Playing Death March blind... Severely Underleveled.

[Coocoodas]

*No spoilers please*

I started playing TW3 blindly a week ago on Death March difficulty.. I left White Orchard after doing every single side quest and discovering every location; at level 3.

Then in the second area every side quest has recommended level of at least 5 above my own. The lowest I could find was "Wild at Heart" which had recommended level of 7.

I've tested and I know that difficulty affect the XP gain. But this seems too off. I've gotten the best gear at my level but most strong enemies regenerate health faster than I could deplete it and they almost always one-shot me to death with this difficulty.

I enjoy difficult games but this is physically impossible due to me being too underleveled. In the aforementioned quest I fought the werewolf for like 20 minutes without dying but it simply won't die no matter what I do. I'm playing on the latest version.

What's wrong with my game? Why are there people who claim that they left White Orchard at level 7~8?

[Axer]

Death march xp penalty is only 10%.

I think i was around 6-7 when i left orchard.. Made no attempt at lvl grinding either. It just happens if you do the area 100% and fight the monsters along the way. You can probably 100% it at 4-5 if you excessively fast travel (with the mod) and skip monsters, but otherwise its pretty normal.

Also don't worry about it, grind out another lvl or two (go back to orchard if your having trouble) and the game starts to get much easier, very quickly.

The way the content is set up, level wise, is sadly pretty poorly.

Basically 80% of the game is in the 7-15 range in the 2nd zone, and barely higher once your reach skellige - plus skelliges main story is all over the place, jumping back and forth to the point its essentially impossible to complete it without being overleveled for at least a quest or two imo (playing normally).

[Coocoodas]

Originally posted by -Axer:

Death march xp penalty is only 10%.

I think i was around 6-7 when i left orchard.. Made no attempt at lvl grinding either. It just happens if you do the area 100% and fight the monsters along the way. You can probably 100% it at 4-5 if you excessively fast travel (with the mod) and skip monsters, but otherwise its pretty normal.

Also don't worry about it, grind out another lvl or two (go back to orchard if your having trouble) and the game starts to get much easier, very quickly.

The way the content is set up, level wise, is sadly pretty poorly.

Basically 80% of the game is in the 7-15 range in the 2nd zone, and barely higher once your reach skellige - plus skelliges main story is all over the place, jumping back and forth to the point its essentially impossible to complete it without being overleveled for at least a quest or two imo (playing normally).

How do you even do level grinding? Killing a monster or a bandit seems to grant less than 5 xp per head... I killed bandits for 2 xp each and a bear for something like 10 xp.

I'm playing vanilla without mods.

[JENOVA]

I dont think u can leave white orchid in lvl 7-8 if i remember correctly,both times i was there i left with level 3-4 (not counting my NG+game)

in which zone you are exactly? ive played the game 3 times and i never felt underleveled,and how many primary quest have you done?

the werewolf can be hard if he starts healing himself,if u cant with him,just let the quest for another time,maybe lvl 10.

btw u should be able to handle quests even if they are 5 lvls above you,as long as they are green,they are not that hard.

[cassiels]

I was level 3 when I left White Orchard on DM, having done absolutely everything, explored and found everything. It was my fourth playthrough so I know I did not miss anything.

Velen was hard but doable. It just takes time. Bandits were level 7. Drowners were lvl 9. I took on the bandits first to get some good loot. Looted a lot to get some money to buy the gear and the saddle bags from the merchant in White Orchard.

Did the question marks that did not have a high level monster guarding a treasure. Clearing out bandits from abandoned villages give you better xp. I upgraded axii so that I had the dialogue option. It gives 40 xp IIRC.

Keep going. The difficulty only lasts until level 8 or so, enjoy it while you can.

[Mark]

I never left WO over level 3, how is it even possible to be at 6?
Did you explore the 6 places of power in WO? And all the quest boards around Velen?

[✬千年仁王✬]

Don't worry about level too much i was like you when im at that stage but in the mid game you will lvl up very quick. Also if your level 3 then you can do quest between lvl 1-7.

[Lozzle]

I started DM on my 2nd play through and when I left White Orchard after exploring every marker on the map and doing every available quest at the time, I was pennies away from level 4. When you first get to the Crossroads one of the notice board quests and the one from the Priest on the road are both level 5, a few others you pick early on that are 5-7 and very doable on DM at level 4.

[EddieK74]

Originally posted by Coocoodas:

How do you even do level grinding? Killing a monster or a bandit seems to grant less than 5 xp per head... I killed bandits for 2 xp each and a bear for something like 10 xp.

I'm playing vanilla without mods.

I had to grind for two levels when a patch raised the requirements of the gear I was wearing. Found a single crabspider which was at a similiar level as myself and was easy to fight of with Igni. It respawned within an hour of meditation. Killed it again. And again...
You could revisit the location where you found the bear and try to find out his respawn rate.

[Zyrconia]

I started on DM too and not level 4 by the end of the prologue.

I do not know how you can get higher that 4. Did everything and also grinded some wolves.

But don't worry about levels. You need to dodge ♥♥♥♥ and you can probably take down a level 10 mob when at level 4. Just make sure that you have the best gear you can find, especially weapons.