dtgreene: By the way, what does the selection of scrolls in the shop look like for a level 110 party? Can you still buy Light Heal and Song of Courage scrolls? How about Mass Regeneration or Comets Shower?
Sarisio: I threw away that save.
Lv.160 save is available on this forum, so you can check. I didn't check, because spending money on scrolls is highly unaffordable luxury. Real mode+ makes you forget that such vendor tab even exists. Don't forget that most things in real mode+ are MUCH more expensive and you get significantly LESS gold from everything, to the point that you have to farm cereals in the beginning of the game just for the blessings.
Also remember that all gold you waste on scrolls and similar things = a lot of wasted experience for nothing (because you will be able to indirectly convert gold into exp). And Golot, Learning and Mercantilism will decide rate of EXP return.
About food. Food from Fog of War (shouldn't be mistaken for Hunting skill) and food from encounters is limited. You ended up with more than what you had just because of difficulty mode. On higher difficulty modes 2 Nengorth patrols usually require you to rest, and there are around 3 of them as random encounters and around 4 stationary. Farming food often stands on the way on higher difficulty modes (and no, buying food from NPC is not sustainable at all).
Scrolls I see as something situational: If a specific fight is difficult, the right scroll might make it easier. Maybe you are in a situation where inflicting freeze/stun on the enemy is what you need to do to win the battle. (Example: Stun an enemy right before your Arcane Soldier acts, then use Freezing Slash to freeze the enemy, and maybe your mage's turn isn't at a convenient time.) Also, using Sparks V scrolls can end a battle faster.
Also, the conversion of gold into experience isn't yet available for me, so it does not help in the early game, which is widely reported to be the hardest part of the game. Given that, it makes sense to sacrifice power in the long run (when you don't really need it) to make the early part of the game easier.
Regarding food, I should point out two things:
1. None of the Nengroth patrols were still there; I already killed them all.
2. I was actually exploring the forest areas. Of note is that some of the food I found came from plants, which *do* respawn. (I only stopped because my party now qualifies for a level up.)
I suspect that on Hardcore mode, it might become necessary to make use of scrolls and potions in the early game until you can get your footing. (On Normal, I haven't needed to do so.)
Also, remember that some enemies drop potion-like items. Some you will want to sell, but it may be worth keeping a few around to use if needed. They tend to be a little heavy, however (with the noticeable exception of the fangs dropped by Cursed Hounds, which are lighter than the revive potions).