@Cop doesn't matter you can give Rasaad good Ac if you invest in him.... he should easily be able to get ac -2... on the next run i'm going to use him and maximize him out... to see how good or bad he is
Like I said, read an earlier post I typed about a late-game Rasaad. He's almost as good as a Fighter if he's equipped and Buffed. He could have a decent AC for BG1 and be extremely effective.
Only downside I see, is not having his fists be magical weapons. Which, really to me, isn't that big of a deal. There's always Scimitars, slings/bullets, Darts etc. he could use in the rare instances you come across someone/thing that's immune to normal weapons ( Vampiric Wolves ).
He should probably get some kind of buff. The "he'll be better in BG2EE" argument is a bit beside-the-point IMO, since players can just only pick him up in BG2EE (unless Beamdog integrates the games more closely).
I'm currently using Rashad in a run with all the new NPCs. He's using Drizzt's Twinkle, the Claw, Cloak of Displacement, the slashing belt, a ring of princes and the gauntlets of expertise (renamed now). He just turned level 6 and we are down in the mines. He currently has -3 AC and is virtually unhittable by missiles which negates the issue with him being ahead at all times quite well. With Drizzt's sword he also has 11 Thac0, which is the same as Dorn currently (with Spider's Bane) and does decent damage (7-14).
He's gone from virtually killing nothing to just slightly less kill % than Dorn this chapter. I suspect once he gets the belt from his quest line he will actually be really competative, maybe even with his hands. Admittedly I have also kitted him with some heavy stuff, but still very usable. And I simply refuse to have him slinging.
I'm currently using Rashad in a run with all the new NPCs. He's using Drizzt's Twinkle, the Claw, Cloak of Displacement, the slashing belt, a ring of princes and the gauntlets of expertise (renamed now). He just turned level 6 and we are down in the mines. He currently has -3 AC and is virtually unhittable by missiles which negates the issue with him being ahead at all times quite well. With Drizzt's sword he also has 11 Thac0, which is the same as Dorn currently (with Spider's Bane) and does decent damage (7-14).
He's gone from virtually killing nothing to just slightly less kill % than Dorn this chapter. I suspect once he gets the belt from his quest line he will actually be really competative, maybe even with his hands. Admittedly I have also kitted him with some heavy stuff, but still very usable. And I simply refuse to have him slinging.
See, OP and those who say he sucks? Put a few things on him and he's fine. Though, I wouldn't be using Drizzt's scimitar but, I'd have him with a +2 from Durlag's for when he couldn't hit something due to an immunity. A sling as well.
Also later on, the Ogre in the Blushing Mermaid has a pair of gloves that are just +1 THAC0 if your other frontline(s) are using the expertise ones. Unless they changed it, that is.
I'm currently using Rashad in a run with all the new NPCs. He's using Drizzt's Twinkle, the Claw, Cloak of Displacement, the slashing belt, a ring of princes and the gauntlets of expertise (renamed now). He just turned level 6 and we are down in the mines. He currently has -3 AC and is virtually unhittable by missiles which negates the issue with him being ahead at all times quite well. With Drizzt's sword he also has 11 Thac0, which is the same as Dorn currently (with Spider's Bane) and does decent damage (7-14).
He's gone from virtually killing nothing to just slightly less kill % than Dorn this chapter. I suspect once he gets the belt from his quest line he will actually be really competative, maybe even with his hands. Admittedly I have also kitted him with some heavy stuff, but still very usable. And I simply refuse to have him slinging.
His hands and feet do 1d10 damage, their weapon speed is 0, and they get 2 attacks per round. The extra attack per round makes it worth it for me.
His hands and feet do 1d10 damage, their weapon speed is 0, and they get 2 attacks per round. The extra attack per round makes it worth it for me.
The extra attack is tasty and I'm sure I'll use him with his hands later on. However right now at level 6 I still feel that the tradeoff for 1 extra attack and 0 speed factor instead of 2 is a bit too harsh. With twinkle he crits on rolls of 19-20 (1 blip single), has 3 better AC, 3 better Thac0 and does 3 more min damage and 1 more max.
His hands and feet do 1d10 damage, their weapon speed is 0, and they get 2 attacks per round. The extra attack per round makes it worth it for me.
The extra attack is tasty and I'm sure I'll use him with his hands later on. However right now at level 6 I still feel that the tradeoff for 1 extra attack and 0 speed factor instead of 2 is a bit too harsh. With twinkle he crits on rolls of 19-20 (1 blip single), has 3 better AC, 3 better Thac0 and does 3 more min damage and 1 more max.
He can stun with a weapon too, which is nice.
I think it's mainly about what you wish to get from him most tactically. I primarily use him to try to tie up and stun mages. So I want that extra attack per round for that (double the chance). If I were more interested in using him as a damage dealer I would give him Twinkle and the belt.
@Lock the main one is the Big-Fisted Belt (not sure if that's exactly what it's called). Sets strength to 19, intelligence to 6, (but it's cursed). Seeing how INT doesn't matter for pretty much any class that would benefit from having 19 STR, it's a pretty powerful item.
There are also some bracers (called Glimmering Bands?) that improve THAC0 +2 but only for a LG monk. At least that's how I'm recalling it from several months ago, when I played as game with Rasaad in the party. Others will hopefully correct that if it is inaccurate.
There are also some bracers (called Glimmering Bands?) that improve THAC0 +2 but only for a LG monk. At least that's how I'm recalling it from several months ago, when I played as game with Rasaad in the party. Others will hopefully correct that if it is inaccurate.
If your frontline is already pretty strong in the STR department, you could give him the Ogre gauntlets. At lvl. 8 his THAC0 will be 10 with fists. Not that bad. Give him a Skald and it's lowered to 8.
Comments
Only downside I see, is not having his fists be magical weapons. Which, really to me, isn't that big of a deal. There's always Scimitars, slings/bullets, Darts etc. he could use in the rare instances you come across someone/thing that's immune to normal weapons ( Vampiric Wolves ).
Liquorice?
Lollies?
Wait! Pineapple sours!
No, don't tell me... Jelly Babies!
No?
I give up
*sighs and waits for the inevitable*
What does he suck then?
TURNIPS!
No? I really thought nips was going to be included somewhere...
I'm currently using Rashad in a run with all the new NPCs. He's using Drizzt's Twinkle, the Claw, Cloak of Displacement, the slashing belt, a ring of princes and the gauntlets of expertise (renamed now). He just turned level 6 and we are down in the mines. He currently has -3 AC and is virtually unhittable by missiles which negates the issue with him being ahead at all times quite well. With Drizzt's sword he also has 11 Thac0, which is the same as Dorn currently (with Spider's Bane) and does decent damage (7-14).
He's gone from virtually killing nothing to just slightly less kill % than Dorn this chapter. I suspect once he gets the belt from his quest line he will actually be really competative, maybe even with his hands. Admittedly I have also kitted him with some heavy stuff, but still very usable. And I simply refuse to have him slinging.
See, OP and those who say he sucks? Put a few things on him and he's fine. Though, I wouldn't be using Drizzt's scimitar but, I'd have him with a +2 from Durlag's for when he couldn't hit something due to an immunity. A sling as well.
Also later on, the Ogre in the Blushing Mermaid has a pair of gloves that are just +1 THAC0 if your other frontline(s) are using the expertise ones. Unless they changed it, that is.
I think it's mainly about what you wish to get from him most tactically. I primarily use him to try to tie up and stun mages. So I want that extra attack per round for that (double the chance). If I were more interested in using him as a damage dealer I would give him Twinkle and the belt.
The majority here seem to like and use him. Oh well.