Well the source magic and source hunter back-story is literally what I mean with "characterization" is missing... we are dropped on that beach with nothing to go on, apparently we are source hunters, but if we are then we (the players) are never invited into that club. We do not know what source magic even is. We can cast spells but so can enemies and anyone else who can read, so clearly that isn't source magic. Also the fact that enemies can cast spells, makes me wonder what's so special about source hunters. Seems to me that any orc shaman could do our job ;P
It makes the murder mystery all the more an odd quest to start the game with. This is a quest player could get when he/she knows what goes on. But right at the start we are presented with very odd situations and reasoning by NPC's that we as players have absolutely no way to properly grasp or understand because we are missing back-story and lore information. It's pretty much why I am mentioning that the prologue wasn't improved enough. The video sequence doesn't give back-story, only a setting.
I get that new players need reward, which is why an academy that "builds up" to the 1st act is a good way to do it. Even if we let them keep their "found" equipment that is no issue, as long as "skip" provides the one skipping with the same equipment and xp. But you can not "skip" free loot. I know overall it's a minor thing that cave and all... but it's there, it's free XP. Even if the area gets better and the scripting tighter, it's still a cave that everyone feels compelled to do, with no actual (lossless) option to skip it.
And yes, Inventory screen, and how it doesn't switch when other char is selected is a major usability issue imo ;p It's not just that, but it's also confusing. The only situation where it would make sense, is if we could open both inventories next to each other at the same time. But the screen is way too wide to do that. ;/
PPs.: IF we learn about source magic later that's fine, but I play each version up to the resolution of the jake quest, and at that point we most certainly do not know what source magic is. Which makes that very jarring and weird.
