i had a thief/fighter/mage that i used in bg1 which i imported to this i was pretty bummed that the cap kept him from reaching a decent level in anything but i don't want to give up magic and the ability to fight well with 2 swords so i removed the exp cap and this character has been a blast. I used the same character basically in Icewind dale with no cheats or exp cap remover and he worked out perfectly through the whole game. But in Bg2 he sucked till i got rid of xp cap.

for me it is a dual classed Kensai/thief,i can back stab for an average of 200 pionts and he is level 48 kensai and 50 thief,as for me magic isn't my thing,i like stealth and awsome thac0,not to mush lives after one back stab

I like the Swashbuckler dual to Fighter. Great THACO and fun to dual-wield. Can wear armor, but can't backstab.

Mages are the way to go

I think it's the opnly fun way to play

BTW Hellfire
level 48/level 50
what is the fun of that?

I don't think one can ever find *the* best class, just the class that appeals to you most from a roleplaying point of view...
For me it's probably clerics...I like the balance between having great spells and at the same time being able to defend yourself in battle. The first time I played Baldur's gate 2 it was with a female Priest of Lathander with, after some adventuring, an AC of -12 and some pretty decent spells and protections. But I also like mages, paladins, monks and bards. I'm currently MPing with a Kensai/Mage, a Jester, a Swashbuckler, A RAnger/Cleric (GREAT combo!!) and two slots for NPCs.

I prefer fighter classes, mainly Paladin. I am a hack and slash player from my PnP days, so I am used to having a party of 6-8 with most as tanks. It is pretty easy to just send a fighter in and see who is left standing.

Currently, I am trying to branch out and play a Mage as my PC. I always used the spells the NPCs had, but I didn't mind if they bit the big one. Now, I have to be a lot more aware of my spell casting radius ect so I don't accidently fry myself.

BK

Kensai dualed at level 9 to a thief, speacialising in hide in shadows and move silently, dual wielding longswords, maybe now you all see why I call myself master of assassins (belive me this character whos name is oddly enough Hesperex certainly qulifies) mages are dead before the battle begins muwhahaha. My other favourite class is a kensai dualed at level 9 to a mage and dual wielding katanas. Dak'kons Zerth blade rocks fore fighter mages, and with celestial fury in the other hand you will have a deadly close combatant to.