a few questions regarding your hard mode preferences

[LuVenBen]

what book do you choose from your mother?
what do you tell Rufus you want to leave for?
what pardner/horse option do you think is the best?
do you choose honorable or ruthless?
and what potions/drink do you think are the best in their slots?

[GreedRecycler]

Ruthless can easily win you fights before they even start, eliminating the risk of getting knocked out because you fight dirty. Either that or you start fights with an unfair advantage

[Eva Foxglove]

Lockpicking for quicker game progress - I did a 1 day Hard mode for my first Hard mode playthrough so Foragin’ wasn’t useful and selling items I didn’t need: hats, food, booze, etc gave me more Meat than I needed.

Response to Rufus - to help people gives xp boost

Pardner/horse - I took Crazy Pete / Crazy Horse for my 1 day Hard mode. Then Buffalo Buffalo Buffalo Bill mid game which helped loads

Potions/drink: check out the Character Class guide by GenoAmi in Steam Guides

Also, I’m always Ruthless 😈

[twoworlds]

ruthless
"to get off this stupid farm"
lockpicking
susie cockroach
horse: does not matter
this is the best/easy way in my opinion