Arcanum replay

I was thinking of giving this game another shot because I didn’t get very far the last time I played (stopped in some orc cave). However, I know next to nothing about mechanics or how the game is structured later on (talking vs combat) so I’d appreciate some tips on character specs. The last time I played I went full melee because I read in some guide that it’s the least annoying way to play the game, but I’m open to other options, especially those that leverage diplomacy (after replaying SR: Dragonfall and Hong Kong recently I became a big fan of charisma lol). General tips are of course also welcome - ie, which items to hold on to, which party members to recruit, potential noob traps, etc.