You definitely shouldn't use strategy guides for this game. Just talk to people and do what it says in your journal. If you can't find someone then talk to people until you get more information.
I started over once because I didn't like my character. He was a stealth guy but too weak in combat. Now I'm using a more traditional sword fighter and am having a much easier time. Plus I joined the imperial legion, so I feel that gives me the right to search and seize goods in the name of the empire. Every now and then I'll run into someone whom I have to gut like a fish, but the violence could have been averted if they had simply cooperated with me.
