jhAtgog: So if you start with an average set of attributes, you will be fine.
Orphnos: I tried three different parties recently, quite average, and every time I gave up tired of constant deaths and started the new party. Maybe, I'm just can't grasp the essence of this game's peculiarities, especially mixed real-time/turn-based combat.
Hmm that sounds unpleasant for sure.
Did you try to reduce the spawn rate and the enemy difficulty? You can increase them any time later when you feel more comfortable (after gaining one or two levels maybe?).
The risk of dying is pretty high in the beginning so save often. This will definitely get better once you get some xp and some decent equipment. So save often and rotate your save game all the time.
Did i forget to mention that saving often is really a good idea? Probably forgot it, so here it is: save often, especially in the beginning. Never ever ever use only one savegame. it's usually a good idea to create a savegame before entering a dungeon and to keep that savegame untouched just in case something goes very very wrong inside.
Aside from that: try to join as many guilds as possible (it's pretty expensive in the beginning, i know). Do their advancement quests as soon as you can. Get the mayors quests - the one with the skulls can give you some easy money and xp which helps in the beginning. Go to the graveyard and
carefully proceed to only spawn one or two skeletons at once which you should be able to take out easily. Careful with the scripted battle in front of the crypt. If it catches you by surprise, there is a good chance that some members of your party get killed. So be prepared.
There is a list of tips
here in the old Ironworks forum, but there are some spoilers too, so beware.