Party Advice?

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I'm going to play through ID HoW again soon, and this is going to be my playthrough of all playthroughs, so I want to have a "perfect" experience. What I'm asking for here is corrections of my assumptions, and advice for my party.

I think the last time I played the game was in 2008, and I didn't get any further than the Ice Museum, and I don't remember what my group was. The last time I beat the game was probably 12+ years ago. I never bothered with dual-classing (because I didn't understand it), I didn't really know how ability scores worked, and there were a few other things about the mechanics that I didn't know (like rangers getting bonus attacks with longswords while not carrying a shield).

I do remember that my parties never got higher than about 13th level, because I had six people. This time, I'm thinking of playing three. I will be min-maxing my scores.

Here's my ideas so far, and my reasons for them:

CG Human Fighter 6/Cleric X, Str 18/00, Dex 18, Con 18, Int 3, Wis 18, Cha 3
-flails, left over beginning points will go to bows or slings

Spoiler

Maxed strength, dex, and con, because combat. I don't think he'll need Int or Cha for anything, really. Flails because I hear maces/flails are the best that a cleric can use. CG because I heard that there are some good-only items that clerics will want.

Bows are better, but my other two guys will be using them, and there are probably some good slings/bullets to be had. Also, can't you use a sling with a shield?

This character will be my primary melee/tank.

CN Human Thief ?/Mage X, Str 15, Dex 18, Con 16, Int 18, Wis ?, Cha 18
-Shortbows, Daggers

Spoiler

Those stats will be hard to roll, I know. I heard that Str 15 is necessary for some bows? Might only be longbows, I don't know. Any higher than Con 16 is useless, right? Int and Cha 18 for speech options and success. Will dumping Wis affect Lore?

CN because I hear it's the best for getting a good range of items.

This will be my traps character and an archer, sometimes backstabbing. I will stay with thief until my find traps/open lock are sufficiently high - 100% each? What's a good number there?

CG Elf Ranger, Str 18/00, Dex 19, Con 17, highest wisdom with whatever points I have left
-Longswords, Longbows

Spoiler

I know rangers get more attacks with longswords, and I know elves are especially good with longswords and longbows. I love elves, and I wanted a stealth/melee/archer guy to help out. Two characters would have been too few for me. I also hear there are ranger-only items that are quite good, and can fill out the gaps in this build. No shields.

I will probably choose salamanders as my favorite enemy, possibly trolls.

This party will hopefully have 8th or 9th level spells from the cleric/mage lists, and be plenty good at fighting, with stealth and trap/lock coverage. I hear that fighter/mages and ranger/clerics are the best dual-classes, but neither of those sounds particularly helpful to me. I think the party I have is particularly well-rounded, but that's why I'm here asking.

I heard there are some great items that are only available for evil fighter/mages, is this true? How good are they?
I know the best weapon is for paladins, but I don't want a paladin.

 

3 characters won't be that much ahead of 6 characters when it comes to leveling for most of the game. I would coose six party members. Soloing or running with only a pair is fun, a Trio is tough. Really tough with your choices. Go Fighter until level 7(or 13), you will get more ATs/Round. Don't Dual the M/T, multi-class him all the way. OR Make him a F/M/T. In a 3-man party, the F/M/T can level enough to make him worthy, can contribute with melee, missle or magic. He can buff, cast AoE spells and backstab & trap/lock duty.

If I was going with a Trio, I would use a Dwarf F/C(or Half-Elf R/C), a Bard and a Gnome F/T. Bards are awesome if used properly. Their Skull Traps and Fireball/Lightning Bolt spells are nasty in the early game.