A pure-class Fighter or Berserker is cool too. A bit dull, but with the right stats you can end up MUCH better than Minsc or Anomen. *remembers an incident with a lich that died after three hits*. Play a half-orc for an absolute tank

or a halfling (with the girdle of giant strength later on, the -1 strength modifier doesn't matter). Half-elf is good too (I NEVER play plain human, except if I want to dual-class)