Not to Complain, any walthrough is better than none but you did ask so here goes.
Quests you should do first to enable all options:
Mira up until reading 2
Lucius “control your lust” (requires reading)
Bianca to learn lockpicking
John to learn forging
I did these as directed, then I was unsure of what to do, so I traveled and talked to everyone I could which opened 12 quests and set off time sensitive events. Before I could get enough copper to make a stove Mia was already doing her Ritual in the inner Sanctum, as an example.
I tried to mine copper and/or pick up dropped swords but quickly realized I needed to level up to beat the Orc Pairs.
I did never reach a point where anyone would assist, not pushing the Tree over to get to the bandits hideout or fighting Orcs.
None of this was addressed in the Walkthrough.
I've started over, something I usually do not do. I f I get stuck again, I'll likely move on.
Ah yes, the time sensitive events. There are a couple of those. Well, some things can play out differently if she gets starting her ritual first, but you shouldn't get locked out of all her content that way. Also, this is actually mentioned in the walkthrough if you read far enough into her part of the walkthrough.
Learning to need to level up sounds like that's how the game should work.
For assistance, the early one is Tia, and then later Lyvia. You don't actually need Tia to push over the tree though, as long as you pass the Strength test; this can be helped by adding Talent points to your Strength talent. If I recall correctly, this should be clear when you try to push the tree, and already knowing how Talents work from the tutorial. Fighting orcs also doesn't necessarily require help either, as you can continue to level up doing different quests and fighting basic enemies (quest logs show what level you should be at to try a given quest). But of course it would be good to have Tia in your party.
Honestly, I don't think restarting was necessary for you to do, which it seems was mainly motivated by the Mira timed event, which again doesn't lock you out of her content anyway; you'll just have to wait a while before you can get her.
I get that you're a bit frustrated that the game didn't seem like a smooth ride and the walkthrough didn't tell you step by step what to do, but this game is largely a sandbox and you were given the tools you needed. There's nothing you mentioned which seems like you just didn't know what to do next, only that things happened you didn't want to happen or that you wish were easier. Maybe it would be good if you made careful saves along the way in case you want to go back to a previous point. Also keep in mind the daily autosave for such times, if you don't need to go too far back.
I'll throw a suggestion about mentioning in the walkthrough that Tia and Lyvia can join the MC's party as fighting members, but again, it's not really necessary.
