Yes. Start agian. When I learned how to play this game, I've started over hunderds of times. And go wonder, there is mode when you dont' lose an item on defeat but game is just over. And some players can go with it.
Empireal, that's why my choice is wa (who is way better tank than ranger and can do some decent damage) and damage section - 2 rangers and conjuror. Rangers have some lag before attack doing balm. But after it they can kill everything. Cleric seems to be quite useless, especially on high levels where you just sweep everything.
What problem y'all have on survive mode? How can you die on first levels? You put a mage in the first line or what? Get a classic party: tanker, priest, mage and archer. Put tank in the first line and others in back. Put tank in best armor. That's all! Simply go and kill. Don't hit if you cursed. Heal your party members. Thats easy rules. Why so mych peaple find it hard?
empyrealdrift, I never use manasprite. Sometimes wargolem as spare tank. Most of time I use conjuror only for his Aegis. With potion it makes 99% dam reduction on tank, so he can finish battle alone if things goes wrong. And I can't imagine ranger as a tank.
oh, I've tried all ranger group and failed. Succeed only with 2ra plus tank and conjurer. but past level 10 it goes easier and easier. I am level 100 and most of time got not any problem. But starting levels are pain!
Pay attention to the everlasting skills, such as Nature Balm, Eldrich aegis and such. Don't forget to recast it on revived mebers. Also readh through this comments back: there is thousands of explanations already.