24 hours playtime in, level 13 and I have not even been to The Strip yet. I am very much enjoying all of the side and free quests, as well as exploring the southern area of the map. I have seen what people have described as tough enemies sort of funneling you in a direction (those wasp things are awful!), but not too much. My next MQ step is to go to The Strip, but I'm not rushing. Anyone else playing NV like this? Part of my delay is that you cannot continue once you finish the MQ, but I am also loving the exploring.

Ha, I wish I had played the way you did.

Truth be told, I spent five days of non stop playing on the MQ after I got the game on Day 1, devoting about 50 hours of game play before the game had been out even a week.

But in the end, I was kinda upset. I had just rushed through everything way to soon, and had missed a lot of the fun side quests and missions.

But I do have a few more play through's with each of the factions before I can really call my end game a true end game, and I am taking it nice and slow...

Plus I am still running into random areas and interesting SQ's that I have not even seen across around 100 hours of game play.

Still, wish I had taken it slow in the beginning like you did, just do a lot of exploring before even doing anything in the strip and MQ. You made a good choice :goodjob:

Oh yea definatley I accidentally really rushed 1st playthrough I just done main questline but this time I'm slowing it down, exploring helping people killing and annoying people, so much better when you slow down and take it all in

Yeah, I'm playing very slowly and checking everything out. I'm having a lot of fun finding all the Fallout/Fallout 2 references.

I'm playing cowboy style, hardcoe mode, guns only, NO VATS.

Man, is it a hoot!

I definitely rushed a little to get to the strip, but now I've been taking a step back and doing a lot of the side quests, especially any I can find that I think will get factions points. My in character reason is because I'm at the point where

So I don't really feel much rush since it seems My sense of urgency has left me, and I've enjoyed being distracted by exploring the wastes, trying to do favors for NCR and Followers of the Apocalypse, and generally living up to my title, or former title, "The Peacekeeper." I've cycled through some looks, finally settling on the combat armor I got from the casino, a headband and sunglasses (for anyone who hasn't tried this yet, I highly recommend it. All my character needs is a cigarette in his mouth and he'd look perfect). I've gambled a little, won a lot, and now I've decided to explore some, with the main goal being helping the two factions I like and finding any followers to help me restore order to the Mojave.

Why don't you throw a few more spoilers into that first paragraph?

There's no need for sarcasm. You could simply remind me this is in the general discussion forum and leave it at that.

Sorry for spoilers to anyone who read my post before I edited it and didn't want the spoilers.

I'm on my second character (25 hours in/ lvl 20) and I just got to the strip. My first character (58 hours level capped) and it took me about 10 hours before I hit the strip. My second character is my 'real' playthough this time. Taking my time, finding TONS more than before. There is definitly no reason to rush. Too much to see, too much to do.

*yea, I'm hooked.

I'm probably going to do everything and find everything before I get too far down Act II. I will though rush through the 1st part of the main quest up to the strip around their I'll probably stop and just explore and do side quests.

I'm the same way. Level 14 and about 30 hours in, yet I haven't been to the strip. Finished some quests for the Atomic Wrangler and the King so I can go now, but I'd rather take my time before I pass through the gate.

~45 hrs. in still on my first playthrough. A lot left to do in the MQ.
loving it.

34 hours in and haven't entered the strip. Doing stuff for Mr. House right now and there's a possibilty that I'll go up to the gates and find another reason not to go in there lol.
At any rate I'm taking my time in every sense of the term. Spent 3 hours playing Caravan and Blackjack today.

Sorry about that. Was a little frustrated because of too many lock ups today. I see you added tags to the message so I clipped my quote of it.

60+ hrs, level 21.

Only half the map covered, closest I've come to Vegas is Crimson Caravan, about an hour ago.