Playing it again. Must say it is even more enjoyable the on the second play. I don't die any where near as often as I did the first time.One thing that helps is not going stromping down the middle of the roads and then having an encounter and getting surrounded. Hugging the edges faces helps and when an encounter is had, head for a crack in the cliff face so only one or two can attack at once. Or open a door, lure the attack, and then back out through the door so only one can come to the door and attack at once. Strategy like this helps big time with an immature party in particular.
Only really learned this after I had had many severe beatings at the hands of merciless monsters in the first game.
I think for game 3 I will try iron man. Be a fair show to make it through with the learnings from two previous games.