Dying constantly, not fun

[Vakaria]

I have tried three different types, and I'm dying in nearly every instance. I have to continuously save before every battle and getting one-shot is a common problem. I've started over more times than I can count, and I am not having fun with this game. The enemies always get to go first, my party constantly misses, even with spells, and how the hell am I supposed to get through an encounter like this? I know it's Early Access, so I hope someone at Larian is listening, but I really wish I had not invested in this game.

At the least, PLEASE add a difficulty meter!! I am invested in the story and as it is, going to have to watch a let's play on Youtube to see what the hell happens, because playing this game with its clunky controls and terrible survival rate is just not fun. It's stressful.

[TheBlueFox]

They likely will add a difficulty slider. It's currently early access so that won't be for a while though.

In the meantime, how can we help you... Not die?

Care to tell us how you usually handle combat?

[Pepino]

Well for constantly missing, especially with spells are you using high ground? Are the spells targeting dex? Con? Wisdom?, you do realise magic missle has a 100% hit chance so it’s impossible to miss. Do you inspect the enemies to see resistances and weaknesses?.

When fighting undead are you making sure you have a bludgeon type weapon handy?.

What’s your characters dex? Is it low? That effects your roll for initiative and AC, so helps you going first and increasing your defence.

Are you making sure to get behind the enemy?.

What stats did you pick for your class? What race? This all plays massively in how you’ll perform!.

Are you new to these type of games?, playing past Baldurs Gate games has been a huge help for me and some what understanding of the pen and paper.

Personally if anything I wish this game was harder.... I’m a Wizard, running with lae’zal, Shadowheart and switch between Gale,Wyll and Astarion for whatever is needed for the situation.

This isn’t a DoS game, you need strategy and preparation, find high ground, prone your enemies, cast utility spells, always try to keep your enemies at a disadvantage.

Perhaps If struggling just go Druid - Circle of the Moon, wildshape polar bear and just steam roll everything...

You sort of said how hard it is and a problem but more info is needed so we can help further... you left it very open ended.

[Etagloc]

main game will have story mode most likely. Something for everyone

[Cat®]

I suppose "git gud" aught to be appropriate, but more specifically I'd say that you should reflect and investigate exactly how the game mechanics work to maximise your chances of winning an encounter. They are not unbeatable.

However, on full release there will be difficulty options including 'explorer mode'. So you can just wait if overcoming the challenge is not to your liking.

[jonnin]

this game is a little rough if you have no background in D&D (most games based off it are a little bit hard to learn for computer gamers), and even with that there are oddities.

hit chance is based off your skill level (with spells, your main stat like intellect for wizard, wisdom for cleric, these need to be 16 for offensive casters starting out) or weapon related stat (dex for finesse weapons and ranged weapons, str for heavy stuff). Its also based off your ability to see (throw dancing lights on enemy, there is a necklace that you can use to spam it early on), whether you are higher or lower than the enemy (high is good, low is bad), armor/dex of the enemy (can you reduce this), and similar things. Try not to fight at a disadvantage (dark, low ground, etc). The game rewards scouting ahead and paying attention ... multiple fights are ambushes where you have bad disadvantages and all of those fights have ways to avoid the ambush in favor of gaining the high ground if you work through the area (this can include tricking the enemy into letting you walk in, get in position then cut them up).

spread out, the AI likes aoe.
move up, open a door, shoot, close the door, move back.
or move up, shoot, move back, hide.
equipment: find better stuff, or buy it

read some how-tos, plenty of threads on it.
The game punishes you for rushing in without regard. It rewards getting into position, splitting the party, and entering the fights on your terms.

[Jack Hawklight]

Which encounters are giving you the most trouble OP?

[Dixie]

You got to follow the story and find all the stuff to do and level up or you will die alot and be weak. Dont just go wondering around.

[AzCrazyDiamond]

A few tips to reinforce above. Scout your opponent first. Position on high ground or cover. Pre-buff. Shoot, hide, scoot, especially rogues. Usually (but not always) spread out. Try to take them on piecemeal - divide and conquer; draw one away from the others. There is often a tactical trick to an encounter. If you can give us a specific combat situation there are many here who can help.
If you're dying right off with Intellect Devourers - yeah, those can be one-shots. Keep your distance. Run away and then shoot from max range. They advance. Repeat. Hopefully you can kill them before they reach you.
Make liberal use of scrolls and potions. They're there for a reason. Cheese with oil barrels if you need to. I did at first, but don't need to any more as I've learned better ways.

[Vakaria]

Thank you all for the helpful and considerate responses. I'm going to wait for full release, but I appreciate the kindness.

[Ragnarøk]

Well, battles still need to be more balanced out, there are encounters which are very challenging: namely the owl bear, the phase spiders and their spider matriarch, the redcaps in the swamp can be challening, too, least but not last the Green Witch/Auntie Ethel, which is a brutal fight, since she makes copys of herself, which can cast spells, too (those illusions die after one hit, but they can deal out a lot of very real damage to your party) - it's one of the toughest fights in the game, if you also want to keep Mayrina alive. The Underdark enemies are also extremely challenging, because of the low level cap (f.e. vs landshark or the spectator & drows or the 2 minotaurs). With the other battles I didn't have that much of a problem. I guess, it's maybe because I'm playing a human fighter, which really is a good class to have for battles. I do save & reload in some of the challenging battles, which is a pain in the ass, but you'll succeed this way eventually, so Larian needs to balance battles more. Shouldn't be that you can only win, if you do save & reload.
You can also use some gamey methods, like sneaking up on an enemy and shooting him in order to take him out, before the real battle starts. That way you can reduce the number of enemies before going into a fight.
Leveling up also helps somewhat. My character and the companions are lvl 4 already, but in general the lvl cap in this early access version pretty much sucks, since it makes the later battles very hard. Your group of adventurers feel underpowered.

[jonnin]

heh the level cap in many of the classics was *6* from end to end after countless hours of play.
if you scout and get a good position, you will rarely need to save and reload. Just on one or two key fights if you mess up or get unlucky.
you get to level 3 before you even get started. This is what makes 4 feel so low and weak, the first 3 are too fast.. literally do the ship, kill the mindflayer at the fishermen, and go to the druid 'town'. Welcome to level 3.

[Ragnarøk]

Originally posted by jonnin:

heh the level cap in many of the classics was *6* from end to end after countless hours of play.
if you scout and get a good position, you will rarely need to save and reload. Just on one or two key fights if you mess up or get unlucky.
you get to level 3 before you even get started. This is what makes 4 feel so low and weak, the first 3 are too fast.. literally do the ship, kill the mindflayer at the fishermen, and go to the druid 'town'. Welcome to level 3.

What classics? If you refer to Baldurs Gate 1 & 2 or Neverwinter Nights 1 & 2, which I've played back in the days, the level cap was much much higher. I consider them to be Forgotten Realms pc game classics.
Nevertheless a lot of people struggle with various fights, which are really very tough in this game. My hardest battle so far was the one against Ethel/Green Hag - it was a hell of a fight and I had to reload almost each turn, since I couldn't afford a miss or a critical hit on my char & companions. It's no fun like that.

[Obi Hung Kenobi]

The phase spiders maybe me want to uninstall, i killed them with one party member left alive
watchout cause you can start that fight with half ur party member not in the fight, stuck in the webby bridge