One of my first and favorite series I read set in Faerun was the "Pools" series (Pool of Radiance, Pool of Darkness and Pool of Twilight), and the accompanying Moonsea city of Phlan. I still dig those books out to read from time to time.
If Paladins aren't on the table, then definitely some flavor of tanking Fighter. As much as I enjoy the hybrid heal-tank of a Paladin, straight-up, in-your-face tanking warms a special place in my heart. I love being the solid rock of aggro that my friends can depend on to soak up the damage while they DPS the mobs into…