Hi, Sig!
If this is your 1st time through, as it sounds to be, that's par for the course until you get used to the gameplay. Did you ensure you had strong characters when you 1st created your party? It's time consuming, but reroling characters when creating them until you have attribute totals of 80 or more helps tremendously. Also, check the best tips threads available through this website. I used the infamous "Tome of Misinformation"(the official hint book) during char.creation, and it was a great help there even if it's unreliable elsewhere. May your adventures be many, your tragedies be few, and may Kerah be with you all the way through!
+Dr.Pick