[Nerull]

some SPOILERS
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Another good idea is to get summoning items, as in a pinch it does not hurt to be able to bring out help (especially to cover your escape). I would do the Umar Hills early (skipping the dragon until later), so that you can get your stronghold early. The reward for the last quest is a moon dog figurine. Also decent is the spider figurine from the Graveyard District (especially the modded one), and the efreeti bottle from the genie in Tradesmeet. There is also the Sword of Ras, but its duration is way too short. If you can use the staves of the elements (fire, air, earth, no water), then they use a charge to summon an elemental (very useful in tough fights). Those all help.

In addition, long bows are good, but short bows can be better, especially if you do not have the Ease of Use mod. You can buy Tasheron's Bow right in Tradesmeet, and the unlimited +3 arrows it shoots will allow you to pick off golems and other creatures that need magical weapons. Having unlimited ammo stops you from having you clutter up your inventory with ammo; with the Ease of Use mod this is irrelevent as there is unlimited stacking. The Gesen Bow is the real prize, though. It is great with ammo equipped (adds the electrical damage to the arrow damage) and is still good without ammo (without the ammo, its "arrows" are considered +4 to hit, so great for hitting those thing like Kangaxx that require higher level bonuses).

Stock plenty of potions, but you can also use healing scrolls (which do not weigh anything, so good if you are lugging around a lot of stuff). Go to the Windspear Hills; the hobgoblins in the cave respawn, and usually have a cure serious wounds scroll on them each time.

Armor is easy enough; go with Black Dragon Scale. Boots of Speed are definitely a must, as is the ring of regeneration (you won't get this until Chapter 4, since you can't pickpocket; you could try Twisted Rune early, but not likely to succeed). If you can afford Vhailor's Helm, then that is great too.