There are more quests that can be opened or not depending on how you do other quests. For example, after helping Richard with some goblin hearts, he will ask you to do something else. If you refuse that quest, another option will be available later.
While 450 experience may seem like a lot at the start of the game, you really don't need to get the optimal solution for everything in order to do well in the game. Invest a skill point or two in Wisdom, or reload fighting goblins to try to get a heart out of every group of 2 or 3.
