most effective ways to use Rasaad in combat (spoilers)
Lemernis
Member, Moderator Posts: 4,318
I know there have been a number of threads discussing Rasaad, most often complaining of his various perceived shortcomings as both as Monk in BG1 and his stats.
But here I'm interested in learning how you all get the most out of him despite his flaws. Please share your strategies for using him to his true fullest potential in combat. It's fine if you want to say that you think he sucks. But for this thread it's just not terribly constructive or helpful.
As for myself:
Equipment
Early on I equip him with the Gauntlets of Dexterity, a RoP, the Girdle of Piercing, and a Shield Amulet. Even when you get him at level 2 when he uses a charge from the Shield Amulet his AC is -3 (and his modifier vs. missiles is -5).
I can't bring myself to equip him with
But later, when the Gauntlets of Ogre Power become available then I give him those. By then his AC is fine without the Gauntlets of Dexterity.
Weapon
His fists and feet, with which I'm pretty sure he gets the highest attacks per round versus other choices. He gets 1.5 APR at level 3 and 2 APR at level 6. (Does Stunning Blow only successfully stun with fists/feet or can it stun also using a weapon?)
Combat Strategies
I have him race towards mages or archers whenever the opportunity presents itself, seeking to stun them with Stunning Blow. If there are no such targets he assists the party's tanks, using his superior foot-speed to avoid heavily armored tanks. He often manages to disrupt enemy mages from spellcasting, even if he doesn't stun them. And he makes archers change to melee. Archers who switch to sword usually don't hit him with his AC -3.
At least in my first game, I really had no problem keeping him healthy this way. This approach does require some pretty strong tankage, though--at least two really strong meleers on the frontline, I would say.
***
Now that's my approach. But I have read some others describe using him more with ranged weapons, and/or with a sword. So I'm kind of curious about how folks might use him well other than the approach given above.
But here I'm interested in learning how you all get the most out of him despite his flaws. Please share your strategies for using him to his true fullest potential in combat. It's fine if you want to say that you think he sucks. But for this thread it's just not terribly constructive or helpful.
As for myself:
Equipment
Early on I equip him with the Gauntlets of Dexterity, a RoP, the Girdle of Piercing, and a Shield Amulet. Even when you get him at level 2 when he uses a charge from the Shield Amulet his AC is -3 (and his modifier vs. missiles is -5).
I can't bring myself to equip him with
The cursed strength belt that raises Str to 19 and lowers Int to 6.
But later, when the Gauntlets of Ogre Power become available then I give him those. By then his AC is fine without the Gauntlets of Dexterity.
Weapon
His fists and feet, with which I'm pretty sure he gets the highest attacks per round versus other choices. He gets 1.5 APR at level 3 and 2 APR at level 6. (Does Stunning Blow only successfully stun with fists/feet or can it stun also using a weapon?)
Combat Strategies
I have him race towards mages or archers whenever the opportunity presents itself, seeking to stun them with Stunning Blow. If there are no such targets he assists the party's tanks, using his superior foot-speed to avoid heavily armored tanks. He often manages to disrupt enemy mages from spellcasting, even if he doesn't stun them. And he makes archers change to melee. Archers who switch to sword usually don't hit him with his AC -3.
At least in my first game, I really had no problem keeping him healthy this way. This approach does require some pretty strong tankage, though--at least two really strong meleers on the frontline, I would say.
***
Now that's my approach. But I have read some others describe using him more with ranged weapons, and/or with a sword. So I'm kind of curious about how folks might use him well other than the approach given above.
3
Comments
Even Garrick :-)
Btw you've forgotten to give Rasaad the Cloak of balduran and the ring of protection+2 and all phys tomes.
I used Rasaad in a similar way, Lemeris. Dex gauntlets at first, then i gave him the cursed belt (which he percieved as a neccessary sacrifice) and bracers of brilliance after a few levels.
He was an excellent slinger at low levels (I gave him prof here), with high thaco thanks to the gauntlets of dex. I only used him sparingly in melee. After lvl 6 and equipment change I buffed him from the rear 6th position to third. He would then normally come in after other meleers and work well that way. I also gave him cloak +2 and freedom of movement ring (I never bothered with shield amulet).
I usually used him against single and vulnerable enemies, and as a second attacker on heavy hitters. He getscent thaco and ac, he has ok saves. But he is more vulnerable than straight up melee guys. His lay on hands works pretty well to keep him in the fight, however. He complemented my party well in this tactical role.
I've come around though.. he honestly sucks in comparison to what is available. He reaches the competent/good level far too late in the game and only if he is stacked with items that would make other NPC's even better. Gloves of Dex is a waste on Rasaad imo because there are tons of other NPC's like Kagain and Ajantis that benefit far more when utilizing them. There was a good thread a while back on how Rasaad is the worst pure fighter type because of his toxic combo of low AC and low THAC0, and mediocre stats.
Dorn makes him look so unbelievably weak...last night I picked up Dorn and he's already critting 50's while Rasaad employs his depressing and failing THAC0 on a kobold. I wish the gap between Rasaad and Dorn was a closer one
I can respect that opinion, btw. I'm just writing a brief guide on how best to use him should one decide to give him a go.
Comparing pretty much any other NPC to Dorn as a damage dealer is gonna be lopsided. But I guess arguably one feels it the most with Rasaad.
Even just making that tweak... i.e., improved THACO for Stunning Blow... plus a few more items helpful for Monks (how about surikens?) should be an easy mini-mod to make for BG:EE.
Even early in the game his AC is still pretty darn good without the Gauntlets of Dexterity, as his Dex is 16. So without the gauntlets or potions he actually takes very little damage anyway from mages or archers. I never have him slug it out toe-to-toe with a fully armored enemy bruiser anyway.
- cursed belt, bracers of brilliance, cloak of protection +2, ring of free action
- Drizzt's scimitar +5
- + 1 katana, wazikash, ninjato (or in the same vein Rashaad's Talon scimitar +2)
- keep him in the rear using a sling until level 6
- have him help out heavier-duty meleers versus engaging in direct toe-to-toe slogs
Question: If Rasaad is equipped with one of Drizzt's scimitars with a pip in Single Weapon Style, is he as effective--or more effective--than just using his dukes? He won't get as many attacks per round wielding a sword as he will with his fists and feet. But his THACO is surely better, the damage is just a little greater, and he can still stun (?). I've never tried equipping him with either of Drizzt's scimitars, but perhaps those who have can answer this.Tested with Rashad's Talon - you can stun with it. Dont forget Single Weapon Style gives crit on 19-20 and +1 AC.
So not only will you have higher THAC0 and damage, you will also crit double as much and have increased AC. Losing 1 APR seems worth it to me.
I know Drizzt's scimitars are the best around but I don't like when peoble use them as means to "fix" weak characters.
What I would do: give him the Dagger of Venom and train him only in stealth so he can scout.
When activating stun you are still invisible for a few seconds after and being in stealth gives you a bonus to attack rolls.
So you sneak up on a caster, activate stun, and stab him right after (I recommend auto-pause: spell cast). If the target is stunned he is taken out completely, if the target saves he will be poisoned and unable to cast. The extra movespeed should make you able to escape back to the rest af your party while avoiding melee attacks. makes him a great initiator.
Of course a character with backstab can outright kill most casters in a single hit and probaly have better stealth (from boots + armor) making Rasaad (and monks in general) more of a gimmick when it comes to initiation.
Monks can be difficult to work with at low levels.
8th level barkskin gives base 4 AC, so does Shield Amulet.
An 8th level monk will have a base AC of 5 making the above great buffs to use throughout the game.
Yes. An important aspect with Rasaad is that he can stealth and be used as a scout. Since he has so few points to go around they should be invested in move silently - unless you *have* to use him to find traps - which he cannot disarm.
Personally I gave him Rashaad's talon as a secondary weapon to use against foes who had magic resistance only. After all, he gets 2XD10 with fists at low levels, vs 1d8+2 with rashaads talon. Which gives fists more damage.
One chance at 3-10 vs. 2 chances of 1-10 each. It seems pretty even but then I remembered damage bonusses (from strength, Legacy of the Masters, etc.) are effectivly applied twice. If you can hit twice.
I believe stunned creatures get a penalty to AC.
So you could land a stun with a weapon and then switch to fists to finnish the target off.
When landing the stun you only really care about the THAC0 bonus, so what weapon would that be? Short Sword of Backstabbing?
Edit: I know the Drizzt scimitars are better, but they feel "cheaty" to me
For the sake of argument, let's say you have him using Rashad's Talon for a good portion of the game. I'm not sure yet that
Rashad's Talon
weapon speed 3
THACO +2
4-11 damage
one point crit bonus (critical hit on rolls of either 19 or 20)
1 attack per round
trumps
Fists/Feet
weapon speed ? (1?) 0
1-10 damage
1.5 and later 2 attacks per round
I try to use Rasaad to either disrupt or stun mages whenever possible. When using his fists and feet he has greater weapon speed and more attacks. I don't know if the scimitar's reduction of THACO by +2 matches or surpasses that capability.
Critical hits in BG are just a straight up x2 multiplier, right? That means Rashad's Talon has an average damage of 9 before adjusting for chance to hit, and his unarmed attacks average about 6 damage per hit (not counting any potential strength bonus in either case). I would say that if you're boosting up his strength in any fashion, that unarmed attacks come out ahead once he has 2 APR.
I still like using a magic weapon and Single Weapon style for levels 4 and 5 to boost up his AC and accuracy, though, especially since I don't have those strength boosting items at that point.
But since a roll of 19-20 would most likely hit anyway, it only really matters if you have a huge penalty (blindness fx).
One would think the fists and feet of a Monk is probably about as fast as there is, so I'm assuming speed is 1? Does anyone know?
But moreover, does that weapon speed actually show up into the game engine's calculations of which combatant beats the other to the punch most often over a succession of rounds?
It does visually look like it takes longer to heft a two handed sword (speed 10) than strike with a dagger (speed 2), for instance. Same with hurling a dart versus firing a crossbow. Etc.
Because again, that would definitely matter to interrupting a spellcaster.
I'm not sure about weapon speed on fists, but I know the class description gives Monks -1 weapon speed at levels 8 and 12, so I'm assuming the base is greater than 0 and probably at least 2. I can poke through NI when I get home to try to find the base speed if someone doesn't beat me to the punch.