Why all the hate on Khalid?
Daelric
Member Posts: 266
I j-j-just don't understand it... So he's got a little speech impediment that goes along with his anxiety, big deal. I found he's most useful in my party if I use him as an archer, but I've also used him as a tank, so he's very versatile. Also, I get a kick out it when he goes "WHAAAAAAGGHHem... um... yes?" lol
But I think his hot wife is a b*tch. She definately wears the pants in that relationship... maybe that's part of the reason too, he's kinda spineless "Better part of valor! Better part of valor!"
But I think his hot wife is a b*tch. She definately wears the pants in that relationship... maybe that's part of the reason too, he's kinda spineless "Better part of valor! Better part of valor!"
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Comments
As a member of my party whose survival depends on everyone pulling their weight, I consider him slightly less useful than an unpolished stone.
Because at least a stone you can throw at your enemies.
Truthfully, he's not terrible. If you give him the gauntlets of dexterity he makes an excellent archer; if you give him the gauntlets of strength he makes a solid front-liner.
But that's the thing. Anyone is good with those items. The fact that Khalid needs them to be viable makes him less useful to me as a character. I endure his presence because I like keeping the continuity, but if I were playing for combat viability, I'd dump him for Kivan almost immediately.
nuff said.
He does have a lot of character, which is more important than being statistically 'awesome'. Without flavor everyone seems the same. It's kinda funny that he's a Fighter yet a coward.
Ultimately, he's a crutch character, a security blanket for a young charname, to be cast aside for better as soon as possible.
Now that I've played BG1, Khalid's (and Dynaheir's) death becomes much more meaningful. I actually liked Khalid in BG1, and I can only imagine how Jaheira feels.
Other fighters like Kagain and Shar Teel are better in comparison. Package deals are also lame, Khalid would be employed much more if he wasn't tied up to Jaheira and vice versa.
I like Khalid. I find his personality reassuring and endearing. He's a very respectable tank as well.
I've almost never seen a morale failure from him. I've seen it just as often from other NPCs when they're are hanging to life by a thread.
Anyway, I don't split up Jaheira and Khalid. I pretty much just use them to complete the Nashkel mines, though. Like Minsc, I've played with them many, many times, so I don't use them very often anymore. I'd rather try out other NPCs.
I always try to make a spot for Khalid, but I can never commit to it. As has been pointed out, other characters fill his role better.
Give him the Gauntlets of Ogre Power or the Big-fisted Belt, and he's great.
The only real contenders against Khalid's spot as a tank are Ajantis, Yeslick and Kagain. They all need the DEX gloves to even function as tanks. Ajantis is OK with his 17 Str, though it does hurt. Kagain desperately needs the Big-fisted Belt to really do well, and Yeslick could also make good use of it (though he can make it up with spells). Khalid can make do with just the Gauntlets of Ogre Power, though, freeing the DEX gloves up for someone else. That said, Kagain with the Gauntlets of Dexterity and the Big-fisted Belt is the best in that role, though Yeslick with the same items add Cleric flexibility. Ajantis is the weakest of the tank-focused warriors, even if you give him both the belt and the gauntlets--his 16 CON hurts him.
The pure clerics--Branwen and Viconia--can also tank, after a fashion, but with the lower HD and their relatively low CON, they aren't fantastic at it.
Anyway, I only keep him on my paladin's party for story continuity. And Branwen is more appealing healer imo.
In a sit down pen and paper game he'd probably be a riot. But he didn't transition well.
Need I say more?
The inseparable duos can be frustrating when your party only needs one of them, but it does add a bit to the feeling that they are real people- after all you couldn't expect an adventurer to be willing to leave their adventurer spouse behind.
Overall I like Khalid as a character. The 15 strength is a bit of a liability early on, but even w/o the Gauntlets of Ogre Strength, his weapon proficiencies will eventually make him a decent enough hitter to serve as a tank.
In BG it is actually rather difficult to narrow down my choice to a party of six. I like most of the NPCs and almost wish I could take them all with me in one massive disfunctional party.
The funny thing is that morale is a non-issue for me, since I usually roll stats until I get decent Charisma, and remove fear is a part of my standard wake up buffs.