Have u everplayed the original Baldur's Gate? if you have then the low levels and missile weapons relience is natural(i had a missile heavy character in BG2!)
the single character also make sit hard.
Icewind dale is a dream come true!!
You get to make the whole party(no more wizard NPCs with only 15 intelligence!!)and can assign roles to produce a balanced party. The easy quest areas in the Prouloge ment taht mu party was level 2 for Chapter 1
As for good items SPOILER
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Try giving your thief good pickpockets skills or take a Bard. The 2 priests in the temple have a wealth of good items for the grabbing!!
P.S i hope that i have done my Smilies right. I am still a Newbie on the internet(only got it a few months ago)