Hmmm.
It's true this is no easy walk in and go game. Normal should probably be titled, "Loves Me Some Tactical Action" and Hard should be, "Scouting or Twin Mage Essential".
That said, if you mess around in the starting area, the two guards and the first orc fight, you should have a good idea of party make up you like and will work. I was in beta, obviously, but I never got further than the front gate of Cyseal. I spent my time working over different combos.
This is a CRPG really meant in the old vein, and using info and preferences by backers who enjoyed getting our asses handed to us in Hard on BG, P:T and Fallout. We like dying or, alternatively, being really, really, really careful before and during a fight.
Example: last night I fought the Baron. At level 4. I had to reload a lot, but not because I died. I had to reload because the very thorough oil field I was setting as a trap kept resetting.
Once it was set and everyone was in place with boulder smash, fireball, summons and assorted goodies ready to go, the fight was on. The set-up took half an hour, though.
That's the kind of game D:OS is. Probably needs a big warning label or something.
