Is Khalid really all THAT bad?

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I think Khalid has gotten a tough break. He's actually a fairly decent fighter, but everyone seems to hate him. Okay so his quotes are a little wimpy at times, and maybe his stats aren't perfect (who's are?), and he's not much of a front liners, but I found him invaluable with a bow during the game.

So why is it everyone hates him?

 

I like Khalid, even if he is the posterchild for whipped husbands. I think the main knock against him is his abysmal morale score. He tends to panic and run more often than other fighters in the game.

"Better part of valor!"

 

hmm....now that you mention it when I had him on the front lines my first time through he did run away a lot...but if you put him in a safer position it's not really a problem

 

The bow dominates in BG1 and with 17 DEX Khalid is pretty good with one. Furthermore, he can get better than specialized in it which is good. His 15 STR is a bit of a downer and you can't really fix it until you get the Gauntlets Of Ogre Power quite late in the game. His morale does have a habit of breaking, but this only occurs when he's close to 0 HP, so just be careful!

 

I actually found that he made a fairly descent frontliner. Give him a great sword with high * in it, throw on some Ankheg Armour and tower shield, have a couple strength potions ready. His AC was high enough that nobody managed to beat him into fear.

 

Khalid is the best fighter and second best tank in the game.

Minsc is everyones favourite tank, but he has lower hps than Khalid and levels slower. I know Khalid has lower base strength, but this is so easily fixed. There are hundreds of strength potions available, plus spells if need be and the gauntletts when you get them. Give Khalid and Minsc the same potion and Khalid will hit easier and do more damage.

His con is 17, this gives him loads of hit points. Only Kagain has more (20). Everyone raves about how good Kagain is at tanking, but he has a dreadful dex and you have to make a choice of improving kagains dex or str. With Khalid it's easy, just improve his str.

He has ok dex (16), which helps and give him a shield and good armour and his ac is godly.

Never stick Khalid to using a bow. There are much better archers out there. Coran and Kivan for example. Khalid is a front-line tank through-and-through and should be used as such.

Have Khalid up-front taking the hits and Minsc behind hitting with his big sword with Khalid protecting the poor mite.

I think part the problem is that when you get Khalid he's level 1 and takes a while to level-up and improve his hit points. Whereas all other fighters are at least level 2 when you get them.

His morale is sorted once he has more hp, plus you can get Kiels Helmet later on if you need it.

 

I understand that you certainly can give Khalid a bow, but what a waste. He's definitely a frontliner. Because he can get more than two proficiency points in a weapon (and those points aren't nerfed like they are in BG2) he can easily have one of the best THACOs in the group. With the gauntlets of Ogre Power, he hits for some of the best damage in the group. Gee, a guy that hits more often and does more damage when he does hit? Sounds good to me!

 

"(and those points aren't nerfed like they are in BG2)"

Three stars in BG2 works the same as three stars in BG1....

 

I don't think you're correct.

BG1
Specialized: +1/+2, extra ½ attack
Mastery: +3/+3
High mastery: +3/+4
Grand mastery: +3/+5, extra ½ attack

BG2
Specialized: +1/+2, extra ½ attack
Mastery: +2/+2
High mastery: improved speed factor (gee, thanks)
Grand mastery: +2/+3

Apologies for posting BG2 stuff in the BG1 forum, but the argument needed refuting. Khalid can achieve grand mastery in longswords which compensates for his lack of strength. Minsc with specialization gets +3/+7 compared to +3/+5 for Khalid with grand mastery. Khalid is certainly not lacking in frontline capabilities.

Having said this, Shar-Teel with grand mastery would get +5/+8! But then she doesn't have Khalid's high dexterity and constitution.

 

Khalid can only reach high mastery, as he can only get up to level 8 in BG1/TOTSC. Still that is pretty good by anyones standard.

 

"I don't think you're correct."

Apparently not.

 

Err Sharteel has high dexterity (she can dual to thief). She does have lousy constitution to be a frontliner (but she does have strength to lug around tons of potions of fortitude LOL).

 

She does indeed. Her strength is fairly good, but once you start using potions or the gauntletts this doesn't mean much. Her dex will give her 1 pt. of AC better than Khalid, which will help. She is badly let down by HPs though, and this is the only thing that really stops her being a front-line tank and why Khalid is better. I do take her in my party quite often and I love her dialog options.

 

I like Khalid, I always have him at the frontline with a sword. If you give him a good shield he becomes even better.

 

I once posted here "comparing warriors" that Shar-Teel was the best warrior if you look at numbers (Thaco, HP, damage...). And she needs no gauntlets, contrary to Khalid or Minsc. Note that she also may equip Kasgaroth's claw without losing anything, contrary to others. But she's rather evil!
But in fact Khalid is a perfectly decent warrior too, the "wimp" will kill a lot of tough monsters. I agree there are better archers, Khalid needs to be on the front, with a shield. Kagain wields axes... not great in BG.
The great benefit of Khalid is that when you dump him, he takes Jaheira with him... saves you the trouble... (kidding)

 

Well, as most people have seem to agreed on is that Khalid is a perfectly good fighter. I always, when playing with a party, take Khalid and Jaheira along. They both make a good addition to the party. Although he might not be better if you look at everything I like Minsc better though. But that´s just because he´s a lunatic with a hamster

 

Like I said before, I like Khalid, one of the better good fighters. The only hangup that I have is that he comes with Jaheria. When I play, I usually kill of Jaheria so that Khalid stayss and take on Branwen(great cleric).

 

Don't want to change subject here, but Jaheira is one of the best NPCs in the entire series of Baldurs Gate. Usually I dump Khalid, but I always keep Jaheira no matter what.

 

Word Bard. I dont understand why people complain about her. Khalid I can understnad, he´s a whimp and have lame comments. Jaheira is a must in every party (even in BG2 (sry)).