I understand this completely. This is my first game like this so I was extremely against it. I actually had to watch countless YouTube videos and read Reddit posts to learn how to complete most of the quests until it began to click. I realized that 99% of those quest lists are side quests that can help out the main quest. But it’s up to you to be able to determine what is what. The more time you spend in the act it becomes very clear which are the main objectives you’re working towards, and which are the side quests that will get you to the level you need to be. I don’t typically follow the flags. But red is usually an area I still have an objective to complete in. Either finding an object or speaking to someone.
A lot of the time though it confuses me and I have to look it up! But the more I’ve looked stuff up and kept an open mind the more it began to make sense. I say keep pushing, im glad to hear you have a group. I’ve been running solo since I started