The hit rate thing (for one part) is because the game starts you at with a disadvantage. After Grove it seems like most encounters have enemy archers on high ground throwing shit at you. Not only when it gets to your turn (when its 4v9+ already), you're half hp because surface crap ignores AC, but ur either out of range or low ground and therefore less chance to hit. The combat encounter's seem to be designed by a DM that's new and hasn't actually played the game and understands the rules.
