That's not bad at all. I think you'll find a big difference. I personally prefer a STR score of 18/95 or better (and usually roll until I get 18/00 with my warriors), but I'm an incorrigible powergamer. Nothing at all wrong with the character you rolled. Enjoy!

Personally I'd recommend against having points in missile weapons; then again, that's the proficiency crossbows use, so it can come in handy if you find a good one and want to hang back and pick things off.

That is news to me. I always thought crossbows were in the bow proficiency. Slings, Darts, and thowing knifes were in the missile weapons category. I never have really had a crossbow wielding character very long. Just that bard until I was able to pick up Minsc's Gal.

The highest STR I managed to roll was 18/91. I may have also hit an STR of 18/00 but I'm not positive about that. I was rolling for quite awhile. Glad to see that this character build gets the approval of the experts.

The crossbow proficiency was the only reason I put a point into missile weapons. I figured it would come in handy if I came across a good crossbow.

I am not sure if there is a difference between bg1 and 2, but I think that darts had 3 attacs per round, bows had 2 attacs per round and all other ranged weapons 1 attac per round (+1/2 for weapon specialisation maybe. I am not sure.)
So I think a composite longbow is the best ranged weapon with 2 attacs per round and bonus damage. But you need high strengh to use it.

Crossbows are under the Missile Weapon category, along with slings and darts (this is why mages can use crossbows but not longbows or short bows) . Throwing knives (daggers) are actually under the Small Sword category.

My biggest complaint with bows of any flavor is the inability to have a weapon and shield set equipped (for ease of use in the quick slots) at the same time so you can easily switch between the two. It's not that I want the benefit of the shield while using the bow (that would be silly), but having to go into the inventory of a character that wields sword and board to unequip the shield every time you want to use a bow is tedious.

It also works the other way: ironically, for quite a lot of my BG2 game, Jahiera has been using quarterstaffs in melee combat (I've only just found my first good magical club, which was my only other option), and using a sling in ranged combat. Due to my party arrangement she's been using the sling much more often, so she's been using a (large) shield while using it. Of course, quarterstaffs are two handed weapons...so she had to unequip the shield, ironically, whenever she entered melee combat.

You can get a +2 one-handed quarterstaff in the Adventurer's Mart, in Waukeen's Promenade -- the Staff Mace -- and also one in Brynnlaw. It's a quarterstaff that looks and works just like a mace, so you can still use a shield.

I took a slightly awkward route through the early part of the game, which resulted in me setting off to Spellhold before I could afford most of the Adventurer's Mart items. Now I'm back I've been able to obtain the aforementioned club, which imo will be significantly more useful than the +2 staff of thunder and lightning I was using: or the one I was given as a quest reward!

Incidentally, are there multiple ammo pouches in the game? I've been running out of room for normal ammo, because of all the enchanted ones.

There is an ammo belt container on the first level of Watcher's Keep, if you have Throne of Bhaal installed.

Agreed, I hate having to mess with the shield and two handed weapons. Usually I just keep all two handed weapons away from the characters that will be using Sword and Shield, but would be ideal if I could still have the bow sitting in standby and when you select it the shield is disabled.

Another thing is, if you have a shield in your inventory shouldn't it protect against backstabbing. Most likely the character will have the shield strapped to his back. Not that it's not insane that the character can have like 20 Large swords on him. Where are they putting all this stuff?

In their handy haversack they bought in 3.5?

I have always assumed that Backstab means that the character exploits whatever gap they can find while you're not paying attention, or when you can't defend yourself properly in the case of Sneak Attack. Shield or not, the rogue can still slip a shiv in your armpit, hamstring or someplace.

My advice. Save Often, and think. Pause the game(Spacebar) when you fight.