I always found Neegan in his evil phase tedious too. A character I'm growing fond of in the last episodes is Princess. I also found Alpha tedious in the later episodes. This last season is getting interesting.

I just finished a quest with the huge Witcher Otho. Now I'm off to try to do a couple of other quests here, but I think the Graveyard Hag is going to be out of my league.

All of a sudden I'm level 34 and wearing Mastercrafted armour. I'm left with races and fistfights in Velen and Novigrad. Might as well get those cleared up. Then it's back to Skellige to search and destroy all those points of interest floating around the sea. I spent all my money on that Runecrafter so I need as much loot as I can find. Then I'll head off to the Isle of Mists to find Ciri.

I'm trying to decide if I should do the Toussaint DLC before finishing the Main Quest.

I can only DREAM of getting to level 34! I've been spending some quality time with Geralt the last two days cleaning up unknown locations and clearing out ghoul nests in Velen and am almost about to hit level 7! We've got a couple days of snow coming in, so I'm looking forward to some serious gaming on Wednesday!

I really started to gain levels when I went to Skellige. Armed with his fully upgraded Yrden and a handful of potions, Geralt slew many high-level monsters.

The best quests for raising levels are the hunts for the Witcher gear. They take you everywhere.

Am going to go back and try to finish the Griffin Gear quest once I get at least one or two more levels. Didn't figure there was any point in going to Skellige at this low level.

I think I started Skellige at around level 18 or so. Even at that level a single Drowned Dead can take you out if you aren't paying attention!

I've cleaned up all but one of the points of interest on the Velen/Novigrad and White Orchard maps. There's one area that is part of a quest and isn't accessible now. I love the way you can just spend a day or two wandering around in this game. There's always something around the corner.

That's what I was thinking - maybe I'll tackle it around level 15! Just got to level 7 for now. It seems frustratingly slow, but in a way I don't mind it as I can head in for an hour or two and get a little bit more ahead.

Heading for level 9! Finally got the Wraith Decoction and was able to get past them. Followed the lubberkin and am now supposed to go find Anna. We are supposed to get 7+ inches of snow tomorrow, so should be able to get some good gaming in!

Oh, good. Glad you're getting up there finally.

I just finished the first part of the Hearts of Stone quest, where Geralt goes to a wedding in the country. Lots of fun and general silliness. Interestingly, that quest line gives Geralt a full ponytail, which is not an available style at any of the barbershops. I think I'll just keep it that way.

I'm going to kill some more time cruising around the smuggler's cargo sites in Skellige. And I had forgotten about the whales!

Just closing in on level 10... can't wait for double digits! Have I mentioned how much I hate Nekkers? I've been taking out tons of Ghoul nests and "liberating" settlements. That usually gets me about 120 points. Been picking up some REALLY good equipment along the way too.

That was fast! Once you get your Yrden up, it's much easier.

I've been casting Yrden in the little boats when I'm out and about and being attacked by Harpies. The sign doesn't travel with the boat but as long as you don't move the boat, it works.

In this game I've become a bit obsessed with crafting the exploding bolts. They're so much fun!

Decided to go back to White Orchard as I know I left a lot of things undone there. Knew there were at least 2 more places of power and a few undiscovered locations. It was kind of strange fighting level 2 ghouls and drowners! Now in Novigard doing the Dandelion quest. It was cool to find Zoltan again! Closing in on level 12!

I'm still cruising around Skellige, cleaning up all the points of interest on the map and in the process cleaning up financially! I went from about 3,600 gold to 55,000 just from all the loot from the Smuggler's Caches. I also ran into a high-level Archgriffin on a lonely Islet, and had to mark it on the map and move on. I'd forgotten about that monster.

I've got the darned Gwent music stuck in my head, though.

LOL! I was going to ask you if you had Witcher 3 music playing in your head all the time like I do!

I have an Archgriffin decoction recipe in my potions.

Every time I play a game I run the risk of having the music get stuck in my head. At least with Fallout 4 I downloaded a mod that added over 100 new songs, so I don't go stark raving mad.

This particular Archgriffin is at least level 40 and it took me out in two flaps of its wings -- and I'm level 36! There's also an elemental I haven't been able to beat, somewhere in the Velen area. After I finish with all the caches I'll get back to the main story.

I slipped back to Velen to finish up a couple of quests I abandoned at level 5. Just finished off the werewolf and am heading for meeting up with Keira Metz. Almost level 13! It's SO much more fun when you don't constantly get killed!

Ran into that Elemental too and left when I realized he was just too powerful to waste my time on.

Ugh. I just ran into...The Caretaker. He regenerates. Even at level 37 I cannot get his health down even a tiny bit. I guess it's time for a strategy guide.


EDIT: two days later....


Holy Smokes! Hearts of Stone is so difficult at the very end.

I didn't have too much trouble last time, on a lower difficulty level, but this time, I had a heck of a time killing the Caretaker. It took many tries and a lot of bad words.

Then came The Wraith, but she wasn't too awful once I figured out her strategy.

Then came the last, final battle and...I'm going to have to lower the difficulty level, which I almost never do, but it's that or start the whole thing again at a higher level.

EDIT: Finished the Hearts of Stone DLC after much difficulty. What a great story. And the music - haunting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKGmZN06lBI

I'm planning on getting Hearts of Stone for sure. I'm closing in on level 18 finally and am going to head to Skellege once I finish up a few minor quests.

Hearts of Stone is one of the very best DLC in any game, in my opinion. Absolutely worth it. Great story, great atmosphere, one segment that is an absolute hoot to play through, and some wickedly hard bosses.

I found levelling up really fast during the level 15-30 phase. Now it's more of a grind. But I finally managed to take out that darned Elemental that was annoying me.

Right now I'm cleaning up the horse races. I was going to do all of the fights, too, but I'm not very good at it. The Tailor in Novigrad beats me every time.

I don't do the fights - I am not good at it and find them more annoying than anything. I will have several level 22+ monster fights to complete later when I am leveled up more.

The fights bug me, too. And it seems out of character for someone who is a monster hunter, not a pugilist. I'll wait until I'm a few levels higher and come back.

Well, this is strange. I would like to visit a herbalist or two in Velen and the option is no longer available. Closing in on level 20!

Sometimes you can change the map icons by mistake. At the bottom left, you can choose which set of icons you want.

I'm doing the second-to-last quest, and when it's done I'm off to Toussaint before the final battle, to sit in the sun and drink fine wines, and level up some more in the lovely countryside.

I know... But in all the icon options as I scroll through, the herbalist icon is missing! I'm in Velen right now, so maybe they have all gone to Novigard! I used a walkthrough to find out where they are located, but it just seems odd the icon has gone missing.

Here's an update - not only is the herbalist icon gone, but when I find them, they either go poof or won't talk to me.