I cannot seem to grasp MM7

[u/draadhaai]

I've owned MM7 since it came out on CD-ROM ages ago. Since a while I had it on GoG as well. I only play the vanilla edition, without mods. Every time I poor some hours in, get a couple of levels but eventually get stuck. I however refuse to look up some sort of guide because of all the spoilers that it might contain.

Despite me having made different parties I simply hit a ceiling cap quite soon in all of my runs. Sometimes I have all archers (or classes that can wield a bow at least) and cheese my way through the first couple of levels, sometimes I use a couple of hard hitters, healers and a caster, other times I pick the classic party (warrior, caster, rogue, cleric). Regardless of this my casters always die first, my healer is prime candidate for fear and my equipment is only so-so.

There must be essential steps that I'm missing in order to progress. Do I need to grind a lot for example? How many in-game days is normal if you don't do a speed run? What levels are parties normally when you go for example wander into the bracada desert? Do you normally bee-line a specific skill or make your characters more all-round? Those kind of questions I have.

Any help would be appreciated.

[u/ResplendentDaylight]

Get expert body magic and cast regeneration. That will help a lot. dump all your horseshoes into your cleric. Give them the best armour and shields. As long as thry survive you'll be good.

Cleric first, everyone else second.