I went back and started again, and changed my party this way:
Dwarven Lord
Faerie Ninja
Mook Bard
Elven Bishop
I'll change the bard to a fighter at L1

not too distant future). I'm at Marten's Bluff now, and they're beginning to rock.
I found it a little easier going with the Bard than the Gadgeteer, plus he'll get that yummy sword when he switches to Fighter, and then he'll be able to do some nice damage when he isn't playing his instruments.
Has anyone else noticed that sometimes you just have a few fights in the Swamp and other times it seems like you can't walk 4 feet without getting into one? I got *really* tired of it this time through, but at least it netted my group some great XP.