Re: Making something out of nothing (Can you turn this into a Thug?)
 

For the late-game it relies on earth-gem generation and the earth booster from Bloodstones, so not working in CBM1.6 anymore.

Re: Making something out of nothing (Can you turn this into a Thug?)
 

The guide as a whole is now flawed, but I think the base ideas on how to thug Smiths are pretty much valid.

Re: Making something out of nothing (Can you turn this into a Thug?)
 

How about the CBM 1.6 Boar Lord? Cap only, but then Marverni can get Druids and all its other commanders from any fort.

Costs 50gp, and comes with:

16 HP

12 Protection

14 Strength

15 Attack and Defense

Berserker +5! (so that's what, 17 Prot, 19 Strength, 20 Attack, but only 10 Defense - depending on equipment, when berserk?).

Is H1 (so can self bless).

Has Reinvigoration +4 (and his base melee encumbrance is 5, so is that like 10 when berserk? then he damn well needs that +4, and maybe then-some?).

Is naturally armed with the Druid Blessed Axe, which does 7 AP damage (-1 attack and defense though), and causes Entanglement.

That's a very interesting package for only 50gp. It would be a shame to swap out his interesting main weapon (so would you?), it seems. And tactically, how would you deploy him? Obviously seems great to counter fear-inducing enemies, as long as he goes berserk before getting killed... What else might this guy be useful for, and if so, what minor gifts would you bestow upon him?

Re: Making something out of nothing (Can you turn this into a Thug?)
 

Berserk encumbrance is only +2 regardless of the berserk value. He might be doable with just something like a girdle of might, maybe a cat charm or something.

Re: Making something out of nothing (Can you turn this into a Thug?)
 

Ah, thanks for that info on berserk encumbrance, rdonj! Well, this makes the Boar Lord (CBM1.6) even more intriguing. So with a couple of trinkets or some such (or naked, right out of the box?), how would folks use him?

Re: Making something out of nothing (Can you turn this into a Thug?)
 

I wouldn't bother with cat charm. It just bumps his berserk defense up to tolerable. It wouldn't save him.

I don't have the game in front of me, but I'd try to boost his protection.
Replace his armor if you're using him without mages. Protection/LoS/Ironskin if you can.
Luck pendant?, something for reinvig.
Minor Earth bless might be sufficient.

Does he have a shield or is that Axe 2-handed?

Re: Making something out of nothing (Can you turn this into a Thug?)
 

And the standard barbarian leader? Any hints to how to thug it? Preferably with 10 gems or less (assuming a Hammer for forging).

Re: Making something out of nothing (Can you turn this into a Thug?)
 

give them an E9 bless, (helps the druids too).
Add a bracer of defense and luck pendant at Con level 2.
Have 2 of the sacreds guard him. cast bless, attack.

research Alt 3. Add a S1/N1 druid. set caster 1 space from the Boar lord/2 sacreds, druid casts Body Ethereal/Protection.

At con 4/Alt 4 replace luck pendant with lycanthrope amulet on the boar lord
Add another S1/N1 druid to the group.
1st druid casts body ethereal/protection/eagle eye
2nd druid casts luck/bless/eagle eye

Gives protection 30 ethereal lucky regenerating beserked boar lord.


How abaout one of the Kappa commanders that MA Shinuyama gets?

Re: Making something out of nothing (Can you turn this into a Thug?)
 

It's 1 handed, and he comes with a standard shield. I'd go with a nature shield (preferably vine or eye) dropping 1 from encumbrance) and a barkskin amulet (pushing protection to respectable levels with off the shelf armor + berserk) - that, plus a minor earth bless should result in net 0 encumbrance after self-blessing. 50G + 10-15N gems before hammers. Should be much more survivable with any of the following, still relatively cheap upgrades:
* Some form of regeneration. If you've got an N bless, score!
* Stone boots (vs. the barkskin, no point in both)
* Pendant of Luck

If you don't have a minor E bless, Girdle of Might or Nature boots (birch or messenger) work too (in which case you might as well use the Lycanthrope amulet for the regen and start off berserk.)

Of course, for crowd control he'd need an area effect weapon, so he'd be a better anti-thug thug with his armor-piercing weapon and high strength - depending on what he's up against, if he's not going to survive a hit anyway, you could just send as-is.

Re: Making something out of nothing (Can you turn this into a Thug?)
 

How about a CBM 1.6 MA Caelum Storm General?

Hit Points: 11 Size: 3
Attack Skill: 12 Defence Skill: 16
Strength: 10 Protection: 14
Precision: 11 Magic Resistance: 11
Morale: 14 Encumbrance: 8
Map Movement: 3 Action Points: 6
Equipment
Weapon: Ice Blade
Armor: Ice Cuirass
Armor: Ice Helmet
Armor: Ice Aegis

Is he good to go with just a frost brand?