Anyone have some rough guide lines as to how to start off the game? Recently purchased and have had some fun running around and trying out some different character builds but once I get the fence up I am at something of a loss as to what to do. I listen to the radio and poke around the well a bit until I finally decide to just wander the main map until I run into things. Is there something I am failing to pursue or is the game really that wide open? Seemed with the characters that there would be a driving story line.

Also, any thoughts on character builds? I seem to be doing okay with a Melee/Neg/Leadership build but am beginning to think I need only one of Negotiation or Leadership to resolve survivor issues. I always seem to get both options (granted, super small sample size). May go to ranged as well as it seems I cant really handle more than an equal number of opponents and i will routinely run into random encounters or very local maps (such as the Pharmacy map or Bison street) that I cannot survive. Seems like these early encounters would be on the easier side so I assume something isnt working in my build or tactics.

You will get new things brought to your attention, but during the early game a lot of it is just finding supplies and new survivors; if you don't work on getting your people's moods up (and it can be hard in the early game) you'll run into trouble.