SPOILERS
That plot twist at the end almost ruined the game for me. Almost. I recently started a New Game + and realised that it will take a lot more than that to ruin this game.
...such a great game...

SPOILER!

I just got into...
GALAHAD FORTRESS!
I'm really hoping that there won't be many more plots twists and that I can just rescue Fiora...

Sorry for the double post but...

Spoiler!

Woah. Shulk has a robot girlfriend now? He's now one of the coolest guys in history.

@TysonQ7, so Fiora is still alive? Nice! I felt like she might be, for some reason. Especially after Shulk and Reyn burried those bodies in that Tephra Cave water hole. I figured they probably never checked to see if she was still alive or not, and she was already in the lake.

Just wait until you get to Prison Island. The story gets Approx. 300% more amazing.

I've been playing for about 34 hours, so far. I've completed around 70 sidequests altogether, but I still haven't unlocked the 5 star affinity rating for Colony 9. I'm unable to finish anymore sidequests in Colony 9. I was given a sidequest I have no chance in hell completing until my characters are much, much stronger. I have no idea how you already unlocked the 5 star affinity rating for Colony 9 @TysonQ7. Out of those roughly 70 sidequests I've completed, 4 were from Tephra Cave and another four were from the Bionis Leg. I visited the Gaur Plains for my first time, and I've only mapped about a little under half of the lower region. It's just enormous, and the landscape is very uniquely and beautifully constructed. @TysonQ7, what level were your characters when you unlocked the 5 star affinity rating for Colony 9? I'm supposed to find some object hidden in the cave at the Agora Shore, but there's a behemoth Brog blocking the entrance. Is there anyway I can just run past him, so I can collect the item? Shulk and Reyn are only level 24, so I have no chance in hell defeating this monster.

Wow.... I spend time trying to do all the sidequests when I find a new area, but I'm not that obssesed. Listen, play the main game. After a while, revisit areas, as there will be new quests once you unlock more areas.

The way you're playing I doubt you'll ever finish.

Yeah, I'm a completionist. I've been playing for 40 hours now. I scouted the entire lower and upper regions of the Gaur Plains, and I found my first two secret areas. My Collectopedia is 100% completed, except for Colony 6. I've finally recruited Sharla, and I have to track down Juju. I have a ton of micro-management to do. Hahaha! I just excepted five more sidequests from the refugee camp @TysonQ7. I really do need to return to Colony 9, though. My inventory is completely full of gem crafting materials. I don't want to be forced to leave behind any unique materials, if I happen upon any. I'm still a little clueless as to what the best combination of gem crafting materials is, but I have a good understanding about the rest of the process. Although, I wish I could find a gem crafting guide or at least some additional information on the subject.

Well, at least you can warp from place to place. Don't worry about crystals. You won't get any worthwhile ones until late in the game. Sell em for a profit.

@G4L: actually, i'd suggest practicing with some of the better crystals you pick up until you've got refining them into canisters and getting into Heat down pat. there's no sense bumbling around with good stuff later on if you don't know exactly what you're doing with it.

It's a good damn thing I can warp anywhere I need to in this area, because it's F'ing enormous! I think I'll keep at least a few of each gem crafting material, just in case they contain a special property when fused with a material found later in the game. @theblackdragon, I didn't even know it was possible to refine crystals into ether canisters. How do I go about doing that exactly?

@G4L: sorry, i meant cylinders, lol. there's a pretty good guide up on the GameFAQs Xenoblade forum... basically, the idea when you go in to craft gems is first to refine the traits you want into cylinders as close to 100% as you can possibly get without going over (100% or more yields a gem, of course), and then use those high-percentage cylinders to get into Heat (over 200% for that trait) and possibly Mega Heat (over 300%) so that you wind up with a gem (or two in the case of Mega Heat) a level above that of the materials involved (get level IV gems using level III materials, for example). It's tricky, though, and it takes a bit of trial and error to figure out the best team with who you've got at the moment for refinement (i've been using Sharla where I'm at because of her green-flame bonus), but Shulk/Reyn seems to be pretty much the best for actual crafting with the refined cylinders, hands-down.

One thing that's handy to keep in mind is that you can start the crafting process even though you don't have any traits at 100%; you can hit 'confirm' at any time so long as you've chosen two or more materials to craft with.

Meh. I find Gem Crafting to be odd and confusing. I just take what the game gives me. I'm ridiculously OP anyways.
SPOILER
I'm a around half-way through Mechonis Field, yet my party is all level 65.
I still need to unlock Riki's 4th Skill Tree...

I have a bunch of sidequest related questions for you guys.

1) Where exactly is Tranquil Grottlo located on the Bionis' Leg?

2) Where exactly can I locate the Violent Andante between Vilera Hill and Sky Stage?

3) Where exactly can I locate the White Eduardo (during a thunderstorm) at Raguel Lake?

4) Where exactly can I locate the lost Nopon Batubatu near Raguel Lake?

5) Where exactly is the lost Bird Necklace located near Raguel Bridge?

I've already spent a LOT of time trying to find everything listed above, without prevail. I searched high and low, this way and that way, in every direction. I really don't know how I could've possibly overlooked their whereabouts. I've never experienced this type of difficulty completing such simple tasks, in any other RPG I've ever played in my life. Is it just me, or are some of these sidequests way more demanding then they ever should've been?

1) Follow the cliff where the refugee camp is located for a bit and you should come across it.
2) The Violent Ardante tends to run around a bit so it is tough to find him. I found him while I was travelling from the guidepost to raguel bridge, so check around that area.
3) There are a couple of islands in Raguel lake, It's located in the center of one of them ( I think the one north of Raguel bridge). By the way it looks like a brog.
4) The lost nopon is located on a cliff at the northern side of the lake. It's near the area with all the high level Gogols so watch out!
5) At the other end of tranquil grotto, there should be an exit which takes to a small cliff overlooking the area with the mechon near Raguel bridge. The bird necklace is at the very end of this cliff.

@G4L The reason you're having such a hard time is because they don't give you a blue print to find anything. Its more realistic in my opinion. Most rpgs hold your hand and give you said item without exploration!

Take skyward sword for example. They told you the whereabouts and gave you a device to find the item you needed. At least that somewhat made you explore!

@Tech101, I did a lot of searching. The directions/locations that are provided are either too vague or aren't nearly precise enough.

By the way, thanks a lot @Jamouse. You saved me a lot of frustration my friend.

Spoiler
Well, the battle at Sword Valley's going well.
I just got to the Mechonis Capital!
Should I Stop here to load up on any unfinished quests?

@Jamouse, I'm still having trouble with a couple of those sidequests. I tried to locate Tranquil Grottlo, but I was still unable to. I'm really not sure which cliff you are referring to. The only cliff near the refugee camp is on your right when you're leaving the camp. It led me to a cave passage. Which led me to the area where the Bird Necklace was located, but not to Tranquil Grottlo. What type of monster is the Violent Andante, or what does it look like? I might possibly be passing it up. I may also have already killed it before I received the sidequest, and it just hasn't respawned yet. I'll check back later for your response, and I'll inform you if I somehow already completed either of those sidequests. Unless you've already replied. Thank you, in advance.

@G4L
I think the Violent Ardante looks like a big Ardun ( So a bit like a triceratops). I mistook Kisk Cave for Tranquil grotto. Tranquil Grotto is actually located at the southern edge of Raguel lake.