Board Thread:General Discussion on Baldur's Gate Game/@comment-2602:301:77AE:2370:1880:8836:56AB:B94B-20181115044325/@comment-3234315-20181115114211

I could only help with my very personal opinion …

First, a sixth slot should be flexible for any companion quest you would want and still have to complete.

Alignment is something, I always regard, no matter the "balance". I try to choose my companions by taking only those with the same alignment as my Gorion's Ward or one that's a direct neighbor to it. Take a look at the bard class infobox to see what I mean: the alignment grid there shows exactly what for me would be possible if playing a true neutral character.

The wanted romance, of course, plays a role, and then party members' affinity among each other. And how much you like them. (Or need them, due to your own play style.)

My basic "balanced" party setup looks like this:
 * 1) paladin/bard – person with high charisma as the leader; should be able to take some first hits
 * 2) warrior – a melee fighter
 * 3) thief – in dungeons or other places with many traps at second position
 * 4) wizard
 * 5) cleric/druid
 * 6) ranger – or any other proficient with ranged weapons

Considering your list:
 * Aerie and Minsc should go together
 * Aerie and Korgan don't go together
 * Can't tell much about Viconia, but there might be conflicts with good aligned companions
 * Aerie will become a quite effective spellcaster, no matter level restrictions due to multi-class
 * Jaheira is also very effective (and I prefer her to Anomen)
 * Back to my list:
 * Jaheira – highest charisma, out of all of them, and able to take hits (and as she so often criticizes the leader, why not? ;)
 * Minsc – (I once made him a battle axe dual-wielder: perfect!)
 * Yoshimo
 * You – (and if I'm not wrong, you forgot to sign in, Crossbow3 ;)
 * Jan – huh? second mage/thief? yes, you will need one, later …
 * whomever you want, as there is no "ranged warrior" in that line-up; perhaps Aerie or Viconia

What do you mean by "have used the following characters thus far"? You haven't had e.g. Nalia or Keldorn in your party, yet? Then you have missed something … And there are more, outside the city …

Do you play non-enhanced?