Since the 2 games allow me to make a whole party of characters similer to Wizardry, Might and Magic, and A Bard's Tale, I like some suggestions on how to make a pbalanced party like who gets to be a tank, DPS Melee/Ranged/Magic, Healer,etc. What races to choose and their classes, what skills to role, and what abilities to focus on.

One person's 'balanced party' is another person's overpowered 'uber team'. You're going to get so many conflicting answers here. Besides, why take on somebody else's party? That's what your party would inevitably become. I just don't see the point... or the fun.

Keep in mind that IWD and IWD2 are using different rules, so what works in the first game may not work as well in the second.

Agree with the others. Having said that, just look at what each race has for benefits and drawbacks (and in the case of IWD1 also look at their class restrictions) and plan accordingly as far as what race to use for which class. Make sure you have the 4 roles covered. If you plan to use more than 4 in the party, then double up on casting and/or tanking with the extra members.

Well right now I want to make a the most cliche party of Races/Classes:

Human Fighter armed with Sword
Elf Mage armed with Staff/Rod
Dwarf Paladin armed with Two-handed Hammer/Axe
Gnome Priest armed with Mace
Half-Elf Ranger armed with Crossbow/Two-Handed Sword
Halflng Thief armed with Bow and Arrow/Dagger

Ranger class are the kind of class good with ranged weapons right?

A Dwarf cannot be a paladin in IWD1.
Gnome Priest is potentially gimped -- max WIS is 17.
Ranged weapon skills have bonuses based on race rather than class: Elven Ranger is better than Human Ranger, due to the bonuses they get to bow, sword and DEX.

For a 'cliche' party, you'd be better with your Fighter being a Dwarf, your Paladin being a Human, your mage being a Gnome, and your Ranger being an Elf.

So can Half-Elves be Priests?

Yes. In fact, they are the *only* race that can be Cleric/Ranger multi-class (IWD1), which gives them access to the entire divine spell list (Rangers use Druid spells). The downside (IWD1) is they miss out on their bonuses to bows and swords, since they are restricted to blunt weapons. If your character will be taking a healing/controller/support roll, he/she would be better off as Cleric/Ranger -- it's the most 'cliche' class for Half-Elves.

This party should work in IWD1 if you make the paladin a human and maybe the fighter a dwarf.
There are 8 pregenerated level 1 characters, including all six classes you chose, you can take a look or even pick them for your party.

Be flexible, try to give both a melee and ranged option to everyone.

That's fine. Just remember that in IWD1, as a Cleric, he/she is restricted to blunt weapons and slings (no swords or bows).

I always use slings, they pack a suprising amount of punch in Baldur's Gate 1.

In IWD you want expertise in Bows or Crossbows rather than slings, since those are going to be the best magic items with the best stats.

Not necessarily; there are a few slings that are quite useful later on.

I tend to find bows a pain in the ass, since you can't have anything in the offhand when using them. You can use a sling with a shield or with the Bard's Lyre of Progression (so you don't lose the extra spells for uneqipping the lyre). And it's a pain to have to enter inventory every time you want to equip a bow if you have something in your offhand, then go back in to re-equip it later.