Purchased level 4 adventurer (4000)

 

when created and joined to party was only level 1 - (level up not highlighted - didn't work)

Same problem here around 30 minutes ago.

This should be fixed for the next update. How it works is you will create them as a level 1 character and they will have enough XP to be able to level up to the level you purchased them for. This is so you can progress their stats and abilities as you see fit.

Thanks for the update Roby. That's exactly how I hoped it would work.

That is a minor issue which is easily solvable via CheatEngine (just before getting some XP, search for a 4-byte value of 0, then search for the amount of XP received, and change to match your party XP level). 

 

A much more serious issue with hired adventurers is that:

 

A) Without Stronghold, you cannot dismiss party members to free party slots for custom characters;

 

B) Character Death is completely bugged so that if  your default party member dies, his "ghost" remains a "placeholder" in the party, irreversibly bugging any new adventurers you hire in his stead (saved games become unloadable,  characters disappear, etc).

 

Together with disappearing items, this bug that takes away all the enjoyment from the demo.

This should be fixed for the next update. How it works is you will create them as a level 1 character and they will have enough XP to be able to level up to the level you purchased them for. This is so you can progress their stats and abilities as you see fit.

 

Please consider making custom party members a free and easily accessible option like it was in the Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale games.