Foods for New to Swamps:Queens Jam and Carrot Soup, and Meat and Honey

And Potions!!: Must have Poison Potion, At first just have it going non-stop, later, as needed. healing next, and stamina doesnt hurt

Weapons: BOW and Bronze Club and Buckler. Get those skills up. You can practice on a rock at night or if its storming to pass the time.

As suggested: Snipe some Draugrs and get entrails to make sausge. They are a main stay for the rest of the game.

As far as armor. Yes, bronze will help. But I've played for a while and if Im not in the plains I roll in troll armor always becuase of zero mobility penalty and speed and jumping in water is helpful. Really with a good shield and blocking skill, and parry technique you can go naked lol.

Bring a Hoe, to open a path so you're not getting bogged down in water and bitten by leeches. The bow is great for sniping leeches, the blood bags youll need for potion and end stage food.

if you see a turnip Seed for the love of God grab it, return immediately to base and plant it. As this is the second major mid game food. Turnip Soup and Sausage is what youll eat for a while.

When youre ready for Crypt, I;d say first you must have the headlamp and weight belt from the Trader otherwise the cypts are a pain in the a$$. And bring 2 bronze pickaxes because one will go dull very fast till you can make iron pickaxe.