With some of the new features this mod has gotten (such as prefixes for NPC parties and Player-Killers), the early game has become much more difficult for new players starting out.

The "get a horse, get ranged weapons, and solo farm bandits" strategy is still effective (with an additional step of build your camp in the process), and the camp has added the option to just fully build your camp, throw companions in there to grind, then wait in a town for long time while your enterprises make cash and your companions level up themselves and their careers.

I was wondering if we might have more hints on how to start up early on, helpful NG+ weapon codes, etc.? Things like getting troops early on (especially since Surgery has been nerfed), what to run from, what to fight, what mind readings to do (ex. for their special mind reading prizes Zhou Tong [Little Conqueror] gives 10k liang and Mu Chun [Little Restrained] gives 8k).