[StarVid]

This is my first time starting a game from scratch on the hardest difficulty (I think insane, definitely not HoF). I notice that not only are the enemies tougher, but there are a lot more. In the orc caves I faced 4 ogres instead of just one.

This is the party I have now, they are around level 4, I think:

Paladin (Long Swords**, Maces**, Axe*)
Elven Ranger (Bows**, Long Sword**, Flail*)
Dwarven Cleric (Mace, Missle, Hammer)
Human Fighter to dual to druid at level 6 (Dagger***, Scimitar**)
Human Thief to dual to mage at level 7 (Bows, Shortsword, longsword)
Half-elven Bard (Halberds, great swords, xbows)

The ranger is a pretty tough archer, and it's nice to have the extra attack (though only with a one handed weapon and no shield). Howeve,r even with good armor, it's not a good backup tank. My cleric could probably do a better job and she's pretty weak too. With this party, (once I dual the druid), I won't have a solid backup tank. I was thinking of ditching the ranger in exchange for a demihuman (either dwarf for the resists or the gnome because I don't have one) fighter to go for 3*s in bows, GM in Axes, and Flail specialization. It'll still be a good archer, but I lose all the ranger perks (of course). That extra attack won't mean anything once I have grandmastery (as the fighter will only be 1/2 attack behind but I have an extra +2 to hit, +3 damage and faster leveling)

So what should I do? And if I pick the fighter, should I go with a dwarf (better in combat), or gnome (just to be different)?

Also, I don't think the Helm of the Trusted Defender is a good enough reason to pick a gnome. It's not much use to me to have only one party member that doesn't get fatigued.

Thanks.