Here's a brand new shiny thread just waiting for comments or questions. :christmas:

So I was just done ranting about the combat system's new problem;



Does anyone else have this problem? He simply refuses to attack it.

Drizzt, he used to do that to me too. I figured out if I could click close to the ground where he was standing, to get him to move at all, the he would be okay.

Of course this isn't gonna help with the echinops in the swamp, they are just too quick! Did you try casting igni? The fire does good damage! You may be standing still with them cuz they can stun you.

In any case, eventually the problem went away for me and he was a good fighter again. Make sure you aren't just being stunned, and if that's not it, I'd recommend going off to do something else for a bit and then try going back later.

Oh yeah, in the leveling up, there is a talent to deflect arrows, this is a great help with those plants too, he can deflect some of those poison darts.

Acccck - not sure if I should apply the new patch or not. I think right now I'll hold off for a bit. My load times aren't all that horrible and I'd hate to mess up what I've done so far even though I'm still in Chapter 1.

I hope I didn't start a national incident however. I decided to tell the elves to take a hike instead of letting them rip off a merchant (I forget his name) - and they are a trifle miffed at me to say the least. I did buy the book of monsters that told me about drowners so I now have my brains that I can take back to the Reverend.

Oh no, Syd, you've really done it now! Run for cover!
I'm kidding! There are lots of decisions that you'll be making, and each one has an effect on things later. Some are big effects and some are small,and some are just there with no effects at all. You just never know!
I'm trying hard to make different decisions this time around, but it's not easy! I didn't want to let them take the stuff either!

As far as the new patch goes, it isn't what caused my little glitch with Geralt like Drizzt has, that was before. The new glitches I have after the new patch are pretty minor so far, so all in all I think it's a good patch!

Now if I could just find a good patch for my housework!

Drizz, I still have trouble with those horrid plant things. I have the best luck when I click on that thickish part just above the ground. It seems once I get that part, I can hack away to my hearts desire - until the next series of chained attacks starts again and I have to click on that part again!

I haven't had a single problem with the new patch - yet. I played the entire Epilogue with it and it was fine. So far I'm only into the Outskirts part on my second go-around, but no issues. I'll be curious to see what happens when I get to the Merchant's Quarter in Vizima. The only place I had problems with there before was in the place where all the merchants were. It would get choppy.

Can you make a decision that leads to a game stopping mistake? I decided to believe Abigal and fought all the townsfolk - can't remember if Migul was there or not but I sure as heck can't find him now so I can't get into the city. Shani is across the river waiting for me but Geralt won't swim across to meet her. I know Migul guards the gate during the day - is there a certain time? Maybe I need to get some more Christmas shopping done to clear my head

Thanks looney - maybe I'll try the patch -

Drizzt, to fight those plants you need to be up close and personal. An enchanted weapon works best but in the beginning before I had any enchantments an ordinary axe worked better than the witcher sword. There is no red ring around the plant so you just have to keep clicking when the sword icon flames and hope the plant dies before you do.

Syd, check all the corpses after the fight. The dead Reverand should have a pass you can use to get into the city. There are 2 bridges into the city. If one side doesn't let you in try the other one. It's been a while since I played but I think you have to find a secret sewer entrance. Maybe someone with a more recent memory can confirm.

Well, I uninstalled and luckily I was able to find the old original update. So I'm back up and running, load times are a little long and I hit one crash, but that was after three hours of playing; not a big deal. Much better than the "lights-out" glitch I kept hitting All in all I'm happier without the patch. Might just be the way my system is configured, who knows...

I had another nasty thing happen last night that never happened before the patch, but maybe I was just lucky before. In a couple of fights my sword accidentally hit a few innocent people that made them into enemy's and I had to kill them. The first were the Mercenary's guarding the little village where the Reverend is (chapter 1). We were fighting the Barghests and I hit somebody else without knowing it. The Mercenary's all turned on me. The second was a Merchant walking on the road before getting to the village. He of course just ran away screaming for help. The next day all seemed fine and my actions the night before didn't matter. What if I kill someone important...like the Knight down in the sewers who wants to tag along and help?? I thought the game protected friendlies! Has anyone else had this happen???

P.S. I just found this in the patch release notes: Now you can't attack neutral NPCs if you input the second (etc.) sword sequence in them, while first attacking a hostile.

Sounds like err on the side of caution until more is known about the patch, unless you currently just can't play the game as is.

Hmmm, well the patch is working great for me. The save loading is much faster, going through doors is faster but I haven't noticed one iota of difference when changing maps (ie going from the city to the swamp. However, what was done, for me, is an improvement.

I'm now in the middle of Act II and the patch is working fine for me and I have encountered no problems.

Oh, I did upgrade my video card recently to a GeForce 8800 GTX.

Yea, that would make a bit of a difference You're set for awhile with that monster...

Nickie - I will have to be careful and do more saving like before in case someone gets killed by accident. I can't play without the patch which is why I had to give-up last time until the patch came out.

Oldman - I'd give my eye teeth to have your new video card, but just can't swing it right now. I've got a Geforce 7600 GS which is only middle ground as far as needed specks go for the game. I needed a new sound card more which has helped. By the time I can afford to upgrade to a 8800 I'm sure a newer version will be taking the lime light. Oh well, one step at a time .

Yes, I was thinking of you when I wrote that Milee. At least hopefully you can now play and enjoy!
That's wonderful Oldman - are you noticing a huge difference?

Definitely Nickie. Before I had to reduce all my settings on The Witcher to the bare minimum and now I'm playing with everything maxed and it's working fine.

Of course, by the time the next big game comes out my card will probably be at the bottom of the heap.

Me too, oldman! But getting to play a game of this calibur on my nearly 4 year old computer is just a hoot for me! I haven't cranked up any of my settings, but I may give it a try now.

Isn't that the truth! Usually by the time you walk out of the store with something for the computer, it's already obsolete. But hopefully your card will do you well for some time.

Hm, I would very much like to try again, but I got sucked into Arcanum instead. Such a wonderful game. You can tell it's people from Black Isle that have made it...it's Fallout's spiritual successor. I would even wager it's built on the same engine.

Anyway, the patch overall was very effective in reducing loading times...now if only JoWood would make a similar patch to Gothic 3...

Well I made it into Chapter 2. Seems my problem with Mikul was the fact I didn't realize there were stairs on that second bridge. Once I discovered that I was home free. Now I'm in Vizima and just got the you know what kicked out of me by a bunch of Assassins. Almost had them (I thought), turned around and wham - 6 of them hit me at once and I was a gonner.

oldman I'm jealous of your card also. I held one in my hands and drooled over it but it was either buy the video card or make a house payment (okay I exaggerated a bit but it felt like that) I bought a 8600 GTS instead and actually have no complaints - I'm playing the game on max settings without a hitch (other than I'm getting clobbered by bad guys right and left).

Syd, some tips for whatever they're worth.

1. Running is good. When you run around you build up your stats to fight again.

2. Do all the side quests and you'll level up more and get strong enough to fight another day.

3. Use the Ard sign as much as you can.

4. Don't forget Swallow and Tawny Owl.

5. Don't get killed.

That's one wise man!

That's what I'm doing wrong

I've always thought that developers should level the playing field a bit and grant XP points for repeated deaths of the main character. The games would go much smoother for me...

I accidentally clicked on a good guy once too. When he turned into an enemy I just ran away and when I went back later, he was back to being a good guy. I think it was the Royal Huntsman and I wouldn't want to get rid of him! He gives me lots of money!

My gameplay has improved exponentially. It's wonderful for my system with this new patch.

I don't mean to stack posts, but AACCKKKK! I'm playing in the medium mode this time and am have a terrible time killing the beast. Does anyone have any tips here? I'm using Aard, running around, have potioned up with Swallow and enhanced my sword with the thingie that gives it 10% more damage. I think I've been killed at least 10 times.

Another question. Blizzard. I tried it the first time around and hated it. It made Geralt move at the speed of a slug and it did the same thing this time. Is this normal for Blizzard?