The Polymorph spell is also effective on higher level opponents and bosses, if you use the survivor's Curse spell on them first (even level 1 is effective, since it can be case repeatedly on the same target a few times before following up with Polymorph, or a spell / weapon doing poison or elemental damage).

Regrettably, it does not work on that thing in the doctor's basement. Sheesh! That one may take me a while.

It did work on the executioner after quite a few tries with other skills which seemed like they'd be better. I think what I really like about the morphing skill is how silly the orcs look skittering off in all directions as tiny frogs and rabbits.

This is my first RPG, aside from Neophyte, if that counts, and I absolutely love it. It doesn't hurt that the interface is very user friendly.

Just use the Poison Weapon skill.

Poison is easy to obtain, especially if you also have 2 points in Alchemy.

The first time I explored Elrath's basement I started off ok against that creature, except for needing a few potions, but then it got in a couple good hits in a row and killed me. I just returned at a higher level (and most likely better equipment) and he was easy to defeat.