefits and let them play with two weapons. Straight fighters can specialize in Lilacor till Grandmastery so use this for a straight fighter and let Minsc use two weapons!

 

Dear o dear

You have it all wrong! Minsc shall FIGHT! He's not likely to hang around the back like chicky Edwin now is he (although no-one can oppose his mighty monkey-ass kicking spells!).

Give him twin Maces and see waht he does for you. If you want an archer/fighter, get Mazzy, she pumps out those arrows like a hamster on a treadmill...!

 

BAHHT KEEKING - FOR GOODNESS!
Minsc is the bomb-diggety, dudes...
Combine:
1 Heartseeker Bow with dispelling arrows,
2 Gauntlets of Dexterity,
1 babblin', whompin' 2-handed sword (Lilarcor),
1 3-headed Flail of the Ages, and
1 Mace of Disruption (to be dualled with Flail).
Sprinkle liberally with var. armors, helms, rings, protections, and girdles to taste.
Garnish with one Miniature Giant Space Hamster and a grape juice ring on forehead, and voila!

One WHACK killing machine!

(or, maybe...just WHACKED!?!)