Getting good weapons (near) the start of the game
Axe
Difficulty: easy
Go to the swamp camp. (Baal Parvez in the old camp can take you) Ask Lester (near the entrance) the way to the smithy. Pick the lock on the chest (LRRLLL) and you will find an axe. (29 DMG/12 STR) Here you can also get rich quick.
Light crossbow
Difficulty: medium
Go to the western entrance to the orc land. There are 2 guards, one of them will say you might as well give all your ore if you enter the orc land as you will be ripped to shreds. Enter the orc land and follow the path to the left. Here you will see a pack of orc dogs. Attract the attention of most of them before running/bunnyhopping back to the guards. The guards will attack the orc dogs on sight. Circle around after you passed the guards and pass them again to make sure all the orc dogs will now focus their attention on the guards. If you're lucky, the orc dogs will kill one of the guards while the other finishes them off. You can now pick up the weapon they were holding and loot the body. If the orc dogs fail to kill either guard, try again. If they kill both, you face a dilemma. If you get too far away, the bodies will disappear though any dropped weapons remain. If you try to loot the bodies, the orc dogs may kill you.
Both guards have a light crossbow (50 DMG/25 DEX), one has a judgment sword (30 DMG/12 STR) and the other a guard's sword. (32 DMG/12 STR)
Short bow
Difficulty: easy
In Cavalorns chest you'll find a key for the door in the cave behind his hut. At night Cavalorn is outside, though he doesn't seem to mind you stealing his key while he's standing next to you. Behind the door you'll find a short bow (20 DMG/10 DEX) and a chest with 62 ore, a fire bolt scroll and other stuff.
Rider's bow
Difficulty: easy
After you've met Jarvis at the entrance for the new camp, continue and on your right you will find a ladder to climb a guard tower. In the tower are two chests. The left chest (LRRLR) has a rider's bow. (24 DMG/12 DEX)