I'm not saying it's the only answer, I suggested several others. The problem is a giant ant and a giant spider may sound the same when an NPC offers a quest but one could be easy and one impossible, but if you accept the assignment you're thrown into combat without getting to evaluate the monster and decide not to engage. And fleeing is not easy once combat starts.
Then develop your run skill to expert so you can pull through if you have to but like I said your advisor (Unless you choose an advisor that's not) should tell you not take any assignments and I remember those creatures meeting me in assignments.
There's posting too but I don't think many are on that anymore. Regardless there are options to start back. Its funny how instead of just resurrecting their character and moving on they like to say its because the game did not stop them from making mistakes and dying.
Assisgnments are tempting specially when you're looking for gold. A couple of assignments don't involve any combat at all so its easy to get into the feeling that all assignments are like that until you end up dead.
I do plan to create a new option called "Tasks" which will act like a "Wanted" poster for those who need work at a certain level. These Tasks will be revolutionary and need a lot of content to be unique to each Character so it will not be an easy do, but I have it in the plans. Until then the above suggestions are good and the one about Donations is ace *wink*.