Ok, if on PC here is how you have a blast on a new fresh playthrough. Besides an encumbrance mod, I suggest a vanilla playthrough for your first time.
1. Custom difficulty-Hard to start and slowly tweak as you gain skills and items.
https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonsdogma2/mods/195 This one allows SO much customization. From the percentage of damage you take, normal enemies, bosses, pawns, etc. If you can heal when HP is at zero, how easy it is to get staggered for you, pawns, enemies, etc.
2. Roll with just one pawn. Less chatter and I only have her around so that I don't feel too lonely and for the eye candy. No mod, just don't hire any after creating your main.
3. Skillswapper for 8 skills. I play Fighter and my block button(L1) is how I access the second set of skills, it's perfect.
https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonsdogma2/mods/270
4. Now that I have 8 skills, I upped the difficulty to very hard with some tweaks.
5. Levitate mod where you can set its speed, height, and duration.
https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonsdogma2/mods/255
6. Eternal ferrystone mod.
https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonsdogma2/mods/484 Use ferry stones in structures or caves
https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonsdogma2/mods/294
7. Camera tweaks. Zoom out to your preference so that you can see the battle, especially when fighting more than one large creature at once. Also, works great for photomode.
https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonsdogma2/mods/103?tab=posts
8 No job requirements for armors, play all the fashion Dogma you want.
https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonsdogma2/mods/51
9. Functional pawns. Your pawns will grant access to your storage and they are your -on the road- vocation specialists!
https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonsdogma2/mods/261
10. Clear effect descriptions. From augments to rings, see exactly what everything does.
https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonsdogma2/mods/314
11. Make looting enemies, chests, and bosses more rewarding. Don't rely on shops for all of your gear, or any of it with Lucky Scavenger mod.
https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonsdogma2/mods/347
12. Regeneration mod for you and pawns so that you don't have to rely on a mage or make camp unless you want the food buff.
https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonsdogma2/mods/134
13. Warp almost anywhere. You can warp to any campfire, town, dungeon, shop, etc.
https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonsdogma2/mods/304
14. Configurable casting speeds to make a solo caster viable.
https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonsdogma2/mods/315
15. Pawn survives the brine. For anyone rolling with just one pawn, this is a godsend. When looking for coins, it's almost inevitable for your pawn to fall from a ledge.
https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonsdogma2/mods/365
16. Fall damage is a little unforgiving(realistic but it sucks) for a fantasy game IMO so here is a fall damage manager.
https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonsdogma2/mods/178
17: Adjustable lantern for anyone who wants the better enemy variety while also being able to see said enemies.
https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonsdogma2/mods/201
18: Loss gauge control if you hate having to camp or go to an inn. Less Demon's and more Dark Souls action.
https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonsdogma2/mods/278
These have all made my second playthrough so fun. Try a couple or all depending on preference.