This CAN be a hard game. Here are some things to make game easier.
1. Party, Character creation.
A. Use Humans, 1 to 3 dwarves. Humans level up fast, almost as fast as kobolds, but with Better stats, and can ROLL up every class without developing peasants into things like Rangers. 1 to 4 Dwarves as either 1 Cleric, or 1 Dwarf Samurai, 1 Dwarf Paladin, 1 Dwarf Sage, is, are ok too, but generally not as good as Human, except for the exceptions they are better then Humans.
B. Rolling stats: Be Willing to Reroll stats about 50 to 750 times to get between 20 to 27 in PRIME CLASS STATS Like INT, WIS, STR, ETC, for SAGES, MAGES, CLERICS. Samurai, Rangers, Paladins, higher stats not as needed.
C. Be willing to reroll about, between 50 to 1000 times for Rangers, high stat Sages which tho extremely Rare, worth the wait.
D. When take statted char thru select guild training, alway choose the highest difficulty, best quality, longest time, etc.
For example: for Sages choose Alvics Retreat with a Difficulty of HARD, Quality of Good, Length of OH MY. Yeah higher chance of character dying in guild training, and altho your human might be 33 to 43 years old, but if take a 26 int sage Candidate thru Alvics Retreat, can have about a 33 to 36 int at lev 1 to start. And sometimes age is 17 to 24 instead of 28 to 37.
E. Consider using a portal gem to protect a 27 stat char from dying in guild training
2. Optimal Party
2 Samurai, 2 Rangers, 1 Paladin, 1 Cleric(Temporarily until get 3,4, 3rd, 4th level sages, 6th level Samurai that can heal, then dont need, want cleric), 1 Mage, 4 Sages.
Samurai are the best frontline fighters, cleric spells, can disable traps like thieves. 2 are good
Rangers are great at fighting, casting mage spells, cleric spells, healing. 2 are good.
Until Rangers can cast damaing mage spells, to lev up, etc, its better to put Samurai in first frontline slot, Ranger in 2nd frontline slot. After Rangers can cast mage spells to lev up, then Samurai in both all frontline slots.
Paladins are good fighters, have double strike ability, wear the best armor, weapons, gear, have best AC, defense, get cleric spells.
Paladins make good substitute, back up frontline fighters to Samurai, Rangers, and when defense is needed, Paladin should be frontlined with Samurai/ Rangers
Sages, get both mage, cleric spells.
My Party:
2 Samurai, 2 Rangers, 1 Paladin, 1 Mage, 4 Sages
Party Order Lineup:
1. Samurai
2. Ranger
3. Samurai
4. Ranger
5. Paladin
6. Sage
7. Sage
8. Sage
9. Sage.
10. Mage.
Tips:
Strip equip from pregen party, Create 17 characters. Sell Pregen Loot equip. Doing so starts you with 7000 gold.
When Rest, use the 50 to 250 options to fully rest up in 4 to 7 weeks, so that dont age to much.
Use 2nd level, 3rd level stairs, to create free portal gem, temporal portal gem chamber spot, after you level up a number of times, as a save spot for free without having to use portal gems. After that do use portal gems, avoid extremes of using too many, too few portal gems. Find each level secret room to get unique items, portal gems.
Dont go to Lev 2 until party is lev 3,4. Dont goto lev 3 until Party lev 5,6.
Avoid extreme of too short dungeon runs, too long dungeon runs, as too long, bad crap happens, too short, no treasure to sell, no lev up. Do moderate mid length dungeon runs.
When a character dies, either reset to last portal gem spot, OR use portal gem BEFORE raising dead char, UNLESS have high lev char, scroll to do a high level FULL RESURRECTION.
In another post will post stats, etc, of each char in my party, as example