So if I am understandiing correctly what all of you told me then I need to carefully explore, run tasks/fulfill quests, and gain points (without getting killed too often in the process) before committing. Right?

And then once I commit to stay on the path. If I stray are there warnings?

Will the story line dictate when it is demanded of me to commit?

Thanks again to all of you who answered. It is clearer now.