Mauman
I also prefer Paladin over Champion. As long as you have one of them in the party, you can join the associtated guild. The spread of classes is so large in KotC2 (22 classes!) that it is very likely a player would have each guild covered. An exception would be for example is you did not take either Paladin or Champion, or if you did not take a Cleric or Bishop, or a Rogue or Bard, etc.
Search is used in the module. A character who has that skill will get the opportunity to notice things in conversations, here and there. I would not say it is super important.
Not having Paladin or Champion is easy to "achieve" though. In fact, if only two classes allow to join a guild or whatever then considering the amount of classes it is likely to NOT have them. You basically got it backward. Unless i misunderstood your post. To be clear - i don't believe it is a bad thing, just that it is - it's
It's not one guild, though. There are six different guilds. They are organized based on classes. There was originally a guild for each of the following:
Paladins, Clerics, Rangers, Thieves, Fighters, and Wizards
Because KotC2 introduces many more classes, they are grouped accordingly.
Paladins and Champions can join the Paladin Guild
Clerics and Bishops can join the Cleric Guild
The Ranger Guild is available for Rangers, Druids, and Storm Warriors.
There are about seven different martial classes (including Death Knights, Barbaraians, Gladiators) and they can join the Fighters Guild.
The player can join any or all of the guilds, as long as they have the required class in the party.
That's just an overview. I agree that the Paladin guild is probably the most exclusive. Do many players not take a cleric or a bishop? If so, then yes, they would be locked out of the cleric guild, too.
For the purpose of the module, a player only needs to join one guild. But depending on party composition, more can be available.