Originally posted by LokoLG:

Are you skipping bronze? With bronze shield and weapons from black forrest is swamp easier. I always max gear, weapons, food, potions from location i am in, before i move to next location.

150% agree. Going into the swamp without a maxxed out bronze mace and shield is suicidally dumb. Even though it slowed me down, I also maxxed out my bronze armor and wore the troll cape. I've only died a small number of times in the Swamp as a result and have n't had any capital 'D' disasters.