I'm currently running a game in BG 1 with a cleric/mage multiclass halfelf PC:
S 6
D 6
C 6
I 9
W 9
Ca 3
First thing I did was to take Monteron in the group and had him pickpocket Algernon's Cloak at the Feldpost Inn. Then I kicked everybody from the party and pretty much soloed all the quests you can do before completing Chapter 1 by charming whatever non-joinable NPCs or Monsters are in each area to power-level my PC asap. Example: you can charm Flaming Fist guards to help for in-town quests, or in the wilderness areas there is usually at least 1 non-joinable NPC who you can talk to or a Carrion Crawler or something, then charm them to help you clear the area using the Cloak.
I've been all over the southern regions and have got him to cleric 5/mage 5, just about ready to form the true party to move the main story further along in the chapters. Between the Cloak, Ring of Magery, Ring of Holiness, backed up by Gauntlets of Dex, Mithril Chain +4 and Warhammer +2 it's been pretty easy so far.
Cleric spells: Sanctuary, CLW, Entangle, Strength of One. Mage spells: Mage Armor, Grease, Web