It goes without saying too,ALWAYS raid the villages.I go house by house and smash every box/barrel I see and loot them.
Sometimes you find some really valuable items there that you can either use,or sell.Not to mention you can really stock up on the valuable potions that you need.
Is it me,but it seems like every armor item you find is always just over the level that you are currently at before you can use it?Say I find some plate armor,my players will all be like level 21 and the armor is for level 25 hehehe