A Good Start!
 

Not sure if everyone is onto this yet, but should at least help some of the newer players out there:

At the start, you need 4 things that u wont have:
More leadership, money, spells and a good selection of units.

I suggest u keep all your money, etc and have a look around first. To do this first check out the immediate area and see what you can grab especially the leadership flags. Grab a couple of units to defeat the robbers and complete the plugens quest, then go to Arlania and check what troops are available in the castle.

Now, quicksave and do NOT go over the bridge. Watch/dodge the enemy patrols and make your way straight up the path to the beach, speak to the guy there and he will give you a boat. (Don't worry if you alert whatever enemy is near that corner, just keep running, the game pauses while you are talking and you can quickly jump in the boat!).

Right now you can cruise around the coast areas of Arlania and the Vernon and pick up all the goodies. There are at least 20~30 flags that can be picked up without fighting, at least 16K of cash and lots of level ups and runes too.

Also you can go the back way from the coast of Arlania to complete the kings brother quest! I finished the kings 2nd and 3rd quests without any battles at all. If you want, you can sneak in via the coast and get the kings treasure from the castle in Vernon too for a nice XP/cash bonus!

By the time you get back to Greenwort, you should be level 2~4 (that's on hard!) with over 500 extra leadership and plenty of cash to burn. You will also know what kind of units are available at the random locations too!

Personally, I think it's more productive to rush in main story, so can get rage box at around 3rd level (if doing tutorial first).

I think this is the most useful info a new player could have. Especially if you played the demo, you just assume the boat will cost your 500 or 1000 gold. If I start another game, the first thing I'm going to do is go to the marsh and check the tavern and Furious Paladin, then to Verlon Forest to check the tavern there. You can also check the menagerie in Greenwort and then run away from the guardian. That will help you decide what your first 5 units are going to be.

@Player 1

What do you mean?

I can complete the first 3 quests and get the rage box by only having to fight the robbers in the plugens quest.

Now, because i've done a good search around the 3 maps first, i have enough runes so i have rage sprits experience ability and then start using the spirits right away on the stupid thorns in the garden etc.

This way they level up faster than my main hero!

So how does your way work?

Yes, pretty much that way.
Avod any fighting exempt when needed (plugens quest) and go for those 3 main quests.

Although I did had slight problem avoiding strong stack around magic academy (the one where box is), but it should be doable.

I would second this. And I also would recommending checking the King's castle and have at least one high lvl equipment/artifact available for buying.

There's a quest you get in Verlon Forest to enter the Abandoned Castle, find the painting and retrieve the Kings treasure. That can be done without any fighting if you put some slick moves on. Pretty sure the experience was good too.

lol yeah or be faced with 1500 skeletons and alot of ghosts or thousands of spiders

I seriously think there are easier quests to do. (atleast on impossible)

Making tutorial can give you few things too exp, gold, runes etc. but before starting it better save and check fist what item you get in main castle so can make life easer like banner of true fate.

you mean save, exit dungeons, check items and unsave?