1) If you join with the Umpani you can shop at the Commissary. Kunar sells many earth and fire realm spells your Bishop could use. If some one is casting Armorplate already it isn't worth the trip back just yet.
2) The Omnigun is only as good as its ammunition. At Gadgeteer level 16 you can start loading arrows and quarrels into it. In the mean time get spike stones and head for Crock in the Swamp to get the Impaling Stones and possible Medusa Stones he may have in stock.
There are 3 gadget components in Arnika. Did you get all 3? 2 of them create another gadget I do not see mentioned in your post is why I ask. By all means hit Crock up for the other items! Make every Gadget you can regardless of whether or not you plan to use it often. There just might be a time when it comes in handy.
3) Depends on what you are planning for the Bishop to do magically. If a main spellcaster then buy every spell book you can lay your hands on. If you are after protective spells mainly then SecretMaster named most of them. Armorplate, Missile Shield, Eye for an Eye, and Chameleon are others to shoot for.
Save spell picks for the level 6 and 7 spells of most value to your party. (Banish is a level 6 spell that can be had without using a spell pick.)
Even if you don't plan on your Bishop to develop certain magic books buy all spells that can be learned anyway as it increases the mana points available for the spells you will use regularly.
4) If you plan to have the Samurai using swords then Bloodlust is best for now. I know you don't like to reload for party wipe outs so you most likely will not reload for loot, but if you get lucky and kill a certain Rapax Assasin with a machine you may get a nice Samurai Sword. This same sword is always in another location you will visit later. It is a fixed item in a specific area.
Once you make it to Rapax Castle there are possiblities for what is considered to be the best Samurai sword in the game. The merchant in the Castle also makes custom items and will make a very fine sword a Samurai weilds to its finest.
If you want to switch to staff & wand, as suggested above, for the Samurai the Zatoichi Bo is always in the Castle as well. It is without a doubt one of the finest S&W weapons in the game usable only by a Monk or Samurai.
5) As suggested keep the Lord in the front lines and they will improve. Attribute development will have a lot to do with this improvement. Right click on the Mace & Flail skill to see its controlling attributes and develop accordingly.
There are many nice M&F weapons to be had later in the game. I always prefer to dual weild M&F weapons with a Lord. Crock in the Swamp will possibly have an improved version of the Stun Mace. Just watch his inventory. I think you have made the wisest decision thus far on the weapon choice for the Lord.
6) There will be hairy moments, but once you come through them you will feel quite exhilerated I am sure. It does get better and it can be a lot of fun. Just take it slow and don't rush into areas that are over the party's head. Move on once they appear to be handling themselves well.
One footnote on the Mook Fighter Weapon choice. If you plan to use that Mook only weapon mentioned before you are in the wrong skill set. Axes are less than spectacular in this game as pointed out, but there is one, if you are very fortunate, that may be had later (random item in only one location) that is by far worth the effort of training the skill.
"mumbles" Mook fighter with an axe. Shoulda made it a Dwarf if that's the case.
Edit: Just in case you are not familiar with the reference I made above about right clicking on a skill. In the character's skill screen you can right click on any skill to learn the controlling attributes and obtain a brief summary of the skill's function.
[ 08-29-2004, 10:11 PM: Message edited by: Flamestryke ]