What are your views on Cernd. He gets an awful amount of stick but in my first party (where I had my PC as a bard because I was a total newcomer to the game and not a D&D fan) I took him right to the end. He becomes quite a good spell-caster and helps out as a tank (as the wolf). Before major battles he would summon a pile of bears and such as like an then shapeshift. The greater wearwolf is even better. His comments are annoying however.

By the way that Bard reached level 23 and became quite a proficient spell-caster and bowman.

I prefer Viconia to Cernd.For summoning you should take Edwin.(Conjurer with extra mage slots.)

Hmm..Edwin does rock, but what you have to take into account is the fact that when Edwin summons one of the more powerful creatures (Haekashar, Djinn etc), he has to spend a full round (6 seconds) standing still doing nothin to attempt to control it, and even then he can fail and make it hostile.
Whereas Druids and rangers do not have to do this. And Mountain Bears are <u>awesome</u> anyway!

Suumon a hostile haekeshar? Never seen that in my life.

i like jaheira better than cernd she is a multi class and the fighting skills come in handy along with her harpers call she can be lethel with the right equipment