[GenXCub]

1) Play the first time through with cookie cutter (so-called über parties) characters. The easiest way to do that is to pick the race which will give it's class 100's the quickest in the prime stats. You can play other variants after you get the hang of things.

My way of moving around is to just have the forward motion set to the arrow keys and then I hold the right mouse button down to pan side to side... so I'm always holding my right mouse button down (because then all you do is move your mouse to look up/down/left/right, etc.. a LOT easier than keyboard commands)

For your 6th member, it may be best to determine if you want a Melee party, or a Ranged party... a mix of the two doesn't really help you out any. So far I've built 2 fairly equal parties that I'm happy with. Sam-Fig-Ran-Gad-Bar-Bish, and Lor-Rog-Nin-Ran-Bar-Bish. I've been getting by okay with only one caster in the first party because the gadgeteer and the Bard may as well be Bishops that use stamina as their spellpoints... the verdict is still out on the 2nd, too early to decide.

Building 3 school Bishops is easy... Use your 9 level up points in the 3 schools you want... practice the spells to bring up the realm skills.

on your #2 party lineup, you could add a Gadgeteer to that party and you'd be a good Range attack party... very light on Melee (that can be solved by picking up Vi and RFS-81 though)

your #1 Party, I'm not so sure... Why have a Mage and a Bishop? you may as well go 2 bishops. It'll take longer to get to Level 7 spells, but at least you'll have access to a LOT more level 7 spells... also it'll give you 2 characters who can dispel undead. VERY useful that is in the early going since undead can be tough.