Barbarians?

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It seems like most people think different kensai builds or R/C's make the best warriors, but looking at the features a barbarian gets at higher levels I can't help but think that a half-orc barbarian would spank any kensai in a fight and is the better overall warrior. Look at that damage reduction! In a game where you only get real hp increases until 9th level the d12 hit points also has to count for something. Where is the love for this under-appreciated class?

 

In most parties everyone has a designated role, and having someone as both "damage-dealer" and "tanker" is not always a good idea. Sure you'll want a meatshield who's also capable of massive damage per round, but you wouldn't want your Kensai tanking Firkraag, for example.
So in the end it all depends on who you decide to go with - if I already have Jaheira, who can reach really low AC and who can protect herself with Stoneskins and various other immunity spells/items, then what would be the point of bringing along another extra-tough damage-dealer? Better an all-out damage-dealer, like a Kensai.
R/C's, depending on how cheesy you play, can become ridiculously difficult to kill. Hardiness is nice, but doesn't really compare to Heals and stacked Armor of Faith (this, especially).

 

You can stack armor of faith? How much does it go up to?

 

That was a bug that is corrected by most fixpacks. Will work in original BG2 though.

 

Barbarians are pretty cool, but the reason why I think that they are under-appreciated is exactly the differences between they and the traditional fighters. While they will get 18 more hitpoints, they are limited to specialization in their proficiencies (2 points). As they cannot get to grand mastery, this takes some of the shine off of them.

Furthermore, while their rage is different than the berserker's, it's in battle-use is similar. You get increased to hit and damage, more hitpoints, and immunity to a bunch of different status effects. IIRC, the berserkers was a little bit better in that if you are berserked, you also have immunity to level drain, which I don't think the barbarian's rage gives you.

Finally there is the restriction against using plate and full plate mail armor. IMO, the downside of this is not in the armor class, but in the resistance benefits many of the late game heavy armors provide. The lower AC isn't really a big deal - there are many non-plate armors that confer an AC within a point of two of the best plates and full plates in the game, and once you get to ToB, the really tough enemies have THAC0s that are so low, that a point or two is going to make very little difference in determining whether or not you get hit. But a lot of the plate and full plate armors come with various resistances, so all things considered, you'd probably rather be wearing one of them.