[Impaler987]

In BG1, rangers and fighters owned the game. Fighters because they could fight really well (duh), and rangers, especially those with 18 or 19 in dex. could hide, scout the territory, and provide an excellent setup against an enemy (often a pincer attack). But I'd say overall, the fighter was the best in BG1 because at the early levels you play BG1 at Grandmastery is a big deal (and the fact that it is a lot more powerful in BG1 in itself helps the fighter, too).

In BG2, however, rangers are, without any doubt in my mind, the better class. BG2's levels are around the point where the ranger (and also the paladin) starts to "come of age." They start getting their spells (some of which are useful, contrary to what some say), and a ranger really starts to take off as far as stealth abilities go, making them deadlier than ever. The ranger's abilities mature to such great extents around the teens (in levels) that the lack of Grandmastery (which, haha, is much weaker in BG2) is a total moot point. And I didn't even mention two awesome kits the ranger can take. Archers, who possess greatly enhanced missile weapons ability, can stealth up and rain arrows from the other side of an enemy party and obliterate them, often before the tanks can even roll in; called shot rocks, too. Stalkers (my favorite) are extremely versatile; they're still good at missile weapons (though not like an Archer), they hide even better than a normal Ranger or Archer, they can backstab (yes, like a thief) for disgusting damage (even only at 4x it's nasty), and they can Haste the party, leaving the mage of the party with some free level 3 slots to play with.