twillight: That's a very BAD idea.
First: you probably will hire Viconia for cleric. SHE uses the hammers. And hammers aren't good actualy. the top hammer has a single bonus of improved STR, and you can get that from anywhere. Its other uses will work w/o any pip in anything.
DCC74: The "top hammer", assuming you mean Crom Faeyr, has more than just "improved STR". I get it that you have an opinion, but at least give all the facts. It gives 25 STR, the max one can have; add 25 STR atop a +5 enchantment and you're able to bash enemies with aplomb. Plus it has the ability to slay several tough creatures with just one hit (a trait that you espoused below with the Wave halberd). And you don't know which Cleric he'll have in his party, although I do agree that it's a good choice for a Cleric due to their limitations. Plus there is the +2 hammer one can get early in BG1, as others have said. And (much) later on, it ToB, there is another awesome hammer (Runehammer) available. Also, blunt damage is the most effective in the game - AFAIK, no enemies are immune to it. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, please.
twillight: Axes are another very bad choice. First: Korgan uses the axes if you realy want to lay your hands on some axes. The hugh problem with axes is, they
sound nice, but they're actualy horrible. Bala's axe is unreliable as heck, and underenchanted. The top axe has vorpal effect - to which every important enemy has immunity. So it's a very weak weapon class.
DCC74: Bala's Axe is indeed unenchanted, and of somewhat limited use, but there are other axes which are excellent. The "top axe", assuming you mean Axe of the Unyielding, has more than just the vorpal effect (which, by the way, you use to tout the Ravager halberd below, thus contradicting yourself). Once upgraded, it offers a boost to AC (minor), +5 to hit, regeneration of 3 hp per round, and a +1 to CON. So again, you're omitting facts to boost your argument. And don't forget that there are at least three throwing axes (one in BG1, and 2 in BG2) which return to the user's hand, thus giving a melee fighter a good ranged option. Those same throwing axes can be switched from thrown to melee, and back again, as needed. Plus, as above with Viconia, you don't know if the OP is going to take Korgan along or not. He's great, but I don't often actually take him, myself.
twillight: I'd still recommend to stick with the Halberd-idea. You get excellent choices, very party friendly, and twohanded style makes them even better.
Sure, you won't get anything designer-choice in BG1, but there most weapon classes don't offer anything special aside +2-3 enchantment anyway.
In BG2 you get Duskblade which has elemental damage to pierce stoneskin and such, Dragon's Bane which is insane against dragons - which are though and common through the whole game), Dragon's Breath (multiple elemental damage), Wave (which is totaly awesome, its Slay Creature abilities are realy much welcomed), and there's Ravager for ToB which is just an insane weapon (very fast, especialy with twohanded style which also expands critical range, +6 enchantment which is very rare, AND has vorpal effect just to be cruel).
DCC74: Dragons aren't that common, actually. They are indeed tough, so that halberd can really be a boon - I agree. I like the Dragon's Breath a lot, especially in cramped quarters against trolls. The Wave only slays salamanders, fire elementals and efreeti. Handy, yes, but above you make it sound like it could be any creature.
To the OP, are you playing a tank with this character? If so, might I advise using a shield, specifically for a really awesome one you get in BG2 after the Trademeet quest? Tanks need immunity to stuff, and this shield has that.
I gave all the info on Crom Faeyr, thank you, AND explained why they are irrelevant, ESPECIALY the "+5 to hit bonus", WHAT IS SIMPLY SAYING IT IS +5 ENCHANTED WEAPON, while Ravager is +6, which you every time "forget" to mention that it superseeds Crom F.
You also can get Viconia early in BG1, so just give her the hammer.
Runehammer is useless crap. First, it negates the use of Crom Faeyr. You can not upgrade from CF to RH, as the point of CF is the 25 STR (which you should either have naturaly, or close from a belt, rendering CF entirelypointless for a PC), which RH lacks.
RH is also a pathetic weapon giving bonuses to UNDEADS, which are pathetic creatures, neither of them provideany challenges (except demiliches).
It also has a vropal effect - with saving throw, and only against undeads. Laughable.
Sure, it has negative plane protection, but that doesn't constitute a whole item-class in itself.
I practicaly never use healing spells. I SLEEP, or go to a MEDIC. Why waste your spellslots?
And TEMPORARY 22 STR for a couple of rounds? This is definitely a troll-weapon. MAybe, VERY maybe an offhand weapon to Viconia in dire need of NPP.
Bala's Axe is a JOKE, because the point it'd start becoming useful, the mage is already long DEAD.
And don't start me on Axe of Unyielding. Sure, it is the most useful weapon with Vorpal Effect - sadly Vorpal Effect IS ENTIRELY USELESS. What it'd have effect on, you'd dispose easily, so why bother? Anything you'd want to use it on, is immun to it, so gimme a break. It's regeneration-effect? You remember you got this equipment when enemies hit 20-50 DMG minimum? 3 HP regeneration is PATHETIC. The +1 CON is another thing you'll never need most likely. I can'trly come up with a build that'd lean on that factor.
I also don't often use ranged weapons, especialy not on the protagonist. And as neither throwing axe offer anything significant (what's their top, +3?), they don't consitute investing more then 1 point.
I neither take Korgan, but if I don't take Korgan, I don't takeexes either. Because axes suck. Same as hammers.
On Wave: what you actualy will have problem from all the creature-pool is efreeti. Any other creature can be delt with some effort, but efreeti cheat. You seriouslywant to get rid of efreeti. Fire elemntals though include ALL variant, meaning even Burning Man, and Elemental Princes, so ye, that function is AT LEAST as useful as golem-slaying.
NOTE: it's not actualy "salamanders", but "fire salamanders" I think. Ice Salamanders are uneffected as far as I can remember, unfortunately.
Halerds are surprisingly versatile, way more powerful than stupid axes or hammers. You should try them out.
