Anyone have any general (spoiler-free) tips or suggestions, particularly on character creation? Are there any things to avoid like the plague, or is everything well balanced enough that any playstyle will work? And how focused does a character have to be: Can I be a thief who is good at stealth, bows, and magic or is it a case of "Pick one attribute or feel the hurt"?

Reading through the Game Companion to get a feel for the world and what not, but wondering if there are any pitfalls to avoid.

Thanks

you can basically max out everything you want if you gather enough magical boxes
in the beginning though i'd stick to the important stuff