What order to progress through Areas?

[Gatts]

Originally Posted by YENKO

Well, you are obviously a much beter player than I am, since I had problems at freeing the Dwarf King's son, there were some really, really nasty enemy stacks! Got them all eventually, but only after I was (mage) level 15 or so...
By that time, all Darion, Islands and half DwarfLand were clear of enemy armies..

That does not mean you are not good player (not to mention you play it your first time)
1.) game is designed so that this specific battle should be the hardest in the Dwarven realms - so it is intended by devs that players possibly "eat" up all eyecandies/combat experience candies / quests from these lands prior proceeding further (after you free dwarven prince - you are free to go to elven lands)
2.) I am usually level 15 before entering the dwarven mines, because I know hard battles await me, so I try to level up ASAP...(as I am literally afraid not be able to beat the dwaren lands and save/load a lot or even return back to easier lands for additional leveling...)