Minsc

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This article is about the Forgotten Realms character. For the capital of Belarus, see Minsk.
Minsc

Minsc as he appears in Baldur's Gate II
Series Baldur's Gate series
First appearance Baldur's Gate
Voiced by Jim Cummings[1]
Game information
Homeland Rashemen
Race Human
Class Ranger
Alignment Chaotic Good
Setting Forgotten Realms

Minsc (Pronounced "Minsk") is a prominent fictional character in the Baldur's Gate series of Dungeons & Dragons computer role-playing games created by Bioware. Appearing in both games of the series, he serves as a light-toned comic relief and is always accompanied by a pet hamster named "Boo", represented as an icon in Minsc's first quickslot. Minsc insists Boo is in fact a highly intelligent being in the body of a hamster ("the only miniature giant space hamster in the Realm"). Some suspect Boo may be just an ordinary hamster, and that Minsc has just taken a few too many blows to the head. (In Baldur's Gate II, he mentions that he was suffering from a head wound when he purchased Boo.)

Minsc has an assortment of battle cries. These include "Go for the eyes, Boo! Go for the eyes!", "Butt kicking for goodness", and "Squeaky wheel gets the kick!"

Contents

[edit] Conception and creation

Minsc and Boo originated in pen and paper Dungeons & Dragons sessions held by Baldur's Gate's Lead Designer James Ohlen. Played by Cameron Tofer, associate producer and lead programmer of MDK2, Minsc was conceived as an unstable comic relief ranger who carried around a pet hamster named Boo for the Dark Sun campaign setting. The lead writer for Baldur's Gate, Luke Kristjanson, expanded upon the character and created dialogue intended to make Minsc funny and memorable to the general audience.[2] During development, Minsc's lines were modified in accordance with his voice actor Jim Cummings.[3] As this progressed, the writers noted they were able to interject dialogue more freely for Minsc into the script in a tone suitable for the character.[4] Bioware co-founder Ray Muzyka has stated that out of the Baldur's Gate series, Minsc is his favorite character.[5]

The notion of Minsc's animal companion Boo as possibly a "miniature giant space hamster" originates from Dungeons & Dragons source material, first mentioned in the Spelljammer campaign setting which described them as giant hamsters bred to paddle wheels for flying ships, which can alternatively be bred in miniature form, looking like a normal hamster.[6] The possibility of Boo as such was purposefully left up to the player to determine, though senior designer David Gaider noted that regardless Boo had no powers or abilities beyond those of a regular hamster.[7] He also noted Boo was handled differently from the standard concept of familiars as creatures that fought alongside their owners, due to both the frailty of hamsters and the impact Boo dying would have upon Minsc in the game.[8] In an open discussion with BioWare developers, scriptwriter Drew Karpyshyn described Boo's role in the game as "[providing] wisdom and moral support to Minsc".[9]

[edit] In computer games

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Minsc is a bald, purple-tattooed ranger from the Forgotten Realms country of Rashemen. Originally a berserker on his "dajemma", a rite of passage to gain entrance to the prestigious "Ice Dragon Berserker Lodge", he swore to guard the witch Dynaheir. Following his failure to do so, Minsc becomes a mercenary and self-proclaimed "defender of good".

In the first Baldur's Gate game, Dynaheir and Minsc are ambushed by gnolls near the Wood of Sharp Teeth. Dynaheir gets captured and taken to a Gnoll Stronghold west of the town of Nashkel and Minsc and Boo travel back to Nashkel, where the main characters can meet him. The player will encounter him as a bulging ranger wielding a two-handed sword who is talking to, and even taking advice from, his pet hamster whose cuddly noises make sense to Minsc. He asks for the main character to help him free Dynaheir before she gets eaten, and will hold the main character to his word, with violence if necessary, and if the player does not rescue her within ten days after Minsc joins the party then he will turn on the group and attack. It is possible to encounter a sworn enemy of Minsc and Dynaheir, in that the mage Edwin Odesseiron will engage the main character with the offer to assassinate Dynaheir, an offer which naturally outrages Minsc, and keeping the two, or three, of them in the main character's company is sure to erupt into physical fighting at any time. If Dynaheir is rescued, she and Minsc will become inseparable, and if any of the two are later dropped from the party, then the other will also leave.

In Baldur's Gate II, Minsc and Boo are found alongside the main character as the game starts. Together with Imoen and Jaheira, they have been captured each in a separate prison cell, and he is in a brutal rage as Dynaheir has been murdered by their captor Irenicus. Minsc travels with the main character, if allowed, and develops long-standing bonds with other PCs Jaheira, Imoen and Nalia. In the place of Dynaheir, he chooses the Avariel elf Aerie (or, if she is not present and Nalia is, he choses Nalia instead), whom he protects as his new witch. If this happens, should she be reduced to zero HP, Minsc will automatically fly into a berserk rage. He also has some famous banter with the chaotic gnome thief-illusionist Jan Jansen. If his old enemy Edwin Odesseiron joins the party, Minsc is prone to attacking him after a while, for a fight to death; the outcome largely depends upon how well each of the combatants have been equipped by the player before, and if Edwin has enough spells left. Also after finding the Nether scroll in the Graveyard district, Edwin is in some point turned into a woman. Minsc is clearly confused by this turn of events and considers him as Edwin's sister, with some notations indicating that he actually finds Edwin's new body appealing

In the released retail version of Baldur's Gate II, Minsc, unlike most other PCs in that game, did not have a personal mini-quest.

Minsc and Boo are also referenced to in games of the Neverwinter Nights series. In Neverwinter Nights: Shadows of Undrentide, there is conversation with an imprisoned rat, who makes an indignant comment to the effect of "What do I look like, a miniature giant space hamster?" In Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer, an "Astral Rodent totem" is located in the Thayan academy, which has the words "For M" carved on it.

[edit] Cultural impact

[edit] In other media

Minsc appears in the 2000 novelization of Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn with a heavily changed design, described as a well-built man with long red hair, a patchy orange beard, and a jagged scar along the right side of his head. In addition Minsc is no longer a warrior, portrayed as much smaller with the novel's protagonist, Abdel, noted as much larger than him. In contrast, Boo is left unchanged, still referred to by Minsc as a miniature giant space hamster. Held prisoner alongside Adbel at the start of the novel, Minsc is set free and accompanies him until they reach an inn, at which Minsc opts to work. Abdel repeatedly shows discomfort for his presence, using his employment as an excuse to leave him behind and steal his sword, though later returns for Minsc's help in securing travel aboard a ship. Minsc makes a final appearance in the novel when Adbel returns to kill his employers; understanding that the inn will be permanently closed soon, Minsc tells Boo as they leave that they will have to find another place to work.[10]

Boo appears by himself in the webcomic MegaTokyo, wearing strapped on wings and serving as secondary protagonist Largo's conscience, though can't be readily understood due to only being able to squeak. Largo himself quotes Minsc, though adapts the battlecries to his own needs.[11] At one point in the comic, Boo attempts to leave Largo and return to BioWare's employment, only to be turned down.[12] BioWare's Ray Muzyka praised Boo's appearance in the comic, describing it as an "anime-style" depiction of a favorite character.[5] For a limited time Boo plush toys modeled after his appearance in the comic were sold by the artists through the website, though production was initially delayed due to manufacturer error.[13]

[edit] Promotion and reception

GameSpy held an interview with Lukas Kristjanson who speaking as Minsc gave background information on the character.[14] When asked about the possibility of Minsc and Boo making cameo appearances later BioWare titles, lead Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal developer Kevin Martens stated "Well, Minsc is popular. You like Minsc. We like Minsc. Neverwinter is so far away. That is all that I have to say."[9]

IGN named Minsc's return in Baldur's Gate II as an aspect of the game they looked forward to, stating "How can you live without Minsc?!"[15] Dan Tudge, project lead for Dragon Age: Origins, noted that prior to working for BioWare he would rush home after work to use the character.[16] Minsc placed seventh in a "Reader's Choice" edition of GameSpot's "Ten Best Sidekicks" article, which noted that readers commented on the character's demeanor and attachment to Boo as reasons for his appeal to them.[17] UGO.com described Minsc as "a beloved game personality",[18] lamenting the absence of similar characters in later BioWare titles.[19] Eurogamer named Minsc the best male supporting character in video games for 2001, noting him as additionally one of the most popular characters of the original Baldur's Gate.[20] CVG listed him as one of their two-hundred reasons to "Love PC Gaming", quoting one of his battlecries for their reasoning.[21] GameDaily named him one of the Most Lovable Lummoxes in video gaming, stating "Every good party of adventurers in a CRPG needs a tank...In Baldur's Gate, the human ranger Minsc is that tank, and a valuable asset to the player's quest."[22]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Gale Research Company (2001). Contemporary Theatre, Film, and Television. University of Michigan: Gale Research Co.. p. 100. ISBN 0787651087. 
  2. ^ IGN Staff (1999-12-24). Developer Journal: Baldur's Gate II pt. 3. IGN. Retrieved on 2009-01-10
  3. ^ IGN Staff (2000-04-07). Developer Journal: Baldur's Gate II, pt. 9. IGN. Retrieved on 2009-01-10
  4. ^ Lafferty, Michael. GZ Interview BioWare on BGII: Throne of Bhall. GameZone. Retrieved on 2009-01-12
  5. ^ a b Staff. (2001-08-09). An Interview with Ray Muzyka. Player of Games. Retrieved on 2009-01-30
  6. ^ Terra, John; Scott E Davis and Newton Ewell (1991). Monstrous Compendium: Spelljammer Appendix. TSR, Inc.. pp. 83-84. ISBN 1560760710. 
  7. ^ Black Isle Studios Forum Updates. Sorcerer's Place. Retrieved on 2009-01-30
  8. ^ On the BG2 Boards. GameSpy. Retrieved on 2009-01-30
  9. ^ a b RPG Vault Staff (2001-06-27). Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhall Edited Chat Log. IGN. Retrieved on 2009-01-30
  10. ^ Athans, Philip (2000). Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0786915692. 
  11. ^ MegaTokyo - [90 go for the beer, boo!]. MegaTokyo. Retrieved on 2009-01-30
  12. ^ MegaTokyo - [121 E3 Special: how many times...]. MegaTokyo. Retrieved on 2009-01-30
  13. ^ Staff (2005-12-12). Boo booboo. MegaTokyo. Retrieved on 2009-01-30
  14. ^ Kristjanson, Lukas. Interview: Minsc. GameSpy. Retrieved on 2009-01-10
  15. ^ IGN Staff. (2000-08-21). Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn Preview. IGN. Retrieved on 2009-01-10
  16. ^ (2008-12-23). Baldur's Gate Memories. IGN. Retrieved on 2009-01-10
  17. ^ Reader's Choice: Ten Best Sidekicks. GameSpot. Retrieved on 2009-01-11
  18. ^ Harper, Kareem. Heavenly Sword Review. UGO.com. Retrieved on 2009-01-30
  19. ^ Swiderski, Adam. Neverwinter Nights 2 review. UGO.com. Retrieved on 2009-01-30
  20. ^ (2001-03-26). Gaming Globes 2001: The Results. Eurogamer. Retrieved on 2009-01-11
  21. ^ Staff (2009-05-02). "200 Reasons to Love PC Gaming". CVG. http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=213997. Retrieved on 2009-07-08. 
  22. ^ Ten of Video Games' Most Lovable Lummoxes. GameDaily. Retrieved on 2009-01-28

[edit] External links

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