In this interview with Edouard Imbert, senior designer there´s an interesting answer :
Edouard Imbert translated interviewCan fights be avoided by using social skills?
Yes. All the fights that Sven did [Editor's note: in the version shown to the press], could have been avoided. There is none that was essential. Each time, there is a dialogue: that's something new. It's a big evolution for us since DOS 1. In this game, you had monsters; they were aggressive so as soon as they saw you, they attacked you. It is something that we no longer do or if we do, it is extremely rare. Without exaggerating, you can avoid everything. You can talk, lie or just hide each time. There is no fight that you have to do.
Sounds like roguelike tactics and stealth could be feasible to bypass many enemies of the game, so maybe it could be possible to play an entire run of the game using those tactics and that would be logical that you gain XP that way. I think in the gameplay you earn a little "Exploration XP" if you find some places.
The way he phrased it kinda remembered me the V:TM bloodlines game, where you can achieve your objectives not only fighting, but using your social skills, cunning tactics or stealth. That sounds like a great approach that I look forward to, but I do not think they go for a Shadowrun/V:TMB/Tides of numenera approach where almost all combat is avoidable and you get xp for objectives not for enemy killed ( In the gameplay you receive xp per goblin killed)
