Let me help you get started on the right foot, since those early decisions really shape how smoothly things go later. Your first stop should be Bozhena's hut, where you'll find an alchemy table that's perfect for beginners (this is crucial because potions will save your life more times than you can count). While you're there, grab everything from that corpse nearby - trust me, early equipment matters more than you might think.

Making your way around the world gets much easier once you start discovering those blue shield markers, especially near places like Trosky and West Troskowitz, because fast travel becomes your best friend when missions start piling up. Speaking of survival, finding good spots to sleep is essential - free camps work fine, but taverns are safer when you've got some coin to spare (and you'll want those safe saves, believe me).

Something really interesting that a lot of players miss is heading over to Tomcat at the Nomads' Camp early on, since he teaches you Master Strike - it's basically the cornerstone of sword combat that you'll use throughout the game. While you're exploring, make sure to pick up Mutt near West Troskowitz, because having a dog companion changes everything from hunting to combat awareness. And don't sit on those perk points you earn, since early advantages snowball into bigger benefits later (the Secret of Equilibrium for alchemy is particularly game-changing). Start with making Marigold Decoctions, by the way - they're simple enough for beginners but valuable enough to keep making throughout your adventure.