Perhaps there should be a corollary to being a Khalid: pulling a Cernd. Pulling a Cernd is when you have a fairly nice looking portrait and voice and a cool sounding kit, and then turn out to be a deadbeat dad whose special ability is one of the most disappointing, broken, and glitched bits of wasted potential in the game. And THEN, when you finally get a mod that fixes it, you're too overpowered and regenerate 3HP per second and get Righteous Magic, and you steal all the glory from your teammates, so STILL nobody wants you.
Poor Cernd, if only we could get a proper shapeshifter fix (rather than the BG2Tweaks one that adds inexplicable bonus spells and stuff) maybe I could actually stand to put him in the party for more than the 5 seconds it takes for him to murder Faldorn...
I am reminded of Dragon Ball Z Abridged, where the weaker fighters Yamtcha and Radditz are constantly picked on.
"Yamtcha? I do not know what this is but it sounds dissappointing." "Oh man, he totally got Yamtcha'd!" "I need a real man in my life!" "Don't you have Yamcha?" "Like I said, a real man!" "You see that guy, he's worth five Radditz and I'm worth fifteen Radditz!" "That monster reminded me of something soft and weak, like paper maché or Radditz." "Hah, we totally crushed that guy. He was like, the Radditz of their group."
@queenofamsterdam, don't take me too seriously, I'm just kidding. Sorry if you took it personally, jokes can be hard to communicate over text. I'm not offended, I just have a thing for Khalid (not like *that*):P
Khalid? Pretty awwesome warrior. Best swordsman in BG1. Takkok gloves + Varscona + 4 pipes in longsword and he owns everything in game. Who cares about his low morale if every cleric/paladin got Remove Fear.
Khalid has always been one of my favorite NPCs. He just gets a lot of grief because he's force-paired with the most immediately available healer. I think he's one of the most endearing personalities in the game. He's a perfectly capable fighter. If one is having morale failures with him, chances are the player isn't very good at playing Baldur's Gate.
I think he also gets a bad rap because, while his morale isn't actually worse than characters like Kagain and Eldoth, people use him a lot more so he got a reputation for running away, whereas Kagain never acquired one for going berserk.
I think he also gets a bad rap because, while his morale isn't actually worse than characters like Kagain and Eldoth, people use him a lot more so he got a reputation for running away, whereas Kagain never acquired one for going berserk.
I think this was a mechanics thing, where Khalid was meant to run away due to fear, whereas Kagain and Eldoth ran away because they simply don't give a @#%# about their party-mates.
I'm shocked that none of you has mentioned that Khalid has C-3PO's voice, performed by Star Wars' C-3PO actor Anthony Daniels. That alone could make him possibly the coolest character in the game, or at least put him in the running! (That's the saddest part of his death in BG2, no more 3PO.)
That being said: both sides of this discussion are correct. Khalid is just as good as any other character if you use him right, but also he has been called a "Khalid" since 1999.
Back in the day, in the original game, if you headed straight to Nashkel as you are directed, staying on the path & leaving everything else undone, you would end up in the Nashkel Mines as a 1st-level party & the kobolds could kick your butt.
Back in the original game, IIRC, there was something you didn't get XP for then that you do now (Picking Locks or Learning Spells or both, I could be wrong & am not sure, it's been a long time since I played unmodded BG1). If you didn't ransack all of Beregost & Nashkel, or clear all of the maps that you encountered along the way, but instead just followed the path straight down, you would most likely still be 1st level in the Nashkel Mines. And most new players usually had Imoen, Khalid, Jaheira, Montaron, & Xzar.
The kobold archers would hand you your a.., uh b..., uh... "hat". Especially in the ambushes where there were 8-12 kobolds with archers in the back. Same against the Ghouls & Ghasts & Winter Wolves, etc. And Khalid was usually in the front, so he became known as a "Khalid". A character that always died on you. And many people would leave him dead, blaming him for his fate. Although any character in that situation would have been in just as much, or more, trouble.
His morale-breaks &/or death occurs MUCH more often at 1st level with 1 Hit Dice!!! Pick up Minsc or any other fighter later at 2nd or 3rd level, & you believe that they are a He-Man, by comparison. But everyone bows down to the kobolds at level 1 with no magical equipment.
Give the above a try if you never have! It's funner with more challenge! I'm currently considering trying to go straight through the storyline without side-tracking, to see if you can handle going straight to the Bandit Camp, Cloakwood, BG City, etc. I can't believe in my 15th year of playing this game, I have never tried that! I always assumed it couldn't be done. The Black Talon Archers used to hand you your "hat".
I admit, I'm not sure I noticed it before I read the voice cast list, way back when. Also, oddly, IIRC the voice actresses for Jaheira & Viconia traded roles for BG2! How crazy is that! And you can't tell.
Another one who doesn't know how to use Khalid properly. Sad.
Give him STR items and put his proficiencies in Longbow and give him Composite Longbows.Rest can be whatever. Now you have a Fighter with great CON, enough DEX, four points in Longbow, can wear Full Plates and can switch from tank mode to ranged mode very easily.
Coran is better at archery but you want him in Shadow Armor most likely and he has crap for health.
Khalid should be played like Kivan. Though Khalid has better HP but worse STR. And he levels faster than both Kivan, Minsc and Coran.
I'm shocked that none of you has mentioned that Khalid has C-3PO's voice, performed by Star Wars' C-3PO actor Anthony Daniels.
Umm...what? Khalid is voiced by Jim Meskimen
Yes. Khalid is definitely voiced by Jim Meskimen (who also does Edwin) and not Anthony Daniels (who only does C-3PO).
The worst thing about Khalid is that he has decent enough stats for a tank, making him an obvious choice for the top of the party. There is nothing worse than clicking around the map listening to him doubt his own ability to do what you ask. I always end up picking up Minsc and throw him in the number one slot simply because he is immensely more entertaining.
"Sunny or not, its nice to enjoy the out of doors." vs. "Butt-kicking for goodness!" "If none are better." vs. "Magic is impressive, but now Minsc leads. Swords for everyone!"
Another one who doesn't know how to use Khalid properly. Sad.
I'd take Khalid over Minsc any day of the week.
During my current playthrough, Minsc's squishy ass was killed by a single kobold arrow in the Nashkel mines, despite being at full health and full plated. I was so furious that I didn't bother to resurrect him and replaced him with Xan (though only until I found Ajantis). What good is having high strength if you're too squishy AND hittable to last long at the front lines? And his dext is too mediocre to make him an efficient ranged fighter either (though admittedly, he's a much better char in BG2 thanks to his stats boost).
Khalid has better dext, notably better con, levels up quicker, and can master weapons.
I personally loved Khalid, on my first play through he was the rock we could all lean on when we needed. Had a pretty epic duel with Sarevok, too. I was pretty sad I couldn't take him into the second game.
The pressure is on, too, considering she has just given her 2 cents about Skie as well, and I just finished my BGEE playthrough in which I had Viconia, Skie & Khalid all in the same party.
I have yet to decide, @recklessheart, whether your summons are simply to bid me perform as an amusing diversion... or perhaps they betray your deeper desire, hm? I am yours to command - yet if you yearn to hear tales of furtive glances and a husband stolen away sweating in my lascivious grasp, you'll find yourself disappointed. The stammering jaluk, while adept enough in the arts of combat, seemed only ever to have eyes for his beloved. When he would tremble through recountings of the neglect that typified his early life, such devotion to any half-presentable woman willing to cast a care in his direction didn't prove surprising.
At many a time I expected them to fracture, to falter; for the stronger to turn on the weaker as the natural order of things. For all my waiting in anticipation of the moment - and for all the hushed, whispering strings Shar seemed to weave between them, threadbare scraps begging to be severed - that moment never came by either of their hands. In spite of every startled exclamation he made when innocently surprised, in spite of every dull preference he expressed in favour of the strange, burning sun... he remained steadfast. Some might name it cowardice, name him a horse bridled by a demanding rider. I did so, at times - and received only a polite, diplomatic request to amend my ways in return. While none could name his tongue smooth, his manner was still that of a trader's son, despite his efforts to leave such things always a pace or two on the road behind him. Perhaps he sought a higher regard in his travelling companions; I believe he found it, and not only in his mate's eyes.
At first it was a strange curiosity to me, this strange equality and trust held between the two half-darthir in their union. Yes, he'd doubtlessly have endured harsh punishment in the Underdark for daring to presume himself above his station - but in fulfilling the duties of his station, he must have been competent enough. I will admit in time, my curiosity at such things curdled into a sour bitterness at the sight of him, though I could never show such weakness by expressing it. If such an arrangement as marriage could be proven to last with integrity on the surface, which other of my assumptions would prove treacherous to cling to? Even in my resentment, I welcomed such a painful gift. My survival on the surface could not be bought with skill-at-arms alone. Though the oft-oblivious armsman stammered and stumbled and remained unaware of them entirely, my silent battles with the jaluk could be considered akin to a different variety of the formal militia training he practiced. As a foe in this manner, Khalid was a worthy one, and our battles taught me much.
Comments
Poor Cernd, if only we could get a proper shapeshifter fix (rather than the BG2Tweaks one that adds inexplicable bonus spells and stuff) maybe I could actually stand to put him in the party for more than the 5 seconds it takes for him to murder Faldorn...
Or as others have called him, Anomnomnomen.
Talk about divisive.
"Yamtcha? I do not know what this is but it sounds dissappointing."
"Oh man, he totally got Yamtcha'd!"
"I need a real man in my life!" "Don't you have Yamcha?" "Like I said, a real man!"
"You see that guy, he's worth five Radditz and I'm worth fifteen Radditz!"
"That monster reminded me of something soft and weak, like paper maché or Radditz."
"Hah, we totally crushed that guy. He was like, the Radditz of their group."
It makes me laugh.
Like when Chelsea signed Torres for mega-money and he spent the next two years being a right Cernd.
He wasn't so bad last season, though still not what he should have been. He is very quietly playing VERY well this season though.
Back on topic, I usually just send Khalid off to play with the Basilisks...
I'm shocked that none of you has mentioned that Khalid has C-3PO's voice, performed by Star Wars' C-3PO actor Anthony Daniels. That alone could make him possibly the coolest character in the game, or at least put him in the running! (That's the saddest part of his death in BG2, no more 3PO.)
That being said: both sides of this discussion are correct. Khalid is just as good as any other character if you use him right, but also he has been called a "Khalid" since 1999.
Back in the day, in the original game, if you headed straight to Nashkel as you are directed, staying on the path & leaving everything else undone, you would end up in the Nashkel Mines as a 1st-level party & the kobolds could kick your butt.
Back in the original game, IIRC, there was something you didn't get XP for then that you do now (Picking Locks or Learning Spells or both, I could be wrong & am not sure, it's been a long time since I played unmodded BG1). If you didn't ransack all of Beregost & Nashkel, or clear all of the maps that you encountered along the way, but instead just followed the path straight down, you would most likely still be 1st level in the Nashkel Mines. And most new players usually had Imoen, Khalid, Jaheira, Montaron, & Xzar.
The kobold archers would hand you your a.., uh b..., uh... "hat". Especially in the ambushes where there were 8-12 kobolds with archers in the back. Same against the Ghouls & Ghasts & Winter Wolves, etc. And Khalid was usually in the front, so he became known as a "Khalid". A character that always died on you. And many people would leave him dead, blaming him for his fate. Although any character in that situation would have been in just as much, or more, trouble.
His morale-breaks &/or death occurs MUCH more often at 1st level with 1 Hit Dice!!! Pick up Minsc or any other fighter later at 2nd or 3rd level, & you believe that they are a He-Man, by comparison. But everyone bows down to the kobolds at level 1 with no magical equipment.
Give the above a try if you never have! It's funner with more challenge! I'm currently considering trying to go straight through the storyline without side-tracking, to see if you can handle going straight to the Bandit Camp, Cloakwood, BG City, etc. I can't believe in my 15th year of playing this game, I have never tried that! I always assumed it couldn't be done. The Black Talon Archers used to hand you your "hat".
*goes to listen to a clip from Star Wars*
o_o Oh my gods, how did I miss that?
Now you have a Fighter with great CON, enough DEX, four points in Longbow, can wear Full Plates and can switch from tank mode to ranged mode very easily.
Coran is better at archery but you want him in Shadow Armor most likely and he has crap for health.
Khalid should be played like Kivan. Though Khalid has better HP but worse STR. And he levels faster than both Kivan, Minsc and Coran.
The worst thing about Khalid is that he has decent enough stats for a tank, making him an obvious choice for the top of the party. There is nothing worse than clicking around the map listening to him doubt his own ability to do what you ask. I always end up picking up Minsc and throw him in the number one slot simply because he is immensely more entertaining.
"Sunny or not, its nice to enjoy the out of doors." vs. "Butt-kicking for goodness!"
"If none are better." vs. "Magic is impressive, but now Minsc leads. Swords for everyone!"
The choice is obvious.
During my current playthrough, Minsc's squishy ass was killed by a single kobold arrow in the Nashkel mines, despite being at full health and full plated. I was so furious that I didn't bother to resurrect him and replaced him with Xan (though only until I found Ajantis). What good is having high strength if you're too squishy AND hittable to last long at the front lines? And his dext is too mediocre to make him an efficient ranged fighter either (though admittedly, he's a much better char in BG2 thanks to his stats boost).
Khalid has better dext, notably better con, levels up quicker, and can master weapons.
The pressure is on, too, considering she has just given her 2 cents about Skie as well, and I just finished my BGEE playthrough in which I had Viconia, Skie & Khalid all in the same party.
At many a time I expected them to fracture, to falter; for the stronger to turn on the weaker as the natural order of things. For all my waiting in anticipation of the moment - and for all the hushed, whispering strings Shar seemed to weave between them, threadbare scraps begging to be severed - that moment never came by either of their hands. In spite of every startled exclamation he made when innocently surprised, in spite of every dull preference he expressed in favour of the strange, burning sun... he remained steadfast. Some might name it cowardice, name him a horse bridled by a demanding rider. I did so, at times - and received only a polite, diplomatic request to amend my ways in return. While none could name his tongue smooth, his manner was still that of a trader's son, despite his efforts to leave such things always a pace or two on the road behind him. Perhaps he sought a higher regard in his travelling companions; I believe he found it, and not only in his mate's eyes.
At first it was a strange curiosity to me, this strange equality and trust held between the two half-darthir in their union. Yes, he'd doubtlessly have endured harsh punishment in the Underdark for daring to presume himself above his station - but in fulfilling the duties of his station, he must have been competent enough. I will admit in time, my curiosity at such things curdled into a sour bitterness at the sight of him, though I could never show such weakness by expressing it. If such an arrangement as marriage could be proven to last with integrity on the surface, which other of my assumptions would prove treacherous to cling to? Even in my resentment, I welcomed such a painful gift. My survival on the surface could not be bought with skill-at-arms alone. Though the oft-oblivious armsman stammered and stumbled and remained unaware of them entirely, my silent battles with the jaluk could be considered akin to a different variety of the formal militia training he practiced. As a foe in this manner, Khalid was a worthy one, and our battles taught me much.