Having completed IWD1 with a great party, I want to move into IWD2 now, and try and build a party that's equally fun. However, the sheer scope of multiclassing in 3E has me stumped. I've got some ideas of which classes I want to have, but I've no idea how to implement them.

Basically the only 2 characters I know I'll have are a pure Sorcerer (no multiclassing) and a Rogue/Wizard. Afterwards I'm not sure. Ideally, I would like to have a Barbarian, a Paladin, a Monk, a Cleric, and a Bard (Although I love druids, I'm not sure how useful it would be to have one in this game.). However, I don't think I'll take straight levels into these classes. For example, I suppose there's not much point in going above level 11 with a Bard, but I suppose it does pay off to stick to one class with a Barbarian or a Monk.

I'm also put off multiclassing (and taking a druid) because it takes a long time to get access to the high level spells, and this effectively means that I can do little or no multiclassing with the Wizard, Sorcerer, Cleric, and Druid if I take one (the Wizard will have two Rogue levels at most)

Just like my IWD1 party, I'm trying to put all the classes that I like together, rather than aim for an all-powerful party (but if a class is useless, then there's no real point in having it in I suppose). With this in mind:
1. How would you put together a party with the classes I've outlined?
2. When to multiclass, and when not to?
3. Are druids any good?
4. Which races would you pick for which class? (trying to stay away from ECL races is a plus)

Suggestions and comments are much appreciated.

Actually, I'd say take as many ECL races as possible. How about:
Druegar Fighter[2]/Barbarian[x] Human Ranger[1]/Druid[x] Deep Gnome Monk[x] Drow female Bard[11]/Cleric[x] Drow male Rogue[2]/Wizard[x] Aasimar Paladin[2]/Sorcerer[x]Ok, so there is no Tiefling but I didn't want to give you XP penalties on your first run.

Why so many ECL races Shrikant? Are they that much more powerful than the non-ECL races? Or is there another reason behind picking these races in particular?

I'm assuming that by throwing in just one or two levels of another class I'd get access to most of the useful advantages of that class without compromising the long-term build of the character; is that correct?

Finally, which cleric domain would you recommend? I've noticed people like the Morninglord of Lathander, but I'm not very keen on it (it doesn't have any good spells that the generic Cleric doesn't already get). I'm tempted by a few others. Talos seems fun with all of the elemental attacks. Mask would make a very unconventional Cleric, and I'm getting ideas of putting in Thief levels (can you get a backstabbing Cleric in 3E? That would be fun). I've also heard that Bane clerics get a good reward somewhere in the game, is it worth it to take one?

Thanks again!

ECL races are more powerful than others for quite a few builds but I only suggested so many as an idea for a theme party. A stronger party might be:

* Fighter[2]/Barbarian[x] Human (+1 skill) or HalfOrc (20Str)
* Monk[x] Deep Gnome (20Dex 20Wis; high AC charecter requires natural MR)
* Rogue[2]/Wizard[x] Tiefling (20Dex 20Int)
* Paladin[2]/Sorcerer[x] Aasimar (20Char)
* Ranger[1]/Cleric[x] Drow female (MR)
* Bard[11]/Druid[x] Human

I like the Cleric orders of Ilmater, Mask, Oghma & Talos.
Fighter[2] gives you 2 free feats.
Rogue[2] gets free evasion and decent thieving skills.
Ranger[1] gets free Ambidexterity and Two-Weapon-Fighting feats.
Bard[11] gets all songs.

Frankly the pure Monk is not one of my preferred builds. Also I prefer a 4 member party. But the above will give you a taste of all the classes available.

ECL classes are poweful and as they are a few couple levels behind, you get more XP from the monsters which balances things out.

One remark, if you plan on going HoF (reccomended for extra fun and highest levels possible), bear in mind that highest level casters rule in HoF, tanks are only for delaying monsters and they must constantly gulp potions to try to stay alive!

On normal though, good and solid tanks with heavy AC and/or tons of HP are crucial to have. Casters are all weak.

MC is fun if you do it right, a heavily MC character will be very weak though.

I'm probably not going to play through HoF this time around. I may build a different party and go through HoF with that one, if I replay the game (but that's not planned for anytime soon). The Barbarian will probably be my main tank (although I suppose the Cleric could lend a hand with the right buffs).

Shrikant, I quite like your second party, and may go with that one. The reason I want to try out a Monk is because I loved them in BG2. I realise they may not be as good in IWD2, but I really want to give it a shot anyway.

I will probably go along with a Cleric of Mask.

I'm going to plan this party and see if it works for me. More ideas always welcome.

You will not regret giving monk a shot, high level monks rulezzz ;)

I played with fighter 4/ sorc X, with Improved Invisibility he rocks but takes away all the fun.

With Improved Invisibility every character rocks without any fun :D
I heard that you can fix it with patch.

Definitely fix it via the patch, it is NO fun, NO challenge, NO satisfaction with bugged I.Inv! And a massive frustration when Isair uses it on you with his backstab, NO sneak attack and those deadly sick scimitars which always stunned and diseased and poisoned my PCs at the same time for some reason, or buggy BBoDisaster which has a very low DC and thus not a great threat!

I wouldn't give any other classes to your cleric or sorcerer before they reach level 20, their spells are just too nice.

The two free ranger feats are useless for your cleric anyway. I wouldn't choose an aggressive fighting style for my only healer.

4 fighter levels will allow weapon expertise for your tank.

If you take the second rogue level too early, you'll waste many skill points.

If you take the second rogue level too early, you'll waste many skill points.Could you elaborate? I don't understand.

@Klorox:

Thieves have other class skills than wizards.
When you raise the searching or trapfindinding skill for example while levelling as wizard, you need twice as much skill points for raising each of them.

If you start with two thief levels, you can raise your thieving skills only to 5 and have to use your remaining points for cross-class skills.
Further increases in thieving skills will require double skill points when levelling as wizard.

But if you have taken 8 (or even more) mage levels before adding the second thief level, you can raise the skills up to 9 (or even higher) before you have to use double points while levelling as wizard.

To further kmonster's point, take 1 level of rogue to start the game and max out your theiving skills, using any leftovers toward concentration or spellcraft for when you switch to wizard. Or put some in appraise or talking skills if you want (if you go with on of the above parties, use the high CHR paladin or socerer for this). If you were to continue leveling up as rogue, you can only add 1 pt to each thief skill (they can only be so high vs your level). So at level 2 switch to wizard and max out your wizard skills (concentration!!!) first, then move leftovers to cross class skills. With a maxed DEX score, and the initial point buys in thief skills, you will have more than enough skill points to handle anything through the first half of the game. Then once you level up enough to get some good spells (say level 7 for II, or level 9 for animate dead) then get one more level of rogue, mainly for the evasion, but also to crank up thief skills again.
Just make sure you are human, male drow, or tiefling to avoid EP penaltiies.

... or Halfling.

Thanks for that little note.