Yeah, I have been finding this game scratching an itch I didn't even know I had for an older style of more hardcore survival RPG mechanics. It's been horribly addictive as a result.
I did just leave the location where it was winter for a bit, and ended up amassing a load of silver through looting, mining and turning things I'd gathered into potions. Was surprised how much some of the equipment goes for after being used to scrouging 6 or 8 silver from weapons and armour in the first map.
So, I completed my build (rune mage/shaman/spellsword), geared myself up and am now pretty much self-sufficient and can take on anything I've yet come across (though it can be a bit hairy if I'm surprised and zerged).
Typically for me with these kinds of games, I got around 25 hours in having only done one actual mission! The rest of that time was exploring and getting my training and gear sorted. Definitely over the early game weakness and haring through the story now, though.
Liking the variety of ways to approach different situations. The combinations of builds provides a lot of options. I toyed with trying to make a tanky mage, then thought I'd want a super-hard-hitting melee brute, but then settled on a pew-pew glass cannon build instead. Even with my build I can decide to throw up runic protection and attack with an infused weapon, sling spells from distance, summon a ghost warrior, drop sigils and unleash AoE destruction, or kite and drop magic mines in my enemies' path. Combat is a bit light and floaty, but it always feels fun.
