How to progress correctly?

[KIRA]

So, I am starting the game and I want to find a balance between the main quests, side quests and exploration. I don't want to get to the third main mission and be max level, for example.

I understand that the game is not an rpg but I try to make the most of it.

Thanks!

[JuiceWSA]

The earlier you get to max level, the sooner you can start seeking Gold Medals for Story Missions and not have to replay them with Default Beginning Stats and weapons.

It really is an RPG - and I bury myself in the part...lol

(Some of) The things you may want to concentrate on in Chapter 2:

1) The Satchel - #1 on the runway.

2) The Challenges - Some will have to wait for Story Missions to unlock some things, but you can conceivably get them all done by Chapter 3 - after 'Horse Flesh', 'cause you need the Horse Fence to complete Bandit.

3) Camp Upgrades - the sooner you start hunting a Moose - the longer you can go without finding one - or you might get lucky. Blast any grade of Bullwinkle you see. You need the horns, not a perfect pelt. Perfect pelts (for the trapper) can come from Lady Mooses - if you can find any. The Camp Folks are happier with upgraded facilities - and that Horse Station is sweet. Fast Travel (from camp, or wilderness campsite) is a must have. You can pay for camp upgrades with Gold Bars - if you have some before you unlock the fence after 'Spines'.

4) Dreamcatchers - That arrowhead is awesome if your stamina is lacking - you won't notice it much once you upgrade your stamina fully, but you still need the Dreamcatchers for 100%. Don't sell the Arrowhead 'cause you can. Unfortunately.

5) Dino Bones - Meet the lady - she's right there near Horseshoe.

6) Rock Carvings - go meet the guy.

7) Hunting requests - a PITA - and remember, without the Pronghorn Trinket complete animals stored on the horse rot in an annoyingly rapid timeframe. If you don't mod so Arthur can knock The Pronghorn down - you may want to let John do it - or just put a whole animal on last and beat feet to the Post Office. Arthur can't complete Hunting Requests by meeting Mrs. Hobbs, but he can get all the animals.

8) Fish when you get the rod. You need it for Survivalist.

That'll get you going. Others may chime in and you may have your own order for doing some things.

[The Cure]

Juice gave you a very good min/max plan on objectives you want to complete, but if you wanted a narrative arch I would give you this: https://gtaforums.com/topic/919564-red-dead-redemption-2-chronological-mission-order/

The reason I post this, is because I read your title and subject in another way. Perhaps you want to proceed in your game play in a narrative, chronological order, as well as a pragmatic order?

(Juice knows what he's talking about, listen to everything he says.)

The story missions are open ended in how you want to confront them, but sometimes you can go down a "branch" and it ends up contradicting what you've already done (narrative and story wise). IE there is a chronological story path in the missions, I found this out in chapter 2 when Arthur made comments that made little sense in comparison to what I've (as the the player) already done.

In game, you can end up playing through story branches that contradict your personal choices of what branch you're going to pursue. The link above gives, what I've experienced, a sequential order of how main mission quests should be progressed. It does't list most side/stranger missions, but it does give a "historical" structure to Arthur's arch in the Van der Linde gang's storyline.

[JuiceWSA]

That's good to follow the story in order. You just don't have to push the story if you plan on doing more than just The Story.

The Gang will want you to do story missions, but it's better for you to do a little of everything and since there's so much to do outside the Story, a little Story and a LOT of everything else is what I recommend.

[Sokurah]

Find your own balance. Imo it doesnt matter. Deadeye is super op so the game is no real challange most of the time.

The game shines with all the open world and optional stuff. If you get cought by that dont feel bad if you dont do story missions for a long time.

Some side missions and encounters only unlock in certain chapters but challanges and hunting you can do all the time.

I'm over 80 hours now in my second run after i finished on ps4 already and i'm still in cheaper 3.

[JuiceWSA]

Originally posted by Sokurah:

Deadeye is super op so the game is no real challange most of the time.

You think that - until you look around and find 6 Dead Wolves at your feet, or a Cougar, Panther, or Grizzly and recall you JUST BARELY got out of that situation alive as you stand there with ZERO Dead Eye left, one sleeve missing off your Tunic and your pants full of awful - then you think Dead Eye is just about right the way it is.

The Human Type opponents are fairly predictable and easy, but Animal Opponents are playing a completely different game.

I'm over 80 hours now in my second run

Man, you must be movin' at Warp 9.7
I'm at 1650hrs+ in 3.5 playthrus...lol

[Sokurah]

Cougars got me sometimes but wolves only once i think.

Yes its good like that but i mean its no fps skillshooter or an rpg where you need to think about leveling 🙂

I i thought i would take my time and beeing slow 🤣

[JuiceWSA]

If you're going for Gold Medals and you hit that one with:
Get 30 Headshots
Maintain 80% Accuracy
...personally, I'm glad I got my DE fully upgraded with a stockpile of Special Snake Oil laid in when I start it... Otherwise - no Gold for me.

[Sokurah]

I didnt even knew these medals are a thing untill now 🤷‍♂️

[JuiceWSA]

Ah Ha!

Now I've gone and done it...

lol

Check:
Progress
Story
Chapters
Show Checklist
and see how many Mission Golds you have - and what it takes to get them.

Basically it's The Dead Eye Way, or the Highway - unless you're Supermon Ubermon Shootermon - and I ain't that guy.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Shooting in the game is not a big issue, if you use Keyboard and Mouse.
Controllers are only fun when you are not in missions and just exploring, crafting, non-combat related stuff basically.

For any combat what so ever, KB + Mouse way is the real way to play games like GTAV and RDR2.

However the default controls in RDR2 do stink badly. Be prepared to remap them.

[ant_sh]

Originally posted by KIRA:

I want to find a balance between the main quests, side quests and exploration.

You will find it if you play naturally and not turn this game into a fulltime job. Explore a little, see what is around, if you find a white side mission you may take it if you feel like it. If you get bored go to a nearest yellow mission to advance the story. As for fetch quests and challenges they are optional.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

On my very 1st playthrough I felt the need to explorer the entire map before I even finished Chapter 2. This is not really needed because the Story Quests will have you naturally revealing the rest of the world map as you go about those missions. It will not hurt to explore and such, and it will be needed that you take breaks from story missions to do side quests and "find" stuff. You have the wall-paintings, the wish-catchers, dinosaur bones and such to find throughout the game world if those mean anything to you. Don't forget also about the cigarette trading cards. Completed sets sent through the mail to that special person of interest will fetch you alot of $. There is the Gold Nuggets and Bars to find and sell as well.

I have to say though that it helped more then most people realize, to have the Ultimate Edition. Due to the fact this nets you the Volcanic Pistol, Pump-Shotgun and the .22 Rifle; as soon as the Story has you going to the Gun Store. These helped early on, not just in Story Mode but also in Red Dead Online.

[JuiceWSA]

Originally posted by ant_sh:

As for fetch quests and challenges they are optional.

If you don't mind not getting 100% of the game done.
Challenges are required for 100% completion.

[ant_sh]

Originally posted by JuiceWSA:

Challenges are required for 100% completion.

I think aiming for 100% completion on 1st walkthrough will not make it a balanced one which is what OP wanted. I don't care for hunting, fishing, flying rats/dinosaur bones, camp requests, satchels and cigarette cards. After all I play as an outlaw not a hunter/fisherman/errand boy.

[JuiceWSA]

MOST people can 100% the game as easily as they can get thrown from their Arabian.
All they have to do is play the game.

You can complete as much of the game as you want to.
It's your game. <---or at least you have the license to play R*'s Game 'cause they may still own it - technically.