No problem.
In Hardcore you are forced to pick minimum two negative traits. They would stay with you for the whole game. Actually, you can pick all, finish the game and get certain achievement, but it is too much of extreme. As I’ve said earlier, two of the least bad traits are numbskull and tapeworm.
Ok, now to gameplay. There is no fast travel. Random events happen on the road from time to time, but seem to be more rare. Personal feeling, actual statistics research is needed to be sure. Ambushes… Well, they seem to be of same rate. As you can guess, horse in such mode is more important.
Prices are tweaked - you sell for less and buy for more. In the end it is still easy to make money, but more ways to waste them on something. Hunting was nerfed - you can’t become a magnate just out of poaching, as meat is cheap.
HUD is reduced - no indicators for your health or stamina, so you have to judge about it by counting strikes or watching screen going red and blurry. Watch your opponent - no indicators for blocks, master strikes and own attack direction. As you play on the console, the last part should be easier for you. And, yep, you get more damage in fight, and your enemies are more tough - once I got beaten by three runaway peasants, one of which had a combat scythe, just because they have surrounded me. Shamefur dispray.
And, yep, there is no marker on the map, so you have to look for points and check the map as IRL. Still, knowledge comes pretty fast, and getting direction is not so hard too.
On the bright side - gameplay feels even more immersive and rewarding.
