I'm planning a run with a multi F/C. It's a family only run, so just my sis and bro will be in the party, though I'll probably keep
Yoshi for as long as I can. Other NPCs would be just for quests. Since it's not an R/C, it's highly unlikely I can spend 30 seconds rolling and pretty much 18 in everything. So, I have to make some tough choices with my stats and can use some tips on what to put where. I'd like to avoid min maxing while still being effective.

I'm planning to SK in a kit, and am leaning towards Lathander with the concept being this deity/faith is instrumental in the PC reconciling his bhaal lineage. However, I'm also leaning towards a female dwarf, and I don't see dwarves as following Lathander. I mean, sure, anyone can worship any deity, but this is too much of a stretch for me. That being said, a halfling F/C of Lathander would be more reasonable in my mind.

I know a berserker is pretty boss with an F/C, but this character concept is more centered around faith than the warrior side. However, she does have to be damn good at holding the line as she is it until bro comes along.

So, how would you build such a character? Thanks.

The first thing to mention is that halflings get a -1 penalty to the cleric base stat WIS, but since it only effects bonus priest spells and lore it's not so bad. Having said that, you want your main points in STR, DEX and WIS, put some in CON if you can. You don't need to go any higher than 9 in INT (for reading scrolls and using wands), unless you're worried about Mind Flayers (intelligence drain can kill!), in which case bump it to no more than 12. Forget all about CHA; make that your absolute dump stat.

I think you're thinking gnome, not halfling. Halflings take the hit to STR, which actually is a concern as then I won't be able to hit a natural 19. Having strength gear is nice, but it won't stack with DUHM. Then again, with the gear, I don't need to worry about that. Regardless, I'm not too worried about WIS. As long as I have at least a 12, I don't have to worry about spell failure. Anything more is just bonus spells.

I'm really trying to avoid twinking this character, but some things are just too tempting. It already took a lot of willpower not to munchkin out with a Cleric/Ranger. With the STR, though, there's a world of difference between 17 and 19. It's hard to pass on that.

I'm not planning to go with any pure dump stats. This is a bit of a RP concept, but I do have to make concessions for effectiveness.

For INT, I was going to go with a 10, with the tome, that should be good enough for Mindflayers. CHA is kinda going to be a dump stat, in a sense, however, I don't want it to be too low. A lowish stat works in that the PC has the blood of Bhaal which tends to make people a little uneasy (on a subconscious level, like, there's just something not entirely right about this kid). However, I wouldn't min it to 3.

I'm also wondering how to play the character. Most spellcaster strategies are oriented towards mages. I wonder if anyone has found any extremely useful and/or creative ways to play the cleric side of things.

Yeah, my mistake. I was thinking 'shorty' without... thinking. :D Then you shouldn't be asking for other peoples' input... really. You don't need to 'make concessions'. I role play -- I *never* power play -- and my 'rolling rules' are very, very strict. You build for *your* character, not somebody else's, and not for gameplay. Effectiveness doesn't come into it, at least in the sense that you mean. Your character can be ineffective and still get by. It happens to me all the time. That's what role playing is about.