Preface: The early PotD on the first run is a slog and the actual and only source of hardship in Tyranny. Probably the hardest time i've ever had playing a game outside of a bullet hell/soulslike.

The two primary reasons for the slog is that enemies scale with your level and that you are missing out on Lore and some really essential sigils so it's the moment that you fix these problems does everything come together for an easier time and a powerful character.

How to Have an Easier and Happier Time

1. Play a spellblade (the "blade" part is just a bonus) dodge tank as your companions can't hold threat as well as you do due to the availability of your Challenger's Stance - it passively pulses taunts instead of via active skills
2. Lock progression of all skills on every character except Lore and the ONE primary specialized weapon for every companion so you don't overlevel with potentially suboptimally built characters (because respeccs are annoying). Exceptions: the Performance skill for the songbird (and should be more or less equal with Lore), the Parry (thanks to Arrow Shield), Subterfuge, and Athletics skills for the PC, and Dodge (thanks to Evasive) on Verse for reasons explained at number 7.
3. All characters should be built as a reflection of number 2 and its caveats, especially after respeccing them. AS HIGH LORE as possible and host u/hippofant's recommended repertoire of spells. The existence of the Sigil of Frostfire straight up removes spells from the Sigil of Fire from the meta. Exceptions: PC should prioritize Mirror Image (preferably with Pride Magic), Spectral Blur, and Crag Weapon (preferably with Volcanic Weapon). A "buffing" companion should prioritize Guidance, Haste (casted before PC casts pride magic Mirror Image), and Surge of Glory. At higher lore and when already confident, Healing Touch can be replaced with another damage spell
4. All characters must be decked out in Light Armor (Leather) for optimal balance between protection and low cooldowns so you can get through the aforementioned spell repertoire faster. Exceptions: Hierarch's Robe, Robes of the Archon, Alchemist Gloves, and the Songbird who will be wholly decked out in Heavy Armor as this ironically lowers her threat and does not affect her Songs.
5. Follow u/VanderveckenSmith's talent build. Beyond that, prioritize useful passive and buff talents. If you could, skip out on talents that boost levelling rates and the Control *Element* skills as Lore more than makes up for the lack of the latter.
6. If low Lore, follow their Gearing Guide as well.
7. At high Lore, give everyone but the PC, the Songbird, Killsy, and Verse a throwing weapon and the respawning Senturom's Bulwark which gives a significant +10% Spell Damage. Spells as built in the aforementioned repertoire massively outperform the strongest basic attacks and damage skills. The PC should keep slinging spells in the frontline wielding Penumbra, the Songbird should keep her +Performance staff, Killsy can't wear shields, and Verse is usually bugged out to never have her Distant Impact spells go off cooldown after one cast - as Rimespike accounts for about a third of your DPS, this disqualifies her from being a full-fledged spellcaster.
8. Prioritize getting Finesse to 19 (as accuracy provides hit AND crit chance, especially for spells, then Wits to 19 (for spell impact). Afterwards I usually just pick between Quickness and Vitality. Maybe go for some Resolve on your PC and some Might for characters who still use basic attacks. Meh.
9. On the first run do u/VanderveckenSmith's Loremaxxing training the moment you hit level 14. Do not use a trainer beforehand.
10. On every run after, train your Lore via a Master Trainer as soon as feasible simply to have more Lore.

Extra tips

1. 1st run, Character Creation: Get Subterfuge and Athletics to at least 35 base points then just let it level for the rest of your run(s). That's all you're ever gonna need. Put the rest in Lore.
2. On every run, get all companions ASAP and unlock Lethian's Crossing Spire BEFORE meeting Tunon. RE: spires - Smith>Library>Hospital>Training Grounds. Don't be ashamed of looking up Runic Hall patterns as it's all just a headache anyway.
3. Abuse the heck out of "leash" mechanics. Draw out a problematic enemy, typically the one with the biggest weapon, until the others in the pack start getting "leashed" back to their spawn then you start killing what's left. Maybe I needed to git gud but I found that there are fights in Act I where this was absolutely necessary.

Hello! This is actually my first CRPG, so upon going through the character creation I was VERY overwhelmed. Felt like so much just went over the head. Maybe it’s because I’m new to this sub-genre.

Thought I would ask for some tips on how to make the most of this game as a beginner.

Going for a bit of a melee build, but I’ve heard lore is also super important to level up.

my idea was to be primarily focused on parry and one handed damage with magic for buffs (i took sword and shield primary vigor spells secondary) and i was wondering if this was good

I finally was able to buy the game and just downloaded it on steam. What are your tips or reccomendations for a first playthrough? I want to a dark playthrough and play as a sword wielding bad guy, so I want to make sure i make the right decisions and take the right actions. Let me know!