Gessie00: Ah, thanks for your input. I'll try it sometime I suppose - this won't be my last Gothic II playthrough, and I almost always play the mage (NotR Paladin sucks IMO, and only spells are truly overpowered late-game).
If I may be so bold, you really should try the 2-hander approach then - only 1-handers are frustrating to fight beasts with. With a 2-h, nothing outranges you, and Ulthar's Staff performs exceptionally well at 40 Str. Just dodge the charge attack using sidesteps/backsteps, then hit 'em until they're out of clawing/biting range to force another easily dodged charge.
Rinse, repeat. I killed Dragon Snappers who could 1-hit me this way without even wasting an Ice Block scroll. It took (exaggeration incoming) YEARS. The Black Troll is child's play in comparison.
OK, I'll try it. I could use a different approach; all my characters seem to end up the same. I hate to give up something that I know works but that can a make a boring game.
You've inspired me to start another G2 game much sooner than I was planning. Thanks.