You know what guys?
If you bothered to eat a single apple in the game - you would know there is a very easy solution to the poison arrows problem.
While there is plenty of armor that gives protection vs poison specifically and Earth magic (to which poison element belongs) - to be found in the most obvious first locations you visit in the city.
Its not poor game design JoeBart. At all.
Infact the game is too easy. Yesterday i went through the western legions of undead - with two characters on level 3 - without lonewolf or raistlin talents - and without using fire magic.
That includes the Lighthouse fight too.