So, I've got my game all loaded up and ready to go. Although I'm still experiencing some lag issues, the game plays well enough to handle low levels, especially since I've played before and more or less know what I'm doing.

The updated game looks absolutely beautiful. I hope they come up with a performance update soon; apparently this is in the works for the PC version.

Annoyingly, I have forgotten how to play Gwent. I was Gwent Champion in my last two games, so this is a humiliating setback for dear old Geralt, who just got trounced in his first game. He's going to have to pull up his socks; or does he even wear socks? Maybe not -- britches, then.

I'm off to talk to the Redanians about Yennefer.

I just started a new game a couple of days ago. I went ahead and did the training figuring I'd forgotten everything in the two years since I last played!

Yeah, I'm totally not doing that Griffin contract as a Level 1 Witcher! Need to go kill more stuff in the swamps or something.

I've been avoiding that Griffin, too. I remember in my first game foolishly heading straight for it and being insta-killed. I'm just wandering around killing Drowners and Ghouls and other low-level monsters. And picking flowers.

Same! I spent a couple of days trying to kill the Griffin the first time I played before I figured out it wasn't gonna happen. Got some "jobs" for the board at the Tavern I need to tackle too.

I downloaded the newest NVidia driver, the one specifically touted for this game, and I think the performance is a little better.

I'm going to spend a couple of hours tomorrow relearning all the crafting menus before I go off adventuring. That's one of the things I love about this game; there's always something to do.



EDIT: The good folks over at Razer Support have got my game running like silk. Now I can REALLY get going.


Right. I'm out of White Orchard and into the larger game world. That Griffin didn't stand a chance by the time I finally got to it. I think I was supposed to shoot it as it flew away with my crossbow but I couldn't work out how to use the bow, so I chased it on foot until it trapped itself against the side of a building and then I killed it with my sword. A bit cheesy, but it worked.

I don't even HAVE a crossbow yet! I finally got to level 2 though killing drowners and wolves. Still having issues keeping my health up though. Need to find a merchant and sell a bunch of stuff.

The town in White Orchard has a merchant if you saved him earlier. Otherwise the Nilfgardian compound in the ruined castle has a quartermaster. I'm pretty sure one or two of the other towns has a merchant. There's also the Dwarf Blacksmith who will buy from you if you complete his easy quest.

I went into a cave I should have avoided, managed to kill ten or so dead things several levels high than me by repeatedly blasting them with Igni, only to end up in a battle with an impossible enemy. I think there's a way back out if I leave before the final battle. If I have to reload a much earlier save at least I'll know what to expect next time. It was fun, but there isn't a chance I'll bet this particular monster until I'm a much higher level.

Yeah, I completed the quest for the Dwarf Blacksmith and have vised the merchant too. Right now I just don't have enough orens! Might try that Noonwraith at the Well quest again later today. Also did one in the swamps for some merchant who wanted a small box. He was lying and I didn't give him the box, so I may do that one again. It just involved a few wolves and 4 drowners.

Orens do seem to be in short supply early in the game.

I am spending a few orens to catch up my gwent skills so that I can make a bit of money that way, too.


Once I've a high enough level to wear the special armour sets I got I'll be able to start marauding my way round the countryside. Right now a couple of level 9 drowners can take me out if I'm not careful.

I actually have the stand-alone Gwent game - I should go spend some time in it to hone my skills as I just keep getting beat!

I love Gwent. What's the stand-alone called? I should get it. It's be way better than playing 500 games of Spider Solitaire on my phone.

I got it from GOG some time ago. I think you can get the app for phone and maybe even from the Windows Store. Look for Gwent: The Witcher's Card Game.

Thanks. I will.

Oh, shoot. Now I'm back to major lagging, worse than ever. it's only every now and then, fortunately.


EDIT: This game is kicking my rear end! Even a couple of low-level Alghouls can take me out. Anything more than three or four Drowners is too much, unless I draw them off one by one. I'll have to start doing low-level quests instead of cruising around because I've forgotten how punishing the game can be for the unwitting and unwary. Having no money doesn't really help much, either.

Maybe I'll go back to White Orchard and look for low-level random enemies.

Oh, no! Sure wonder why a powerhouse like your laptop has lagging. My desktop with far less powerful components is having no problems. I did random low level quests until I hit Level 3 and am now going to try the Griffin. Vesimir has finally given me the crossbow. But for the life of me I couldn't figure out how to equip and use it! I kept putting it in a slot with my other weapons and of course it wouldn't work. Finally did a search on the internet and found out it has to go in with my signs and other abilities. Who knew!

The crossbow is annoying. I actually found a better one but managed to sell it by mistake. At the moment all I use it for is to draw off one or two monsters from a larger group.

The lagging seems to be only on horseback, which is, apparently, a thing. I spend most of my time running around on foot anyway.

Yeah, I find being on horseback really annoying and run around on foot.

The only real reason to travel on horseback is to get proficient enough to win the more difficult races. I always just summon Roach whenever I go a long way. I like to think he (she?) is just following along behind me.

Just ran into a werewolf. it regenerates. I though it was supposed to be an easy quest. I guess I'll be back later.


I am playing on a more difficult level than in the past, but I'm finding the game punishingly hard. I suppose once I hit a higher level and can wear better equipment I'll do better, but right now a small pack of level 6-7 drowners can take me down if I'm not really careful. Two more levels and I can start wearing the good armour in my storage.

You are leaps and bounds ahead of me, but I'm hoping to get a couple hours of gaming in tonight!

That's because you have a life.

Yeah, and busted water lines!! LOL!

Nailed the griffin with my blade like you did. Gads, that crossbow is useless! Made it to Level 4 finally. Ran across a level 12 bear and quietly tiptoed past him!

It seems as though I've been playing a lot, but I'm STILL only at level 5, coming up on 6.

EDIT: All of a sudden I've gained 4 levels, after two very long quests in Velen. Now I have some power. And I'm able to wear some of the special gear that came with the updates.

I'm finally able to fully explore Novigrad. It really feels like an actual city. The upper levels are full of snotty rich people who literally walk with their chins up and noses in the air. My Gwent pack is starting to fill out.


EDIT: All of a sudden the quest markers don't show on the map. Makes the game impossible to play.


Edit: and now, the game is back to lagging badly. Just don't know...

So, I finally got everything up and running again. The problem seems to be with Synapse. I had updated it, and then somehow it needed to be updated again. I've noticed this before; when my games sound starts to sputter, it's usually something to do with Cortex or Synapse.

As for the quest markers, there seem to be a couple of quests where the markers are missing (Black Pearl being one of them). Very confusing. I'll just have to look at a guide.

Anyway it all runs nicely again. I'm at level 17 and am using the Enhanced Griffin armour set.

I've gone mostly Quen, Yrden and Axii in combat so far, which is surprisingly effective even against many monsters. Normally I use a lot of Igni, but not much so much in this game. I do have some combat skills, too, obviously.

I think I'll continue with a Sign-based build.

I had to set it aside for several days because I've been so stinking busy. I was stuck in the Elve's cave with Keira Metz trying to kill the two dopplegangers when I last played. Hope to get back into it tomorrow night. As I remember I was just closing in on level 4.

I use my signs heavily too and need to level them up once I can get some of my combat skills better.

Strange how we both have Synapse and Cortex and neither one is affecting my game!

There's something about the Synapse installation; when it needs to be updated my computer does experience sound fracturing and lagging. I've noticed it before from time to time. I wonder if it's automatically trying to update while I'm playing?

Anyway, now that everything's all sorted, the game really is running well again. And I'm enjoying playing the tougher level -- except that I can't beat the fistfights; I've had to lower the difficult setting for the occasional situation where I'm forced into a fistfight in the streets! Three peasants can take me down. And annoyingly, for those fights you can't use spells or potions. Otherwise I'd just Axii them away.

I'm really OCD about going after every single question-marked site on the map, so I'm cruising around doing a few of those between quests. In my current quest I'm facing my first vampire of the game.

I'm totally about doing all those side quests too! Helps you get the level up nicely!