My favourite party was the Killers:

PC Kensai/Thief (dualled at 21)
Cleric/Ranger (custom character)
Fighter/Mage (Solaufein)

MWUERHAHAHA

Jan is the only person that can continue to advance in thieving after the Assylum. Nalia and Imoen are both dual classed, so their thieving won't go any farther. Your only other choice is to dual someone else to thief.

For me, Jan is very useful as a backup mage to Eddy and as a crossbow user...
My favorite party:
Nick; halfling Assassin
Edwin; best mage
Korgan; best tank
Haer'Daelis; he isn't THAT bad...and his theatrical nature makes him my favorite NPC
Jan; used to be Yoshimo but we know what happens to him...
Cernd; powerful, but the boring streak on this banterfilled group

PC Inquisitor or Archer
Jaheira
Minsc
Viconia
Nalia
Imoen

My current party is:
PC - Sorcerer
C/R
Blade
Kensai->Mage
Archer
C/T

custom parties are boring...banter is what makes the game fun! and tactics mod... [img]tongue.gif[/img]

I play both modes.
Custom Party:
Dwarven Beserker
Elf Assasin
Half-Orc Cleric
Half-Elf Druid
Human Swashbuckler/dual to mage
Elf Sorceror

My single player party will be:
Me, a human sorceror
Minsc
Keldorn
Jaheira
Jan
and I have no idea about the last one(suggestions welcome) [img]smile.gif[/img]

Mazzy starts out with like 2 profficiency points on halberd doesnt she? I used her once and she ended up with halberd...Does Cernd have very little dialogue? I never tried him, I always keep jaheira around and tank her up, plus the harper call spell is usefull early on in the game. I dont like custom parties either...most fun bits of the game are the npc dialogue moments, or npc related quests !

PC - Sorcerer/Kenasi-> Mage
Mazzy
Valygar/ToB NPC
Jaheira
Aerie
Imoen/Jan

Elhardo: Mazzy doesn't start with any points in Halberd. She is grand master in short bow, and also has some points in short sword depending what level you pick her up at.