Would you send Imoen to tank, even with STR gauntlets? Or Safana? Or Yoshimo?
No, but I'll send Imoen to disarm traps and pick locks, Safana to backstab, and Yoshimo to set traps, and they can all use shortbows, which will easily allow them to out-damage Rasaad at a range. Thieves provide utility that Rasaad can't.
The problem with Rasaad from a mechanical perspective (I like him just fine from an RP perspective) is that there's nothing he can provide that makes him competitive with other NPCs. Anyone with Fighter APR and Specialization will out-damage him while having more HP and better AC. Thieves will out-damage him while providing necessary utility. And let's not even get into spellcasters (even Garrick can throw out a few useful buffs and debuffs). All Rasaad has is a Stunning Blow ability, which only lasts 6 seconds and allows the enemy a save.
True enough but that really isn't about Rasaad - it's about monks in BG1 - so using him comes down to wanting him for RP and/or wanting to mold him into your group in BG for his usefulness in BG2.
But with that knowledge there could have been some Monk specific items created for BGEE that would increase the monks usefulness in BG1.
Well now everyone is blaming the monk class as opposed to Rasaad. You're splitting hairs at this point, because Rasaad IS a monk, "Because Monks are underpowered at lower levels, then Rasaad is underpowered at lower levels." We're all pretty much saying the same thing.
Cudos to @Lemernis for trying for a complete LIST of pros to him though. Definitely going to check that one out!
@Xavioria Right? It's like saying "Garrick would be awesome if only he were an Archer." It's true, but it also involves making the NPC something they aren't.
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Cudos to @Lemernis for trying for a complete LIST of pros to him though. Definitely going to check that one out!