Unpopular opinion: Minsc is not Good

Thalamond

...rather he is a psychopathic chaotic evil who strikes or attempts to strike down a young group of adventurers who politely decline his demands to go on a dangerous quest to a Fortress packed with savage gnolls.

Imo this guy, despite being the most overrated and stupid character in the whole series, is, as explained above, *also* mis-matched with his alignment. A strong temper, ok, but he should stop himself after a brief burst of anger. This is not what happens when you first meet him. He is a murderer on the level of Bhaal.

And yet, we are forced to believe that he is Charname's good friend at the beginning of BGII. Sorry, this guy has always been more dangerous for humanity than Tiax.

Yigor

I have no problems with Minsc since, normally, I never recruit him. 🤣

Thalamond

Same, but I just have a problem with his alignment and pretended "goodness".

Isewein

I always use that headcanon / misinterpretation when I play a Lawful character and don't want to be saddled with the canon party for the whole of my playthrough (because it's hard to justify dismissing Dynaheir in RP terms once they're in). They simply feel threatened by the brute, hounded by assassins as they are, and either listen to Edwin or simply refuse Minsc, upon which he attacks, so there's no particular issue killing him in self-defence.

And I say this as someone who adores Minsc.

atcDave

Since I pretty much always recruit him, and when I do, I always immediately run off to do his quest… I’ve never had a problem with him. Minsc is always my slightly bonkers buddy.

Yigor

Isewein wrote: »

... and either listen to Edwin or simply refuse Minsc, upon which he attacks, so there's no particular issue killing him in self-defence.

And I say this as someone who adores Minsc.

LoL Your "adoration" of Minsc looks kinda sadistic. 😜

Wisterias

He could be Chaotic Neutral, but then he couldn't be a ranger, he would have to be another class. Or a Chaotic Neutral Ranger, why not?

atcDave

I’ll buy Minsc as good-aligned. But he has the mind of a six year. A really big six year old with a sword. He intends to do right and do good, but when he doesn’t understand he has few mental resources to draw on. And anyone who refuses, or drags their heals on rescuing his precious Dynaheir quickly becomes “not good” in his simple understanding. I think this is really not hard to understand or sympathize with, even if it’s occasionally frustrating for players who dawdle.

WarChiefZeke

I think his mental state gives him more leeway in terms of his alignment, intent matters more for him than others. So I can buy that he is good and not neutral.

FredN

.....Late to the discussion, but for what it's worth ... Minsc's alignment is Good Idiotic. Someone somewhere along the line hit him with a Feeblemind spell and it was never dispelled. And by now, he has been under the influence for so long, even if it were dispelled there would probably be no change in his behavior. Having a hamster as a pet is fine, but calling it a Space Hamster? The boy is several cans short of a six pack. Oh, and never, ever, ever have him go berserk.
.....That having been said, you may as well go ahead with his request (demand!) and rescue Dynaheir. She can be useful, and Minsc is a large body you can throw into combat to keep the baddies away from your own precious skin. Additionally, I am not sure what happens if he dies in BG1 and is not raised back up, but (spoiler alert!) Minsc is also pretty useful in the beginning scenario of Shadows of Ahm. I do ditch him there also once replacements can be recruited, at which point I never have to deal with him and his hamster butt buddy ever again.

ErykEryk

my friend you are evil and evil is worth of butt kicking. this is the only thing i can say to you

ok i can say the other - artisans kitpack - rashemi berserker

FredN

>>my friend you are evil and evil is worth of butt kicking. this is the only thing i can say to you<<
Umm, yeah, OK ... I am not a really good person. But aside from that, what part of "Minsc is a hamster-kissing pervert and a moron who is only useful as a meat shield" do you disagree with?

Swarmkeeper109

'He is a murderer on the level of Bhaal' What on are you on about? In what world is that the case? do you know how bad Bhaal is? At first I thought this post was about how Minsc is not a very good party member, which he isn't. I think actDave put it pretty well, except for the fact Minsc isn't someone who's mentality stoped progressing after age 6, he's a guy with head trauma, and I'm pretty sure he says that when the gnolls hit him in the head when they kidnaped Dynaheir. I think it makes tons of sense on why he would be so focused on saving Dynaheir because they were on their Dajemma, and also because of how he reacts in bg2 when

Dynaheir dies

. Also 'politely decline' the two options you have are: 'That is not my problem. I'll not risk my skin for a stranger's neck' and 'Oh, no! I'll not follow a loon into battle. My sympathies to your friend, but you're on your own.' Neither of those seem polite to me, but I guess we have different understandings. His response to both is: 'You would leave an innocent to suffer with nary a twitch of your sword arm? RrraaaAAGHGHHH!' which based on his character, I think is a pretty reasonable response.

Swarmkeeper109

that didn't format correctly.

FredN

.....OK, well at least we agree that Minsc is awful as a party member. And no, Minsc is not a murderer on Bhaal's level ... Bhaal was the God of murder after all, and mere mortals cannot reach nearly that level ... but he can kill people simply due to lack of control. While he may not have evil intentions, he is still a dangerous loose cannon.
.....I was seriously annoyed to find that I was stuck with him again in ToB for some time. Yes, I can totally refuse to accept him into the party, but he is pretty useful as a meatshield early on in the campaign, so I ... rather reluctantly ... accept him until I can replace him with someone saner. Which includes basically every recruitable NPC ever. He pretty much admits that he kept "Boo" with him by sticking the wretched rodent someplace where the sun don't shine; Imoen actually gags at the concept. The boy is several cans short of a six-pack.

Swarmkeeper109

FredN wrote: »

.....OK, well at least we agree that Minsc is awful as a party member. And no, Minsc is not a murderer on Bhaal's level ... Bhaal was the God of murder after all, and mere mortals cannot reach nearly that level ... but he can kill people simply due to lack of control. While he may not have evil intentions, he is still a dangerous loose cannon.
.....I was seriously annoyed to find that I was stuck with him again in ToB for some time. Yes, I can totally refuse to accept him into the party, but he is pretty useful as a meatshield early on in the campaign, so I ... rather reluctantly ... accept him until I can replace him with someone saner. Which includes basically every recruitable NPC ever. He pretty much admits that he kept "Boo" with him by sticking the wretched rodent someplace where the sun don't shine; Imoen actually gags at the concept. The boy is several cans short of a six-pack.

I absolutely agree with that. he isn't evil, he's stupid.