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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 [Needs Verification]
- 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 [Needs Verification]
- 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.