[SixOfSpades]

On the whole, these are my rules:

1) Decide the general Alignment of my party
2) Decide who my Thief will be
3) Get one incredible bad-ass Tank, with great AC, Saving Throws, Magic Resistance, and, lastly, THAC0.
4) Get 1 or 2 backup Tanks.
5) Get at least 1 full Wizard and one backup Wizard.
6) Get at least 1 half Cleric.
7) Don't mix Keldorn with Viconia, Korgan with Aerie, Valygar with Viconia, or Keldorn with Anomen.

-- For the Main Tank, obviously the PC is the best choice, but Keldorn, Anomen, Korgan, Minsc and Mazzy all do well in this slot.
-- Good backup Tanks are Keldorn, Valygar, Anomen, Mazzy, Minsc, and Jaheira. Viconia would be here, but her poor CON and lack of Ironskins means one Critical Hit and she's gone.
-- Main Wizard: Nalia, Edwin, Imoen. Backup Wizard: Aerie, Jan, Haer'Dalis.
-- Notice that I said half Cleric, not half Priest. Jaheira's spells are nice, but they're just no substitute for the Cleric spells I need.

My current party is myself (Female Blade), Anomen (romance), Jaheira, Jan, Nalia, and Minsc. I use the "pentagon" formation, with myself (as party leader) in the center, a good place for a Bard. My party Alignment is Good-Neutral, my Thief will be Jan, Anomen is Tank, Minsc and Jaheira are backup Tanks, my primary Mage is Nalia, backed up by Jan and myself, and my Cleric is Anomen, supported by Jaheira.