I also ran a variant of this class too. He is also a Ranger/Cleric. I really do prefer this combination because of the armor restrictions for the thief class. The Ranger/Cleric can wear armor and still cast his druidical/clerical spells. Also, he does get all the priest spells for his alignment too.

I like to play a ranger for the same reason as larr2. I ascosiate with the role. When I play a ranger it helps draw me into the story more deeply. Sure they may not be as strong in a fight as some but role playing has always been about more than how good a fighter I am. And I agree,Choatic Good is the best aligment for them. What use have we for laws in the deep woods?. Who cares if the Law is served so long as justice is done. I do what I feel is right, the law be damned.

Well, whether being a paladin or a ranger is worthwhile or not matters little cuz we all know that MAGES RULE!!! I mean the mage has to be the most skilled class to be, along with prolly the druid. With a fighter,ranger,pali all you need to do is click once and let the game do the rest. Whereas with a mage you have to be constantly working on stradygy and casting spells. The mage is prolly the most strategic class to be. Im not saying that the other classes require no skill or are weak, but mages are more harder to control than a say fighter for instance, ESPECIALLY in multiplayer.(unless you are the pc that can pause the game) otherwise it is quite difficult and therefore more challenging. Anyways thats my oppinion. Oh yeah, in bg2 did they make it so everyone can pause like in IWD or has it stayed the same?
Anyways thats my oppinion.

Well, I chose the Cavalier(Paladin kit) for a couple of reasons. First, I do identify with the character, and I enjoy roleplaying a holy, powerful and respected warrior. Second, a paladin has many advantages. As a Cavalier, I am able to heal my party members with Lay on Hands, Cure light wounds and Slow Poison, I can cast Remove Fear, Detect evil, Protection from Evil, as well as some useful clerical spells like Armor of Faith and Bless, plus I have a +2 bonus to saving throws, am immune to fear and poison and am a fearsome fighter. Currently, my THAC0 with the Holy Avenger is 1, and my AC is a fairly good -5.

In BG II they changed the way proficiencies work. In Icewind Dale, 3 proficiencies was as a big a jump from 2 proficiencies as two prof's was from one. It made fighters ultra powerful and left rangers, multiclass fighters and paladins pretty worthless. By lowering the value of having more than 2 proficiencies, they did balanced it up a lot more. If you want to dual wield you will either be left with being specialized in one or two weapons, or you will have to go ranger. The experience penalty still is a bit steep though. But there are reasons to have the spells as a paladin: you get the armor of faith spell that absorbs 10% of ANY FORM of damage. This spell is instantaneous and should be cast in every battle. Sanctuary may also useful if the paladin wants to get draw the enemy in or something (does it allow the stalker to backstab, it is invisibility). The ranger spells aren't so good, but their skills are a little more useful.

By the way, there definitely are no ranger-thieves allowed in the game. The only way to get it is to cheat.

Nobody really notest but Rangers and Paladain can cast spells that the main reason you chose them
in if you don't have a druid the Ranger will be abl to cast summon insekt (a very lo one but still)
and paladin can turn undead too if you don't have a cleric
what use are the 3rd 4th and 5th slot anyway they only give a 1/2 attack extra thats not really a difference since your fightewr will only be fighting the weaker enemies and your mages will kill the harder ones (dubble time stop and 4 times Abi-somthing horrit wilthing in those time stops will kill anyone)

Advanced specialisation in a weapon makes a fair difference, Rikard, if not in attacks per round then in to hit and damage. +5. You also get more criticals, if memory serves correctly.

You don't get more damage and to hit after 2nd

I just wish the charecter rules where more like AD&D I want a gnomish palidan I want anyone to be anything well its agreed NWN will kick ass. Who knows maybe jon can edit the whole game of BG to let us use any class with any race.

Says here you get a +1 bonus to to hit, a +1 bonus to damage, an extra attack and a half, a bonus to weapon speed factor and criticals scored on a roll of either 19 or 20.