I've been playing this awesome game about 5 hours now and I'm wondering if I'm playing it *right* in regards to main story and side quests.

This game seems so much more open than the previous two games, and so far I've not done any of the main story apart from the initial stuff at the Inn. I've not yet gone to the fort to 'Speak to the Nilfgaardians about Yennifer' and I've spent 4 or so hours wandering around the map and doing various side quests (all of which are great - no cheapskate cookie cutter grinding here!)

I know other RPG games like Skyrim give you a bit more leeway to 'build your own adventure' but I'm wondering if the way I'm playing this one might either 'break' it or spoil it? Am I okay continuing as I am or should I not wait too long to continue with the main story - does it opens up other quests on the current map or perhaps make the current ones flow better?

Thanks!

Thanks for the info. I'd guessed it was a 'starter' zone - a bit like the 'Outskirts of Vizima' section in Witcher 1 (which I recently started playing again with intention to play through all 3 games, but gave up after too many CTDs and crunched saves, so jumped straight to 3... well, it was sitting in my library looking all virginal, so...)

I do like to clear a map before moving on, but sometimes you can lose sight of the main story, and not doing absolutely EVERYTHING means you have some replay value.

PS: your username is nearly the same as what I called my PlayStation 3 - PSX1138 ;)

You can, and probably should, complete every quest, every contract in White Orchard before moving on, so as not to deprive yourself of XP, which is severely restricted for quests/contracts done where they are far below your level. On that note, the only piece of advice I would give (since there is no 'right' way) is to take note of all quests and contracts, and always do the lowest level recommended ones first, for the same reason as above. Don't worry about missing any main questline events... you won't.

Okay, thanks. I only noticed the recommended level thing for quests after completing the 'ghost in the well' one, which was level 2. I'm still level 1 though. Wasn't too tough.. though I'm not playing on a hard mode.

If you're within five levels of the suggested, you'll be fine.
Mostly.