Shar

This is happening to me as well, when hiring adventurers from kraken's eye. it doesn't matter which level hireling im trying to hire, they all come out as level 3, with enough xp for lvl 4, but never had the leveling points for level 2 and 3.

LAst time I checked, Driving Flight often does like significantly less DMG since it doesnt do any of the Lash damage, which is 50% if you use a chanter. Bear pet does not seem to survive much better than any other pet in Potd. Deepwound damage is actually very significant, Do people not use Final Blow,? with the improved talent it kills anything sub 50% stamina if you also quality for sneakattack/deathblow.

Druids are definately the second best healer with an aoe healing spell every second spell level. Wayfarer paladin is also very strong healer throughout the first half of the game, with on demand aoe heal and another aoe heal procs on killing blow. However the effectiveness of its heal drasticly diminishes as your party gains level. Which means if you rely on it being your only healer you will need a party that is self-sufficient in the later half of the game. which means you will need draining weapons on tanks that do damage, and preferably a cipher with the powerful late game heal "Pain block".

Because it is not the entrance leading to lvl2, it is the quick way back from lower levels back to lvl1, hence it is only accessible from the other side. learn to Explore the map helps. Meanwhile travelling to wooden plain and deviance bay is enabled once you construct the eastern barricade through the stronghold interface and use the south exit of caed nua