Ideal playthrough to max XP - Koda - [SPOILERS]

[Nathan]

This is one of two threads created as follow-ups to the "Ideal playthrough to max XP [SPOILERS]" thread authored by contributor - startradersrpg.proboards.com/thread/14489/ideal-playthrough-max-xp-spoilers

I will begin by quoting him:
"This is a thread for the really anal HOS player who wants to try and wring every last bit of Experience Points out of the game. It's probably not for your first playthrough if you just want to experience the story. It's also something of a work in progress, so if you have input feel free to add it and I'll update the original post as necessary.

This contains SPOILERS. So don't read ahead if you don't want to spoil the story.

Thanks to matrim and phaze for the following information!"

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I have made some modifications and contributions myself, but they pale in comparison to the work and detail provided by the original 3 (contributor , matrim and phaze )
THANK YOU!!!

Numbers in [brackets] indicate the monster level cap for that level based on playing at Hard difficulty. I'm assuming the caps are the same for all difficulties.
[??] = unknown enemy level caps
[xx] = confirmed enemy level caps
[xx+] = enemy level caps is the stated number or higher

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Episode 1:
There are no respawns in E1
To max xp clear all levels and get static rewards as early as possible
Areas west of Oskahold level cap at 11-12
Static Reward: 80 xp for completing the Nordhall Troll quest
Static Reward: 40 xp for visiting Captain Lukai's tomb in Vermin Warren
Static Reward: 200 xp for returning to warm caves after killing the shaman
Static Reward: 40 xp for exploring the back of the Temple of the Thirteen
Static Reward: 40 xp for revisiting the bridge in Redhill Dungeons on the return trip


Episode 2:
CHOICE {A}:

1. Support Giova as Baron = There is bloodshed between Red Hill and Rivenfield.
   
2. Do not support Giova as Baron = Red Hill is abandoned to the Ratkin and he moves to Oskahold with his troops.

Static Reward: 100 xp for visiting the Baron's Library
Clear Red Hill Storerooms [??]
Static Reward: 80 xp for clearing the Hidden Room in the Storerooms (finding Ratkin entrance)
Static Reward: 120 xp for completing Storerooms quest.
Clear Lowland Crossroad [22]
Clear Brellim Pass [22] DO NOT enter Vrenhaulm
Clear Darkmoss Ironwood [31] and Wetlands [31]
Static Reward: 120 xp for each traveller's shrine visited in Darkmoss
Clear Prospector's Path [26]
Fight 1 necessary fight in Crag Peak [31+]
Clear Sea Road [32+]
Clear Bone Pass (Koda) [35+]
Return and Clear Trade Outpost [??]
Pass through Brellim Pass [22] and clear Brellim Peaks [22]
Proceed to boss fight in Orcin Stonghold [24] in as few battles as possible (4)

• Glacial Wildlands [24]: follow the left wall to the Icy Caves
• Icy Caves [24]: follow the right wall to the Vast Cavern 
• Vast Cavern [24]: follow the left wall to the Orcin Stron
• Orcin Stronghold [24]: stay right
  

Do not clear remaining Orcin Caves [24]
Clear Waning Moon Pass [24], Ironwood Ridge [24]
Do NOT clear Frozen Underroad [31+] and Gholla levels [31+]

Advance story at Braeyshaulm lodge

Clear Waning Moon Pass [24] and Brellim Peaks [22] respawns
Go to Brunehorn to get the reward for saving Valent ($2000 + a Bone Finger ring)
Clear ALL Orcin Caves [24]
Clear Bone Pass (Braeys) [35+]
Do Krete quest from Trade Outpost and clear River's Edge [24+] (Quest #1 to enable boat travel)
Clear all Underforge [24-26] levels (trigger #1 for joining Koda)

Talk to the Knight about CoD, go to the inn, get the druid quest, then talk to the Knight again

Minimum clear the Torrent Swamps [32+] and Darkmoss Heart [32+]

• Slow & steady, straight down the center of Torrent Swamps
  
• In the Darkmoss Heart, follow the left edge all the way around to the bottom and the druid’s grove
  

Static Reward: 500 xp for receiving the Druid’s blessing + Staff of Nahanna (31-56 Dmg; 40 HP, 280 SP, 4 Accuracy, 12 Dmg) (trigger #2 for joining Koda)

Return to Brunehorn and talk to the Knight to move the story along, then go to the Inn and discuss the Knight’s offer.

CHOICE {C}:

1. Accept to go to the City of the Dead under the Koda banner.
   
2. Accept to go to the City of the Dead under the Braeys banner.
   

Complete all conversations with the Knight.
The following levels should have respawned:

• Prospector’s Path [26]
  
• Darkmoss Ironwood [31] and Wetlands [31]
  
• Lowland Crossroads [22]
  
• Brellim Pass [22]
  
• Brellim Peaks [22]
  
• Waning Moon Pass [24]
  
• Ironwood Ridge [24]
  
• Bone Pass (Braeys) [35+]
  
• Sea Road [29+]
  
• Bone Pass (Koda) [35+]
  

Reclear Prospector's Path [26]
Minimum clear to Ember Lake forward outpost [29+] to get E3 gear

• Straight left, then follow the road
  

Clear Talia River Village [29+] to open boating to Riven Field (Quest #2 to enable boat travel)
Take the boat to Riven Field (to bypass the Darkmoss)
Clear Lowland Crossroad [22]
Clear Brellim Pass [22]
Clear Brellim Peaks [22]
Clear Waning Moon Pass [24]
Clear Ironwood Ridge [24]
Clear Long Trail [30+], Snow Canyon [30+] and Hunting Lodge [30+]

• Head to the right, around the lodge first

CHOICE {B}: 

1. Kill Vlotgar =
   
   1. Static Reward: ( xp) for killing Vlotgar +
   2. Bonesteel Plate (84armor -3 evasion 2% Crit, 80hp and +3 melee accuracy) +
   3. Braeysguard (9 parry 2% Crit, 120hp, +3 melee accuracy and 12 dmg)
      
2. Spare Vlotgar =
   
   1. Pale Walker quest in E4 ( xp)
      

Talk to Kea & Morgan at Vrenhaulm.
Talk to Elias Braeys in Braeyshaulm to progress the story - complete all dialogs

Clear Frozen Underroad [35] & Gholla levels [35] getting xp on NW side of Gholla Outlook
Static Reward: 100 xp for visiting the Overlook in Gholla
Static Reward: 500 xp + 5000 gold following the first Gholla Outlook battle
Static Reward: 100 xp for visiting the Overlook in Gholla a second time
Static Reward: 1000 xp following the second Gholla Outlook battle
Static Reward: 100 xp for visiting the Overlook in Gholla a third time
CHOICE {D}: (there is a bug currently affecting this choice and results)

1. Kill Hagathrun =
   
   1. Static Reward: 500 xp +
   2. Affect on Nikolai (?) +
   3. More in Ep4 (?)
2. Spare Hagathrun =
   
   1. Static Reward: 500 xp +
   2. Affect on Nikolai (?) +
   3. Edict plate (96 armor, -2 stealth, 150hp/sp, 4 parry) after CoD in Ep3 (?) +
   4. More in Ep4 (?)

Clear Frozen Underroad [35] respawn
Static Reward: 200 xp for talking to Elias Braeys following Gholla
Clear Bone Pass (Braeys) [35+] - DON’T touch the ice
Clear Darkmoss Ironwood [31] and Wetlands [31]
Finish clearing Torrent Swamps [32+] and Darkmoss Heart [32+]
Clear Crag Peak [31+]
Reclear Sea Road [32+] and Bone Pass (Koda) [35+]
Static Reward: 500 xp for burning through the ice at Bone Pass [35+]


Episode 3:
To max xp clear all levels and claim static rewards as early as possible
The following are the only respawns:

• Gloomer’s Path [34+] (if Wyatt is saved)
• Bone Pass [35+] after clearing Wolf Den Caverns [34+] or Sedollan Highlands [34+]
• Bone Ridge [35+] after entering Storm Bastian
• Darkmoss Ironwood [31] and Wetlands [31] after receiving the Darkmoon Blossom quest
• CoD (under Braeys banner) - Southeast Road after descending into the Cursed Mines =》Haunted Crypt from the Southwest Road
• CoD (under Koda banner) - Southwest Road after descending into the Haunted Crypt =》Cursed Mines from the Southeast Road

Static Reward: 800 xp for defeating the werewolf in Granthorn Mines [32+].
Static Reward: 500 xp for returning to Granthorn and telling the Reeve.
CHOICE {E}:

1. Return the Heartbeat of Summer =
   
   1. Static Reward: 2000 xp + save Wyatt & Miranna +
   2. Wyatt’s stash & relic shop opens +
   3. 3 extra battles in E4 if you go to OWH with Tevensa +
   4. Static Reward: 2000 xp for gaining Tevensa’s approval in Ep4 +
   5. Possibly more battles after that (?)
2. Keep the Heartbeat of Summer & kill Tevensa =
   
   1. 5112xp for the group and and extra 5112 to the one that delivers the killing blow +
   2. The Silver werewolf (710xp for the group, plus 710xp to the one that delivers the killing blow) +
   3. xp for the rest of the battle

Static Reward: 500 xp for visiting Vladin's Hand after completing the Storm Bastion quest that triggers the Ep3 sub-quest.

Static Reward: (4800 xp) 300 xp for each Darkmoon Blossom (16) collected for the Storm Brothers
Static Reward: - Braeys only - CoD / (?) - 100 xp for visiting the heroes tomb (I think)
Static Reward: - Koda only - CoD / Cursed Mines - 500 xp = 250 xp for each foci (2) that is destroyed
Static Reward: - Vincent groups only - CoD / Platinum Peaks - 1000 xp for giving the sorcerers “temporary respite” + Legendary gear + (?? xp) for clearing the map
Static Reward: 250 xp for “breaking their necromantic hold over this shrine” in CoD, Unlooted Tomb

Ep3 / CoD / Final Tower Character Removal Order

1. Selen/Tamlin (After killing the 2 Wraiths)
2. Vincent/Kjartan (After killing the first Apprentice - be sure to -AP BOTH Seer Lord Apprentices before this)
   

Episode 4:
CHOICE {F}:

1. Tell the Braeys/Koda War Camp leader who we really are - Death’s Chosen
   
   1. Not sure of story line impact
2. Do not tell the Braeys/Koda War Camp leader who we really are - Death’s Chosen
   
   1. Not sure of story line impact

Static Reward: (?) for telling Baron Tazar (and Hagathrun) about Nikolai at CoD (currently this is not possible due to bug in the game - hopefully fixed in next update)
Static Reward: 2000 xp for gaining Tevensa’s approval - Overland Pass (must have returned the Heartbeat of Summer)
Static Reward: 250 xp for “cleansing this tomb site” - Ancient Monastery
Static Reward: ? xp = 300 xp for each Darkmoon Blossom collected for the Storm Brothers (Ep4)

• total unknown as the Blossoms may be found in Ep4 chests

CHOICE {G}: Go to Other Worldly Haven with:

1. Tevensa = her sight is taken + 3 extra battles, when she turns against the group
2. Druid Erganna = her sight is taken,  which is followed by her death
3. Kea Braeys = her sight is taken + Elias Braeys is grief stricken and will no longer listen to our council.
4. Tyrae Storm = her sight is taken + Storm Brothers will not forgive us (no apparent effect in game)

Static Reward: 250 xp for “discovering this ancient site” - Cliffside Road
Static Reward: 1000xp for standing at the edge of the sea trench looking into the abyss - Deepwater Waste
CHOICE {H}:

1. Spare Rabiel = ?
   
2. Kill Rabiel = ?
   

Static Reward: 1000xp for helping Nikolai pass on - Ruins of Ember

[LordofSyn]

That is most impressive indeed

[richard]

In Other wordly Haven
For Druid Erganna, her sight is taken and she died after that

[Nathan]

richard - thanks, both threads updated

[mlw]

Hi Nathan
Just wondering which side, Braeys or Koda, do you think would yield the most XP?
(If all choices thereafter remains the same)

Questions on your walkthrough -
"Do NOT clear Frozen Underroad [31+] and Gholla levels [31+]

Advance story at Braeyshaulm lodge"

Does that mean Do Not ENTER Frozen Underroad and Gholla, or Enter but minimum clear those areas?
And, what does "Advance story" mean?

Thanks for this brilliant guide.

[Nathan]

mlw

I'm not sure which side, Braeys or Koda, actually yields the most xp.  In the playthroughs I've done, I've made so many different choices, that I can't really tell.  I might be able to give you a better answer if all my groups were at the same part in the story, but my Braeys groups are at the end of the current content, and my Koda groups are in Freeport, and about to enter CoD for the second time.
The original post (authored by contributor with support from matrim and phaze ) was based on Braeys, so that might be the answer.

Yes, "Do NOT enter Frozen Underroad and Gholla" yet

"Advance story at Braeyshaulm lodge" = go through the available story dialogs

[mlw]

Thanks for clarifying

[cowboypete]

Wait, Red hill is abandoned to the ratkin?
How did I miss this bit of information?

[Nathan]

cowboypete - It's only mentioned briefly in a conversation with Bloodlace when you run into her on Cliffside Road