Overview: (4)

Discover why Coran is the best archer in Sword of the Sea! Learn how to best utilize his skills, even if you recruit him mid-game, and make him a powerhouse.

Alright, let's talk about Coran. He's a really solid character choice for Sword of the Sea, and honestly, he's a friend you'll want to have around. He's a Thief, which is super handy for a lot of situations, but he's also a Fighter. Now, his Strength isn't anything to write home about – it's just low enough that you don't get any special bonuses. And because he needs to stick to lighter armor, he really shines as an archer. That's actually what he claims to be, and he's *really* good at it. Just look at that 20 Dexterity!

He actually starts with Mastery in Bows, which is pretty wild for a multi-class character. Plus, he's got a couple of ranks in Large Swords, which isn't bad. Now, I've got a few minor gripes, but nothing major:

• He's not a character that carries over from a previous game, which might matter to some folks.
• His starting skills could be better – he doesn't have any points in Find Traps.
• You can't even get him until you're heading into Cloakwood Forest, making him a mid-game recruit.

But honestly, these are pretty minor. Let's break it down:

• Who cares about sequels? It's a new adventure!
• If you snag him around level three, you can totally pump up his Find Traps skill. And hey, he can actually replace Minsc in your Good party, not Imoen. You can let Imoen keep being your trap-finder and just let Coran go to town with his archery.
• Even if you get him later, say at level five, his Hit Points are only one point shy of the max. So, when you recruit him doesn't matter *that* much. However, if you get him at level three, he'll have maximum Hit Points, and who doesn't love that extra point, right?

  Seriously, he's probably the best archer you'll find in the game. Though, if I'm being honest, Kivan is a bit more of an all-around support Fighter for my money. But for pure archery? Coran is your guy.