Minsc

Minsc is a neutral good human ranger and a potential companion.
==Background==
Minsc and Dynaheir were originally sent to the Sword Coast as part of his 'dajemma' - a journey of self-discovery, during which he must protect Dynaheir and gain new insights and experiences in distant lands as a sort of 'rite of passage'.
This character is most memorable for being the proud companion of Boo, according to him a 'Miniature Giant Space Hamster' he became friends with after taking one too many blows to the head.
==Baldur's Gate & Tales of the Sword Coast==
===Recruitment===
Minsc is available to recruit from Chapter Two. He is initially found separated from Dynaheir, waiting just outside the Garrison within the southern town of Nashkel. Simply agree to help Minsc find his damsel and he will join the protagonist's party. Alternatively, you can find Dynaheir first in Gnoll Stronghold then bring her back to Minsc without ever talking to him.
Once Dynaheir has been rescued, the two of them are inseparable and require being together in the party, unless one of them dies or the player uses trickery to separate them.
Be careful when recruiting him, as Minsc is a bit unstable, and turning down his offer of companionship can just as easily lead to a hostile confrontation.
===Quests===
*Rescuing Dynaheir – Minsc will remind Gorion's Ward if Dynaheir isn't rescued within ten days from his joining, and leave and even attack the party when another six days have passed without results.
*Edwin and Dynaheir – Minsc will turn on Edwin if he endangers Dynaheir.
===Relationships===
*Boo: Since receiving his head injuries, Minsc has relied on Boo for moral support, decision-making, and wisdom, believing him to be a special 'miniature giant space' hamster, though others naturally believe Boo to be a mere normal hamster. Minsc will give a harsh glare toward anyone who tries to take Boo.
*Dynaheir: Minsc’s 'witch' and loyal companion, whom he will try to find and likely never part from afterwards. If she is to be slain, Minsc will become berserk , likely complicating the battle - even possibly killing other companions.
===Gameplay===
Minsc's main drawback is that he can't use any magical scrolls or wands for he's one of the few companions with less than 9 intelligence score, other two being Yeslick and Wilson. And while a ranger MUST have the company of a giant 'space hamster' such as Boo who can do just about EVERYTHING, it does takes up one quick item slots (and 1 lb), which could be a problem in original version of the game as time flows while you're managing items in inventory screen.
He does have a very high strength stat though, making him an excellent mule at the very least, while also excelling with Two-Handed Swords and Composite Longbows. Minsc's racial enemy is Gnoll and he comes with Charm Animal as all rangers, he has a unique Berserk, an alternative version of Berserker's rage. Minsc is of course great in the front line, but if you use him as party leader, note that his low charisma will lead to higher prices when bargaining with merchants.
* - Companions who are under-leveled at the time of joining will be given a certain amount of experience points (XP) for you to manually level them up to gain more control of their status.
Average party level	Level	XP 	Gold	Hit Points	Weapon Proficiencies	Weapon Proficiencies in EE	Equipment
1.00 - 1.99 	1 	258 	2 	11 
(Max possible:10+1)	
* Large Sword ++
* Spiked Weapon +
* Axe +	
* Two-Handed Sword ++
* Mace +
* Longbow +
* Two-weapon Style ++	
*Leather Armor
*Two-handed Sword
*Boo
2.00 - 2.99 	2 	2276 	6 	19
(Max possible:20+2)	
* Large Sword ++
* Spiked Weapon +
* Axe +	
* Two-Handed Sword ++
* Mace +
* Longbow +
* Two-weapon Style ++	
*Studded Leather Armor
*Two-handed Sword
*Boo
3.00 - 4.99 	4 	9142 	2 	33
(Max possible:40+4)	
* Large Sword ++
* Small Sword +
* Bow ++	
* Two-Handed Sword ++
* Mace +
* Longbow ++
* Two-weapon Style ++	
*Studded Leather Armor
*Two-handed Sword
*Boo
5.00+ 	6 	36512	4 	52
(Max possible:60+6)	
* Large Sword ++
* Small Sword ++
* Bow ++	
* Two-Handed Sword ++
* Mace ++
* Longbow ++
* Two-weapon Style ++	
*Studded Leather Armor
*Two-handed Sword
*Boo
===​Biography===
===Quotes===
	Stand and deliver, that my hamster might have a better look at you! 	Initial meeting
	No, despair not! I will inspire you by charging blindly on! 	Morale failure
	Camaraderie, adventure, and steel on steel. The stuff of legend! Right, Boo? 	Happy
	Yes, Boo, I agree. This group could do with a swift kick in the morals! 	Unhappy-annoyed
	If I continue with this, I'll never look Boo in the eyes again. Choose carefully; I'll not let this come to pass!	Unhappy-serious
	You have stepped beyond the line of evil! Taste hamster justice! 	Unhappy-break
	Magic is impressive, but now Minsc leads! Swords for everyone! 	Leader
	I must rest, I've a bad case of armor chafe. 	Tired
	My hamster is getting antsy! If we be adventurers, let us adventure! 	Bored
	Go for the eyes, Boo. GO FOR THE EYES! RrraaaAAGHGHH! 	Battlecry1
	 	Damage
	I need aid soon... lest my hamster become an orphan. 	Hurt
	 	Dying
	Boo likes the forest. 	Forest
	Evil 'round every corner. Careful not to step in any. 	Dungeon
	Ahh, nighttime. Good for sneaking up on evil. 	Night
	Who wants some? 	Select1
	You point, I punch. 	Select2
	Less talk, more fight! 	Select3
	Butt-kicking for goodness! 	Action1
	Squeaky wheel gets the kick! 	Action2
	Full plate and packing steel! 	Action3
	Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, watch it! I'm huge! 	Action4
	When the going gets tough, someone hold my rodent. 	Action5
	There be safety in numbers, and I am two or three at least. 	Action6
	Make way evil! I'm armed to the teeth and packing a hamster! 	Action7
	It is as you would have it. 'Tis my sworn vow to ensure your every need is catered to. 	Interaction1
	Where Dynaheir goes, so goes my blade. 	
Interaction2
	Lay a finger on what I protect, and forevermore you will answer nature's call with a hook! 	
Interaction3
	Stand you not too close! Dynaheir is under my protection! 	
Interaction4
	Play on, bard! 'Tis sweet music to my furry friend. 	
Interaction5
	You travel with Minsc, you toe the line! I'll not suffer slackers while I'm busy hero-ing! 	Insult1
	Boo does not like your manner. Away with you! 	
Insult2
	Choose your friends wisely. Not all are as trustworthy as Minsc and Boo. 	Compliment1
	No finer a place to die than the battlefield! 	To death-general
	Dynaheir! Nooooo! You will be avenged! 	To death-Dynaheir
	I am of few words and fewer hesitations! Warning's past, and now you die! 	To insult1
	I take no offense from your comments. You just don't understand the bond I have with Boo. 	
To insult2
	Your words are as sharp as my blade, though not half as shiny. Oooo, shiny. 	To insult3
==Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear==
===Recruitment===
Minsc is available to recruit from Chapter 7 (SoD) alongside with Dynaheir on the second floor of Three Old Kegs, after a short catch-up, they'll join your march towards the Dragonspear Castle against Caelar Argent's crusades, and like in BG1, he has to pair with Dynaheir and Boo.
===Quests===
* The Wychlaran and the Berserker
===Relationships===
*Edwin can't be in the same party with Dynaheir and Minsc (and Boo).
===Quotes===
 	What is it, Boo? I've never seen you so— 	Initial meeting1
 	Ah? Can it be? Is this the hero of Baldur's Gate I see? 	Initial meeting2
 	Aaaaaaarrrrrr! 	Morale failure
 	Ah, it has been too long since Minsc journeyed with such a fine companion! 	Happy
 	Boo has not said anything out of politeness, but I know he is unhappy with our direction. 	Unhappy-annoyed
 	Minsc is not feeling the camaraderie of old. This group goes sour. 	Unhappy-serious
 	The stink of evil is heavy on this group. Boo is leaving, and Minsc goes with him! 	Unhappy-break
 	Magic is impressive, but now Minsc leads. Swords for everyone! Ha! 	Leader
 	Boo cannot stop yawning, and it's making me yawn too! Perhaps we could rest? 	Tired
 	Adventure is calling! Can you not hear it? Perhaps only Minsc can hear it. Let us go, and I will lead us in the direction of adventure!	Bored
 	Go for the eyes, Boo, GO FOR THE EYES! Raaaaaargh! 	Battlecry1
 	SWORD, MEET! EVIL! 	Battlecry2
 	Here comes three hundred pounds of justice! 	Battlecry3
 	Chaaaaaaaaaaarge! 	Battlecry4
 	AAAAArrrrrr! 	Battlecry5
 	Oof. 	Damage
 	I need healing to fight on! 	Hurt
 	Take care of... Boo... 	Dying
 	Boo likes the forest! And I do too. There is much to nibble here. 	Forest
 	Such crowds of tiny people! Make way for Minsc and Boo, tiny ones! 	City
 	A den of stinking evil! Actually, this evil is not as smelly as it usually is. We come for you anyway, well-scrubbed evil! 	Dungeon
 	Ahh, I prefer the bright of day. Evil must be able to see the justice I dispense! 	Day
 	Boo sleeps, though we press on. 	Night
 	Aye? 	Select1
 	Yes? 	Select2
 	You want Boo? 	Select3
 	What? 	Select4
 	Huh? 	
Select5
 	Trouble? 	
Select6
 	Sword first! 	Action1
 	Less talk, more fight! 	Action2
 	Yes! 	Action3
 	When danger calls, Minsc answers. Sword first! 	Action4
 	I kick bad butts, and I cannot lie. 	Action5
 	There is only one BOO! Ha! Accept no substitutes. 	Action6
BD68091.ogg	Really, it's all about ethics in heroic adventuring. 	Action7(original dialogue)
 	Make way evil! I'm armed to the teeth and packing a hamster! 	Action7(patch 2.2 onwards)
 	Felled like a mighty tree! 	To death-general
 	Dynaheir! I have failed you! 	To death-Dynaheir
 	That stings, doesn't it, evil? 	Critical hit
 	A swing and a miss! 	Critical miss
 	No effect? I need a bigger sword. 	Target immune
 	Though Minsc is as brawny as they come, he cannot carry everything. And he must make room for Boo. 	Inventory full
 	Minsc is not sure how he did that. 	Picked pocket
 	None shall see me, though my battle cry may give me away. 	Hidden in shadows
 	Swords do not fail, but spells do. As this one has. 	Spell disrupted
 	Cunning Minsc lays a trap for evil to stroll into! Come this way, evil! 	Set a trap
==Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn & Throne of Bhaal==
In Baldur's Gate 2, Minsc implies that he and Dynaheir had traveled with Gorion's Ward for some time. At some point during this journey, they were set upon by the designs of Jon Irenicus, only to be captured, imprisoned, and tortured.
===Recruitment===
Minsc is available to recruit from Chapter 1. He seems to have gotten off fairly well relatively, despite his partner Dynaheir supposedly being killed sometime during the initial confrontation, and finds himself imprisoned - much like Jaheira - within a nearby cage, though it appears to have no lock. To free him, the player must enrage him to the point that he bends the bars of his cage, after which he will take notice of the player's cleverness and will gladly join the party.
Minsc will travel to the Copper Coronet in the Slums District if freed from his initial imprisonment, yet later removed from the party.
As in previous games, Boo is his stalwart companion and is a permanent part of his inventory.
In Enhanced Edition he starts at level 7 Specialized in Longbow, Mace, Two-Handed Sword and Two-Weapon Style.
===Quests===
*Release Minsc From His Cell
*The Kidnapping of Boo (requires Unfinished Business for BG2 mod)
===Relationships===
*Edwin: Minsc and Edwin / Edwina are rather hostile to each other as each of them had different plans regarding Dynaheir in the first game; Minsc was to protect her, while Edwin was sent to kill her. Ironically, in the second game after Edwin accidentally transforms his gender, Minsc gets confused and thinks that “Edwina” is Edwin’s sister.
*Boo: Boo seems to take on a much more active and vocal role than before, chiming in with various squeaks at opportune times, presumably proving some sort of significant intelligence.
*Aerie: Under the right conditions, Minsc will make Aerie his newfound 'witch' to protect in order to make up for failing to protect Dynaheir in the past. Like Dynaheir , Minsc will become berserk if Aerie is slain after gaining this status. If Aerie is severely wounded, Minsc will attack whoever hurt his witch (without going berserk, and even with party AI off).
*Jan Jansen: Minsc is rather annoyed by Jan as he tries on several occasions to get a hold of Boo behind Minsc’s back.
*Keldorn: Despite being complete opposites on the Lawful/Chaotic spectrum, Minsc and Keldorn deeply respect each other's character and skills. If both are in the party, the two of them become friends through banter, with unique dialogue once Minsc goes berserk or if one of them dies.
*Korgan: As with other warriors, Korgan expresses admiration for Minsc's prowess in battle, even as he mocks him for his values.
===Gameplay===
Compared to the first game, Minsc has one more point in dexterity and constitution. His racial enemy has changed to Vampire and his alignment has also changed slightly, presumably due to the deaths of close friends, now exhibits a chaotic-good alignment - though this is largely inconsequential. Given that his original enemy was Gnolls, by which Dynaheir had been taken captive, it would make a certain amount of sense for the backstory to be that her death was at the hands of a vampire (almost certainly Bodhi or one of her brood, considering the role they play in BG2): however, this is never actualy confirmed.
Minsc is the only companion other than Dorn and Valygar that can use Defender of Easthaven, Armor of Faith, and Hardiness - making him an excellent physical damage tank.
Much like the first game, he still can't use any magical items other than weapons and armor without intelligence boost, and Boo once again is kept in one of his quick-slots. His other abilities remain intact.
He still has his unique berserk ability, different from the Berserker's Enrage, Barbarian's rage and Wilson's Animal Rage.
===Biography===
===Quotes===
	AHHHH! Minsc will be free! These bonds will not hold my wrath! Butts will be liberally kicked in good measure! 	Initial meeting1
	Eh? Where have you brought us, Boo? I am duly impressed by your show of great powers, but a little forewarning would have been nice. No matter! Wherever evil treads, Minsc treads louder! 	Initial meeting2
	Ooo! Look who you have found, Boo, with your unerring sense of hamster direction! It is our good friend, <CHARNAME>! A reunion of heroes! May all that is evil quiver before us like so much rancid jelly, ha!	Initial meeting3
	Despair not! I will inspire you by charging blindly on! 	Morale failure
	We are all heroes, you and Boo and I! Hamsters and rangers everywhere, rejoice! 	Happy
	This behavior must not continue! Feel the burning stare of my hamster and change your ways! 	Unhappy-annoyed
	This is not right. Change our course or I will have to apply a considerable wallop of virtue! 	Unhappy-serious
	Boo can stand only so much! 	Unhappy-break
	Minsc will lead with blade and boot! Boo will take care of the details. 	Leader
	We must rest soon. Boo is getting squirrely. 	Tired
	Boo must have his exercise lest he bite us all in hard-to-reach places. 	Bored
	Go for the eyes, Boo, GO FOR THE EYES! RrraaaAAGHGHH! 	Battlecry1
	Feel the backhand of justice! 	Battlecry2
	Great fun! Hehe. Right, Boo? 	Battlecry3
	 	Damage
	I must get aid soon. Boo is too young to have to avenge me. 	Hurt
	 	Dying
	You know... I think the forest likes Boo. 	Forest
	Cities always teem with evil and decay. Let's give it a good shake and see what falls out! 	City
	A den of stinking evil. Cover your nose, Boo. We will leave no crevice untouched! 	Dungeon
	Ahh, I prefer the bright of day. Evil must be able to see the justice I dispense! 	Day
	Strange things go bump in the night, but none bump bigger than Minsc! 	Night
	You point, I punch. 	Select1
	Swords, not words! 	Select2
	Minsc and Boo stand ready. 	Select3
	Every hamster has his day. 	Select4
	Armored, sharpened, and raring to go. 	
Select5
	Boo says, "What?!" 	
Select6
	Where Minsc goes, evil stands aside. 	Action1
	Jump on my sword while you can, evil. I won't be as gentle! 	Action2
	Live by the sword, live a good long time! 	Action3
	Stand back for justice! 	Action4
	See battle, Boo? Run, Boo, run! 	Action5
	Make way, villainy! Hero coming through! 	Action6
	Butt-kicking for goodness! 	Action7
	The bigger they are, the harder I hit! 	Select rare1
	Don't teach my hamster to suck eggs! 	
Select rare2
	Ah hay! 	Critical hit
	Gah, that's not right! 	Critical miss
	No effect? I need bigger sword! 	Target immune
	I have had to drop what you gave me. I have only two arms and no more space. 	Inventory full
	None shall see me... though my battle cry may give me away. 	Hidden in shadows
	I turned to shield Boo and have lost my spell. I am NOT sorry. 	Spell disrupted
	I grow tired of shouting battle cries when fighting this mage. Boo will finish his eyeballs once and for all so he does not rise again. Evil, meet my sword! SWORD! MEET! EVIL! 	To Irenicus
==Personality==
Minsc is kind-hearted, has good intentions, and absolutely loves to be the hero, even willing to throw himself into danger to do what he believes is right. He does seem a bit mentally uncontrollable though, sometimes rushes into aggression behaviors towards anyone too fast without rational thinking, which often ends up getting him into trouble and avoidable conflicts as he mindlessly throws himself into combat. This is reflected by his exceptional physical stats but poor mental stats.
==Trivia==
*Minsc, together with Boo, is often regarded as one of the most popular characters in the game by both gamers and game developers.
*Minsc's Wisdom score does not fulfill the minimum requirements for rangers in AD&D. His previous head injury might account for the loss of points.
** The loss of wisdom due to a head injury is listed down in the AD&D accessory Player's Option - Combat & Tactics, page 107, which also explains Minsc's low Intelligence and Charisma.
*Despite the protagonist potentially having greater strength than Minsc at the beginning of Baldur's Gate II, only Minsc can open his cage.
*Minsc was originally going to have his own quest where Boo is kidnapped and he must find out who was responsible. This quest was cut from the original game before release but is restored in a modification known as Unfinished Business for BG2.
*Minsc originates from pen-and-paper sessions held by Baldur's Gate lead designer James Ohlen, and the roster of players included current giants in the RPG industry. He was conceived and played by Cameron Tofer,Shacknews article (2018) and as Tofer has explained in an interview,Issue 2 of the Familiar, reproduced on Beamdog's site (2017) Minsc's name was inspired by the city Minsk, a city with about ten centuries of history, currently the capital and largest city of Belarus. From the game developers' point of view, Belarus is far to the east, while Rashemen also lies in a region by the name Unapproachable East.
*In Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3, which were also made by BioWare, when party member Tali uses her combat drone ability, she'll occasionally cry, "Go for the optics, Chatika!", a reference to Minsc's battle cry in Baldur's Gate II, "Go for the eyes, Boo. GO FOR THE EYES! RrraaaAAGHGHH!!!". And "Chatika" is a reference to Aerie's battlecry, "Chiktikka", a companion that could potentially become Minsc's new witch.
**Additionally, in Mass Effect 3 DLC Citadel, if Shepard owns a hamster, he will tell it to go for the eyes of anyone who tries to mess with it again.
*Moosk from the animated series Codename: Kids Next Door is an affectionate parody of Minsc. When jumping from the plane, he yells "Where Moosk goes, ties get the butt kicking!", referencing Minsc's lines, "Where Minsc goes, evil stands aside!" and "Butt-kicking for goodness!" Both characters are voiced by Jim Cummings.
*Minsc & Boo also appear in their own, still running, series of comic books alongside a completely new group of companions, published by IDW. The story is set shortly after Murder in Baldur's Gate takes place and opens up with the moon elf Delina using her wild magic to bring the Minsc statue in Baldur's Gate to life. Whether or not the statue was the real Minsc petrified or if the statue itself became a living being is unclear.
**The first mini-series is called Dungeons & Dragons: Legends of Baldur's Gate and takes place in the city of Baldur's Gate. Coran has a cameo based on his role in Murder in Baldur's Gate.
**The second mini-series is titled Dungeon's & Dragons: Shadows of the Vampire, which is a crossover into the Ravenloft setting.
**The third mini-series is titled Dungeons & Dragons: Frost Giant's Fury which has ties to "Storm King's Thunder".
**The fourth mini-series is titled Dungeons & Dragons: Evil at Baldur's Gate.
**The fifth mini-series is titled Dungeons & Dragons: Infernal Tides, and uses story material from Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus.
*Minsc also makes an appearance in the MMORPG Neverwinter which is loosely based on 4th and 5th Edition D&D rules and is set a century after the events of the Baldur's Gate series.
*Boo is nowhere to be found if Minsc is killed in battle but it comes back once the ranger is resurrected.
*Minsc perhaps has the longest potential in-party-time of all companions in the entire saga: early recruitment from Nashkel in Baldur's Gate, literally being available from the very beginning of both Siege of Dragonspear and Shadows of Amn.
*Minsc had a controversial line in initial versions of Siege of Dragonspear. He makes an "ethics" joke which alludes to GamerGate. Beamdog's CEO has made an official statement that this joke is out of character. The line has since been replaced.PC Gamer article (2016)
*Minsc (and Boo) appear in the idle game Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms. Their ultimate attack is called "Go for the Eyes!"
==Gallery==
Minsc MINSC Portrait BG2.png|Baldur's Gate I portrait, brightened for character generation in Baldur's Gate II
Minsc vs Gnolls.png|Minsc (lvl 2) killing a Gnoll, his racial enemy
==External links==
*
*Minsc's Wikipedia page
==References==
Category:Humans
Category:Rangers
Category:Creatures
Category:Neutral good companions
Category:Companions of neutral ethos
Category:Companions of good morality
Category:Chaotic good companions
Category:Companions of chaotic ethos