Well, I'm now a couple days into my third character. I went with a Rogue, because I hated having to leave all the locked stuff behind. I just got to Lothering (same place I stopped with try #1).
This is the first game of this type I've ever played, and I still have trouble with the terms and tactics. I sort of understand tank, boss, etc., but it is far from natural for me. I came up from D&D, though Might & Magic, to TES. This is the first time I tried something different. I'm still playing on Easy while I figure out how this is supposed to work, and I have the markers turned on.
Does anyone have general tips on buffing the different types of characters or how I should construct the team? I'm running with the original 4, even though I just got access to a new one. How often should I be talking to the team? I have started sending the dog out to find things, and noiw have quite a few gifts for later, but he loves me already. Is time a factor in the game, or can I continue to ramble around like I have been doing? I have a couple hundred hours into Oblivion, and have yet to start the main quest (I've never seen an

bliviongate: ).
I've played quite a few hours, but I'm not really getting into it like I did with TES. Part of that is trying to figure out the controls and characters, and part is the way it's scripted, rather than free-roaming. Any tips on how to get into the flow quicker? I'm not really having "fun", which is the point of gaming.