Alright, so I want to like this game, I do. But I just can't seem to get the hang of combat, which seems to be more a trial and error of saving before every encounter then praying that I won't get smashed in my vulnerables so far. So, I figured I'd ask for some tips.

Currently I'm level 3, with most points placed into Combat, Strength, with a division between Health and Speed, and using a Club with "Underhand Smash" as thats the only one which really seems to hit and do damage to brigands. Two Handed Smash, while powerful, I can almost never seem to get to hit as it has an extremely awkward swing animation and my guy always seems to step back out of range before using it...which brings me to another question.

Can you control your distancing/evasion manually in any way? As thats my other pet peeve, is that I'll step out of range of my own attacks, then won't step out of the enemies attacks.

And apologies if it seems a little angry, but this game is probably my #1 loaded game in such a short period of time so far and its really killing it for me.

Are you using the keyboard for the combat moves?

This was a big thing for me, I was clicking with the mouse on the right side of the screen for each move.

Use Q and follow the line along (QWERTYUIOP) Q represents the top one and so forth. It takes a little getting used to be once you get timing right works really well. Also try and lure the White coloured brigands away from the red ones as they are a lot easier to manage. Then go for the Red clothed guys.

Once you manage to kill one or two red guys they will drop armour, weapons and capes which give you good protection, when you get these items you will find it easier.

You can also use the terrain for combat effectiveness. If they are above you they can only do the leg swipe attack which connects, you will be able to do the upper and mid strike etc

A couple ideas

1) Have you set up combo attacks? Click on the combo screen button, click on the attack icon (the sword) find the desired attack, then drag it to the action list. I have only ever set up one action in each combo attack, then set it to loop (click to the right of the action in the combo screen)

2) The down arrow (not the key pad, but the actual arrow) will automatically target the nearest enemy

3) You can hit the number of the combo (not key pad, but over the regular keys) to activate it after targetting an enemy. If you set the combo up right, you should start attacking.

In this way, you don't have to keep clicking to attack. Just click once, or hit the up arrow and the desired combo. You will attack automatically and continuously (and sometimes even block/dodge)

A couple hints: This is tough, at the start. remember to run away and heal regularly. Also, different weapons are better against different enemies (read everything, talk to everybody, listen to everything to learn) Be sure your weapon is in good condition. Take advantage of the terrain (although counter-intuitive, try to get them to attack you from high up)

Search everywhere, pic up all food. You should have more than enough.

BTW, any action can be put into a combo. I usually have a non repeating healing combo and a set of non repeating buff spells combo'ed for quick use.