Ive been playing two summoners max on summoning(20 +1 or +2 from gear), and leveling intelligence and constitution both characters have around(40) on each, im also using lone wolf on both and i have to say it feels perfect for the level of difficulty.
Both characters have shield/wand and are at lvl 15, almost 16, im also almost 90% finished with act 2 on Tactician mode.
I can get the most recent gear and skills exhausting my gold entirely, but i can get plenty without investing into bartering or stealing things.
However i cannot imagine how in the world i could even keep 4 party members, if i was playing that way, fully geared and ready, without stealing my way in Driftwood or in other places.
Additionaly i have one character with some points on water skills for magic armor recovery and another on geomancer for physical armor recovery.
