What character would you recommend for first playthrough?

[Platty Gems]

I wonder if some need more or less knowledge about the game already learned to shine.

[LNC]

Marcoh or Daan.

[soso]

Marcoh 100%
Levi is a great choice too but just make sure he isn't addicted to heroin during your intro choices.

[[Micky] The Wolf]

Originally posted by kugrond:

I wonder if some need more or less knowledge about the game already learned to shine.

Abella ;)

[rock]

Marcoh is all-around very strong. Marina has easy access to double turns, assuming you are familiar with the game. Daan can get a healing spell starting out, making your run a lot easier.

[AUES]

Marcoh can solo you whole game

[6ʞ-Я]

Originally posted by RockTheShoulder:

Marina has easy access to double turns

What do you mean ?

[F0rs4k3n]

I started my first run as Levi (haven't finished it yet) and I seem to be doing more or less okay. Just make sure to pick rifles as your weapon if you choose him, since it's shots outside of combat can dismember most enemies even if you don't have the appropriate skill from his skill tree. And if you do unlock the appropriate skill later on you can sometimes one-shot enemies outside of combat if you're lucky.

[rock]

Originally posted by 6ʞ-Я:

Originally posted by RockTheShoulder:

Marina has easy access to double turns

What do you mean ?

Engrave Fear & Hunger, use Small thing's ring. Marcoh does too, but I prefer the health bonus instead.

[y0rch1]

Marcoh, Karin and Levi are GREAT options for a first game.

Levi you need to skip his intro, otherwise you start with either the worst debuff in the game, or nothin except +25 max hp, skiping it lets you dismember arms when you shot an enemy with the pistol outside combat.
Karin I can list you what to choose on her intro, but skipping it gives you exactly the same, persuasion, escape plan, and a hand gun.
Marcoh chosing burglar (lockpicking), footwork (2 agility, 25 hp is bait, dont take it), defence (perfect guard, which lets you guard without losing limbs), and Escape with your sister (escape plan).
These characters will let you play the game comfortably as a first timer, as you said some characters are better with more knowledge (Marina for a mage (she cant wield every weapon but start with 3 affinity) , marcoh for melee (starts with extra attack, great early), and Daan/Levi for a mix of both (start with 1 affinity, can use any weapon).

As for the speed thing, every character can get two actions per turn without using an amulet or beign marcoh, you just need to get +1 agility from the fear and hunger tree, and then engrave the fear and hunger mark, by either recruiting marina or killing her.

[neo2157]

Marcoh takes allot of RNG out of the things due him not being very item dependent, if you don't mind a weaker early game though marina is great since she can get early affinity and set down sigils preventing an enemy from chasing you. (if you have a gun you can kill them without even engaging in combat.)

[ElvisDepressedly]

Marcoh or Thug/Boxer is a solo beast if you just get his stances, pick up Counter Stance, Bob & Weave, Fast Stance and along with some even decent gear you can absolutely dunk on even 'hard' bosses by yourself in most cases, add Hardened Heart later on and he can take virtually everything the game has.

O'saa/Yellow Wizard is also a crazy character as well, if you learn how to survive the text adventure background of his you can start with strong magic and skills, healing items, a skin bible of your choice, a good weapon and a handful of other goodies, plus his meditation skill is wild for generating rev up points and spice forge lets you do some whacky stuff, starting combat with an instant magic weapon summon that lifesteals and 3 rev points level whacky.

[Gancis]

I can also vouch for Marcoh the underground boxer. His unarmed one-two punch is great from the get go. He is also such a badass, that he does not care if both of his arms are cut off - he will simply switch to kicking (at least that is what I like to imagine) and still dish out the same amount of damage.

[maqira]

olivia

[Shannon Shock]

O'saa is easily the best if you either figure out the optimal path with his backstory (or just look it up on the wiki lol). You can start with crazy offensive magic, a good assortment of items, and affinity with one of the more useful gods.

Otherwise Marina w/o backstory for Necromancy (gives a guaranteed +1 party member and the engrave ability to give +5 agility (if you get 16 total you get an extra turn in battle after the first) if you find the God of Fear & Hunger skin bible).

Levi is kinda mediocre overall but w/o the backstory you start with gun and good ammo and no heroin debuff so you can shoot the more dangerous enemies once or twice to take out their arms before engaging).

Those would be my picks, personally speaking.

[Cullen]

Marcoh is a very good pick for beginners just due to the crazy number of useful skills he can start with. Lockpicking lets him get into a bunch of extra areas for more supplies and weapons without relying on RNG or recruiting a full team to smash down doors, Escape Plan let's him bail on dangerous fights guaranteed, Perfect Guard makes him the only character who starts with guaranteed protection against limb damage, and his Quick Jabs generally outpace standard weapon damage until you get stuff like Black Steel or Sergal's Spear.

Daan is another good pick purely for being able to start with a healing spell (Loving Whispers). Mind restoratives are much more frequently found in the early game, so this gives you a lot more room for error if you get beaten up in fights, especially if you luck into a magic boosting accessory like the Chac Chac.