Follow all NPC Dialogs?
If you want to play as many side-quests as possible, you should always talk to every NPC and also follow all the dialog options. And when one Quest tells you to wipe out another group of NPCs, then do not simply start a frenzy. Talk to the other NPC group. Often this will yield some more Quests and XP. Only after you have heard all parties, decide what to do. Example: West of Trelis there is an Orc camp, the Rebels in the mountains want them wiped out, but the leader of the Orc group wants you to spy on the Rangers. So hold back, talk to the NPCs, and only then decide what to do.