DLC - When to start?

[Marvolaukes]

After one of the missions I got a call from Songbird, but maybe wait until the final mission?

[Verios44]

You can start it when ever you like.

That said there are some side jobs that add options or consequences to certain missions in the DLC.

Nothing is a deal breaker though, so up to you in the end. Id recommend close to the end of the main game though.

[Bishop-Six]

The more you have finished from the main game, the more possibilities you may get in some missions in the DLC.

[Bjørn]

I found this online when I started playing since I was new to both the game and the DLC, and copied into a text file. Copying it here now. I've changed the order of the missions as I did them, but you get the gist.

Mind you this is just a suggestion:

---


Rather than beginning Phantom Liberty when the opportunity presents itself, hold off on jumping right in and play until you unlock the Act 3 mission ‘Nocturne Op55N1, which is one of those “You can’t turn back beyond this point” missions.
That means you’ll need to complete Act 1, and the following Act 2 missions:

Search and Destroy
Play It Safe
Gimme Danger
Automatic Love
Down on the Street
Playing for Time
Tapeworm
Ghost Town

By jumping into Phantom Liberty at this time, you’ll be far enough in the main game that the new ending, which you can only unlock by beating Phantom Liberty, will actually make sense. That’s because depending on which endings you unlock in Phantom Liberty, there’s a chance the game will end right then and there for you. But by reaching Act 3, you’ll essentially replace the Act 3 missions and endings with Phantom Liberty’s creating a much more satisfying, and complete, story arc for V. Plus, characters from the main game will factor into new Phantom Liberty ending, but their appearances will make much more sense once you reach Act 3 of the main campaign.


(EDIT: Btw, I see now that this suggestion may only refer to if you want the new ending, which I for some reason haven't noticed before. I haven't decided yet which ending I'm going to choose, since I haven't played before.)

[Verios44]

Originally posted by Bjørn:

I found this online when I started playing since I was new to both the game and the DLC, and copied into a text file. Copying it here now. I've changed the order of the missions as I did them, but you get the gist.

Mind you this is just a suggestion:

---


Rather than beginning Phantom Liberty when the opportunity presents itself, hold off on jumping right in and play until you unlock the Act 3 mission ‘Nocturne Op55N1, which is one of those “You can’t turn back beyond this point” missions.
That means you’ll need to complete Act 1, and the following Act 2 missions:

Search and Destroy
Play It Safe
Gimme Danger
Automatic Love
Down on the Street
Playing for Time
Tapeworm
Ghost Town

By jumping into Phantom Liberty at this time, you’ll be far enough in the main game that the new ending, which you can only unlock by beating Phantom Liberty, will actually make sense. That’s because depending on which endings you unlock in Phantom Liberty, there’s a chance the game will end right then and there for you. But by reaching Act 3, you’ll essentially replace the Act 3 missions and endings with Phantom Liberty’s creating a much more satisfying, and complete, story arc for V. Plus, characters from the main game will factor into new Phantom Liberty ending, but their appearances will make much more sense once you reach Act 3 of the main campaign.


(EDIT: Btw, I see now that this suggestion may only refer to if you want the new ending, which I for some reason haven't noticed before. I haven't decided yet which ending I'm going to choose, since I haven't played before.)

Quick amendum to Search and Destroy. AFAIK you need to also finish the follow up quest Violence for best results.

[EJR]

You can start it when you want to, completing PL gives you a new ending that to my knowledge is entirely separate from anything in the base game.

Though the more you complete in the base game up until the "point of no return," the more you have to work with in the DLC.

Roleplay-wise, you can do it now, later, or never - your choice. Gameplay-wise, I'd recommend before doing the "point of no return."

[Bjørn]

Originally posted by EJR:

Quick amendum to Search and Destroy. AFAIK you need to also finish the follow up quest Violence for best results.

That sounds right, as I remember doing that after.

In my game now I've had the 'Nocturne' mission (point of no return) as the next one in the main game for a long time, and I finished the the DLC main story a few days ago, although I have one follow up mission left where I'm supposed to meet Alex.

In addition to that, I have almost all of the gigs and side jobs left in both areas, as well as the NCPD stuff, so I have a long time to go yet before I go for the ending