It is good to have you on board esquire, just a reminder there is a free expansion for TotSC if you ever finish it and want to play again with even more areas called DSotSC found at
http://www.dsotsc.com/ it adds even more areas, quest, NPC's and items. I am playing BG through a 3rd time and have added this expansion so I am looking forward to it. I am using a female Chaotic good elf ranger this time. The second time through with only TotSC I used a neutral evil gnome Illusionist like your self, except he was a multi-classed fighter. I have to admit I was not so brave to meet the challenges of TotSC as you and needed my gnome to have a little extra ump! But gnome Illusionists are awsome.