Recommended Party Composition Options

[Kraitok]

This will be my first time through and I have a question about setting up a party. From what I've heard, melee tends to be the way to actually kill things late game, while your casters are more of a debuffer and utility class rather than damage dealer right? With that in mind, what would you recommend as a basis for #fighters, mages, clerics? Keep in mind, I prefer to play a thief but it just doesnt seem like a good idea at this point.

[Kraitok]

I've decided on a bioware NPC party.

Myself - Half Elf Vagrant
18/88
18
19
11
18
12

Minsc - Berserker
Edwin - changed to Necromancy
Viconia
Haer'Dalis
Imoen or Nalia (although I hate nalia in general, and despise her ring making her a superior caster to Edwin, not to mention thieving skills)


I plan to go with minsc as my 2 hander, DW myself and Haer'Dalis, use my casters as casters with HD as backup and my frontline tank. Viconia is where I'm debating. In most games she's better off with a shield due to not being able to get 3* in 2wep fighting, and the availability of some highly situational but usefull shields making her an outstanding backline caster. Only problem is if I need her to melee she's doing so with disgustingly low HP, and I'll have to make sacrifices to precious STR gear for her to be particularly effective at that. Thoughts on making her R/C, or would she be too weak of a cleric for little benefit from the ranger levels?