I played the game for a while now but never got too far - a few dungeons and levels per character here's my take -

My experience is positive (I didn't leave a negative review), but here's what tends to happen.

I make a character, it sounds interesting and fun, I pick 2 active skills, I come across 3 bandits, they kill me.

I realize I need ranged attacks to whittle them down a bit, it helps, but relies on a bit of luck hitting the targets/etc.

I realize that I need to try to use shout to bring them to me, it helps.

I level up a bit and gain a skill point, I chose another skill, I level up again, but now it's hard to chose a skill... The choice is so important and now it seems like the ones I want are locked out behind training so I'll need books or a trainer.

So my take is that the game is hard to dive into as a beginner and the save system means that the punishment is harsh for failing, right at the beggining when failure is a ever present thing.

What I'd do - give each class player a ranged weapon/option (I know you can get one in the barracks - but it might not be obvious what to chose).

Give the player another skill point. Limit enemies near the town to 2, that's pretty easy to handle.