Okay, so I bit the bullet and restarted the game, this time distributing skill points to my assassin to fit the game design. I still left the base stats the same (6, 10, 6, 8, 5, 5) but I've only invested in sneak, impersonate, streetwise and alchemy. Combined with newly acquired knowledge of how combat works, it's a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
Like, quite literally, I'm fucking Artemis Entreri, murdering the shit out of everyone.
Oh yeah, before I forget, I found another retarded encounter. That noblewoman in the first town, when I tried to scam her she required high impersonation and streetwise combos, which I've passed, but then came a hobo dick etiquette wall. Like, who will ever make such a character? That skill combo will only ever be useful for this one encounter.
But yeah, I've breezed through Arena, except final bosses, which required extensive use of nets/bombs and strategic choice of moves. It was a real pleasure of turn based combat. And it gave me super cool items.
Now I'm finishing the third town, got 3 tubed power armour, which is only slightly disappointing it can't transform to fully suit a dodge build. It would've been really cool if I could get it to transform into some speed booster exhausts instead of the shield.
But I like it, it reminds me of Stargate movie.
I can already see myself playing again as a loremaster, that's about the only frustrating thing right now, not being able to muck around with ancient machines and artifacts.
Essentially, the progress formula is to wonder far and wide to acquire sufficient skill points for all encounters (I hate just walking away and missing out on content).
I thought that group battle for the gold chest in the desert was really cool. Wish there was more of that.
What a great game.
I'm curious when do I get to advance rank in Brotherhood, like my rep is 13 and I'm stile a novice.
P.S.
There was one game breaking bug, after the preacher in Temple district of Gannezzar finishes his speech, everyone in the crowd scratches their right calf with left foot at the same time. Literally unplayable.