Help with party composition

Matteo12345

I am having a hard time finalizing my party for my first play through. So far I am set on:

Paladin - Likely Undead Hunter
Druid - Likely Avenger (or hoping for some cool new kit)
Barbarian
Bard - Likely Skald

I would, if possible, like to also have a dwarf something or, alternatively, a ranger. Obviously, I need a thief and some arcane as well. My current thoughts for the last two slots are:

Illusionist/Thief and Archer
Illusionist/Thief and Mage
Illusionist/Thief and Dwarven Defender
Dwarf Fighter/Thief and Mage
Shadowdancer and Mage

For background, I have played BG, BG2, and ID several times over the past decade so I am up for a bit of a challenge, but I have never played without a single class mage and I am not sure how hard the game would be with only a Skald and Illusionist/Thief for arcane.

Also, if anyone has any other good recommendations for the last two spots, I'd love to hear them.

My current plan from a RP perspective is all good/neutral chars. The barb/druid/skald are all humans of the ten tribes. The Dwarf would be seeking to reclaim Dwarven ruins. The Undead Hunter would be from the south. The mage would be his sister and the illusionist/thief would be the comic-relief sidekick. The archer would be either related to the other locals or an elven ranger who has sensed a disturbance in nature.

Obviously, I made the mistake of developing too much back story with not enough spots.

Thanks in advance.

OlvynChuru

If you want a bit of a challenge, go with six pure thieves.

RAM021

HElf Ranger/Cleric & Gnome Illusionist/Thief

Make your Barb the Dwarf

Prefer Fighter/Druids myself but Avenger is certainly decent

elminster

Might want to consider going with an elf mage/thief over the illusionist/thief. That way you don't miss out on necromancy and abjuration spells (most specialist mages have an additional opposition school compared to BG2 and in the illusionists case in IWD HoW its these two).

JuliusBorisov

So, you have:
Paladin - Likely Undead Hunter
Druid - Likely Avenger (or hoping for some cool new kit)
Barbarian
Bard - Likely Skald

I other words, your divine magic is covered, you have 2 tanks and a bard. Your party indeed needs a thief and a mage. A multiclass thief can be the best bet. I would take a fighter/thief for wonderful backstabs with high damage and reliable THACO. And I would take a Dragon Disciple. Just add some fire to your icy adventure

Frogman

bengoshi said:

So, you have:
Paladin - Likely Undead Hunter
Druid - Likely Avenger (or hoping for some cool new kit)
Barbarian
Bard - Likely Skald

I other words, your divine magic is covered, you have 2 tanks and a bard. Your party indeed needs a thief and a mage. A multiclass thief can be the best bet. I would take a fighter/thief for wonderful backstabs with high damage and reliable THACO. And I would take a Dragon Disciple. Just add some fire to your icy adventure

@bengoshi‌ Couldn't the Fighter/Thief also fill his desire for an archer character? From what I've read, it looks like people are saying that the fighter/thief can be pretty devastating with a bow in hand as his/her primary weapon.

elvee68

@Frogman‌ I use a Halfling Fighter/Thief all the time with Messenger of Sseth. A +1 short bow with great attack speed. Combined with extra slots in short bow, you can take out multiple foes before they even reach you. You can find the bow in Dragons Eye.