Originally posted by jonnin:

yes, they patched the weapon drain right away. With a new mix of foods, it is very close to what it was before, noting that being rested, warm, and dry s more important than it was before. Its a little harder, but only just.

And many of the skills decrease stamina usage for the their respective weapon type. So if you restart from scratch it feels really difficult, stamina management is hard, enemies are hard. It feels more challenging than the first play through. As you level though it returns to the same level of difficulty it was before.

Once you skills are 35+, you have turnip soup, sausages and dear stew you will be fine through the swamps and even the mountains.