Kivan or Coran?

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I have Kivan at the moment but met Coran a couple of days back (just started chapter 5) and was wondering if I should have him instead. What are the cons and pros of each?

 

Kivan
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Pros: Good strength (18/12), decent dex (17), favored enemy (ogres), can get early, great archer

Cons: Low constitution (14)

Coran
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Pros: Great dex (20), okay strength (14), thieving abilities, great archer

Cons: Low con (12), can't get him until chapter 5


IMO, I take Kivan over Coran because I usually have Imoen or myself as my party's thief. I don't like wasting XP on characters I will dump, so I like to plan my party and keep who I need.

 

I just like Coran because he's more adventurous! Well, that and I think he's a great theif. I usually play as an evil party and i won't take Kivan. I was wondering, what ever happens when you get to meet Tazok at the bandit camp? Does Kivan go crazy and exact revenge or what?

 

From my Boo post:

Coran also has better lines.

SC: I was disappointed -- Kiven did nothing. He didn't even have any lines.

 

i'd keep 'em both. archers rule in bg1, and those two are the best you can get.
jaheira is not that essential if you are a cleric (read: healer) yourself. dump her and let coran join you.

 

ditto kuemper and Schaf. When I take both, I leave a spot completely empty for Coran, and the rest get more XP apiece because of it. Coran (like any proper F/T) is great for backstab-run-shoot, and Kivan is a truly awesome archer who can melee in an instant if need be. You could even make a pretty sweet duo out of the two of them:

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1. Coran backstabs and runs
2. Kivan shoots at the enemy while Coran retreats past Kivan
3. Once Kivan is between the enemy and Coran, Coran turns and starts shooting too
4. Kivan meets the enemy in melee once it reaches him, and Coran just keeps shooting

Half the time you won't even make it to step 3. Dump the druid and take the thief.

But if you're determined to take one over the other, I'd say Kivan for the XP you've already given him. Plus if you have to retreat from the Cloakwood for some reason, Kivan won't leave but Coran might if you take too long to kill his wyverns.

 

If you want a thief, take Coran, if you just want an archer, I suggest Kivan since he's tougher too.

 

I play with Tutu, and both Kivan and Coran are great with that. I give Kivan the Archer kit. His called shots and high mastery in bows complement Coran's 20 Dexterity well, especially considering there are several good longbows going around. I also use the Banter Pack from Gibberlings Three, and I'm pleased with the characterization of both of them.

The one annoying thing is that somewhere in the conversion process, Coran's melee weapon proficiency changed to two-handed swords. Minsc and Ajantis both have proficiencies in two-handed swords as well and there's just not very many of those. But I can always use Shadow Keeper.

 

Kivan + Coran = core of most of my teams. Always liked those two. And my most played main character is elf archer so i had a VERY good artillery. Coran is also good fo doing thivery while imoen dualclasses to wizard. She usually levels up at teh same time i find him anyways.

 

I'd just like to add that IMHO the two of these guys are undoubtedly the most powerful NPCs in BGI. The only more powerful PC would be an Elven Fighter with a 19 DEX and 17 CON.


Again, IMHO.