Hello Player Offender!
Personally, I HATE Anomen but he's the best NPC in the game and he's much better than Viky.. He's a fighter also, he can be Grandmaster in flail, mace, hammer any weapon! His HP is GREAT, over 100. VÝctoria? 49 or 50 as I remember? More? Well, children of Baahl, please sit near the campfire and Let me share my ideas with you..
1-Cernd isn't interesting and Jaheira is a better character than him. He's not exciting. So nevermind him. He belongs to his stupid forest not dungeons
2-Yes, I heard about Jaheira is some strange kind of woman and she's not easy. She's not attractive, in my opinion. Aerie is sweet, cute and she's ELF. I like elven girls. They got long long ears you know. I whisper love words to her long long ears and err..whatever..
3-If you want a interesting character, Bard is great. Specially the SKALD kit. Jester is not useful because there's bardic instruments you can confuse your enemies. More over, Confuse becomes a mediocre spell in later stages. Blade kit sounds like fighter not a bard, and if you want an agressive character not blade, the decision must be a figter. Skald is a great bard because his bard songs effect increases as you advance level. His only disadvantage is 1/4 lore and believe me it's not important.
Are monks interesting? Yes, if you want an exotic character. His special abilities makes him special but I like to wield different swords, armors, shields. I got a knight soul more than a monk. But if you are a big Jackie Chan fan, monk is your man.
4-Personally, I like high, gold, wood elves (specially female ones
but I don't like drows. I watched her burning in flames haha, die drow die! There's only 1 drow in this world I like. Who's him? You know him..
Mr. Drizzt
5-More melee fighters makes the game easier but spellcaster gives you a more strategic vision.
6-If you're playing single player, yes you can have only 1 stronghold. Fighter's stronghold is a castle and it's all yours!! You help your people etc it's very enjoying. Bard's stronghold is also really great.
7-There's no difference between keldorn and misnc in 2-handed weapon, they both can become specialized. But there's a really GREAT sword in the game and it's usable by only paladins. My main character is a fighter and I'm specializing in halberds, 2-handed swords. So my Minsc goes with dual-wielding. He's also good with 2-handed. But he rocks with great maces, flails or any sword specially Celestial Fury, my second favourite weapon. If you want a dual wielding character Minsc or Valygar is good.
There is not best fighter in the game but there's most funny fighter! He's Minsc! And Booooo! I like him very much their conversation gets great with jan
8-Equip Nalia with bow or crossbow. Jan same. Aerie and Victoria sling/mace (Mauler's Arm+2) Anomen hammer. Don't despise slings there's a +5 sling in the game which requires no ammo.
9-Traps works fine with only Yoshi. His traps are deadly and can be really useful.
10-When you want to listen Blind Guardian
During the battle.. Equip your bard with a sword and also give him a proficiency with crosbow. When he's wounded he'll hunt enemies with his ranged weapon. Crossbows are great. And thieves can't use HEAVY crossbows.