currently running Iron Man with

(All 9th Level)
1 liz fighter
2 mook fighter (giant sword!)
1 dwarf valk
1 human bard
1 gnome bishop

we are kicking all sorts of butt. for those of you out there my fighters are going two handed and do anywhere from 35-70 dam per hit and they have two swings now.

also i have noted that it is MUCH better to go 1 level priest, 1 level mage, and then to bishop than to go straight bishop.
these reasons:
1 exp is lower (not much, but every bit helps in IM)
2 if you put priest creation points ONLY in Divinity, Divine magic and in mental magic when you get change to mage you get 5 POINTS in EACH of Fire, Air, Water. Count 'em thats 15 points or = to 1 1/2 levels of points for free.

Also i've taken to not using missle weapons if the monster can close and hit me in one round. REASON: i hit and do more damage with hand 2 hand than missle.

A typical combat is as such.
Meet monster.
tell bard to use angel tounge, tell mage to cast web/damage spell. AND THEN HIT MOVE.
the monsters move up next to me and have to wait for my action before they get their attacks.

With my guys damage levels i have gone through whole groups of bandits and only get hit once/twice from melee. Missle of course it another matter.

My bishop always keeps the party fully pumped/ Armorplate, Missle shield, magic screen, enchanted blade.

i've had only one die so far, met 4 crusher crabs (lev 8) when i was only lev 6 and couldnt find good terrain so 3 could attack at once. managed to ressurect in combat only to have him get hit down on a measly 1 hp and have him kill the last monster! Much rejoicing.

joe browning

ps. and then we ate sir robin's minstrel