I killed all the larvae and null bugs, but eventually died. I’m probably a level too low, so I set out in search of things to kill for experience, but there are almost no random encounters and no dungeons, at least in Upper Avernum. All the battles are against swarms of enemies, and they always end in one of three ways:

(1) I make short work of them;
(2) I need a heal but I can still win without breaking a sweat, or
(3) A character can get killed before I even get a turn and it just goes from there.

I am indeed on the easiest difficulty. Since I would have gtinded for a level or two if there were any enemies in this game, I think I’ll make my own difficulty tier by “fast forwarding” the grinding and bumping everyone’s stats up a point or two in the character editor. Not overpowered like I played the first two, just to make it fairer.

(It should be said that I’m playing with a walkthrough since time can pass and towns can be destroyed in thus game, taking quests and shops with them, so I’m playing not to let that happen – this is really the only reason I’m using the walkthrough. If I were going legitimately non-linear it would probably be easier – that’s probably what I’m doing wrong. These quests can be tackled when you’re at level 30 and much more of a match the same as when you’re at level 7.)

edit: yeah, never mind. Screw the walkthrough and screw adding points; I’m going to play it legit legit