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

[Stavis_L]

Originally Posted by thejeff

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?

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.