So I think I've hit a wall very late game

[nammeles2]

Basically, I get rekt going into the first Darkest Dungeon quest and end up losing guys. So I start grinding guys up to lv 5 or 6 to go into the Darkest Dungeon, only to end up losing about half of them to the 3rd Tier bosses in the other 4 areas.
This is turning into a friggin grindfest. I feel like I wasted my time not starting on Radiant mode, because it sure does suck grinding up high tier characters for a dungeon that's going to kill them or to lose them against the toughest bosses in the game.
Anyone else having this problem? Anyone have a solution?

[Sir Francis]

Observe, plan ahead, be more cautious, learn from defeats, adapt, and thus lose no more people.

[Zunkin]

First, don't fight the other champion level bosses if you are getting killed by them. I suggest taking the easiest missions when you are polishing up those last couple of levels. The medium and long length ones grant you more experience and provide you camping opportunities. I know it sucks to have people basically tell you go get good, but try to objectively look at what is that is getting you killed. Every time you see a character end up afflicted or on death's door stop and think of at least three ways you could have prevented it from happening. I know it's the last thing you want to do when you are annoyed, but its a good exercise for keeping it from happening again.

Don't take anyone into the Darkest Dungeon that doesn't have max level and max gear/skills. Also make sure you clear them of sever negative quirks and diseases before taking them in. Try to run trinkets and quirks that boost your speed on every character particularly your stunners and healers. Healers should be equipped with at least one good trinket that boost their healing. Accuracy boosting trinkets like sun rings are a good idea because the critters in the DD often dodge well.

Also for shortening the grind look for that one ancestral trinket that boosts resolve experience and those missions that grant bonus exp to the next run. Make sure you have completely upgraded your stage coach so you can at least get some decent heroes to restart with. If you have the Crimson Court then go seek out the hidden rooms in the big CC dungeons and free the prisoners. You should get some powerful starting heroes this way.

Stress is a big problem in that first DD mission so make sure you bring a party that is relatively resistant to stress and have a way to heal it on the fly.

[wolkenwand]

Try to at least get these to make game more tolerable: ancestor pen, ancestor musket ball, junia head and ancestor signet ring, these are good trinkets. Also get ancestor candle, matchman stick, and flesh heart if you can. You will learn lots of things while acquire these items.