well technicaly there is couple of interactions that are tied to some quest chains in main game so you get most by doing it last, BUT those interactions are soo small that difference between doing it right when you can and at the complete end is like 95% and 100%. I can recall only one dialogue and one piece of gear you only get if you did some act 3 story lines, but I think there was more.
LeoMark95
Personally I leave it until after Tapeworm. I do PL missions alongside Johnnys quests with Rogue Kerry etc. it makes sense to me and I like the contrast.
You both go through a lot of shit at the same time and it’s the climax before end-game imo.
agent-garland
i recommend sometime after chippin in, because v and johnny are very buddy buddy in the dialogue
Darthlord_Juju
When the game says you can. But I personally waited till after the parade mission with takemura….to me it’s like going thru arasaka is the only option but then songbird contacts you and you have a second option then you can play both sides of the coin and be at the final missions for both for a good save point …then you can go thru all the endings you want
IWearBones138__
I wait til after most of the main story arcs are complete. Before talking to Hanako.
AveFaria
As soon as you’re able! Keep in mind, though, that a lot of the story is pretty demanding on your time if you’re into head-canon stuff. Like, in reality V wouldn’t be able to drop in for an hour, then leave to go complete thirty other gigs before coming back.
Once you start PL, expect to keep V in Dogtown for two or three in-game days before it makes sense to go back to NC proper. So don’t go if Panam just called you screaming and crying and asking you to hurry your ass to the Aldecado camp, or if Takemura asked you to meet him somewhere in an hour.
russiadidit-
I wouldn’t recommend waiting to start Phantom Liberty until the very end of the main quest. I would at least do the opening part of the dlc earlier on. I did it around level 25-30 only having done the judy/vodoo boy quest line and takemura’s first two quests (since the parade is locked behind helmans quest). Waiting until the end of the main quest line to unlock the new cyberware, relic upgrades, etc seems like a waste since you won’t have a lot of time to play around with the new stuff. The dlc gives you a perfect opportunity to walk away from Phantom liberty’s story without feeling awkward right after you help M.
TrickstersKeep
IMO, after everything else, before the point of no return. The DLC is a different change of pace that completely pulls you out of the main story. It’d be like doing Blood and Wine before finding Ciri in The Witcher 3 if you ask me.
Melodic_Slip_3307
Chippin In or finishing the Johnny sidequest. And for the love of god, please understand songbird or a triple homicide in the news will appear
LocRotSca
Basically as soon as you get the call from So Mi
Too_Tall_64
At some point you’re going to start avoiding meeting Hanako at Embers. That’s a good point to head for Dogtown.
Melchizedek4000
Rush it immediately. The drama misses the mark once V is too strong.
ddixonr
I say not before you romance Judy or Panam. It’s a nice bit of immersion to have somebody on the outside of Dogtown waiting for you, and sending you texts. For me, I did all the main story, and right as I get to the point of no return, I start Dogtown.
scurius
Two ways to do it: after completing all quests and as soon as possible. Personally I hate the takemura hanako loadscreen and on my non already completed playthrough did it then.
Bing_Bong_the_Archer
After “The Heist”, definitely
SirRealBearFace
Anywhere around Chippin’ In or the parade mission. I usually start it between those two since I think it’s a good time to start it when you’re waiting for Rogue to set up the Ebunike mission and you have time to kill after the start of PL.
And in my playthrough I like to make the parade job feel really big because of the outcomes it can give you. But also starting some time after Pacifica is also good. I like to give V sometime before pursuing new leads and jobs.
knxtterer
I‘m into my second playthrough and just finished PL. In both playthroughs I chose to do every mission except for the parade with Takemura. That way I will be maxed out leaving Dogtown and still have some gameplay left. I also like the thought of having my love interest waiting for me. The only downside is due to missing Chippin‘ in at that point, two out of four endings might not be that happy in demise of parting ways with Johnny.. but im certain that these endings aren‘t necessarily worthy to hold onto 😉
knxtterer
I‘m into my second playthrough and just finished PL. In both playthroughs I chose to do every mission except for the parade with Takemura. That way I will be maxed out leaving Dogtown and still have some gameplay left. I also like the thought of having my love interest waiting for me. The only downside is due to missing Chippin‘ in at that point, two out of four endings might not be that happy in demise of parting ways with Johnny.. but im certain that these endings aren‘t necessarily worthy to hold onto 😉
rpcollins1
First time I did it at the point of no return. Second time I did it immediately after the Voodoo Boys. Totally recommend doing it then which is when Songbird first contacts you and the DLC opens up. There are so many iconic weapons and cyber ware to just leave sitting around in dogtown until the end game.
rpcollins1
First time I did it at the point of no return. Second time I did it immediately after the Voodoo Boys. Totally recommend doing it then which is when Songbird first contacts you and the DLC opens up. There are so many iconic weapons and cyber ware to just leave sitting around in dogtown until the end game.
Murph_Tha_Smurf
makes the most sense right before embers imo. The only reason V would put up with all the bullshit is if he already tried the other options
proophet1
I would say right before the final mission. This is because the DLC has a new ending that you can get only from the DLC. This way you can actually get the dlc ending if you want. the more of the side quest you have done, the more of those characters will make cameo in the DLC and sometimes based on your decisions will help you with the DLC quests.
DB124520
After Madam Brigette Errand.
Traditional-Ad3518
As soon as you unlock it I recommend hopping on the train and riding it to the end
AddendumAltruistic86
I am leveling up and playing the whole main story, even doing side missions.
I’m playing on normal and as corpo. The story seems fast and shorter in this mode.
aksoileau
After Judy, Panam, and River’s quests, then go towards the Voodoo Boys and start it.
27 Comments
Screenshot by me
well technicaly there is couple of interactions that are tied to some quest chains in main game so you get most by doing it last, BUT those interactions are soo small that difference between doing it right when you can and at the complete end is like 95% and 100%. I can recall only one dialogue and one piece of gear you only get if you did some act 3 story lines, but I think there was more.
Personally I leave it until after Tapeworm. I do PL missions alongside Johnnys quests with Rogue Kerry etc. it makes sense to me and I like the contrast.
You both go through a lot of shit at the same time and it’s the climax before end-game imo.
i recommend sometime after chippin in, because v and johnny are very buddy buddy in the dialogue
When the game says you can. But I personally waited till after the parade mission with takemura….to me it’s like going thru arasaka is the only option but then songbird contacts you and you have a second option then you can play both sides of the coin and be at the final missions for both for a good save point …then you can go thru all the endings you want
I wait til after most of the main story arcs are complete. Before talking to Hanako.
As soon as you’re able! Keep in mind, though, that a lot of the story is pretty demanding on your time if you’re into head-canon stuff. Like, in reality V wouldn’t be able to drop in for an hour, then leave to go complete thirty other gigs before coming back.
Once you start PL, expect to keep V in Dogtown for two or three in-game days before it makes sense to go back to NC proper. So don’t go if Panam just called you screaming and crying and asking you to hurry your ass to the Aldecado camp, or if Takemura asked you to meet him somewhere in an hour.
I wouldn’t recommend waiting to start Phantom Liberty until the very end of the main quest. I would at least do the opening part of the dlc earlier on. I did it around level 25-30 only having done the judy/vodoo boy quest line and takemura’s first two quests (since the parade is locked behind helmans quest). Waiting until the end of the main quest line to unlock the new cyberware, relic upgrades, etc seems like a waste since you won’t have a lot of time to play around with the new stuff. The dlc gives you a perfect opportunity to walk away from Phantom liberty’s story without feeling awkward right after you help M.
IMO, after everything else, before the point of no return. The DLC is a different change of pace that completely pulls you out of the main story. It’d be like doing Blood and Wine before finding Ciri in The Witcher 3 if you ask me.
Chippin In or finishing the Johnny sidequest. And for the love of god, please understand songbird or a triple homicide in the news will appear
Basically as soon as you get the call from So Mi
At some point you’re going to start avoiding meeting Hanako at Embers. That’s a good point to head for Dogtown.
Rush it immediately. The drama misses the mark once V is too strong.
I say not before you romance Judy or Panam. It’s a nice bit of immersion to have somebody on the outside of Dogtown waiting for you, and sending you texts. For me, I did all the main story, and right as I get to the point of no return, I start Dogtown.
Two ways to do it: after completing all quests and as soon as possible. Personally I hate the takemura hanako loadscreen and on my non already completed playthrough did it then.
After “The Heist”, definitely
Anywhere around Chippin’ In or the parade mission. I usually start it between those two since I think it’s a good time to start it when you’re waiting for Rogue to set up the Ebunike mission and you have time to kill after the start of PL.
And in my playthrough I like to make the parade job feel really big because of the outcomes it can give you. But also starting some time after Pacifica is also good. I like to give V sometime before pursuing new leads and jobs.
I‘m into my second playthrough and just finished PL. In both playthroughs I chose to do every mission except for the parade with Takemura. That way I will be maxed out leaving Dogtown and still have some gameplay left. I also like the thought of having my love interest waiting for me. The only downside is due to missing Chippin‘ in at that point, two out of four endings might not be that happy in demise of parting ways with Johnny.. but im certain that these endings aren‘t necessarily worthy to hold onto 😉
I‘m into my second playthrough and just finished PL. In both playthroughs I chose to do every mission except for the parade with Takemura. That way I will be maxed out leaving Dogtown and still have some gameplay left. I also like the thought of having my love interest waiting for me. The only downside is due to missing Chippin‘ in at that point, two out of four endings might not be that happy in demise of parting ways with Johnny.. but im certain that these endings aren‘t necessarily worthy to hold onto 😉
First time I did it at the point of no return. Second time I did it immediately after the Voodoo Boys. Totally recommend doing it then which is when Songbird first contacts you and the DLC opens up. There are so many iconic weapons and cyber ware to just leave sitting around in dogtown until the end game.
First time I did it at the point of no return. Second time I did it immediately after the Voodoo Boys. Totally recommend doing it then which is when Songbird first contacts you and the DLC opens up. There are so many iconic weapons and cyber ware to just leave sitting around in dogtown until the end game.
makes the most sense right before embers imo. The only reason V would put up with all the bullshit is if he already tried the other options
I would say right before the final mission. This is because the DLC has a new ending that you can get only from the DLC. This way you can actually get the dlc ending if you want. the more of the side quest you have done, the more of those characters will make cameo in the DLC and sometimes based on your decisions will help you with the DLC quests.
After Madam Brigette Errand.
As soon as you unlock it I recommend hopping on the train and riding it to the end
I am leveling up and playing the whole main story, even doing side missions.
I’m playing on normal and as corpo. The story seems fast and shorter in this mode.
After Judy, Panam, and River’s quests, then go towards the Voodoo Boys and start it.