For BG2 Classic, my two favorite classes are Sorcerer and Wild Mage.

Sorcerer: Instead of having to prepare specific spells in advance, you get to use Final Fantasy 1's magic system. If you know what spells are good and which are useless, this can be a very flexible and powerful class. Like using Melf's Minute Meteors a lot? Well, you can take it, have the ability to spend all of your level 3 slots on it, and still (without resting) have the option of casting a different level 3 spell instead if MMM isn't useful, or if you unexpectedly need Dispel Magic. (There's still the level segregation that makes absolutely no sense to me.)
Also, you don't need to find a scroll of a spell to learn it; as soon as you reach level 18 you can learn Wish if you want. Even better, if you are using Project Image or Simulacrum, the clones don't need to use the same mix of spells (especially nice when trying to get a certain Wish effect, or for certain spells that aren't useful for clones.) Of course, this class doesn't fix the other issue I have with magic in these games; namely the spell disruption mechanic.

Wild Mage: This class can be fun, particularly with the controlled randomness. Wild Surges are made out to be a bad thing, but they can sometimes be beneficial; a lucky Wild Surge could save a failing battle. Then there's Nahal's Reckless Dweomer, which allows you to possibly cast any spell in your spellbook; this allows you to get around the level gating of spells without having to use up a scroll. If you want, you could even use sequencers to stack Chaos Shields, at which point things get rather absurd; NRD, I believe, can eventually become more reliable than normal casting, and if you run low on spells, just NRD a Limited Wish to get some of them back.

With that said, I might, if I chose to do some modding, make a few little changes to the Wild Surge Table. I think the loss of all gold is a bit too much (it's basically a forced reset unless you aren't carrying much money), so I would replace those effects with something else. Also, I think the Sex Change effect is a bit transphobic (using a sex change as a joke), so I would replace it with something else, like a random alignment change. (Note that the random alignment change does have some gameplay effects; I believe turning a Paladin evil this way won't cause her to fall, but it will cause her to command undead instead of turning them.)

Half Orc Barbarian by far. No need modding. Inasne resistances to all, and remains enjoyable.

But that doesn't mean it is the most interesting character for me. Things like:
- not-jester bards: suffers rogue thac0, but has access to everything in the game, so you need to rely on foreknowledge and preparation
- wizardslayer: gives a reason to play the shorties, and the limitations feel (like you can't use potions to start with)
- beast master: this class is an excuse to use the clubs. Can't have protection from leveldrain at all playing solo. Make it fallen for total emberassment.

The most boring title goes to:
- cleric/druid and combinations of it: at high level you just cast Harm and reload if fail. Boring.
- wild mage: 0% casting failure Dweomer's, in infinite numbers thanks to that ring that doubles lvl1 spells. That's just stupid, especialy when you realise the only spell you cast is Magic Missile. Lowlevel they turn themselves to stone, or simply fail to cast which results in failed battle.

The most worthless kit goes to:
- berserker. It can only rage once, then has to sleep. It is a barbarian,which can't do barbaring well.

Why are wizard slayers a popular choice for shorty races?

Gorak sounds very powerful. It is very cool that you are having a good time running him.

Personally, I would never run a character that could kill dragons with ease. To me dragons are the Royalty of the AD&D game. I want my dragon fights to be epic, utilizing the full arsenals of all six characters and their unique classes.

I played the BG series only once, and every dragon fight (or any other major fight) was an Epic Event for me, and I hope it will feel that way again if I ever play this a second time.

I have a soft spot for Clerics. I played a tabletop AD&D campaign decades ago, with a first-class DM, and I had the best time role-playing my pen-and-paper Cleric. So when BG was released, of course that's what I ran. Not to mention, a Cleric also fits in well with a party consisting Imoen, and Khalid & Jaheira, and Dynaheir & Minsc & Boo.

My favorite battle of the Series was in BG1 with the crazy Priest Bassilus and his undead minions. We were surrounded on all sides, everyone close to death, no escape path. Then my Cleric remembered Turn Undead, and they all scattered, saving the party. Oh the drama!

WS is never a popular choice because on paper, and especialy by the description in the game which is far more rigorous then the actual coding, it looks trash.

By experience it can even work by the initial design, and especialy in a party it can be a very-very good addition,especialy against early magic users.

Due to its limitations WS is cut from traditional equipments though, so you have t re-evaluate your customs to play it. Because it can't use rings (except Claw of Kazgaroth), almost no amulet, it looses prime source of protection from magin in terms of MR% and saving throw bonuses.
To compensate for the loss thus it is advised to use a "shorty" class which gets extra points for saving throws.

Traditionaly the popular choice for shorty races are thief classes (race depends on kit/combinatioon), and illusionist mage kit (but then just get Jan for that).

The popular class/race combinations are:
- human: only play this if you can't be anything else (monk, paladin), or want to dualclass
- half-elf: only play this if yucan't be anything else (druid, bard, cleric/ranger and fighter/druid multiclass)
- elf: they get DEX bonus but lack CON. This means they are not best to melee, but (especialy if bow is allowed) they get extra defense and ranged capability, so they become ranger, mage (any variant) primaly, thief-multiclass secondary (they don't get too many extra thief skills,but they don't loose stat).
- half-orc: they get bonus STR and CON, so they are unbeatabée in melee. They are primaly barbarian, secondary backstabbing thief (because of the damage bonus from STR, but this is ridiculous, thus not common).
- gnome: you have Jan in BG2 which has the best option for this race: illusionist/thief. No other race canbe specialist mage-multiclass. They loose WIS, so they are very bad clerics. Allinall, none plays them because of Jan.
- dwarf: they get a lot of negatives on stats,and even loose DEX, what means they aren't very good thieves. Half-orcs overshadow them when it comes fighting, and clerics... None canbe better cleric than Viconia,period. So none plays dwarves (ok, they do, but I can't tell why).
- halflings: they loose WIS so not good clerics, but the stat is otherwise worthless. They loose 1 STR what is annoying, but not the end of the world.With their shorty bonuses and racial bonuses make good thieves,and they make acceptable fighters. With all the restrictions wizardslayer gets, that's just the role like designed for them. But if you can be Half Orc, then be a Half Orc, so again, shorty races are not popular otherwise outside the thief class,and the illusionist/mage combo. Because the game is very mechanical, and does not recognise races for anything (aside romances, but I sold Aerie's baby, that's how much those influence anything).