When is a good time to start exploring and living the life? (SPOILERS)

[ELi]

So, I'm at the point in the game where I'm just about to talk with Theresa's uncle for the very first time, the miller. The game has been quite linear and limited so far, so I'm wondering if it's a good time to go out and explore the world now. Or will later main quests unlock useful stuff, like areas, horses, weapons and what not?

So I'm basically wondering:
1. Is this a good time in the story progression to start free roaming?
2. If not, when is it best to do so?

[AfLIcTeD]

This is where the game really starts, you are free to do what you like. Keep in mind you don't have to rush the main quests, you can hold off on progressing. Don't feel like you need to do them immediately.

[Jaunitta 🌸]

As soon as you can.
I left the main quests after finding Ginger and had the horse from hunting with Capon. Then after about 150 hours of side quests and exploring I did some more main main quests and the womans lot.
Then left it after killing Runt.
nearly 300 hours later I am halfway through main quests done about 10 of the side quests out of 42.
It takes a long wonderful time to explore learn all the necessary stuff like read, alchemy,hunting, sword skills, plus lots more.Train with Bernard build up your reputation. Sell your stolen loot, Tons of things to explore and find in them there forests.
So take your time and enjoy. I'm sure others will will add more.

[Philippe_at_bay]

While wandering around the world at this stage in the plot would be an interesting approach on a third or fourth play-through, I'm not sure I would recommend it the first time out.

There is a bit of a pause in the story arc before Henry goes through the gates of Rattay the first time. That same pause in the arc will continue after Henry's first conversation with miller Peshek.

The trouble is that Bohemia in the aftermath of Sigismund's invasion is a very dangerous place, and if Henry starts wandering around he's going to get jumped by bandits on paths through the woods, especially at night. Trees are pretty to look at, but they can actually be quite dangerous.

If he keeps his wits about him Henry will be able to avoid most of the ugly encounters, but at this point he's not as good at noticing things as he will eventually become, so there's a good chance he'll find himself cornered by a bunch of thugs (or even Cumans) that he can't outrun.

The problem is that Henry doesn't really know how to defend himself. Sure he's had two lessons (one before the game begins) from a mercenary who happened to be passing through Skalitz, but do you remember that cut scene just after his father makes Sir Radzig's sword? Henry's sword handling skills are so abysmal at this point that he's incapable of slicing a defenseless stick in half. That lack of skill is something that can only be cured by intensive training with a combat instructor. He might get lucky and slice up a few thugs in one-on-one situations, but one-on-one is the exception rather than the norm: to survive getting jumped by five or six armed opponents you have to have a good understanding of how combat works, and at this point you don't.

Miller Peshek will present Henry with an interesting dilemma, and in resolving it Henry will have to do a little light wandering (some of it outside his comfort zone) whether he wants to or not. When doing that light wandering keep my comments from the previous paragraph well in mind, or you will end up getting killed at really frustrating and inconvenient moments. The valley of the Sasau is a big place, and for now you're being invited to learn the geography of the Rattay suburbs (a very small part of it).

You've only been introduced to about a third of the things you'll need to fully understand in order to wander around without constantly getting killed or arrested. You're still in semi-tutorial mode, so let the game prompt you about what to do next (i.e. go talk to the miller).

[Flippy]

Originally posted by Philippe_at_bay:

While wandering around the world at this stage in the plot would be an interesting approach on a third or fourth play-through, I'm not sure I would recommend it the first time out.

There is a bit of a pause in the story arc before Henry goes through the gates of Rattay the first time. That same pause in the arc will continue after Henry's first conversation with miller Peshek.

The trouble is that Bohemia in the aftermath of Sigismund's invasion is a very dangerous place, and if Henry starts wandering around he's going to get jumped by bandits on paths through the woods, especially at night. Trees are pretty to look at, but they can actually be quite dangerous.

If he keeps his wits about him Henry will be able to avoid most of the ugly encounters, but at this point he's not as good at noticing things as he will eventually become, so there's a good chance he'll find himself cornered by a bunch of thugs (or even Cumans) that he can't outrun.

The problem is that Henry doesn't really know how to defend himself. Sure he's had two lessons (one before the game begins) from a mercenary who happened to be passing through Skalitz, but do you remember that cut scene just after his father makes Sir Radzig's sword? Henry's sword handling skills are so abysmal at this point that he's incapable of slicing a defenseless stick in half. That lack of skill is something that can only be cured by intensive training with a combat instructor. He might get lucky and slice up a few thugs in one-on-one situations, but one-on-one is the exception rather than the norm: to survive getting jumped by five or six armed opponents you have to have a good understanding of how combat works, and at this point you don't.

Miller Peshek will present Henry with an interesting dilemma, and in resolving it Henry will have to do a little light wandering (some of it outside his comfort zone) whether he wants to or not. When doing that light wandering keep my comments from the previous paragraph well in mind, or you will end up getting killed at really frustrating and inconvenient moments. The valley of the Sasau is a big place, and for now you're being invited to learn the geography of the Rattay suburbs (a very small part of it).

You've only been introduced to about a third of the things you'll need to fully understand in order to wander around without constantly getting killed or arrested. You're still in semi-tutorial mode, so let the game prompt you about what to do next (i.e. go talk to the miller).

Is there a timer on "guild seal" quest where the character has to get it to help the refuges? By the time i got it the vagabond was in the stocks and said it wouldnt be a help now.

How far into the story to get the player village and band of bastards dlc started? Is it a good idea to continue the story far enough to get those before power lvling the character?

[mr.devolver]

Hopefully without spoiling anything, I will just tell you that at the moment I am close to character level 20 and I literally started doing main quests at character level 16 or 18 and I was very frustrated after that, because I realized how much easier it all would have been if I did some main quests before actually becoming an "unelected king of the land" so to speak. So my advice is do yourself a favor and do some main quests first. It is really worth it.

[Captain Crummy]

To be honest I'd say to keep playing Main until you get your own horse, which makes travelling and exploring a lot easier. Walking from the Miller to Uzhitz takes a while!

[JimmysTheBestCop]

Originally posted by Elon Puff:

To be honest I'd say to keep playing Main until you get your own horse, which makes travelling and exploring a lot easier. Walking from the Miller to Uzhitz takes a while!

Agreed. But you want to make sure your fully trained with Bernard before you go Hunting with Capon. He will unlock all of your combat moves for you. That is kind of important.

[ELi]

Thanks for all the answers! It seems like I at least would want that free horse first.

[Yippie21]

On my second playthru I got off on my own as soon as I could, worked on skills, and was even able to kill some Cumans on a trail and I got decent armor and weapons. Then hunting; money; and bought a cheap horse. I really enjoyed the very real threats early game.... ONCE you've played it b/c you know where stuff is. My entire intent was to get a horse so I could ride up north to learn to read and see if that affected early-game. And it did.

[𝙹𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛]

Originally posted by Flippy:

Is there a timer on "guild seal" quest where the character has to get it to help the refuges? By the time i got it the vagabond was in the stocks and said it wouldnt be a help now.

No, it isn't a timed quest and its written for him to wind up in the stocks in the end, and that closes the quest. Nothing you could've done about that.

How far into the story to get the player village and band of bastards dlc started? Is it a good idea to continue the story far enough to get those before power lvling the character?

Quite far, but you'll be notified when they're available for you, so you do not need to worry about missing those. And since you'll be clashing steel against many deadly enemies through to that point in the story, its better to start leveling right away.