Hmm, yeah it does seem that the way to go for this game is to make a balanced character. I also have an issue with not being able to roll my attributes like in BG2 and instead we get a set amount of points to spare, which are a bit on the low side for me, too. I do not know if this is a Larian thing, or a D&D thing, though.
I like playing an idolized version of myself and I consider myself, overconfidently, as about 2-4 points higher than what I am allowed to spare. So I naturally have a dumpstat, which in this case is intelligence which is really bothering me. You could get two or one more statpoints at level 4 though, so there is that, yet uneven attribute levels generally do not get much in terms of bonuses.
I do think that the amount of skillchecks in this game, their variance and the severity of their outcomes, is a bit on the high side, so it kind of pushes you into either a broad character, making intense use of companions (requiring immense knowledge of each dialogue), and/or reloading.
