Okay, so I keep seeing people try to speedrun the start of these progression or LitRPG stories, and honestly, they're setting themselves up for a bad time. The 'solo max newbie' vibe is all about min-maxing from zero, but the biggest trap is treating it like a spreadsheet. It's not. You can dump all your points into a single combat stat, but then you hit a story beat that requires a basic crafting check or social interaction and you're completely stuck. I fell into that myself reading a web serial—the protagonist was so strong in fights but couldn't decipher a simple rune, and the plot just stalled for ages.
What actually works is a boring-sounding strategy: prioritize utility and survivability over raw damage output in the first few 'chapters.' A skill that lets you identify resources or a minor healing ability will save you more often than a slightly bigger fireball. Look at how the smartest protagonists in 'The Wandering Inn' or 'Defiance of the Fall' operate early on—they secure a safe base, figure out the local economy, and grind foundational skills. The common mistake is rushing toward the shiny 'OP' class without understanding the world's rules first. You avoid that by reading the damn tutorial messages, even if they're tedious, and talking to the generic NPCs. They often drop hints that become crucial later.
My takeaway? Slow down. The early game is for gathering information, not for glory. That's how you avoid the classic 'dead in a ditch because you picked a fight with the wrong boar' scenario.