This is a scaled down (TLDR) blueprint of precisely what you need to do to execute the POE1 campaign effectively. I have in mind newer players and especially those who come from POE2 in making this.
The POE1 campaign can be completely overwhelming for a new player (which was a significant reason for creating POE2). If you are new, follow this guide zone for zone, hang in there, and buckle up for the ride.
Some decisions I've made:
Each "area" is treated as its own "zone" to avoid confusion about what constitutes an official zone and what does not.
If a zone can be skipped because it ultimately offers no real value, it is skipped in this guide.
If the progression of the game generally suggests doing something as you go (skill books, ascendancy, etc.), this guide will call it out as you go.
Proceed north all the way through this walkthrough zone until you reach the wall entrance to the A2 town: The Forest Encampment.
Zone 2 - The Forest Encampment
Vendors of note in this town:
1 - Greust- Generally standard weapons and armour
2 - Yeena - Gems! And generally potions, jewelry, and caster items
She is also where you can ID items at no cost
3 - Silk - Gambler and respecialization
**NOTE that a few others give key quest items during the progression
Proceed through to to the North side (not the South) to enter The Old Fields.
Zone 3 - The Old Fields
This is a walkthrough zone where you can actually just follow the path laid out for you. There is a side area called The Den, which you do not need to clear, though it does provide a Quicksilver Flask.
Zone 4 - The Crossroads
This is a VERY important zone, and consider it "bookmarked" for now, as the next three things you will do in A2 will start in this zone.
When you begin navigating The Crossroads, proceed down the actual path to the center of the zone and grab the Waypoint.
From here you will notice the zone is at a "crossroads", and there are 3 forking paths you can choose from. We are going to take these in the following order:
1 - First, the NORTHWESTERN path to The Chamber of Sins
2 - Second, the NORTHEASTERN path to The Broken Bridge
3 - Third, the SOUTHEASTERN path to The Fellshrine Ruins
So, after you have the Waypoint, travel NORTHWEST to The Chamber of Sins.
Zone 5 - The Chamber of Sins (Level 1)
This is a walkthrough Zone with the Waypoint generally in the center. Look for a staircase entrance to Level 2 of this area.
Zone 6 - The Chamber of Sins (Level 2)
This zone contains both a quest and a Trail of Ascendancy that you should complete if you have not done so yet in the current league. The trial is generally on the opposite side as the quest boss. Find the Trial first and complete it.
After finishing the trail, move to the opposite end of the zone to find the quest boss. The way to Fidelitas is at the end of a long narrow path:
After killing the boss Fidelitas, pick up the Baleful Gem, speak to Helena, and return to town (either via Town Portal or by Exiting to Character Selection in the Menu).
Quest rewards: Level 16 Gems
After talking to NPC's in town, return back toThe Crossroads, and take the road "East"/"North" to The Broken Bridge.
Zone 8 - The Broken Bridge
Follow the path directly on this zone, you will find a Waypoint about halfway to your destination, and eventually you will come upon what is obviously a broken bridge where you will complete part of the Deal with the Bandits quest.
In all three phases of this quest you will get a choice to "Help" the bandit or "Kill" the bandit. Helping will grant you the buff listed permanently. Killing will ultimately give you a skill book at the end of the quest progression.
For the sake of simplicity and end-game scaling, if you are unsure of what to do, just kill all the bandits and acquire what you know is certain value: passive points. That said, some build guides will advise Helping certain NPCs (and then often switching this decision later to get the Passive Skill point). In all my seasons, I have kept it simple and just killed them for the point. It has always been fine. :)
After you choose to Kill Kraityn, you then have to kill him. After doing so, pick up Kraityn's Amulet and return to town, and back to The Crossroads, and proceed South/East to The Fellshrine Ruins.
DO NOT FORGET TO PICK UP THE AMULETS FROM EACH BANDIT
Zone 9 - The Fellshrine Ruins
This is a way-too-big walkthrough zone with lots of distractions (including doorways you do not need to explore). Ignore them all and STAY ON THE PATH. The path (after a long walk) will lead you to an archway that opens up into a small graveyard-like area where the path has ended. Follow this area slightly north and you will find the doorway to enter The Crypt.
If you followed the path all the way, and if you made a slight turn north to go straight to The Crypt, well done. You just saved an hour of pointless distractions and exploration :)
Zone 10 - The Crypt (Level 1)
This area contains a Waypoint right at the start and also contains the Trial of Ascendancy. Complete the trial and then navigate to Level 2 to complete Through Sacred Ground quest for a Skill Book.
Zone 11 - The Crypt (Level 2)
This is a fairly long and windy dungeon to navigate. The quest objective will be on the far side from where you started, and you will see a yellow ! and a boss, Archbishop Geofri. Behind him is an "Altar" that drops a Golden Hand. Bring this to town for the reward.
Quest Reward: Passive Skillpoint
After turning in this quest in town, you are done with the "North" side of Act 2 altogether. You now travel to the bottom part of the TOWN, and proceed to the entrance of The Riverways.
Zone 12 - The Riverways
This is like The Crossroads of the south side. You should have a movement skill for this playthrough zone, as there are gaps where you have to take long paths around if you cannot blink across.
There is a main path that you can follow all the way to the Waypoint near the middle. There is a side path you will return to for going to The Wetlands, for now continue along the main path until you reach The Western Forest.
Zone 13 - The Western Forest
Again follow the main path all the way to the Waypoint and then to the end of the path where you will encounter Captain Ateri. Defeat him, get the Thaumetic Emblem, and socket it into the wall (behind the Ateri camp) to complete The Way Forward quest. (NOTE: you have to go Act 1 camp - The Lioneye's Watch - andt alk to Bestel for this reward).
Quest reward: Passive Skillpoint
Do not return to town yet, now follow the path back up until you see a torch:
Move off the path in the direction of the torch until you find the camp of Alira. Again you will choose whether to Help her or Kill her. Generally I recommend always killing the bandit, though worth mentioning there are build guides that will recommend assisting her specifically for the Elemental Resistances.
After killing her, grab Alira's Amulet and move to the opposite side of the zone, looking on the zone wall for an entrance to The Weaver's Chambers.
DO NOT FORGET TO PICK UP THE AMULETS FROM EACH BANDIT
Zone 14 - The Weaver's Chambers
This is a walkthrough zone where you are looking for an entrance to The Weaver's Nest.
Zone 15 - The Weaver's Nest
This is a boss chamber for The Weaver. After defeating her she will drop Maligaro's Spike which you can take to town for a gem reward.
Quest Reward: Level 18 Gems
Return to town and turn in the quest, then head back to The Riverways, and proceed North from the Waypoint to The Wetlands.
Zone 16 - The Wetlands
Travel North from the Wetlands entrance to try to find Oak's Camp and the Waypoint for this zone. Like the other bandits, you should choose to Kill Oak, and then collect Oak's Amulet to complete the collection and turn in at town to get The Apex
DO NOT FORGET TO PICK UP THE AMULETS FROM EACH BANDIT
Make sure to collect the Waypoint before leaving this zone, and come back to it and search just around it to find The Vaal Ruins entrance along the wall.
Zone 17 - The Vaal Ruins
This is a very large and labyrinth-like playthrough zone. Search until you find the "Ancient Seal", a large purple ball:
Click the seal and the proceed through and find the wall entrance to The Northern Forest.
Zone 18 - The Northern Forest
This playthrough zone has two connecting zones. The Waypoint will be near to the entrance, and on the more south side you will find the entrance to The Dread Thicket. Go here first and complete the Safe and Sound quest to unlock your hideout. You only need to do this once.
When that is finished, come back to The Northern Forest and proceed North to The Caverns. As you make your way north, you can complete the Ritual Altars for the first time, but this is not required and you can skip them without having to come back.
Zone 19 - The Dread Thicket
This zone again is only necessary if you have not unlocked hideouts yet in the game. If so, explore the zone until you see the Hideout that is marked by the Fleur-De-Li symbol
Enter this cave and clear the bosses Aidan and Nadia here. When this is done, proceed back to The Northern Forest. Go North in the Forest to The Caverns.
Zone 20 - The Caverns
This is a long and alleyway-filled dungeon zone where you will simply wrap all the way around the bottom of the zone to the Waypoint and a "Door" that will only open after you hold The Apex quest item from the NPC in town (acquired from collecting all the items from the 3 bandits earlier in Act 2). If you do not have The Apex, you will have to go back, collect the bandit quest items, and turn in to receive it. I have been yelling in all caps to pick up the bandit quest items, so hopefully you did not forget. :)
Navigate North through the remainder of the Caverns until you reach a stair case that takes you to The Ancient Pyramid.
Zone 21 - The Ancient Pyramid
This zone has multiple levels that we will not mark out uniquely in this guide as they have no unique points of interest. All you do is walkthrough each zone and go up the stairs. At the level you will reach the Vaal Oversoul Act 2 FINAL BOSS.
When you enter the room, click the altar in the middle and then wait for some time (it is not broken, it just takes awhile for the spawn). The fight itself has never been very difficult (IMO). There are multiple phases and some obvious boss moves that do not deal significant damage. Turn the music on as this boss fight OST is an unusual banger that doesn't even sound right. :D
After defeating, take the entrance on the wall to the North to The City of Sarn.
