Icewind Dale II - Help with Characters

[The Lurker]

I've just started playing Icewind Dale II and I'm finding the game ... well, pretty challenging. I've just killed Torak on my way to the bridge thingy, and I'm currently resting up in Targos. This seems to be a pretty common occurrence for my party, as every battle takes 5 or 6 saves to get through and winds up with my party in tatters and in need of healing. It wasn't so bad in the beginning, but the further I get, the more the flaws in my characters are starting to show.

I've typed up the character sheets for each member of my party below. I'm after any tips, and advice people might have on improving them.

So far, I've found that Vince is awesome, Heilyxx does his job and the others are pretty lacking in firepower. I wanted Elisa to be a high speed fighter, but she seems to be unable to hit anything ... ever. After Waxley's spells run out, he's pretty much a one hit kill for whatever enemy I'm facing, and probably the greatest weakness in the party. Heilyxx also seems to take forever to reload his bow. Though, I don't know whether that's the crappy AI or something skill based.

 

Total party gold: 3374

Vince Brackleback — Lawful Neutral Human Fighter (Level 4)
In it for the booty.

Str: 19, Dex: 8, Con: 18, Int: 7, Wis: 7, Cha: 18
HP: 56/56, Exp.: 7199/10000, Max. Weight: 215 lb., Spell Resistance: 0

AC — 16 [Missile +1], Base: 10, Armour: +5, Shield: +2, Dexterity: -1
Wearing: +0 Chainmail Armour [+5], +0 Helmet [+0]
Saving Throws — Fortitude: +9, Reflex: +1, Will: +0

Main Hand: +0 Bastard Sword [1d10], Strength: +4, Proficiency: +2
Attack Roll Modifiers — +9, Base: +4, Proficiency: +1, Abilities: +4
Damage Potential: 7-16, Critical Hit: 19-20 / x2
Off Hand: +0 Tabard's Shield [+2]
Attacks: 1

Skills — Bluff: 7 (3), Concentration: 4 (0), Diplomacy: 7 (3), Intimidate: 4 (0)
Feats — Armour Proficiency: 3, Axe: 1, Bastard Sword: 3, Blind-Fight, Bow: 1, Crossbow: 1, Flail: 1, Great Sword: 1, Hammer: 1, Large Sword: 1, Luck of Heroes, Mace: 1, Missile: 1, Polearm: 1, Quaterstaff: 1, Shield Proficiency, Small Blade: 1, Weapon Finesse

Also Carrying: Ghost-Touched Bottle, Expended Teleportation Spell, Highland Gate Key

Heilyxx Ga'adwyloch — Lawful Good Strongheart Halfling Ranger (Level 4)
The serious role play guy.

Str: 16, Dex: 21, Con: 18, Int: 9, Wis: 5, Cha: 8
HP: 66/66, Exp.: 7150/10000, Max. Weight: 160 lb., Spell Resistance: 0

AC — 18, Base: 10, Armour: +3, Dexterity: +5
Wearing: +0 Studded Leather Armour of Fortitude [+3, +10 Max. HP], +0 Helmet [+0], +0 Bluestone Necklace [+0]
Saving Throws — Fortitude: +8, Reflex: +6, Will: -1

Main Hand: +0 Arrows [1d6] x360, +0 Shortbow [+0]
Attack Roll Modifiers — +10, Base: +4, Proficiency: +1, Abilities: +5
Damage Potential: 1-6, Critical Hit: 20 / x3
Off Hand: —
Secondary: +1 Battleaxe [1d8+1] & Battleaxe [1d8]
Tertiary: +0 Bolts [1d8] x 38, +0 Crossbow [+2] & —
Attacks: 1, Favoured Enemies: Orcs

Skills — Concentration: 6 (0), Hide: 5 (0), Intimidate: 0 (1), Move Silently: 9 (0), Wilderness Lore: 2 (5)
Feats — Armour Proficiency: 2, Axe: 1, Bow: 2, Crossbow: 1, Discipline, Flail: 1, Great Sword: 1, Hammer: 1, Large Sword: 1, Mace: 1, Missile: 1, Polearm: 1, Precise Shot, Quarterstaff: 1, Shield Proficiency, Small Blade: 1

Elisa Sultry — Chaotic Good Wild Elf Rogue (Level 4)
Vince's not-so-secret unrequited romantic interest.

Str: 6, Dex: 21, Con: 10, Int: 11, Wis: 11, Cha: 18
HP: 24/24, Exp.: 7123/10000, Max. Weight: 30 lb., Spell Resistance: 0

AC — 18, Base: 10, Armour: +3, Dexterity: +5
Wearing: +1 Leather Armour [+3]
Saving Throws — Fortitude: +1, Reflex: +11, Will: +1

Main Hand: +0 Masterwork Dagger [1d4], Strength: -2
Attack Roll Modifiers — -2, Base: +3, Weapon: +1, Proficiency: -4, Abilities: -2
Damage Potential: 1-2, Critical Hit: 19-20 / x2
Off Hand: +0 Masterwork Dagger [1d4], Strength: -2
Attack Roll Modifiers — -2, Base: +3, Weapon: +1, Proficiency: -4, Abilities: -2
Damage Potential: 1-2, Critical Hit: 19-20 / x2
Attacks: 1+1, Sneak Attack Damage: 2d6

Skills — Bluff: 4 (0), Diplomacy: 4 (0), Disable Device: 6, Hide: 10 (5), Intimidate: 4 (0), Move Silently: 7 (2), Open Lock: 11 (6), Pick Pocket: 8 (3), Search: 8 (6)
Feats — Ambidexterity, Armour Proficiency: 1, Bow: 1, Crossbow: 1, Large Sword: 1, Lightning Reflexes, Mace: 1, Missile: 1, Quarterstaff: 1, Small Blade: 1

Also carrying: Gem Bag {Sunstone Gem (1) x3, Andar Gem (1) x2, Tchazar Gem (1) x2, Waterstar Gem (1) x1, Lynx Eye Gem (1) x2, Jasper Gem (1) x1}

Waxley Fernhouse — Chaotic Good Rock Gnome Wizard:Transmuter (Level 4)
Inventor of Neverwinter's most convincing goblin mask.

Str: 10, Dex: 10, Con: 10, Int: 19, Wis: 18, Cha: 10
HP: 16/16, Exp.: 7072/10000, Max. Weight: 70 lb., Spell Resistance: 0, Cold Resistance: 3

AC — 13 [Missile +1], Base: 10, Deflection: +2, Shield: +1
Wearing: +0 Phaen's Robe of Rags [+2, +3 Cold Resist.], +0 Helmet [+0]
Saving Throws — Fortitude: +1, Reflex: +1, Will: +8

Main Hand: +0 Clenched Fist [1d8+1]
Attack Roll Modifiers — +2, Base: +2, Weapon +1, Shield Penalty: -1
Damage Potential: 2-9, Critical Hit: 20 / x2
Off Hand: +0 Small Shield [+0]
Attacks: 1

Skills — Alchemy: 13 (7), Concentration 11 (7), Diplomacy: 2 (0), Disable Device: 5 (1), Hide: 0 (1), Knowledge (Arcana): 11 (7), Search: 5 (1), Spellcraft: 13 (7), Wilderness Lore: 4 (0)
Feats — Combat Casting, Courteous Magocracy, Crossbow: 1, Mace: 1, Quarterstaff: 1, Small Blade: 1, Transmutation: 1

Also carrying: Scroll Case {Protection From Evil (1), Larloch's Minor Drain (1)}, Potion Bag {Potion of Invisibility (1), Potion of Extra Healing (1)}

Known (and Memorised) Spells: Burning Hands (x2), Colour Spray (x1), Identify (x1), Shocking Grasp (x0), Minor Mirror Image (x0), Magic Missile (x0), Chromatic Orb (x0)