Posted December 10, 2015
tritone: So, the game starts out warning you to avoid combat, and the first thing they teach you is... combat! No matter how many times I've tried, I can NOT GET PAST that first dude past the gate! I just die over and over, and I'm having zero fun. Is there a way to just avoid the combat and move on?
I'm assuming you're in the training area, right? You don't have to play that part at all if you don't want to. Just tell the instructor guy you're ready to get started or whatever. Or you can just start over. The training area exists solely to teach you how combat works, because sometimes new players find it difficult. Once you learn how it works, it's not that bad, but until then you'll get your butt kicked.
I think you'll be happiest if you start over and make a non-combat character. That means lower all the physical abilities (strength, constitution, etc.) to 4 and put the extra points in the mental abilities. Also choose a non-combat background like Trader or Loremaster. Avoid Mercenary and Assassin for now.
Concentrate on Persuasion, Streetwise, Lore, Etiquette, Trading, Disguise, and possibly a bit of Crafting. Avoid all combat. You can still finish the game, no problem.
I'd like to give you some pointers about combat too, since you're having trouble. Have you played games with turn-based combat before? This one works the same in most respect but it has some unique aspects too.
You and your opponent take turns, obviously. You both have a certain number of Action Points, and everything you do during your turn costs a certain number of points. Moving one square costs 1 point. Attacking takes a number of points based on the kind of weapon you're using. A dagger attack might take 3 points, or even less, while a huge, heavy hammer might take 7 or 8 points.
You want to make your enemy spend his Action Points moving, so get a few squares away from him and end your turn. Then he'll charge at you and hopefully end his turn right next to your character. Then you can spend all your Action Points in the next turn attacking him.
If that's not enough to help you win, reply again and try to be specific about what you're having trouble with. That will help us give you good advice.