When in the story is it optimal to just fuck off and explore the wasteland? Don’t say “at the start”, you have no caps or access to interesting gear or skills and are under leveled.

Once you reach Vegas. Just give the Chip to whoever and then fuck off. I think it even gives you an RP "out" to go play around if you give it to House.

At the start. You get jack shit for money and gear following the main quest stop savin acting like a chimp and explore.

>>716284457 (OP)
It is from the start, you find all that shit on the journey. If you can’t fight someone avoid it or run from it. You don’t need to fight everything you come across. Sometimes you will get your ass kicked, but if you survive then you learn and can come back.

>walk off the road
>find an enemy that can kill you
>declare it "non-optimal" to explore right now
Faggot. Who is confronted with a challenge in an open world and doesn't try to overcome it just because it's there? Even people who immediately jump onto a wiki to see if there's anything worth fighting for have more self respect than you.

>>716284457 (OP)
Whenever you want, retard. Why is this even a question?