MD - You aren't really managing to progress that much and just making new characters all the time right?.. No need to be ashamed if that's the case, when i started playing it was the same until I could finally start to understand how to build a character, how to engage enemies, what areas to avoid at first.
I think that the real first step is having you learn to build a character but shouldn't be too hard. i'm sure you can ask around for a good set to start up. Don't be afraid to lower characteristics to 3, for example my psi character always starts with 3 str, you just don't need it. Psi is your main attack which uses will that you should max out. If you need an extra weapon crossbows don't have str requirements so you are golden there, especially since you are given one at the start. If you are going for guns you want high perception, you can put will at 3. This is just a simple example.
Skills that you should always have include lockpick, hacking (you don't actually need the skill of electronics for this, it can be confusing because of the tooltip but all you need is the skill hacking itself), one or two combat skill (one if you use psi, 2 if you don't, throwing and guns are a pretty good combo). So long as you are not going for a heavy armor mellee based build you should ALWAYS have stealth. Stealth is in my opinion the single most useful skill in the game. The reason for this is that you can use stealth not to bypass enemies, but rather to position yourself where you want before iniciating combat as well as always having the first turn.
Useful things to know right at the beggining. The first quest is very easy, however there are places where there is too many rathounds together. There is a simple way to deal with them and it's called a grenade. You might think it's a waste of money but trust me, it isn't and makes the fight easy. There are only 2 big groups. The ones near an explosive barrel which you should use stealth to try and kill them when they cluster around it and shoot it. The guy in the house with the 2 dogs can be a pain to deal with, don't talk to him and if you do just do not use anything that will iniciate the combat. Start the game by a grenade and it is increadibly easy to win the fight... the other big pack of dogs is to the opposite side, the map on the right, stealth helps you with positioning and a grenade helps you kill them.
After the first quest is complete, assuming you looted all I'm sure you'll be left with some 700 credits easily... you get the reward for activating all houses. you get some decent loot from crates provided you have hacking and lockpicking. Getting the guy's watch also gives you choice of stuff, always chose the weapon, good money selling, the rest is pretty much worthless... Trust me, very easy money
Whether or notyou buy a grenade or two in the begining you need to buy at least the haxxor from ezra and at least a couple bateries for it. Buy yourself a few lockpicks too, at least 5 to last for a little bit in adition to the ones you'll find earlier on.
Most of the difficulty do is frontloaded.
