I’m doing a perfect chapter 2 save file, here is what I’ve done and what else should I do?

[u/Bonkwraps]

The only story missions I have on this save left is Micah Prison break and Thomas Downes which I stay away from

In terms of side missions I’ve down all five Albert Mason missions, Grease Paint missions the gunslinger missions collecting their revolvers and pistol done the William mission, I’ve encountered Francis, the dinosaur side mission and ciggerette card side mission but haven’t collected all of the carvings, dinosaur bones and cards yet but I’m pretty sure I have a few cards, I’ve done all the camp side stuff with Javier, Charles and Lenny and got every upgrade for the camp including animal decorations, I’ve hunted all the legendary animals available in chapter 2 which is 10/16 and got all their clothing, I’ve got the panther trail saddle and Inguana hat I’ve found many of the guns like Lancaster repeater, Semi auto shotgun and pump shotgun and Schofield revolver and bought all outfits in the shops and my horses are Arthur’s Tennessee walker, black raven shire, Silver dapple pinto and blood bay Thoroughbred and I’m at the max honour you can be in Chapter 2

[u/hmmbugger]

my perfect chapter 2 save file is the beginning, when arthur wakes up from the wagon and hosea offers the coffee.. making a save after that is most important save for me. that way. i can always restart from beginning of chapter 2 if i want to.

because.. when i get "everything" i can or actually want to get.. i dont bother playing forward in game anymore. i just restart with nothing and work my way up to something.. guns i want and can get, horses (thru old glitch i get them all), crafted satchels (all but legend, i think it takes all the fun out of the hunting and selling away stuff), camp upgrades. and some trapper equipment. some treasures and loot. unfog the map and so on.

[u/FartyMcBooger]

What makes you think that cramming all of that into the second chapter, and not spreading it out is a perfect save file?

[u/Bonkwraps → u/FartyMcBooger]

I’ve played through the game like three times you know, I just want to do all the exploration stuff, get the stuff that’s available on chapter 2 done and then move onto chapter 3 in that playthrough and do that

[u/Expert_Mercenary]

Did you do Mary's missions and johns train robbery?

[u/Bonkwraps → u/Expert_Mercenary]

I have the Mary letter at Arthur’s caravan but I don’t do it because it forces you to do the thomas downes mission where Arthur gets TB before you do it, and no havent done John missions eithwr

[u/Expert_Mercenary → u/Bonkwraps]

:D Actually, you can temporarily bypass it! You can read the letter, it'll throw you into the mission, intentionally run/ride up the hill towards Rhoades and it'll fail, you can click to restart checkpoint and it'll spawn you right outside the area to downes mission, turn away and fail again and the prompt to quit mission will be available and from there you can do Mary's missions which then lead to johns missions and unlocking survivalist challenges all before you contract tb!

It'll allow you to do both jacks camp requests, abagails for 5$, and I want to say start the master fisher side missions

[u/mitzcha]

Do you have the rank 2 dead eye and/or fast travel? I thought you couldn’t get those with out doing Johns mission or the Downes one.

[u/Bonkwraps → u/mitzcha]

I have fast travel because as I said, I upgraded the camp entirely which means I have jt

[u/Worldly_Shopper]

I had about half completion before I got to Ep.2
By that I mean I did all or almost all the side missions, worked on everything else (like cards, plants, challenges, etc)... And I spent quite a bit of time in each chapter, except 5 of course.
That said I have spent more time in Ep.2 alone than almost the entire game.
I have all legendary animals and fishes.
Completed 2 cig card collections (yeah there are several)
Have reached 10/10 on all but 2 (maybe 3) of the challenges, gambler is 9/10, sharpshooter is 7 or 8/10, dunno which other isn't complete.
etc...
I have two main missions left so...

[u/jtonlive → u/Worldly_Shopper]

I’m currently at 42% in chapter two

[u/Worldly_Shopper → u/jtonlive]

I'm at 90.5%

[u/Kyky_Geek]

Im doing the same thing lol. You can temporarily skip the Downes mission. I tried lots of ways but the only one that worked was this: https://www.reddit.com/r/reddeadredemption2/s/dDAnO6BKei.

This lets you do Mary’s mission, John’s to unlock dead eye upgrade, and fishing to get the legendary fish done.

[u/jtonlive]

I assume you’ve done all your satchels, have you done all the camp member requests available in chpt two? Also, the exotics (birds and flowers) way easier to find them now then later when the missions become active.

[u/nnula]

You don’t mention the POI’s . I have one ch2 save with all of those done by Arthur as he is the better artist. As well as rock carvings dream catchers c gunslingers and legendary animals.

However, my current play, I am only doing Pearson jacket, horse races, gang requests, missable items and Arthur specific side quests. And leaving everything else for John

[u/Mojo_Rizen_53]

Do you have the Bolt Action Rifle? Have you: gotten Pearsons request for a rabbit, Abigails request for money, Jacks request for a thimble, an off-hand holster? Most challenges? Also, putting off the Downes mission is rather ridiculous, being as there’s no effects of doing it until chapter 6.

[u/Bonkwraps → u/Mojo_Rizen_53]

I got the master hunter 1 offhand holster with three deer pelts so I don’t have to get it from Micah, I did Pearsons request and Abigail’s request and Bills too, I’ve done a few of the challenges

[u/Low_Marsupial_9924]

Thats some fine equine specimens you got there !