I had the exact same frustration.
I thinbk You can take the lone wolf talent, that makes your character much more powerfull, at the expanse of recruting companions.
You can find powerfull companions (more powerfull than your melee "heroes"...) at the inn (not obvious, already reported a long time ago...), and maybe some other places.
All this should make the game easier.
However, reports are either "too easy", or "too hard". Balance is gonna be a headache for the devs...
Yes, it's beta, but most of these sorts of issues should be locked down or close to it by now.
Still fixing shitloads of bugs.
A blacksmith ? Wouldn't that "make sense" in a legionnary camp ? that Cyseleans fishermen don't need blacksmith, well, ok. But legionnaries ?
Anyways, don't expect to much of these stuffs in good ol' Cyseal.
