Okay, I am NOT a Souls Veteran. Only From game I ever attempted to play was Bloodborne and I did not get very far (3rd or 4th Boss I forget). So to say the From formula never really clicked with me is probably a fair statement.
With the above said I rented Sekiro from GameFly (I just recently renewed my sub) as to be honest it was the only somewhat new game available I was remotely interested in.
I actually watched a few of the videos in the OP this afternoon while eating lunch. I have also been playing the last hour just fucking around in that first section of the map and took out that first General dude by the gate and only died twice attempting to do so. I finally got him as I realized I could sneak around him and take out one of his circles with a stealth sneak attack (I am sure it has a proper name but I do not know it yet). Once I did that his ass was pretty easy. I also had not trained yet on Thrust or Sweep attacks, which I just did now after beating him. In all fairness I did see them in the videos this afternoon, but seeing them and playing was two different things. Especially since I am not a person who plays From games.
My Main Question
So right now I have what I believe is a super simple question. As soon as I get shit I should travel back to the Temple right? Like there is no punishment for doing so? Specifically the Gourds and I already traveled back for the Shuriken I found. I know Resurrecting uses up those icons on the left bottom. I also know dying means I lose half of whatever attack stuff I had built up. Resting means enemies respawn. Just trying to figure out if there is any punishment for travelling. It does not appear so but want to be sure. Additionally if I travel but do not rest, do enemies still respawn?
I have to say although I am not a From game Veteran, I feel way better about this game then I did Bloodborne this early on. Perhaps it is because I am getting a heavy Tenchu vibe and I loved the shit out of that game/series. Perhaps it is because it features Shinobi's and I am just approaching it more confident as a result like I am no doubt a badass. Not for nothing the dilapidated character in Bloodborne did not install badass confidence initially. More likely perhaps I am just being duped since I am still super early on and will get my ass handed to me soon enough just as I did with Bloodborne and give up out of utter frustration. However since it appears Rage 2 is not going to ship anytime soon and there are no other games on my queue until next month, I plan on trying to stick with it for some time.
Right now I am just training again and again, doing that first area multiple times to get used to the mechanics, and I will take it from there.
So besides that one question about travel, I will take any other general tips and advice for a newcomer to the game. I am feeling determined to finally make a From game click on my end. The Shinobi setting is helping this determination no doubt.
No penalty for traveling other than it also makes enemies respawn.
My biggest advice for a newcomer would probably be
1) ABP - always be parrying. Learn the posture system and parrying. You'll fight bosses that you are sure can't be parried, but most of them can (maybe not that Ogre, lol).
2) Learn the mikiri counter (for thrusts - you won't get it right away but early), jump bounce for sweeps, and dodge step for grabs. Now this is not always the case, but maybe 80% of the time if an enemy charges to their right (your left) a thrust is coming, so mikiri - and its as they start into the thrust, not at the red warning sign automatically (its not a QTE), and when they charge to their left (your right) its a sweep so jump bounce. This takes a while to master and is a quick reaction rock/paper/scissors thing that is still challenging well into the game, but also some of the most rewarding stuff to pull off.
3) Be patient and know that you will get stuck on enemies and bosses. Look and ask for help. Like Bloodborne this game does have a few early 'Gatekeeper' type bosses and many people probably stop there, but if you are patient and learn to overcome them, you'll probably be able to overcome the rest of the game as long as you keep trying.
4) You were right to stealth deathblow that miniboss, and the vast majority of minibosses can be to take off that first bar of health.
5) Try to get firecrackers prosthetic early. A helpful way to stun bosses and get in damage when you're going to struggle to do that early.