Strangely enough, DOS1 actually didn't give off this feeling at all, even though you had a lot of similar tools there. I suppose the main difference is that the game wasn't balanced around the idea that you'd be playing so dirty that it's basically mandatory.
Because the ways DOS1 and 2 approach combat are actually very different. DOS2 places too much emphasis on pre-positioning enemies, providing high grounds in too many fights just so enemy mages/archers can get on (which is, of course, what these enemies spend their very first action to do). If it's not high grounds, then it's oil barrels and other things that are only waiting for enemies to use against you. DOS2 also eliminated the "skill check" system, meaning a character without armor is guaranteed to be disabled. This naturally leads to you doing the same things enemies do - pre-positioning your own team, getting on high grounds yourself, etc. - and more, in order to balance the scale. You can tell that the devs really wanted you to follow these strats, because it is these very elements that set their game apart from other, similar games, and they take pride in these home rules. I, for one, wish they had stuck with DOS1's combat design.
