I agree with Azred, it depends on the makeup of your party. I have used both NPCs and liked both of them in my various parties.

Both are very dangerous with slings. Jahiera's insect summons etc is a nice way to neutralize mages. Viconia levels up quicker to get more spells.

I usually have Jaheira going back and forth between her sling and either Blackblood and a shield (the one that gives protection from charm etc) or whatever staff I have. In my current game I went to Watchers Keep before going back to chapter 3, so Jaheira has the Staff of Ram and Spectral Blade at her disposal. =)

Viconia is a nice backup tank with Crom Faeyr but her low HP does limit the use here.

I can't fault using either of them... =)

I used to like using Jaheira in BG1, but now that she is a romance option in BG2, I usually don't take her.

It just kinda wierds me out, since she was mentor, and bit of a mother role to my characters in BG1... To turn around after Khalid dies (Yes, I liked Khalid, darnit) and sleep with her is just icky.

Reeks of a Edapis (sp) complex to me... a psychologist's field day.

This is just with Male characters, which I normally play with. The couple times I have played a female character, Jaheira has accompanied me. ;)

Just finished the game with Jaheira in my group. She is mean as hell. She might have lower hitpoints then Minsc and Keldorn but her AC?? Oh boy. She kicks ass.

Jaheira really begins to piss me off atm, with her stupid harper problems, aargh!!!!!!

Well im playin a game with her again at the moment and I must say that I never really looked at her Ironskin ability.... IT KICKS ASS!!!! The Fact that she has Low HP is a bummer but her AC is really good... so when she has some good armour on and she casts ironskin her enemies miss her wuite often (good AC) But the few times they hit her its absorbed :D .... its great!!!! And once you get Spectral Brand in ToB she is a Killing machine :D :D :D

This topic is good... so **bump**

jaheiras combat prowess is very impressive indeed, with a lot of options for exactly how you want to take advantage of them.
i prefer to give her doublewield unless i have valygar in the party because belm effectively doubles the benefits you get from it - 4 1/2 attacks per round with gnasher (or blackblood if you prefer) and belm in combination with iron skins enable her to outfight any other npc apart from a buffed-up haer´dalis, but unlike him she is a force to be reckoned with even without magical assistance.
or she can tank like no other with great ac and iron skins... or she can do considerable damage with the impaler (although doublewield is better if you can spare a strength modifier)

the main gripe i have with jaheira is that she hits the xp cap with natures beauty or other lvl 7 spells just around the corner.