[@Adorabadass] I don't remember every set up, but Human Mage, Stealing skill at the circle when you start? Just nab everyone and you nearly have the best equipment before the intro is concluded. 

Then get Arcane Warrior with high dexterity. You won't only be just evasive, but you'll do high damage, and with all the Arcane Skills, you can just phase through most attacks to where you can solo everything. 

Like, I forget her name, but Orgen's wife Branka I think? My party died, but my Warden Apocolyptus soloed eveything there and won. 

And in Awakening? When I got Battlemage, me pretty much became Lavos mixed with Giygas. The Mother Stood no chance at all.