I didn't try it with a new game as then I will need to collect the recipes and spend points in crafting(which can take some time).
Do you actually have to find the recopies in the Scales mod? You don't in the main game.
You can add a couple levels of crafting in character creation, as well as the Scientist talent, and the bonus from the Pragmatic trait after the dual dialogue from reading the diary on the body on the starting beach. A new game on Explorer would take 10 or 15 minutes to get to town; there are penny bun mushrooms in the graveyard and empty bottles in the King Crab tavern (use the scoundrel Walk in Shadows to get the latter; that will also let you bypass the first fight, though on Explorer Midnight Oil + Staff of Magus with a fire staff will end the fight). There is a fly agaric mushrooms in the tutorial dungeon, beside the tomb (so not very far in, if you want to take a quick detour).
