Check my new thread for similar ideas
http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/cg...c&f=2&t=024924
my advice is to try to cut the party down to 5 characters, at most. multiclassers are better, imho, but you still want to advance a bit faster.
otoh, my advice is to always try to slim down your party to 4 or 5 members.