High Level Abilities?

[Falkeep]

I am playing Baldur's Gate II with a party of mostly my own (one slot for game NPCs). I reached the point where I started to get special high level abilities and I have two questions.

First, my party's Fighter/Mage got to select their first high level abilities. The problem is that the Special Skills / Abilities button isn't active. All of my other characters that I have had in my party (of my own creation and game NPCs) have had that button (the 4-pointed star on the far-right of the quick menu for each character) active all along (things like Lay-On Hands for my Paladin, Aim for my Archer, etc.) but, even after choosing high level skills for my Fighter/Mage that button has not been lit up and active. Why is that and how do I fix it?

Second, my Dwarf Cleric is the highest level in my party, but he did not get to chose any high level skills when all of the other characters did. His button is, and has been active and lit, but the only options when clicking on it are Divine Favor and Exaltation, which were automatic, I did not select them like I did for all of the other characters. Can anyone tell me why that is and whether or not he will get to pick any high level skills at some point?

[mrandocalrissian]

What HLAs did you choose for your fighter/mage? If they are spells then they are activated through your spellbook, not the special ability button.

[EolSunder]

mmm strange, clerics i think get special level 7 spells at level 22-24 ish? there shouldn't be anything new under your special skill star. You should be able to get spells like Implosion, special summons, etc. Havent played a cleric in a very long time but i think the only high level special abilities clerics get are special level 7 spells.

mages also i think, they get level 10 spell choices at level 18+ or something, put in the level 9 spell slots. Not huge benefits, but at least something.

Just double check your top spellbook tiers, see whats going on. None of these i think are under the "special star" button