I just replayed through it with a rogue. I went straight there before doing the goblins. The companions I used were Laezel, Shadowheart, and Astarion. I got help from some of the duergar.
The fight was super easy this time around. I think getting that extra help makes a huge difference.
Which is probably as it should be.
I know some players think D&D is about "resource management" and CR ratings producing "challenging" encounters, but that is a really limited view of what comprises a RPG. A good RPG should offer many options to explore ( literally and metaphorically ), and choosing between those options should definitely impact how the game plays, including making conbat more difficult, less difficult, or avoiding it altogether.
Even awareness of environmental factors should be present in a good RPG; unfortunately barrelmancy sometimes makes a ( vicious? ) mockery of what should be a thoughtfully applied option.
Personally I liked Grymforge a lot, so I will not be disappointed to see the rest of the game developed in a similar vein.
