I am also in the second pylon area and also experienced a lot of combats. Which would not be a bad thing if they would actually be a challenge. But as CRPGnut stated: They aren't. I am playing on torment, and most of the combats are extremely easy. Avadon 1 and especially Avernum were much more of a challenge. The turrets are just too strong.
I am using a Shaman, a Tinkermage and a Blademaster as standard party and only use emergency heals for normal fights. I only need to recharge my vitality about once for each complete zone. Only use turrets and other magical stuff, when the enemies I am facing are harder.
I disagree that it would be more fun if you would have more members in the party. That would mean that fights would inevitably be even longer and it would be much harder to balance to make fights challenging. Probably resulting either in all fights being long and boring or most fights being long and boring and a couple being so hard that you can't beat them if you skilled the wrong stuff.
I am also glad that it's only 3 characters so that I don't have to bother leveling up the other 3 constantly.
I prefer that mechanic to the one from Might and Magic X Mechanic, where your HP also do not regenerate and where you go out of mana after using it in two fights.
@Pessimeister: I am pretty sure that you see a couple of characters coming back. But my memory isn't that fresh anymore. Played Avadon 1 at release.
You got Readbeard of course. Also the wretch seeking for Audience waiting in his "lobby" is the same. I am pretty sure that Miranda is also from the first part. Also I met a guy named Ibu which sounded very familiar.
About the talent trees:
They aren't exceptionally exciting. There are a couple of decisions to make. But I find myself constantly in the situation where I get a level up and don't know where I should put my points because it doesn't really seem to matter anymore.