I started my first charector yesterday during one of the stable periods it was up for, went exploring around in the wilderness of the world and was attacked by and killed 1 Donky Deer, 1 Black Bear, and 8 Racoons with nothing but my starters knife an starters clothes, have more bones now than I know what todo with. Black Bear was the most threatening an brought me down to 1/3rd of my health bar, the donky deer an racoons didn't harm me at all when fought, racoons will die in just 2 solid strikes with the knife. (oh nothing special stat-wise either, just 65 Str, 60 Stam on my char)
Just adding some data to the pool..