In JBoss 4.2.3 is there any way to change the order that EARDeployer loads/deploys the various .ear files?

See the section Deployment Sorter you can choose between EnhancedSuffixOrder and PrefixDeploymentOrder.

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4755390/in-jboss-4-2-3-is-there-any-way-to-change-the-order-that-eardeployer-loads-deplo