Hey folks. I'm liking this game very much but I am starting to get so frustrated. No matter what kind of spells and attacks or tactics I try in combat it just stinking tough. I realize this is a more challenging old-school crpg but I can't get anywhere in combat unless its just the two of us in my party against a low level creature. I like how the combat is variable and sporadic. In a fight with two mage type people, I've tried a dozen times and can't defeat them. I either get one and the other finishes us or visa versa. I've taking one down quickly while every other time I barely scratch them. So I like that kind of variable chance but I'm having a heck of a time.

Can someone point me to a good user friendly tutorial be it written or video? Any other tips would be appreciated too. I'm less than 3 game days into the game and when I started playing again, I remembered why I had been away so long as its very difficult. Is there any other way to gain XP so I can get my guys somewhat leveled up before trying to tackle much combat? I'm also playing on the "easy" setting lol. I need help!

After playing the game over and over again, I'd suggest:

1. Try to avoid fights since they don't give you much experience. I'd only consider fighting enemies that would grant you useful items (and good xp, like bounties);
2. Sneaking is *really* helpful, both to avoid fights, and to make them easier, so take advantage of it.
3. Crowd control spells are a must.

There are some tactics to deal with many enemies in a fight:

1. Use a wizard with a high sneak skill to get closer to some enemies, and cast a confusion spell. As soon as the spell is cast, leave the area. Some confused enemies will attack and be attacked by the other enemies. Most of the time the confused enemies will get killed, thus reducing the amount of enemies you'll face.

2. Use a character that moves fast (wears some speed boots, or can cast speed spells, like the 1st level wizard spell "Fleet Feet"), approach the enemies until you are discovered, then leave the area. Chances are, one or two enemies will follow you, and the rest will stay behind. You can safely kill the ones that followed, and repeat the process.

3. Use summons (the items) to gain enough time to cast the crowd control spells.

Some classes are easier to play than others, I like both Ciphers and Wizards. In my opinion, playing as a "melee wizard" is by far the easiest choice, particularly if going solo.

If you go as a melee wizard, choose spells with a "fast" casting time, use the weapon spells, don't use "normal" weapons since they won't do much damage in the hands of a wizard. "Concelhaut's Parasitic Staff" does wonders, since it will heal you.

For "melee" wizards, I'd choose
Level 1: Concelhaut's Parasitic Staff, Fleet Feet, Minoletta's Minor Missiles, Fan of Flames.
Level 2: Bewildering Spectacle, Concelhaut's Corrosive Siphon, Concelhaut's Draining Missiles.
Level 3: Llengrath's Displaced Image, Minoletta's Bounding Missiles, Crackling Bolt.

And the like. Weapon spells, draining spells, deflection spells, and confusion spells. Use some elemental ones to fight those that resist the other damage types. Raw damage spells are nice too. "Ninagauth's Shadowflame" is wonderful.

Arcane Veil and Hardened Veil are a must.

These suggestions are based on my experiences with the game, I'm pretty sure there are a lot of other people with better tips.

Hope it helps.

I have really no idea what to say. Game is not so tough my first playthrough was with rogue, second with cipher and third (TCS) with rogue again, now i am playing paladin (white march pt 2 is coming:) ). Never went below hard difficulty (though only once played PoTD).

Most people forget it is game with Active PAUSE, it means that pausing in the combat every moment is very important, to give orders, cast spells, heal etc. From Your post i didn't get if You're playing solo or normal party if normal party try having Durance and Eder in front , also make sure that Eder skills are set right (playing with one tank is always easier if he can engage more enemies so "Defender" is obligatory). If You're playing solo - do not. Finish game at least once or twice before trying that. Try to use narrow spaces - it helps. And as Averagimus said crowd control spells are very useful, but also try to get Kana (at Caed Nua location) as his summoning spells (especially summoning wraith) makes wonders!

And one more tip - If You can not go through some combat avoid it, go back finish some quests, change spells with your mage and when You gain a level try the combat again. In most cases it helps a lot.

Edit: And if You will need more specified tips write your party configuration and what your main stats are (some ppl still try to play wizard with Might of 3...).

If you didn't have experience with other infinity games or the Fallout's series, probably is a good idea to downgrade the difficulty meanwhile you learn the basic. In any case, you need to read the combat screen to see why you characters aren't doing enough damage or why the are getting killed too fast.

Otherwise, although there are players which can do the solo, is recommendable to play with a full party. If you are early in the game you should be a party of 3 (Aloth, Eder and you). If you don't want to play with them you have another option: Go to any Inn to hire extra characters.

The XP is only gained with exploration and quests, you gain some XP from the first dozen of each type of enemy but that is all. This has the benefit that almost all the battles will be balanced.

Thanks to all for the responses. I'm sorry for the horrid grammatical errors and pacing in my original post. Good grief I must have been tired and frustrated lol.

Okay. I am a 3rd level Druid Drifter. I have in my party Aloth. I had read elsewhere that its important to have at least THREE individuals in you party otherwise it can be extremely hard at first. I did not know that. I also went after one of the first quests presented to me and that's the one where you are tasked with clearing out the temple beneath the hanging tree in the middle of Gilded Vale. I assumed, knowing that the game is not centered on the player's needs and can often present higher level challenges at the beginning or anywhere for that matter, that I should turn around and come back to that quest at another time.

I use the pause feature most of the time to give out orders and think about my next move. Even though that's helpful there's so much going on for my brain to track it all. I am trying to see what hits or spells have what affects if any as well as see when they are being resisted by the enemy.

I think I will try to do small things and head back to the Black Dog Inn to hire a third party member. I don't think I did originally because I don't have enough coin. Last time I played I tried pursuing the quest of finding the blacksmith's missing shipment and that's where I ran into that fight with two mages of some sort and could not beat them even after a dozen tries.

So I suppose that I'm still pretty early on but I've not gotten far because combat has been to hit and miss and usually very difficult. I actually did pretty well in the underground Temple until the last corridors that had much too powerful shades or wraiths or whatever they're called. The lesser ones I was barely able to take down but then the strong one guarding the item I needed was just way too much.

I've given my Druid the best armor that I've been able to come by(Leather armor and lesser cloak of protection) but like I said, I just don't have much money. And when I try to pursue a quest that will hopefully garner me some income, it ends up involving combat which I can't overcome at this point.

I will head back and try to loot along the way and hopefully hire another party member. I also have a few decent magic spells unlocked in the first and second levels for both my Druid and Aloth. Thanks for the help and I'm headed back in now to try and continue my game.

Edér is another party member you can pick up right outside the temple you were in. If you travel to Magran's Fork just south of town you can pick up yet another party member (Durance) fairly easy. Just having two more party members should greatly ease your frustration in those early stages.

To get Eder You have to rest - you'll gonna "have a dream"about a hangwoman on a tree. After You talk with her Edre willJoin Your party, an as Mike said leave village to the south to Magran's Fork and follow a path until You reach magran's Statue then You'll meet first Priest in Game - Durance (pretty sick psycho), then You can easilly make few quests like Helping the cook or clearing the temple. Don'tforget to visit all houses in village (and a mill) as it would contribute to You ;-)

This is what I did at the beginning and just ONE extra fighter char made the difference until I picked up another storyline char. :-)

I did go back to the Black Hound and I hired another first level character(edited him myself). I made him a Ranger and it turns out you get to choose an animal companion. I got into a scuffle with a wolf, then a couple of boars and man having the third character and the animal companion almost made it like a partial four in the party and its already making a pretty big difference. Certainly still challenging but I'm able to feel like I'm actually progressing now a little. I had a fight with a troll of some sort and he killed all for of us though I'd gotten him down to one point of health. Frustrating but I got him the second time.

The wolf companion is great for running interference, then I'd have the Ranger use his special to hobble and wound the troll then I'd have my other two move in and out using various spells and melee. Really makes a difference. I also just happened to pick up Durance as well as he was near where we had the troll fight. So now I've got about 31/2 in my party.

Durance does seem iffy but no spoilers please. I just hope I didn't shoot myself in the foot by picking up this weirdo priest of the flaming lady or what's her face lol.

But, Why You do not pick Eder? He is a TANK. He could solo-tank troll without big problems. Also giving him Defender Perk wil aloow him to solo tank 3 enemies at once and if You put Durance with Healing circle behing his back make wonders!

I'm glad to hear it's going well.

This person is right.

Btw you won't lose anything by taking any and every storyline companion.
Some scenes just go a bit different.