What’s the best way to earn gold from the A Land of Opportunities missions?

Earning gold in Red Dead Redemption 2’s A Land of Opportunities missions is one of the most efficient ways to build your wealth early in the game. These missions are part of the main story and are designed to introduce players to the game’s mechanics while rewarding them with gold bars, cash, and other valuable items. To maximize your gold earnings, you need to understand how mission rewards are calculated and how to optimize your performance during these missions.\n\nFirst, it’s important to know that gold rewards in A Land of Opportunities missions are tied to your mission completion time. The longer you take to finish a mission, the more gold you earn. This is counterintuitive compared to other games, where faster completion often yields better rewards. To take advantage of this, avoid rushing through missions. Instead, take your time exploring, looting, and engaging in optional objectives. For example, in the mission ''Old Friends,'' you can loot the O’Driscoll camp thoroughly before moving on to the next objective, which will increase your gold payout.\n\nAnother key mechanic is the use of Dead Eye during missions. Dead Eye is a targeting system that allows you to slow down time and mark multiple enemies for precise shots. Using Dead Eye effectively not only helps you survive but also increases your mission score, which can influence your gold reward. For instance, in the mission ''The Aftermath of Genesis,'' using Dead Eye to take out enemies quickly and efficiently will improve your performance and potentially boost your gold earnings.\n\nLooting is another critical aspect of maximizing gold rewards. Many missions in A Land of Opportunities allow you to search bodies, containers, and buildings for valuables. Always take the time to loot thoroughly, as you can find gold nuggets, jewelry, and other items that can be sold for cash or converted into gold. For example, in the mission ''Who the Hell is Leviticus Cornwall?,'' you can loot the train cars for valuable items after the shootout. These items can be sold at a Fence later, providing additional gold income.\n\nCompleting optional objectives within missions can also increase your gold payout. These objectives are often hidden or not explicitly stated, so pay attention to dialogue and environmental cues. For example, in the mission ''The First Shall Be Last,'' you can choose to spare or kill the O’Driscoll leader. While killing him might seem like the obvious choice, sparing him can lead to additional rewards or future opportunities, which may indirectly increase your gold earnings.\n\nFinally, replaying missions is a great way to earn more gold. Once you’ve completed the main story, you can replay any mission from the progress menu. Replaying missions allows you to experiment with different strategies, such as taking longer to complete objectives or focusing on looting, to maximize your gold rewards. For example, replaying ''The Sheep and the Goats'' mission and taking your time to herd the sheep perfectly can yield a higher gold payout.\n\nIn summary, the best way to earn gold from A Land of Opportunities missions is to take your time, use Dead Eye effectively, loot thoroughly, complete optional objectives, and replay missions to optimize your rewards. By following these strategies, you can build a substantial gold reserve early in the game, giving you a significant advantage as you progress through the story.