^Missed that.
HOLY CRAPBASKETS! You haven't played .42.06 yet?
Look, I loved 40.24 adventuring, but it was a heap of crap compared to 42.06, I didn't care about the "missing quests", I didn't care that butchering bandits just got me known as a killer, I still had a blast just exploring.
Now? People react to your presence, being a famous bard or storyteller or dancer will get you free booze and a room to sleep in, being known for breaking up robberies and purging bandits/criminals will have random people coming up to "thank you for all you do", as in literally strangers calling out to say how nice it is to finally meet you.
Tracking down and removing the "last few interesting monsters" was kinda bland in 40.24, but people actually care and tell others about it and then a couple weeks later in game you're in another town and someone walks by and is flabbergasted that it's actually you standing there, wanting to know if there is anything they can do for you.
Conversely, you punch the wrong kid in the brain and people spit at you and talk about how, despite your great deeds, the fact remains that you're a murderer, tavern keepers say they would just as soon have you go somewhere else and jack up their prices to encourage it.
Become a hearthperson and get quests and head back to tell stories for the folks in the keep, then later you'll freak out when you see an asterisk chasing you around the map in town, so you drop out and go back to see what the hell is trying to pick a fight with you... well, don't kill them! It's recruits and such, possibly with a veteran leading them, and they're just kinda following you. You can think of it as them wanting to see how you do these great things, or wanting to be there to help, or just as adoring fans, but they'll sometimes follow you surprising distances and if you set it up you can have them take part in your missions even.
Taverns... my god, they're fun! They're useful! Get booze, get a room to crash in, pick up gossip, learn dances, and tavern keepers are almost always the best person to ask for info about troubles, and if they aren't you can check the room to find a soldier who will be full of info.
Temples have people heading out to pray, people are always traveling around town doing stuff instead of standing around inside of buildings waiting for nothing.