A fixed spool reel matched with a suitably balanced rod in the hands of even a relatively novice angler can still achieve distances that will put you in with a good chance of catching. It is not always necessary to hit the horizon to get fish.
If you look in the angling press they publish details of casting tournaments and although most people use multipliers, several people are casting some stunning distances with a fixed spool. It`s all about practice, so don`t give up on your FS just yet. Get some time on the beach and give it a go, you might be pleasantly surprised. One last thing, a multiplier is also quite a bit more expensive than most decent fixed spools, so if the budget is a bit tight, like mine, I would stick with what you`ve got for now.
As for a tripod, I always use one, but they`re not a must have item, it depends a lot on where and when you are fishing.