Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - Suggestions & Feedback Minsc with low Strenght?? abilityscores fix please

Im I the only one who is annoyed by the change of abilityscore of the companions when they become companions..
If you right click on the companion before making them into a companion, they will have unique and lorefriendly abilityscores.

every companion change into their default class stats.. the same you get if you make a tav.
an example is minsc, have high strenght before be becomes at companions if you right click on him and examine..
and low when he become a companions.

I know you can respec, but they should atleast start with their lorefriendly stats.

Maybe you should blame the people who claim that combat is too easy.

Interestingly enough Minsc DOES appear as a high STR build in the game up to the point where you recruit it (try to inspect him as a NPC).
It's just when he joins the party that stats get reset to the default distribution for rangers.


Personally, while I never used him too much, I regularly respec him as a barbarian dual class because frankly speaking while it's not strictly his canonical class it's the most lore-friendly way to make him match his older self in BG2.

Indeed, Minsc was a barbarian before the class was invented

STR 20, DEX 15, CON 15, INT 8, WIS 6, CHA 9

Those are his BG3 NPC stats before recruitment.

The 6 in Wisdom is the most problematic. First because the only way to achieve that in the BG3 scheme would be via Debuffs, like at the Zaithisk or Shar's mirror, and second because -2 hits quite a bit harder than just 'no spells' like in the BG1 context, since Wis checks are all over the place now.

In the new point buy for BG3, 8 (-1) is the new 10, and 20 is the new 18/00, so if the archetype for Minsc is heavy on the brawn but rather dimwitted, it's hard without a heavier malus for the mental stats, like we see in his NPC version stat spread. If he's somehow slower on the uptake and his angle is that he's reckless and impulsive, that is expressed via low Wisdom I guess. Virtually everyone else has at least a 10 or a 12 in Wis, and the game incentivizes us not to dump Wisdom. For the Illlithid abilities the framing there also has Wisdom checks call for a 2, but then everyone typically has a bonus of at least +1. Having low Dex and low Wisdom is terrible for a Ranger now, but perhaps that could be handwaved as something to do with the worm?

Minsc is tadpoled, unlike Jaheira, and so we can use our Illithid connection to communicate. He's also shielded by the Emperor immediately if he's recruited. Just like with Omeluum and Tav, perhaps MInsc might undergo a power up from that process? Some bonus that gives him extra Wisdom, just enough to be competent there. Or they could raise the roof on his Dex to match the new Ranger specs with a similar conceit. An 18 in Strength would also have been respectable, I'm not sure that he really needed to hit 20 there to maintain strong guy vibes, but it should least be 18 right?

For Dexterity, the Brawling Hands would have been an alright option. In BG1 those gauntlets set the character's Dex to 18 and were acquired from those Ogres by the bridge, on his first quest to rescue Dynaheir from the Gnolls. We already have a pair of Dex gloves in BG3 which do that though, and I think I'd want him to hit 20 in his prime if he's going to remain a Ranger.

I feel like his berserk should come from an innate ability, like maybe it's attached to the summon Boo ability, some item in his inventory that grants Wrath at the start of combat or whatever. I think it would be easier to add a rage-like ability to a Ranger archetype, than it would be to change his class. Even in BG2 when the Barbarian class was introduced, they didn't take that opportunity to re-class him then, so probably would be odd to do it at this point. His Berzerk state was wilder than the standard Barbarian rage, higher risk because he might lose control and start swacking at teammates. I don't know that's a particularly fun mechanic. Like it's one thing if it's a crazy cursed Sword absolute act of desperation, but the idea of him constantly getting confused or turning neutral yellow and doing his own thing in the middle of combat would be kind of annoying. Now that Boo is an actual summon, he might have some cool moves that work in tandem. Similar to the specialty Fighter Maneuvers, like maybe Minsc gets extra rage-y and out of control, but to compensate Boo get's a power up while that's happening? Something to make it seem more worthwhile.

In general I think it's kinda rough that the game plays so fast and loose with the idea of stat blocks for the companions. It removes an optimization challenge having to work around a character's stats to get the most out of their unique spread, or creating stat blocks that might lend themselves towards particular Multi-Class combos. Not that those have to be written in stone and immutable, they could still offer the same options to respec and switch stuff around, but it would give players something to work with keying off the defaults. Shadowheart for example has had her stat block changed a few times. Using her base stats and subclass is a more challenging experience than changing her into a Storm Cleric or Life Cleric. You know, with reworked stats so she can go all Dex heavy or use different weapons, or STR heavy and using different armor. I think everyone tries to respec Shadowheart though at the first point where it makes sense to do so, just cause Trickery domain is rough. Minsc had more baggage than Shadowheart did when we first met her though, since peeps have an idea of him from the previous games as a standard Warrior Brawler as like his whole thing. Boo didn't do anything in BG1, aside from taking up a quickslot, so it was pretty much down to the Swords. I'm sure there were maybe a couple runs where we kept him in leathers and did some light scouting, but in the main it was heaviest armor biggest weapon, up front to receive the big blows. I just have a hard time with him as a Ranged Ranger pinging from the backfield. Not that he didn't use the longbow often enough in BG1/2, but you know what I mean right?

Anyhow, I agree it would have been interesting to see a bit more work put into differentiating him from the more standard Tav ranger via stuff like starting Stats. Having Boo as a summon is definitely a draw. With Scratch, Shovel, and Us, Boo sorta completes the team. I feel like he'd see more action if the party was larger, but right now it's always hard to bench someone else, so he can come along for the ride too.

I actually like the idea that maybe Boo grants Minsc a series of bonuses that put him slightly ahead of the power curve. Similar to Jaheira's Sylvan Scimitar the uses Wisdom for attack, or her character items we pick up later on, except in this case it's Boo who awards the boon.

For example a Boo +1 to Strength, would allow him to hit that 18 immediately, so that even when he is first recruited or respec'd it would show that 17 + 1 in STR. Since Boo is a badass he might do that and it would probably make as much sense as anything else. By allowing him to raise the roof in STR over the limit of what would normally be available (similar to the Hag's hair but specific to him) this would allow us to keep some of that super strength fantasy. Even for respec'd Minsc that ended up going with a lower Strength for some other concept, he'd still have the little bit extra to carry over the idea from the older games. Then he could hit 21 in STR if the player pushed that far, similar to the way Jaheira can hit a 21 in her prime, since that's closer to what 18/93 would be now probably. I think they should lean into that idea floated around that whatever stat is highest compensates for Class abilities. So like just giving him an item that makes STR the main thing he needs, and then he has some item or just Boo, which does the translation into Ranger specs. Just so it doesn't come across as a nerf, but rather something to get excited about.

I said this from day one of when the possibility was announced.

Just because a feature is CONVENIENT it doesn't mean it makes a game better.

In this case being able to redistribute stats at will (on top of the already unlimited respec) means that the characters have basically no set identity and they can be molded by the players in whatever they want.

Which sure, on the short term is a great option to have when you need to change their class or adjust the unmitigated disaster Larian did with some of them in their default form... But it's bittersweet at best because it makes you feel like none of what they are matters in the slightest.

There isn't any "Astarios is dexterous and Gale is intelligent" (and so on). They all are just what you want them to be.

+1
Origins should be non-respecifyable, regardless if PC or party members.

I think they could have done it where we can respec back down to lvl 1, but without being able to change say background or attributes, or at least on higher difficulty settings they could have priced that in a bit more. Increases the likelihood of multi-classes over respecs I would think, if it was more costly. It could just be another thing that scaled with character level, to make it somewhat less attractive the further along we are in the campaign, but without totally closing off the option to retool whatever character down to the roots. I don't know, but if it costs 1000 GP instead of 100 that might make a difference. Or there could be limits on respecs down to the level when the character was first recruited, basically by chapter BG1 style. So allowing a bit more flexibility for the characters that come into things earlier on, but also some room for more fully formed characters to emerge in later acts.

So for example say Minsc is a lvl 10 recruit. He might have a couple feats or perhaps a multiclass angle when he first arrives. If one wanted to do the Berserker/Ranger concept I mean. Maybe he's actually got one of those 3/7 multi-class splits ready to roll. The player gets a nice power up by selecting feats for a lvl 4/8 finish to give him some flavor that way. Maybe not the strongest combo but a feat for each level in the finale is kinda fun. Probably Wizards wouldn't sign off on making him multi-class canonically, but if not that then I think maybe via itemization he should just have some Martial or Berserk style abilities added into his Ranger package via Boo.

Maybe he has the OP Tavern Brawler feat sorta baked-in too, with a goofy throw attack called "Flying Boo"

Or maybe a Longsword called the "Boo-merang" that returns when thrown? I could see that lol

As a Minsc power fantasy, they could use the STR bonus +1 from Boo, and the STR bonus +1 from Tavern Brawler feat to set him up with a 19 upon recruitment? Would probably hit some kinda sweet spot between 18/93 in the old scheme and 20 in the new one.

Then he could be the crazy Tavern Brawling Ranger with berserk flare we all know he was meant to be, or the player could just nix that whole idea and rework him completely for some slightly higher cost in gold. Might be fun. They could do the same for Jaheira and Minthara or Halsin, to give those characters more of a package. I don't think Jaheira really needs any help, but Minthara, Halsin and Minsc all come on the scene pretty late. For someone who's less familiar the levelling up process is probably also a bit of a challenge unto itself, so having a standard default with the stat blocks and spells and all the rest already laid out would probably be a convenience for many players. Minthara is fine if you just keep clicking the spacebar when levelling, but for the Druids you got spells to sort, so I could see a reason to give them starting blocks ready to go. For others it might just add to the challenge, like how to transform the character from the defaults in a no respec run with a bit more to lean into on that. Allowing the player to optimize as they go to rework a character around the equipment we pick up along the way makes it attractive to retool the characters for whatever situation, but then we lose out a bit on the Custom character or the hirelings feelings somehow special by comparison, since all the companions can be switched around to optimize. Being able to say adjust Shadowheart's default Domain removes the incentive to try playing as a Cleric yourself. Or similarly if you can rework Jaheira to be a Spore druid or whatever. I do feel like Minsc comes on board so late that he doesn't really have room to shine, regardless of what class we chose for him or how we try to outfit him into the crew. I feel like he needs a bit more gusto somehow, like starting with the STR boost hehe.

The special range attack could be "Go for the eyes, Boo!"

I like your idea for Companions coming with a certain number of levels which cannot be touched I love your lvl 3/7 split sugestion.
Still, I think that Minsc should be "Sir Not Appearing In This Movie".

Jaheira? In spite of Fighter/Druid being just as silly today as it was over 25 years ago, I'd still want it. Maybe lvls 3/3 when recruited? Maybe with baked in Ankheg Armour, Medium Armour, AC 15, +3 DEX bonus, usable only by middle aged female half-elves with Russian accent.

Origins as party members - I'd like like to see fixed race, backgrounds (these two we have already), starting stats, and 1st class. Shadowheart could have a "special" i.e. a change of Domain and Deity if she makes certain choices, on top of a new 'do and dyejob.

they should just have give them their original stats, the origins have character sheets in the deluxe edition, that dosent match their in game stats.. even the starting cantrip for Astarion and Shadowheart, that you cant change is wrong.. on their sheets, which makes sense its minor illusion.. and firebolt in game.. Jaheiras stats is also totally wrong when you rectrut her, and its impossible to replicate her stats, just like Minsc, Minthara and Halsin.

I really hope someone from Larian see this problem, that you have to pay 100 gold to respec to make them lorefriendly.. and you cant even replicate their original stats..

should atleast start with the lorefirendlystats, then people can change them into, whatever they want..