Gaining your Stronghold

Your Stronghold is a class-specific place that only your main character can rule and there are quests to do there. You have to return to your stronghold every so often to solve any problems there. Make sure you solve them all before you go on the ship.

Fighter, Barbarian and Blackguard (Enhanced Edition).

You'll find Nalia in the Copper Coronet, Slums district and if you agree to help her she will join your party. After solving the problem at the De'Arnise Hold, agree to rule the keep. You can at any time, after agreeing to rule the keep, have a better party member instead of Nalia but don't forget to return to the keep every 2 weeks. It very helpfully notifies you when gold is added; The second time it does this you need to go back to solve any problems or you could go back each time so you don't forget.

Paladin

Agree to help Lord Jierdan in the Copper Coronet, Slums district, and go to Windspear Hills. Help Garren and he will sort out the problem with the Temple of Radiant Hearts. Go to the temple and speak to Prelate Wesselan and William Reirac. You will then get a room but don't leave stuff there otherwise you will lose it. I believe that you get the next quest directly after informing them you have completed the previous one. You must use all your paladin skills as without them you could fail. It might be a good idea to save a spare game before you do it, in case you do it wrong.

Ranger

Speak to a child somewhere outside and agree to help, or go to Valygar's house and read the note; either way Umar Hills should be put on your map. Speak to Minister Lloyd and solve the problems in Umar Hills and Temple Ruins but don't give the children beer or swords. You will then have control of the Ranger Cabin but you must return quite frequently otherwise you will lose access to it.

Bard

Go downstairs in Five Flagons Inn, Bridge District and agree to help Raelis Shai. The first quest isn't too tricky (Rescue Haer Dalis) but the second quest I found a bit hard for the beginning of the game. However, it can be done. You then own the playhouse, downstairs in Five Flagons Inn, and have to return there very frequently. After a messenger has come, you have 3 days to return there. You may run the playhouse as you wish but if you want advice, ask the actors.

Mage & Sorcerer

To gain the Planar Sphere quest you either need to speak to someone in the main government building and agree to kill Valygar, or go straight to Valygar's cabin in Umar Hills. You need either Valygar in your party or Valygar's body in your backpack (it will disappear once you've entered the Sphere) to gain access to the Planar Sphere in the Slums district. Once you've completed the Planar Sphere, agree to help the Solamic Knights to get home and a cowled wizard appears. Agree to his offer and you will gain apprentices to look after. I recommend you save a spare game before agreeing to each quest as it is random as to whether it succeeds or fails. Each quest takes 4 days but if he says "4 days" or "4 or 5 days" the item will be destroyed and probably an apprentice killed as well. To succeed you must keep all apprentices alive.

Good cleric

Go to the temple district and after a conversation about the new religion, speak to High Watcher Oisig in the Temple of Helm. Sort out the Unseeing Eye problem and then you will be given a place in the Temple of Lathander. Acolyte Lara will tell you everything you need to know. The people you help will come back a day or two later to say how it turned out, Lara will be back three days later to let you know how you are doing. As with all the Cleric quests you have to choose options that fit with their particular god, otherwise you may lose your place. I recommend you save a spare game before doing any of the quests in case you make a mistake.

Evil Cleric

When you have done the Uneeing Eye quest you will be given a place in the temple of Talos. There Stormherald Nallabir will direct you to Acolyte Vilon, who tells you everything you need to know. Talos is an evil god so you must think along those lines otherwise you could lose your place. Save first just in case. Return to the Temple 24hrs after each quest and 2 or 3 days after that I think.

Neutral Cleric

After completing the Unseeing Eye quest, you will be offered a place at the Temple of Helm. High Watcher Oisig sends you to Acolyte Byron who will give you your quests. Return to the temple a day or 2 later and they will say how they got on, Byron returns a while later. Save a spare game just in case you got it wrong as you may lose your position. Think like their dutiful god and you will be fine.

Druid

Speak to Lord Logan in the Mayor's house and then solve the Animal Attacks in Trademeet quest. You can get Trademeet on your map by speaking to Flydian in the City Gates District. Defeat Faldorn in the Druid Grove and then Master Verthan will tell you to rest in what used to be Faldorn's Hut. The spirit of the grove will then give you your quest. Ten days later return to the Grove, sleep in the hut again and do the quest. After that, you'll be summoned to the Druid Grove once you reach level 14. Once you are level 14 don't enter the hut until you are prepared for single combat, remembering to sort spells and rest outside first.

Thief

Speak to Renal Bloodscalp at the Shadow Thieves' Guild, large building near the exit of the Docks District, and deal with the rival thieves' guild. Unless you are evil, don't kill the trader there. You then get Mae'var's guild as your own. Talk to Jariel for advice and return to the your guild every time someone comes for payment.