Bad game design: You need to complete main quest, all side quests, exploration and companions quests to be level 6 at the end of Act 1, level 10 at the end of Act 2 and level 12 at 70% of Act 3. And if you miss something you are under level for next zone. So basically game is pushing you.
Good game design: For completing main quest you are level 6 at the end of Act 1, level 10 at the end of Act 2 and level 12 at the 70% of Act 3. And side quests, exploration and companions quests are here to makes your journey through main quest easier. Like that gives you at most 1 level higher, some items, potions, enchants etc. So they here as optional thing not mandatory. So game is rewarding you.
I believe the used system will be somewhere in the middle.
You will be able to reach final level of act by just completing main quest and related sidequests ...
But nothin will stop you from exploring other zones and do sidequests there aswell ... wich would bring you a lot lot lot higher ... therefore the level cap.
I mean so far i dont see any reason for character sided with Minthara to go to Grymforge. O_o
Unless its her companion that we are suppose to meet in mountain pass will also have broken moonlantern ... and they will keep sending us in circles to each other ... and we will be forced to face the Shadowcurse in thw end no matter what. :-/
Peraonaly i hope not that would be terrible design ... even tho it would probably be the only way to force us to visit all locations.
Wich would ofcourse change the perspective of first part of my post ... since the premise here is that we will not visit them all.
