As a returning player after 8 years I found it quite easy and did not die often in tutorial, but that's also because I still know the basics, and secondly, because I took a mercenary.
One thing that is probably quite important for a new player, or any player starting with no gear, is to use a merc when playing without a group all the time. Not just because it's easier, but it also has other benefits.
If you level using a mercenary, the mercenary will take the exp of a normal group member, so you will get less exp per mob you kill, but will still kill them faster and best of all, the mercenary does not take loot. That means you have to kill twice as many mobs to level, which will go much faster compared to doing so without one, but you also get about twice the loot before you level up compared to playing without one. That means you will gear up better and get more money.