>>529642780
Gonna assume you're using Lorerim.

No followers aren't even remotely mandatory, there's even traits that buff your character if you don't have followers (in Lorerim), but even without the traits, you just need to be treat Requiem as a completely new game.

If you're doing missives that involve bandit camps, you better at least have some decent gear, potions and be around level 10+ (depending on the bandit camps ofc). Assuming you're a noob to Requiem.

Here's a foolproof guide to Requiem (specifically Lorerim because i'm assuming you're one of the fags who downloaded Lorerim, found out it's Requiem and are getting filtered)

>level up focusing on your combat/defensive stats (for example, two handed and heavy armor if those are your offensive/defensive capabilities)
>kill wildlife (wolves, saber tooth, bears)
>try your hand at killing bandits in the overworld as they're usually easier (around whiterun for example) and not as plentiful
>only do missives that involve deliveries. I.E "Deliver Potions to Riverwood" etc for easy XP to level up
It's really quite easy. The entire goal of Requiem was making it more like an older RPG where you can't just bumrush dungeons right from the start of the game like you could bum rush Bleak Falls Barrow in vanilla Skyrim. Bleakfalls Barrow now is like a level 18-22 dungeon.

Final tip - If you're using Lorerim, choose the "New to Requiem" option. Gives you a bunch of free perks at the start and also some other shit to make the early game not as difficult (it's still hard tho). Good luck fren