I had actually walked away from the game having had some of the same issues you are having. I threw myself headlong at the Mass Armies of orcs dotting the countryside and was creamed, but....not for long.
I tried using magic to slow down thoses big ugly orcs, the Giant ones, hated em.
Some big baddies I had to snarl under my breath and vow revenge later, and go do something else as far a as a quest etc, then come back stonger and smak some manners into the offending baddie.
*evil happy grin*
ahhhhhhhhhhh....
I liked Meteorstrike and was able to find spell enhancing goodies to boost it, the Ice one(?) level 3 or more is nice, freeze em whack em.
and my rabbit up the sleeve, as said up above, hands down best survival technique, RUN.
regroup and smite heavily
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devil.gif" alt="" />
gamegurl
