I have tried quite a number of times to clear this tower. Those archers just chew me up and spit me out. I can kill two, maybe three before my whole party dies. How in hades do you get through this?

For me that was one of the hardest parts in the game, I never was able to get through it. I mowed through them the second time through. There isn't really much up there but a place where you can rest safely. You're not missing much by not clearing it out. What I would recommend is having your mage cast haste on your party, having your cleric cast recitation then prayer. Then maybe drinking a few potions of strength. You might be able to cast Otilukes (sp?) resilient sphere on your mage otherwise he'll probably be the first to die. And while they're attacking him, have your fighters attack them.

For me that was one of the hardest parts in the game, I never was able to get through it. I mowed through them the second time through. There isn't really much up there but a place where you can rest safely. You're not missing much by not clearing it out. What I would recommend is having your mage cast haste on your party, having your cleric cast recitation then prayer. Then maybe drinking a few potions of strength. You might be able to cast Otilukes (sp?) resilient sphere on your mage otherwise he'll probably be the first to die. And while they're attacking him, have your fighters attack them.

Pull your whole party over to that tongueless kid as quick as you can, where you'll get your keys and a breather. Then heal your men to full strength. Save the game. Then, using only one guy, open the door (to avoid clustering and getting shot). Then get your men in the tower single-file. When you get in, everything goes. Keep your ranger on the loud-mouth upstairs, using some of 'em biting arrows or +2's. Three men around the first guy you see, two of the others on the staircase dude. Pause in between sessions to heal wounds with potions, keep it high yellow or green for as long as you can. While taking out the two downstairs, the remaining people should work your way upstairs while your ranger should keep blasting the top person.

That's the way I did it. You will find it a relief once you pulverise them as you can get some shut-eye on the top floor of the tower.

Here is what i did. I cast resist fire or potion on all my characters. Gave my druid, cleric and thief a firey burning potion and quick spelled fireball with my mage. I walked in and let go the 4 balls of flame. My guys took minimal damage. and I used my two fighters to pick them all off.

my favorite tactic is to summon monsters (m/u) and animate dead (cleric) right next to the guys you're fighting, especially if they're a ways away. this worked well here because it kept them in hand-to-hand so they weren't shooting me with arrows...yay

typically, they make short work of your skeles and monsters, but by that time your fighters are on top of them and you can use your spellcasters to nail the leader. my party tore through to the top in no time...

Personally I try to give my strongest fighter the best armor, helm and shield. I then swap his place with the mage and go into the tower, he then attacks the top fighter and so all the other archers start attacking him in melee. When he reaches the top he will most likely be surrounded by enemies. But at this time it probably won't matter because your other fighters will tear into the back of the group and the mage casting Chromatic Orb doing damage and hopefully stunning or paralysing them. This way you will probably get a very high amount of Arrows of Piercing without letting any character come at risk of being killed or even think anout wasting summoning spells, I never actually used a single summoning spell throughout the game...