my favorite is the dwarf, whether cleric or fighter, but going with traditional dwarven weapons (***** in axes and *** in x-bows) they are friggin brutal

clerics are fun all around, good HP's awesome Armor, can use shields with their missile weapon (sling), and great spells, both offensive and defensive.

Bards seem like a neat alternative to mages (or maybe in addition to a multiclass mage)

I agree with Morgeruat dwarfs all the way! Especially a dwarf fighter. Mine in Baldur's Gate II is one tough cookie. I know that isn't in Icewind Dale but it's very similar anyway.

Mine is too! Except the other way around of course =P

A Paladin with Blood Armour, Pale Justice and Orrick's shield makes a good tank, but prefer a fighter with ring of reckless action and long bow +4: hammer with some decent arrows. Try getting near that!

Druid, definitely.

Easy; the Thief (Single, Dual, or Multi). Most of us are usually pondering over which of the other classes to add or leave out of our hero squad, but almost no one scrubs-out the Thief. Don't leave home without one [it might be fun to name your female thief "Winona"].

Rangers.They rock.

Kind of funny with all of these specialty classes listed above. But my favorite has to be my fighter dualed over to a mage. As a level 9 fighter/ level 14 mage he kicks some serious tail at this point- whether it's with a sword (***), a bow (****) or just blasting them into oblivion with his spells.

I know I sure wouldn't want to meet up with him in a dark alley.

The ranger/cleric. It combines the coolness of the ranger with the usefulness of the cleric (and some druid spells) ;)

<font color = mediumspringgreen>Roboghost,

I must agree with you: There are "sexier" characters to play; but no one leaves home without the thief.

My favorite character is Sashii, my gnome Thief/Illusionist multi-class. (Though I have high hopes for Druulf, my fighter-to-druid dual class.)

SirWillow, Your fighter/mage dual class gives me hope that my experiment will work out: I am grooming two fighters to dual over, at level 13, to specialist mages (a Conjuror and an Invoker).

Oh, how I wish a bard could be dual classed!

Party On!</font>