I'm impressed with Hagathas's patience. I only was able to level up once, while in the sewers in Chapter 3.

Couldn't take any more after that!

Can anyone tell me what the Place or Point of Power is? How are you supposed to use it? What does it do?
I'm almost finished with Chapt. 1, and I have been leveling up during meditation. I've upgraded to the 3 red meteorite steel sword, and am about to fight the salamanders and the beast.
Andrea

Sounds like you're doing great Andrea!
The places of power are where Geralt can learn one of the signs he once knew and has forgotten. If you've already learned signs in the game, coming to one of these places in the game will temporarily give those signs an enhancement. Good if you're going into a tough battle.

There are skills in intelligence that you can select where you can get further help from those places that activate when you walk near them, and you click on them to cleanse the body of toxins and stuff like that.

Thanks, Nickie! I couldn't find any info on that in either of the guides that came with the game.
Andrea

Are some people here playing on an easier difficulty level?

I just came to realize, that I'm getting less experience points then what Hagatha mentioned, about half actually.

Also, is what loot you pick up also affected?

Templeton, I'm playing on Easy and I'm sure on that level I get fewer experience points and loot, but that's ok with me. I'm having fun and that is all that counts.

I play on the easy level any time I have a choice - with an RPG.

And I can find THAT difficult with some games

looney4labs: I think it's just the opposite, you are getting more of both! I'm playing on normal and getting about half of what was mentioned earlier by someone else for experience points.

Also, when it comes to those meteorites and runes, certain types seem to be more scarce for me.

I'm playing on easy also. I don't see anything on the walkthru that says there's a difference in amount of ore. There were just 3 red meteorites in the first chapter.
Andrea

You are right. Had to look it up to confirm this stuff.

It does however, effect the damage you do, your resistances (pain, stun, bleeding etc.), your armor, your vitality and endurance regeneration.

That would be logical. I would get very frustrated if I couldn't progress as well. However, some players who are younger and faster than me would need the challenge or would lose interest.
Andrea

I've played the game on the middle and hardest levels, and I didn't notice any real difference in loot or experience levelling -- but once you get used to the game and the controls, it's much easier, and I played on the most difficult setting in my third game, when I knew pretty much everything that was coming.

The experience points you get for each type of enemy drops as your level increases, so it's better to do level grinding at the start of a chapter - although Alps are always worth quite a bit even towards the end of the game. I do have a lot of patience -- I turned the sound off and turned on some music. You have to really want those gold skill tokens to do this, though (I did ).

Thanks hagatha.

I was still able to grind out another level fairly quickly against the Alps. I just was too high a level I guess to get the 1000 experience points per kill.

So I was playing last night...

I didn't do that Templeton, but several people did. It changes the game a little bit, but not hugely.

I've played it both ways and as nickie says, it only changes the game a little bit. I sort of prefer Triss as Shani is a bit too clingy for my taste!

I chose Shani because Triss addressed Geralt as "Witcher". He has a name you know!

Also, she just sits at that desk all day, or sleeps, how about a little help?

Neither of them is a particularly good companion. Triss wanders back and forth between Leuvaarden's "party" and her bed. Shani sits at her desk and eats -- all day, and all night. And does nothing else.

I chose Shani last time. There's one particularly poignant moment later in the game as the result of choosing Shani.

I've always chosen Triss. And I have no idea why !!

Shani has always been working at the hospital or sleeping up until now. I look forward to watching her get very very fat

She just gave up on the plague victims I guess.

Shani's the "family type." But she isn't really the right person for Geralt. I think Triss would be much more understanding about Geralt's little...indiscretions.

Plus, Triss in a sorceress and understands the mutant part of Geralt better.

Triss saved his life twice too.

Well folks, we've reached the point where we need to close the thread because this one is big. Please anyone feel free to start a new one!