-Are there any bucklers?
Most stores should have bucklers.
-Who identifies weapons/armor?
Wizards. At this time in the game you will need to see Thalantyr in High Hedge.
-Should Jaheira start the game with 0 XPs? I've had the impression that she was a more experienced adventurer than the others.
All NPCs join party at the same level as the PC. The backgrounds of some characters suggest that their minimal level should be higher than 1, though, but I think they should be kept at same level for consistency and balance.
-Is the ring of wizardry, ankheg armor, (and I assume) cone of cold - the "perk" items, to be found anywhere? I'm guessing they're gone like the wand of magic missles. That's fine, if it's the case, but it would be nice to know.
All the free magical items that dotted the landscape are gone now.
- About that fight with Tarnish again: I'm not sure if it was due to him staying at the top of the stairs and thus perhaps out of their sight or whether it was due to a change in their script (or really if I just imagined it) but I don't believe the FAI guards aided my group in their struggle against Tarnesh. Should they have? That is after all the Inn's one rule that Tarnnesh is breaking.
If they see him, they will help you.
- A flat out spoiler here would be great - where is the History of the Fateful Coin?
I am not sure really, I just removed the one from Whatshisname's Inn. There has to be a copy lying around somewhere.
-Echon