Your Character

If you complete all of the available side quests, then you should reach level 17 by the end of the campaign.

Be sure to use "expert mode" when you create your character. If you reduce your prowess in all of the weapon talents that you don't plan to use (like brawling), then you'll probably free up around 100 experience points that you can spend elsewhere.

You'll meet plenty of potential companions during your travels, so you should be able to form a well-balanced group regardless of the type of character you pick for yourself.


Rogues

There isn't any downside to robbing people, so try to pick pocket everybody.

If you don't have any lock picking tools, then you'll take a 10-point penalty every time you attempt to pick a lock. So make sure you keep your rogue supplied with Hair Pins or other tools.


Spellcasters

You won't be able to cast spells if you're wearing metal armor. So keep your spellcasters in leather or cloth (or wood, in the case of shields).

The Clarum Purum spell will cure all poisons, even if you never put any points into it. Plus, once you've learned it (probably in Chapter 3), you won't need to worry about the Treat Poisons skill for any of your characters, and you'll no longer need to hang onto Golmoon Tea.

The Balm of Healing spell can remove wounds, but only if the number of wounds is less than or equal to the modifier on the spell. That means you'll need to keep and use Simple Bandages (or other Treat Wounds items) for most of the campaign.


Miscellaneous

Eventually you'll gain a residence where the companions you're not using will wait for you. These companions will gain experience just like the companions in your party, and so you can use them to build up utility skills (like Alchemy, Blacksmith, and Bowyer) rather than wasting the experience points of the characters in your party.

For some locations on the world map, you'll need to scroll the map to see them. To do this, just left click on the map and then drag it up or down.

All characters can use shields.

During battles, you should always order your entire party to attack the same enemy. Enemies slowly regain health, so it's good to kill them as quickly as possible, and they can only parry at most two attacks per round of combat, and so the more attacks you send their way, the better off you are.

If you activate Simple Bandages (or other Treat Wounds / Treat Poisons items) from your inventory, then you'll only be able to use them on yourself. But if you activate them from your quick slot bar, then you'll be able to use them on anybody in your party.

To clear a hotkey, just click the middle mouse button on it.