I'd say Keldorn is essential!! Not so much for his fighting abilites, but for his true sight & dispel magic (which he casts at *twice* his level, btw). Many a mage has been made minced meat (or should that be minced mage

) by:
a) Keldorn casting dispel magic;
b) My kensai (w/boots of speed & Celestial Fury) running up to said mage & hacking away;
c) Chop! Hack! Slash! Chunks of one mage fly about...
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"Butt-kicking for goodness!" - Minsc
"Cities always teem with evil and decay. Let's give it a good shake and SEE WHAT FALLS OUT!!" - Minsc