@Gruntboy: Here's the scoop. I'm too poor to buy any new equipment, so that tactic is out. (Anyway, I think my equipment is pretty good, see below.) I've tried luring out the baddies one at a time, but I SWEAR there is some new AI that brings an entire group out together, even when you only get in range of seeing one. Time after time, I see one enemy, take a few steps back and wait, and then three, four, five come into visual range!
So, maybe it's just my group, but I thought it was pretty good (got me through IWD no problem):
Siegrune Valkyrie; lvl 12 Paladin, w/ 2H sword +4 (backbiter - I figure it's worth it).
Magdalena; lvl 10/12 Fighter/Druid, w/ Slayer (spear +5).
Graf Ludwig; lvl 10/12 Fighter/Thief w/ Lonesome Road (axe +3).
Fromme Gregor; lvl 10/10 Fighter/Cleric w/ War Hammer +4 (Defender).
August vom Wald; lvl 12 Ranger w/ Cairn Blade (great sword +4).
Der Moench; lvl 13 Cleric w/ Giving Star (morning star +3).
Sound OK. I think this game is just damn harder than the others, and I may just have to keep my temper down as I hit that triple digit reload mark!
But, any advice...