Which of the following do you think would make a better party (fun and roleplaying wise) to match my staff-wielding Neutral Good fighter Mage?

Keldorn
Cernd
Anomen
Jan
Tashia (romance)

OR

Jaheira
Cernd
Viconia (romance)
Jan
Kelsey

Also, feel free make suggestions regarding exchanging one of the above NPCs for another, provided the party stays reasonable balanced.

fisrt I would have a sorcerer but it's your choice of course to play mage... uhm I would go for party one only with minsc...instead of cernd(strong fellow)
I've never played with kesley but from what i readed she seems to be alright.

Why is it actually that no ever plays with Hear'Dalis?

Hea'r Dalis is actually a really good character, the only problem with him is that he has really low constitution. Meh, he dies too often, still good though.

I've often played with Minsc, and would like to try someone else. Question...can Cernd tank at all in werewolf form?

grimm i though that...and uhm if u mean tank=talk then its no...

@IranicuS: Oh, sorry...I was a little unclear:-(

What I meant was, when Cernd is in werewolf form, can he tank? As in, stand in the frontlines and take damage while my casters damage or disable...how tough is he in werewolf or greater werewolf form?

I'm leaning towards the second party, but if Cernd is no good I don't know who to take.

your first group look decent: Keldorn, Cernd, Anomen + your F/M, that's good tanking power there.

As for the second group, if what you need is just a tank, I'd suggest you go for either Keldron, Mazzy, Valygar or Korgan. imo, either one of them is better than Cernd as tank.

OK now im pretty confused as to whats happening here-I solod a shapeshifter and i basicly never came out of greater werewolf form or werewolf and i could still talk so therefore Cernd should be able to talk...Unless my game is buggy...And yes,in greater werewolf form they tank just fine,as things that have protection from magical wepons then obveously a paw aint a magical wepon and they have an ace armourclass and HP.Good tanks,shapeshifters...for a while anyway