It does. Plus some good loot.

For the first time I'm looking at some of the suggestions for how to build Geralt. In the past I built him as predominantly a fighter but I thought I'd focus on Signs this time.

I usually do him as a fighter too. But in previous games, I found the signs to be so effective I built them after I had his combat skill leveled up.

The upgraded alternate version of Yrden is my best friend right now. I just cast it, stand back, and watch even tough monsters fall. I took out two Griffins and a Royal Griffin in one fight literally just using a few castings of Yrden and a couple of swipes with my sword when they got too close.

Obviously I have put this version of Yrden on my list!

The other thing is, the fully upgraded alternate version of Yrden will drop flying enemies, too; Harpies, Griffins, etc. As soon they get too close, wham! they're on the ground.

Upgraded Axii is also good for bringing down airborne monsters.

I tend to upgrade Axii as much as possible too. So, finally defeated the dopplegangers and it's on to the Golem!

Started my game today after hubby went to town and oh, no! It wouldn't launch and I got a crash report. Finally rebooted and it started up just fine. But a moment of panic there!

I'm bouncing around quests right now, clearing up all the low level stuff in Velen and Novigrad, finding all the Places of Power and hidden treasure before I head off for Skellige. I've hopped over there once for a couple of quests but I've still got lots to do here, too.

Mostly I'm playing Gwent whenever I can and building my deck, learning how to defeat a Monster Deck, and so on. Got quite a few Hero cards now, too.

Such a great game.

Defeated the golem and am now trying to fight my way past the Wild Hunt. Kind of anxious to get back outside to do some of the low level quests.

Did you ever download the stand-alone Gwent game?

I haven't downloaded it yet. I'm getting plenty of gwent practise right now.

What quest are you on?

Wandering in the Dark with the sorceress Keira Metz.

Have step-daughter and her SO coming in this afternoon from Virginia. So, I'll have to put The Witcher aside for several days.

I'm over on Skellige fighting an Ice Giant. Again, Yrden comes up roses.

I think it's going to be a LONG time before I get to Skellige!

Skellige is a nice change of pace. Geralt just broke poor Triss's heart and sent her off with the mages, moving the main story line along,so I need to clean up some of the low-level quest left on the board and some of them are in Skellige.

Last of the guests left this morning and I'm heading back in tonight!

I went back to Velen to do a few quests I missed nd to clear the southern part of the map of location markers. Did a quick tour of inns and stores to stock up on alchemy-related booze to make White Gull. Got me some powerful potions! I just made the one that turns poison into healing.

I've had to just go back to doing minor quests and running around killing drowners. I'm just shy of level 5 and just don't have enough power to do anything. Working on the botchling part of the Bloody Baron quest right now. Had to abandon the werewolf quest as I just don't have enough oomph to defeat him yet. It's a slow slog right now!

There were a couple of supposedly low-level quests that really were far too hard, I thought, especially on the harder playing level. I honestly found that once I leveled up my Yrden and got to the alternate version of it, things got much easier because almost nothing could defeat me. I would just cast it and watch multiple low-level enemies get zapped while I avoided them. It even worked on the Ancient Leshen in Skellige.

Also leveled up Axii really helps with human enemies.

I'm in Skellige and finding it very difficult to level up, even with completing all of the little secondary quests that come up. I'm just not getting enough points. I suppose I need to make some progress on the main questline.

Yrden is my next one to level up. I've already done Axii twice. I agree that some of the low-level quests are really tough. My goal is to get to level 7 before I start taking them on.

I'm cleaning up all the old quests I should have done several levels ago. I also haven't been able to find all of the Gwent cards in Velen, and it's annoying me!

I'm still working on the getting botchling to turn into a lubberkin. The second set of wraiths get me every time.

That's a nasty quest at low levels. Yrden makes the wraiths solid.



I'm doing the ridiculously annoying quest on Skellige where you have to herd a sheep towards a Forktail and the silly thing runs around in circles. I even tried to kill it just for the fun of it.

I've decided to get out of it and go kill some Drowners. I'm using Yrden, but there are just too many of them.

Good plan. Do some of the other easy quests.

Yrden becomes really useful when you get the alternate version of it. I have Yrden levelled up completely now, and it made a huge difference taking down a level 30 Fiend in the quest I just did. I just took a Cat potion and ran around avoiding it.

I've also spent a few points increasing my potion tolerance, which is very helpful. I haven't spent many points on swordplay, though. I'm thinking it's not as helpful as the Signs in my current game. I'll be levelling up Quen and Igni next.

Well, I finally got some quality time in with Geralt today due to the weather! Got some better armor and have a nice pot of money. Working on the Treasure Hunt finding all the diagrams of Griffin School gear.

But my eyes kind of hurt, so I'm going to put in some drops and try to get in some TWD tonight!

I went with Griffin this time, too. And I'm watching TWD, so we're living parallel lives at the moment. Neegan is just about to enter the picture, and I find him tedious, so it'll be a two-season slog through his speechifying and one-note viciousness.

Today I did one of the funniest quests ever, in any game. It's when Geralt goes back to Kaer Morhen and the boys decide to have a drinking night. I won't spoil the fun for you, but it was hilarious. I'd forgotten all about it.