Editing User:Chutiste Level 3 No Areas

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Inspired by the new [[Experience]] information on discovering locations, I wondered whether it would be possible to get to Level 3 before entering any of the early areas. This guide is to remind me how to do that efficiently, and may be of use to others.

Entering the [[Grove]] or the Temple gives 10 XP at Level 2, and 30 XP at Level 3. Those rewards are proportionate to the levelling-up requirement, but surely it must be better to be 1/60 closer to Level 4!

Considering the main character's level before entering a new area seems to be one of the few player-controllable things that could increase experience gained.

The other (very meta) way to game XP is to dismiss companions; on rejoining the party they gain the main character's XP. These XP disparities come from [[Inspiration]] events.

'''tl;dr – yes, it's possible'''

== Prologue ==
* Free [[Us]]
* Kill the sacrificed cultists
* Free [[Shadowheart]] from the pod
* Kill [[Zhalk]] and then the ghaik

In the [[Prologue]] article it notes that unless you've killed the commander before the additional Cambions arrive, the ghaik won't turn hostile so has no XP reward.

== Early Act 1 ==
* Recruit companions: Shadowheart, [[Astarion]], [[Gale]]
* Deal with the dying Illithid
* Recruit [[Lae'zel]] {{verify|Do Damays and Nymessa need to be killed, or is the persuasion XP the same?}}
* Explore the Harper's lookout and the spider's nest
* Fight outside the Grove (but don't go in!)

Can also kill [[Gimblebock]]'s crew using ranged attacks (70XP), without entering the temple grounds ([[Explore the Ruins]]). It starts with an unprovoked attack on [[Warryn]], so is probably incompatible with some [[Paladin]] oaths.

== Act 1 — The Forest ==
* [[Edowin]]'s family {{verify|Do Andrick and Brynna need to be killed, or is the persuasion XP the same?}}
* [[Owlbear]]'s nest
* [[Scratch]]

It's an open question whether it's better to venture into the [[Forest]] or to uplevel in the Crypt or Grove first.