The witcher 2

Hi all,

Just got this email from the Witcher folks and although I have no questions and will probably not participate, some here might find it interesting and want to join in. Plus there's a chance for a free game.

THanks oldman!

Ana

Thanks Oldman

I wonder if the new game is only going to be available via download?

They told me it would also be available in a boxed set. That's what I'm waiting for...

The Witcher 2 will both be available as download and a boxed set. There's a really, really nice Collector's Edition for The Witcher 2. And the boxed set available is also ver nice, with some nice stuff in it. The download for The Witcher 2 will be on GOG (goodoladgames) and drm free...

I love Boxed CE's. I will have to look for it.

I want the boxed set also.

Dunn

I have the boxed set already pre-ordered from Play.Com

Mad, why am I not surprised?!

Wasn't the latest news from GOG, that their own Pre-Order will be the only version totally DRM free?

I'm not entirely sure about this, but I think the word from CD Project (who owns GOG) still is that both the pre-order version, and the regular version of Witcher 2 will be DRM free.

However, I'm not sure if you have to pre-order to get the (boxed) version of the CE of Witcher 2.

Karsten I think that's correct. I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that all versions will be DRM free.

According to one of their own news the version on GOG WILL be the only digitally download with no DRM.
So, if people buy if it from other download sites, they will get some form of DRM.

I just clicked on "Preorder Now" to get more information and was notified that I just preorderd the game and could now download the goodies. I don't know if they are holding my credit card information. There is no way I could download the game with my slow connection. Seems like I should have a chance to say yes or no first.

Later...their email indicates that they don't have my credit card info but I told them to cancel any preorder.

I wonder about Steam and the others - but then Steam has their own version of DRM. But I'm almost positive that I read somewhere that all the other versions will be DRM free too.

I think misslillo is right. There are still questions on the forum about DRM. It seems the boxed version will have a limited type of DRM...maybe a one time activation...but as far as I can tell, it's only the downloaded version from GOG that will be completely DRM free.

Gil.

Maybe I worded it wrong then. All GOG versions will have no DRM for The Witcher 2. Steam will use Steam's DRM, and the boxed version will have some form of DRM (that's decided by the publisher). However, CD Project is also a publisher.

Guess we'll just have to wait and find out!

Here's a link for you

http://rpgcodex.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=56967

And a quote too:




Original Source:
http://www.gamebanshee.com/news/101960-the-witcher-2-will-be-drm-free-on-gog-live-qaa-on-friday.html

It seems that the Digital Premium Edition will be the copy that GOG is selling. This could be wrong, but I think that the premium edition is the normal edition while the collector's edition is this one:

http://buy.thewitcher.com/preorder-collectors-en

And then there's this:



I definetely need to support GOG more in the future...

That's excellent info, Karsten. Thanks for posting it!

Karsten

I just got a copy of The Witcher 2 Newsletter: March 2011 (email dated Mar 26, 2011) which contained info re the system requirements for The Witcher 2. (See quote below)

"Official System Requirements for The Witcher 2 are finally here!

We have what so many of you have been asking for: system requirements for The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings. This should help

you decide whether your gaming rig needs an update before May 17th.

Minimum Requirements:
Processor: Core 2Duo 2.2 GHz or dual core AMD 2.5 GHz
RAM: 1GB Win XP/ 2GB Vista/7
Graphics: GeForce 8800 512MB or Radeon (HD3850 512 MB)
HDD Space: 16 GB

Recommended Requirements:
Processor: Quad Core Intel or AMD
RAM: 3GB Win XP/ 4GB Vista/7
Graphics: GeForce 260 1GB or (HD4850 1GB)
HDD Space: 16 GB"

My Dell xps-410 has a core2duo E6600 2.4 ghz CPU and a nvidia geforce 7900 GS 256MB vid card. My vid card appears clearly to be below minimum spec. I guess that means I won't be pre-ordering the game at this time.

Any comments on why the Witcher 2 system requirements are as high as they are? Or are these system requirements typical for new Action title releases - and I'm just out-of-touch because I buy and play mainly Adventure Games?

Somewhat disappointed - to say the least.

Pete, I'd say these system requirements are going to be more and more standard for the rest of this year, at least as it pertains to action games/RPG-type games. Adventure games, not to this degree.

I must say that I did try to run the original Witcher with a 256-meg video card and it really wasn't adequate. I had to turn a lot of settings down in order to play the game, and it was still subpar.

It shouldn't cost you too much to upgrade your video card, however, assuming your system allows you to do so (but then of course you also have to make sure you have an adequate power supply for the new card, as well).

Yup, PeteS, you can count on the requirements for games getting higher all the time to keep up with all the new technology out there. Your computer is pretty low on the totem pole for anything more than adventure gaming. And even adventure game requirements are going up to take advantage of all the cool stuff out there.

It wouldn't be impossible to upgrade your XPS 410 as the specs say it does have a PCI E (x16) slot. Unfortunately, it only has a 375 watt power supply which would really limit your choices. It also probably only has 1 GB of RAM too which is pretty puny even for XP.

At http://www.rpgwatch.com/#17010 there is a preview for the Witcher 2 being made by n4G, they talked with Tom Ohle. And here's a little comment from him:




As for system specs, the rpgs today now practically require more of both your computer (the core) and the graphics card, it seems.

There is also this article from the Escapist

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/108699-Witcher-2-Combat-Overhauled-But-Not-Dumbed-Down

Thanks Karsten

Another newsletter from The Witcher 2 folks



Looks like we'll be seeing Geralt again in less than a month. (fingers crossed)

"We are less than four weeks away from release of The Witcher 2, which means only one thing! You will get to play it really soon!"

Not all of us, oldman

My current machine has been upgraded as far as it's possible to upgrade it - but it's not good enough to run Witcher 2.
And I can't afford a new machine right now.

However, I did pre-order the game anyway, to ensure I have a copy when I can afford a new machine, so it will soon be plopping through my letterbox, at least

I can't wait!

Hi Mad

My current machine is about 8 years old, and I'm pretty sure it can't run Witcher 2 as well. And like you, I can't afford to buy a new computer right now.

At Gametrailers there should be a combat overview as well as some rather beautifull looking screens from the game, presented in a slideshow - with the most beautiful msuic I've yet heard in an rpg.

Thanks, Karsten

I've been scouting previews and screenshots etc - just to torment myself !!!!

The combat looks great and very versatile and because of this I guess it requires a long time to master the needed skills.

It doesn't come in time for Mothers Day

Incentive, incentive!

Amazon is offering $10 in credit if pre-ordered.

Thanks MCC, that's a nice offer especially since Amazon will match the lower price if you pre-order something and the price is later lowered. At least, they used to.

There's a second part of the video walkthrough up on gametrailers

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/exclusive-gameplay-the-witcher/713622

Be sure to check it out, the world looks really, really living, dynamic and wonderful...

Thanks Karsten

That looks amazing!

I can't wait for this to be released.

Unlike with the original I'll have a computer that can run the game without any lag whatsoever.

Me too, Templeton Peck!

According to rpgwatch there's a preview for this game on IGN http://ve3d.ign.com/articles/previews/60179/The-Witcher-2-Assassins-of-Kings-Preview/p2/c1/

Be sure to read this as this is a very good preview of the game. After the preview there are screenshots from the game, some which are not safe for work (nsfw). (mods - is this OK?)

There's also a video up on youtube showing 12 minutes of gameplay http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50hbPeMLG5E&feature=player_embedded

This game really does sound and looks amazing. I'm just sad that I can't play it right now because my machine (8 years old in august) can't handle it - at all. Such is life, I guess.

Karsten, I suspect some of those nsfw images will be only available in European versions and not in the U.S.A.

I really don't know this, but it could be. But if you want to have them in your game, you can pre-order Witcher 2 from GOG. Or buy it from GOG as this version also is DRM free, it will require you to have an account on GOG, though.

Hi Karsten,I went to GOG and you can pre-download it now but it won't be released until 5/17. What do they mean. I pre-ordered it a while ago.
Richard

Well I went ahead and pre-ordered with Amazon. Hopefully I'll be able to use the $10 discount with Skyrim in Novemember if if comes out in time. Amazon is showing a delivery date of 17 May but you know how those projected delivery dates go.

The Witcher 2 will be released on May 17th 2011; I think that's much a certain. I think I've seen it on rpgwatch that The Witcher 2 has gone gold.

As for the pre-load, yes you can pre-load it now, if you have pre-ordered it. But I think you still can pre-order it? or did this offer expire?

Anyware, after May 17th, the game will still be available on GOG.

oldman, I have this also pre-ordered in Amazon. I occasionally have done so and the game arrived the same day it was released. One word of caution though, normally the credit in these cases doesn't last that long, until December, but a few weeks, this doesn't bother me since I use Amazon to buy half of all my needs

Karsten, I don't like to buy thinks that have been censored and DRM FREE is a big incentive also, but I am old fashion in the sense that I prefer boxed games, I know this is not forever and soon we all be using downloaded games.

I think that you can download 95% of the game now and start playing if you pay for it now. Then you can download the rest of the game on the 17th. They're just giving you a headstart on everybody else.

Gil.

Thanks so much traveler. That sure is good to know.
Sure is a big download 9.6 GB. Richard

Ha! Not much bigger than the first one. The Witcher is 8GB and on my connection it's going to take 12 hours. Or so. But what could I do? It was only 5 bucks for the game! Considering how bad I am at RPG, that's probably a year's entertainment right there.

Gil.

".... but I am old fashion in the sense that I prefer boxed games, I know this is not forever and soon we all be using downloaded games."

I sincerely hope NOT !!

It's disk versions for me all the way

Well the temptation was just too great. I got an email from GOG confirming the download and play now and finish downloading next week and couldn't resist. It is cheaper as well so I cancelled my pre-order with amazon and am downloading from GOG as I type. (The downloader indicates that it is an 8 hour download)

If all goes well I'll be playing Witcher 2 tomorrow.

We'll be eagerly awaiting your impressions of the game, John!

I'm trying very hard to resist that same email!

Just started to download witcher 2. Should take about a hour. Downloading at 2394 KB/s.
Richard

RPGWatch has a feature article about this game. based on hands-on-preview of the game. Noteworthy to a lot of gameboomers might be this:

(I've added the part in bold)

I'm quoting this as I know some of us (or many?) want this information. Also, I think it is the first preview-hands-on I've ever seen that mentions how the gameplay, and the game is controlled.

Here's a lengthy quote about the (changed) combat:




And in conclusion:




As we have witness in other previews, this game definetely looks amazing. If it even lives up to 1/10th of the hype, well...

Oops! Looks like the play now portion of the game was mis-read by me. After I downloaded I read the email again and it said pre-download now and play the game on the 17th. It appears that the main *.exe file to install the game and everything is being held up until next Tuesday as I re read the email. So, I'll have to wait until Tuesday to get the last file to install the game. I should be a real short file though since I've already downloaded so much.

Don't understand the benefit though except that I'll have less to download on Tuesday and can get to playing all that much quicker.

Did get a free RPG out of it though. Can download one of 5 RPG's

Oh well, it is cheaper than the boxed version and I already have 95% of it downloaded so next Tuesday, if all goes well, I should be able to download the balance and be playing right away.

Almost finished downloading the game and it paused. Couldn't do anything else.
Will it be all right to shut my pc off. I guess it's finished downloading.
Richard

If the brown bar is filled up then it has finished. I guess the final download (in order to play the game) has to be done on the 17th.

I see they dealt with the download.

I kept thinking,everybody & their brother was going to be downloading at the same time.

I opted for a boxed version.

Games of this caliber, I like to have the boxed
version. Call me different, that's just the way I am.

happy times a-coming, that's for sure

Dunn Tawkin

Me, too, Dunn!!

Just got word my disk version has shipped

So even if I can't play it for a year or two I will be able to pick it up, look at it and put it down again !!

Mad

I understand this completely!!

I am just copying my saved games from The Witcher that I played in an XP to my W7, I hope it works fine as long as is in the Documents folder.

Me too Mcc, let us know please and

I think I've read somewhere that if you have a save somewhere on your computer that the Witcher 2 reads it automatically...?

That will be great if it does.

Have You seen the trailers that have been released a couple of days ago?, They are really awesome . I like this one especially... that music... so epic

Two days.. only Two days...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HedLjjlSy3Y

Awesome really awesome but it makes me doubt if I'll be able to play at that speed

Here's another trailer. This time from gametrailers.

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/exclusive-hope-the-witcher/713860

Please listen to the music. And yes, it is Chopin that plays. Thanks to Mechanical Lemon on the Obsidian forums for finding this.It is, apparently, Chopins Nocturne No. 1 that plays.
Very beautilful, it is, too I might add.


On a sidenote, someone has seen a hidden message in one these trailers stating that the first dlc will be released along with the game - on May 17th - for free.

Edit:

There is also a totalle revamped or re-witchered website..


http://www.en.thewitcher.com/

Zenger, and Welcome

Karsten

Does anyone know if The Witcher 2 explains the ending of the first?

I'm not sure, but I think that maybe it does. It certainly builds upon the story on the first. If it is explained, we'll see.

Is it tuesday yet???

I have a question - Karsten you said



How does the saved games from W1 effect Witcher 2? I got a new computer not long ago and I haven't played W1 on it so I don't have any saved games.

I have no problem at all loading that baby up and playing again if it'll have an effect!

And the most important thing I have to know ... is that blasted Kikimore Queen still dead?

Thank You looney4labs

In this thread at the Bioware forums

http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/13/index/5214483/82

it is mentioned by Darth Caine that The Witcher 2 allows you to 'make your TW1 choices at the start of TW2".

I think I've read somewhere that you'll chose your choices from a list...

Mine arrives today

What I don't like is that apparently has SecuRom as protection, if I were rich I would buy the download from GOG and the boxed version to keep.

mcc!

You will have to let us know what you think.

I will as soon I start playing it but it arrives today "late" depending on UPS work. After installation I should know if it is recognizing my saves.

The boxed version will have, I think, securom installation activation, also known as securom release control. It just means that people can't play the game before a certain date and time on that date, e.g. today the 17th of May, has passed.

Well I've installed the game and played a couple of prologue quests. So far the Graphics are great, the mouse pointer is sluggish, the game only has one option for movement that's keyboard and turn with mouse. It doesn't flow as well as Witcher 1 and the combat is nothng like Witcher 1 plus there are more options for combat that I haven't learned yet like ducking dodging etc. Geralt can climb ladders and descend down some places that are meant to be descended down by clicking on the right mouse button.

Also I have my Witcher 1 saves in the documents folder where I played the original game and this game won't recognize them. That is a minor grievance though cause I don't know how that effects the game anyway.

So far I much prefer the original. I have progressed into the Prologue to the point where I can't figure out what to do so will have to wait until there are some players to ask a question.

It's the Barricade section and I'm supposed to kill the guards guarding the Barrista (which I did) and then aim and load the Barrista and fire a bolt. I load the bolt and it fires and then I have to fight some more guards. Can't figure out how to aim it. So here I am in the prologue and can't progress.

If someone comes along who gets this done maybe they can tell me what I need to do.

As a sidebar if you're squeemish about sex, nudity and four letter words, be cautious. I'm definitely not but I can see how it would offend some.

Thank You oldman for your impressions

oldman,I'm at the same spot you are. I keep firing the Barrista but nothing happens. How did you kill the guards guarding the Barrista?
Richard

I think I've seen somewhere (maybe on the Bioware forums) that you can use a gamepad for this game -and that it is much much better to do so, especially in combat.

Also, let me see what I can find out about the ballista...

I've found three early reviews of this game so far and they are all pretty much raving about it and saying how good it is. Hope you guys figure out how to get past the prologue very soon!

I've read that the combat is more arcade oriented and maybe more focused to be played with pad?

I've also read that the normal difficulty is hard

Is that true?

Well I'm on easy level and keep clicking on the right mouse key and then the left alternately and they just die. I've had no problem with that so far although I so..........prefer the combat system in the original Witcher.

I hope someone here gets past this stupid barrista and let's me know how it was done. Right now I don't even know what I'm doing wrong.

Here's one review that I was reading.

You have to complete two quick time events to launch the nearby ballista,what ever that means.
Richard

Thank You Marian ... let's see ...

To launch the nearby ballista,you have to keep pressing the left mouse button to fill up the bar. Worked great.
Richard

Richard!

You're welcome, Zenger!

Mine should arrive at any moment now, so I haven't started yet. However I already have found out that there are WTs available, at least for the beginning, If you Google it you can have your choice.

I'm following a WT makes it a lot easier.
Richard

Thanks Kjos!

Oldman, did that work for you?

Thanks Marian.

Does anybody know how to use the aard spell to knock down walls. Looking for a well so I can climb down it but I have to break down a wall. thanks
Richard

When I start the game it says Witcheer 1 saves unavailable, I have them in my documents, does anyone know how to make them available?

I found out that if one copies the saves in the folder "savedgames" of Witcher 2 when the game starts asks if one wants to load a game. Maybe this is the way but I cannot do it tonight.

Mcc. Let us know how it works please.

thank you kjos. I was able to get through the Barricade section with your help. Could you tell me where you found a walkthrough?

Oldman, I found an interesting one Here.

Thanks L4L that looks like a good one.

kjos you should have the Ard spell loaded and just hit "Q" key on your keyboard.

Yes, if the saves are copied in the Witcher 2 folder in Documents the game finds them and when a New Game is selected it gives an option about importing the old games

I don't how this will change anything or how

I'm walking around in the sewers trying to find my way out. Found a ladder but came back down. Thanks oldman for the Q. Made it out of the sewers now trying to get away from the dragon.
Richard

Well I've made it to chapter 1 and so far really like the storyline and the graphics. There is a lot to like about this game but I am a little disappointed in the controls and the leveling up. I now have to learn a completely new system and I was perfectly content with the original Witcher system.

I don't like to have to walk up to an item and wait for the game to tell me how to interact with it I prefered the Witcher 1 system of using the mouse to select. Sometime I pass an item and have to navigate around it to get the interact message. Plus the print that tells you what to do in this game is really small and hard to read.

speaking of small, the action sequences where you have to choose a key to complete an action and get through the sequence are also small and quick sometimes by the time I figure out which key to hit I missed it. At least in TR and other games the key you were supposed to hit flashed in really large letters so you couldn't miss it.

I'll probably end up liking this game in spite of the fact that it is so different from the original but I still maintain the old adage of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" and they tried to fix things that weren't broke.

Just this old guy's opinion.

@ oldman (and others)

I have now gotten confirmed that you indeed can play with a gamepad. Don't know if this is any help or not? Some posters even think that the game was made to be controlled with a gamepad.

Yeah oldman, I think sometimes innovate just for the sake of innovation. I'm glad you are still enjoying the game.

Karsten.

I have a gamepad, I'll try to set it up for this game, it did not work very well for the L4D games. I much prefer controllers, I play most of the action games in the PS3 and got used to them.

I've only just played for a little bit, but what I've played so far is great.

I just walked around the camp in the prologue, gathering some items and listening in on some conversations. Played some dice poker and did some arm wrestling.

Which items you can loot can be somewhat hard to pick out, so definitely hit "Z" as you walk around to use your medallion to highlight what you can loot. The recharge on it is somewhat bothersome, but it works pretty well.

I've also tried out the new combat system a little bit and I may be alone, but I like it. It's definitely more action oriented, but I don't think you need a controller for it at all, I think a keyboard + mouse works pretty good. I like how you can stun an enemy and then do a cool finishing manoeuvre.

So for me, so far, the graphics are amazing and the story and game play are great.

Just a word to the wise though, unless you have a super high end video card and CPU, make sure to turn off "ubersampling". If you don't your framerate will take a nose dive.

I'm playing on ultra settings at 1920x1080 with everything on but "ubersampling" and I'm able to play a nice smooth game so far.

What are your video card and CPU, Templeton Peck?

My CPU is an Intel i7 860 (2.8 GHz) and my video card is a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560ti.

Ummm.... wow. Insert a serious case of video card envy! The more I read about that card, the more I like it.

I have a GeForce 9400 GT 1024 MB. Game runs perfect. Didn't adjust anything.
Richard

Sweet - makes me hopeful my GTX 260 will be up to the job!

It's a great card, especially for the price to performance ratio you get.

It was the best card I could afford and it definitely delivers.

When you initially run the game, it will auto detect and set the video settings to what should be best for your system setup.

Your card is specifically listed at the recommended requirements level for the game, so I think you are fine.

My card was way at the bottom, soooo

Guess what? new card bought for this game, 560 Ti. Plus two more sticks of memory.

Good reason to upgrade & clean out the box I guess

Anyways, game should be here any day.

Thanks for the posts guys & gals

Dunn

My copy arrives tomorrow - can't wait!

I've been reading threads on the GOG forum and there are a lot of people saying that 'normal' difficulty is insanely hard. Are any of you playing on 'easy' difficulty? How are you finding it? I'm used to action rpgs and have even dabbled in fps games, but my reflexes aren't that brilliant and I'm worried that I might struggle even on a lower difficulty. How are you guys finding the learning curve?

Magwitch, Oldman said in an earlier post that he was playing on easy.

How 'bout it folks? What difficulty level are you using?

Playing on the easy mode Gerall sure can swing his sward around and drop any bad guys. Haven't gotten killed yet. Just went to chapter 2.
Richard

I'm playing on normal. Easy, was well, a bit too easy and less enjoyable because there wasn't much of a challenge really.

Playing the easy and in jail trying to kill the guards with no luck. Just using my fists. Keep getting killed. Let me know if you came to that part. I got put in jail because they thought I killed the king which I didn't.
Richard

I hate to be in the probably tiny minority who haven't enjoyed the start of this game but for me the controls, graphics and whole look of the game have been disappointing and don't impress me like Witcher 1 did. My alienware gaming laptop new at Christmas struggles with the game too, I had to turn a lot of graphics features to low or off, maybe that has something to do with it. However, I find that the screen is difficult to read, the text is tiny enough almost to need a magnifying glass, all the meters and stuff seems to be really unhelpfully small, making it awkward to read the information and some labels on things. I find the zooming round movement difficult to control and unpleasant to watch and the viewpoint is difficult to make comfortable as it switches a lot, in general controlling Geralt is difficult for me, it doesn't feel responsive somehow. I did not have the same feelings about Witcher 1 but I feel with Witcher 2 they have tried too hard maybe to 'improve' it with the result that it just isn't better IMHO! I might not get very far with this game as I feel really disappointed with the struggle I'm having with it plus the general control/viewpoint and text issues already mentioned.

I feel the same way as you do Vegpot awful hard to read anything on the screen.Controls aren't really that good.
richard

I'm past that part now. Which particular part of this are you stuck on?

Are you out of your cell yet or are you having trouble doing the fist fight sequence?

Right out of your cell is a black jack you can pick up and equip to fight with.

Make sure to use "Z" to activate your Witcher's Medallion to highlight lootable items.

A fun way to escape is to use stealth (the game automatically puts you in this mode). Make sure you focus on the torches and blow out the lights with AARD. Then hide behind and alongside walls and sneak up behind the guards and right click with your mouse to one hit them unconscious.

Also, make use of your surroundings, there are other characters along the way that will help you escape, or cause distractions to your advantage.

Hi Richard
Nice to know I'm not alone in my struggles, I also read a similar comment by Oldman earlier in this thread too, so maybe there are some shortcomings with the game and it's not just my incompetence or imagination!!

Well, I'm totally hooked and not having any problems with the controls.

One thing I either missed or isn't there that has me miffed though is not being able to change the key bindings for things like the Journal and Inventory. I couldn't play these games without my Cyber Snipa keyboard gamepad and there is no I or J on it.

And have I missed another thing? Is there no quick slot for potions? Do I have to enter Meditation in order to consume a Swallow? I tried during my battle with the Baron and of course, you can't enter Meditation during combat.

Hi Everyone,

I've just downloaded my copy from GOG and, dying to play, tried to burn a copy to CD so I wouldn't have to do that 5 hour download again. Too bad, game's too large for one DVD.

Anyway, I don't think I can wait any more. I'll make my DRM-free copy some other time. Time to install and see if my laptop can handle Geralt v.2

Edit -- So far, so good. The game seems to play well on the laptop. Geralt isn't as pretty this time around, but I suppose that's only to be expected after being carved up a few times.

How is everyone else enjoying the game?

Has anyone defeated the Kayran yet? I just got to that part and I'm afraid that this game is for younger folks than I. I got to 3 tentacles and couldn't even begin to find or get the fourth.

I've read the walkthrough so I know what to do I just can't do it. If it's this hard on easy and chapter 1 then I just wasted $50.

Maybe later there will be a cheat to get you past the hard battles like this otherwise I'm SOL.

Is there such a thing as God mode for this game? Or is there a cheat console command?

Cheat Happens has a trainer but you have to be a member to download it.

I just watched a video of the whole battle and I may try it again after watching it because I was close.

If anyone wants to watch it it is here

Well after watching the video I reloaded and fought the Kayran again and lo and behold I was able to get through it. So maybe I'll be able to struggle through this game but, for me, it is not as enjoyable as Witcher 1.

As far I can tell from the previews, I have read in it all in the preparation - this time around. You'll need to decide which strategies, you'll use before you fight e.g. would you drink a swallow potion, a blizzard potion or would you rather drink something else, or would you rather put coating on your blade. This means, you'll have to meditate before any and all battles in the game. And to me, this is a very bad design decision, as this is not fun for the player to die like 20 or 30 times before getting things right. This is also partly why I didn't like the combat much in BG1+BG2...go up against enemies, try and try, maybe 20 times, and maybe, just maybe the 21st time, you'll get it right. Maybe.

And from every review I've seen, yes the combat is that difficult on hard. However, just as in Witcher 1, combat should get easier, when you level up and out points into your abilities and skills.

Edit:
Just found this:

http://www.shacknews.com/article/68506/witcher-2-patch-next-week

According to this the patch will allow players to remap key bindings as well as invert the mouse. Also, all and any future dlc will be...free...

Edit 2:
Also found this - from http://pc-mmo.nowgamer.com/reviews/pc-mmo/9816/the-witcher-2?o=2#listing





Maybe this'll help people who hage difficulty playing with the keyboard.

Thanks Karsten

Karsten, bless your little heart. If I can remedy my one issue with mapping all the key bindings, maybe I can deal with not having quick slots for potions during battle. So far, I have to agree with your comments about this NOT being a good design. I also don't like having to run around avoiding a enemy while I "heal up." I want to get in, get busy and defeat him. I'm hoping as I level up that will get better.

Otherwise, I notice my skills with the combat system are getting much better with practice. I do like the great "finish moves!"

Oh, and I'm playing on Normal.

Well, I've only had a couple of hours to play and am still in the prologue, but so far I actually think the combat is an improvement compared to Witcher 1. It's a LOT more interesting - you really have to plan your tactics and prepare for every fight, rather than just bulldoze in.

I've had to stop playing because I can't get the Troll Trouble DLC to download and install.

I don't want to progress past that area of the game and not get to do it. Also, apparently a certain reward from another quest is dependant on the DLC being in place at the time.

Sounds very complex. I wonder if that is what the developers had in mind?

Templeton, I wonder if a patch is forthcoming?

The patch 1.1 is forthcoming next week according to the official website and it does mention the DLC problem specifically.

One thing that really bugs me is that you can't delete save games from within the game itself. Why would they leave this simple feature out? I know it doesn't affect gameplay in the slightest, but I loathe having hundreds of save games.

Regarding Kayran Fight
I play on easy, not sure is this can be regarded as spoiler so I'll mark it anyway

@Templeton Peck
I have searched around regarding problem with Troll DLC, for Win 7, you need to check run as administrator under launcher.exe properties (even if you have UAC at lowest level as I am), that worked for me, but it seems that I'm late for that because I have downloaded it after arriving to town, and now I can't find quest.

Another thing - I would like to be able to change game options from within the game. As it is, I have to exit the game in order to change a key binding or a video option.

I have a code obtained because I pre-ordered the game, some Swordsman Suit, it says

How to Use Your Code:
Step 1: Start the game launcher
Step 2: Select the 'Pre-order Redemption Code' tab

.....

I cann't find any tab for pre-order, also I cannot type name or password to register.

Has anyone had the same problem?

I bought a special pre-order offer from play.com which included some special armour, but I didn't find any code to enter, I assumed it meant that the particular edition of the game had the armour programmed into it?

Yes, I tried to register using my already existing name and password and it was rejected.

I've actually tried that already, still doesn't work though. It just endlessly cycles between download and verification.

I think the patch coming next week will resolve this, at least there's this message on the witcher's website -talking about the problems with the Troll Trouble DLC.



It seems also that there might be patch 1.2 sometime in June of 2011...

Yeah, you're right, I just thought that I had downloaded it, but realized it is not marked, so I tried again and got the download loop, guess troll will have to wait for next run

Thanks Karsten, at least they know about the problem and are working on it.

I see what everyone means about the combat,but I'm getting the hang of it now. Part of the trouble is the non-stop action from the get-go. I'm at the second ballista in the Prologue, and keep getting swarmed, but cut and run techniques work well. One real problem in my opionion, is the lack of in-game descriptions of the spells. Ignii is obvious; the others are not.I've used a trial and error process that has been marginally helpful. I guess that's the problem with a download - no paper manual to refer to.

Otherwise I'm impressed with the game graphics. The action is very smooth on my laptop, really enjoyable.

I have the boxed version and I am glad I got it since even when it is not the Collectors, has a guide apart from the manual and a CD with the soundtrack. Up to now I haven't had problems with the protection (fingers crossed), this was my biggest concern about Boxed against the Download since I had problems before with this kind of protection.

Can anyone help me get past the ballista in the courtyard? When I try to [blip] it, nothing ever happens except that more guards spawn. The bar indicator, which I assume is supposed to fill up as you [blip] the ballista, instead empties out. I am obviously doing something wrong. After about 15 tries I'm out of ideas. Very frustrating that I am so stuck so early in a game.

Edit. Soryy about the "blips." I used the correct word in the correct context. Nothing I can do about the language filter, I guess.

Hi Hagatha

As for the manual, did you download it from GOG. I've read somewhere that you'll need to scroll down a bit, and then you'll be able to get the manual etc.

As for ballista area, I think you'll need to hold the left mouse button to fill the bar up, then release it. And yes, there will be more enemies, I think there will be three waves in total?

hagatha, you also need to pick up the hammer and hit the ballista or you will be filling the bar and seeing enemies forever, that is not too bad for a while because it should give experience points and some money, but when you want to end this hammer the ballista.

hagatha, you have to click madly to fill the bar quickly. If you don't fill it quickly enough, yet another wave of guards will come.

Hagatha if you downloaded the game, which I assume you did or you'd have a paper manual, then there should be an option to "view manual" on the launcher just below the read me option.

Thanks all.

Did you get it Hagatha?

Well I've been persevering and trying to get used to the gameplay and I've managed - on easy combat - to get to the temple and the search for the solar. But now I'm getting killed by the dragon, I know there is some kind of quick time thing here, and a very brief flash of instruction seemed to be saying to press the right hand mouse button when some kind of symbol appears, but I didn't see what symbol exactly and whenever I try to press a button the dragon always kills me. This is so infuriating! Can anyone tell me how to get past this?

edit 1: Also, who killed Aryan in the showdown and who managed to negotiate peacefully, if that isn't giving too much away? I did the first initially and then went back and went the second way ...

edit 2: For the ballista I found just clicking very fast seemed to work, I didn't pick up any kind of hammer.

If you're where I think you are then you just press the "S" key and run away from the dragon.

Thanks Oldman, I've been trying to run away but the dragon always seems to catch up with me, is it a fast clicking thing or is there something I'm missing?

You can just run (holding S) and there is no need to do anything else, you should be able to pass

Hi everyone. Thanks for the advice on the ballista. Got it.

Escaping the dragon took some doing. You have to hit the "s" button as soon as you have control of the game. I ran straight past the first bulge in the pathway but ducked into the second bulge, using the right mouse button to crouch below the dragon fire. As soon as the fire stopped I hit the "S" key again and ran straight into the castle on the other side.

This game has committed the one unpardonable sin, in my eyes - a long, long, long and ultimately tedious (after several forced repetitions) dialogue section, followed by a long, long action sequence with absolutely no opportunity to save so that if you get killed you have to go through the entire dialogue sequence again, and so on ad nauseum. After the tenth time being able to skip parts of the dialoge doesn't help. I had to stop playing from sheer frustration. Not fun, and there is no reason to deny a save position. It subtracts from the gameplay experience rather than adding to it.

Edit - Meh, I just ran into a game-ending bug in the dungeons. Serves me right for having such high expectations. I think I'll load up Dragon Age 2 instead.

I'm patiently waiting for the patch that is coming this week and have stopped playing as well.

This is why I don't pre-order games usually. I'd rather wait until the game gets a patch or two in.

Hmmm... I got out of the dungeons just fine and am now in Flotsam.

In the dungeon, you're supposed to Because there is no place to save in this entire sequence, I have to keep restarting from all that dialogue in the prison cell, and after a while I just can't be bothered. I'm not sure if the inability to save is by design or whether it's a bug. Doesn't really make sense not to allow a save in this area, really. I mean, what's the point? Grumble, mutter. Anyway, I hope this gets fixed by the patch.

I cannot believe the struggle I'm having trying to escape the dragon - the most I've been able to do is duck down to avoid the fiery breath, but then once I press S again it's too late and the dragon just immediately gets me. I've tried this a dozen times or more now, I'm rapidly getting sick of it and of this game, if it's just going to be like this over and over again unless there's some kind of cheat or god mode available I will be abandoning it.

edit: On top of everything the game is now crashing quite frequently on reloading a save - since I keep having to re-load the dragon chase sequence a lot, this is just maddening and I am a hair's breadth away from uninstalling the game right now!

Vegpot, I had a hard time with the dragon too until I figured out I had to right click when the prompt showed up and immediately hold down the S key. Finally made it after about a dozen tries - it wasn't hard at all, but I just wasn't doing it right.

Vegpot, Hagatha sorry you guys are having such a hard time. I hope the patch improves the game for you.

When trying to kill Kayran there is a long cut scene previous to the fight that is annoyingly long with no way to skip it.


I don't mind to fight a big boss several times but this waiting for the cut scene to finish is ridiculous.


I only made through that fight after checking a Youtube WT. Then if you get stuck like me after riding one tentacle I recommend checking the WT.

I hate to grumble so much abut a new game, especialy when it looks so good and generally plays so well. I bet if they get all the nuisance bugs out of it, it'll become a favourite. But not allowing saves right a fter long cutscenes or long dialogue trees is just downright dumb, I think. That's how you end up with frustrated games.

Vegpot, there are numerous Youtube tutorial videos on this game and you might find one for this.

Thanks to various on here for trying to help and be supportive, I am now unable to play the game at all for the moment as I tried to improve things by downloading the latest graphics card drivers which has made a mess of my screen resolution and the game won't play I've put a post on the glitches forum but not sure if that was the right place ...

Just some of my thoughts!

This game is good.

For me ,unlike other games I have played & thought I don't need that, or why read that?

After getting me head handed to me in the side Quests, in Chp 1.

In this game,pick up & use everything that's around. This means everything. You can always sell it if you don't need it.

The game is not as hard if you read what works with what your doing at the time.


If you go into battle with swords a-swinging,

& did'nt prepare right, it's game over pal

When I started doing what the game say's works with what, it made things way less stressful.

I'm on normal game play.

I did play the prologe on easy, & then switched to normal in chp 1

The dragon, all I did was run fast, no stopping ,& made it the first time.

Dunn Tawkin

As far as I know, the in-ability to save anywhere is a feature, not a bug. I remember discussing it in a few forum posts over at rpgwatch. And I think we were all amazed that CD Project did this e.g. you can only save when you game auto-saves or at certain savepoints. I think maybe there is in ability to hit F5 (quicksave) anytime...

I seem also to have seen in an interview with Tomasz Gop (senior producer) that he mentions that a normal or quick save key (or ability) will be added to the game in a future patch.

As for saves after cutscenes or long dialogues, Bioware did this as well in many of their games.
This led to in DA:O the game autosaved after a cutscene and after a lengthy dialogue...

As for problems with monitors etc. glitches is the correct forum to post in.

You can hit esc and skip scenes and keep hitting right mouse key to fast forward through dialogue. It seems to me that I was able to hit the F5 key just before the Kayran fight but I could be wrong.

I have made it to Chapter 2 and followed the quest pointers until I got to the subterraneam quest with the dwarves and you need many keys and a bomb and I don't know which one so I am so frustrated I'm going to put this game on hold for a while and wait for a complete walkthrough. It was starting to get to be fun and now it is just frustrating.

Well I have had it with the game, I just uninstalled it. I must say what a huge disappointment this sequel has been, the features I liked about the witcher seem to have vanished and to me it had become a kind of action-focused shoot em up more suited to console play, the rpg magic has gone, Witcher RIP ...

It has gone down a similar path to Mass Effect 2, which also lost most of the rpg adventure fun of ME1 and became a fast-action shooter to all intents and purposes.

Now I have to try and mend my laptop which isn't displaying properly any more after 'updating' the driver ... sigh ...

not a good day ...

I'm getting seriously worried now about my ability to cope with Witcher 2 .... even when I do have a machine that will play it

What is it with sequels ????
I had to give up on both Neverwinternights 2 and Divine Divinity 2 - with auto-changing camera angles at the worst possible times in one and ridiculously difficult gameplay and navigation in the second half of the other !!

I think Knights of the Old Republic 2 was one of the last really good "unwrecked" sequels I've played

How do I enter stealth mode? I don't see it in the manual.

What do you do to get your swords back after Loredo ?

Oh boy! I found them in my inventory

I've got frustrated few times, generally with fast pace in prologue, with dragon, kayren, arm wrestling etc; but I finally got hold of the fight so I'm enjoying my play, I'm just in front of dwarf mines.
And while we are at bombs, I almost got crazy searching for that bomb in chapter 1 that has different name in the guide.

@mcc
not sure about stealth mode, to me it seems it activates on it's own in some areas
if you mean getting your swords back after regular visit to Loredo, they are in chest just in front of the gate, next to the guard

I tried to look at the chest but I thought I couldn't, however later I found the swords in the inventory, somehow I must have taken them.

Stealth mode will activate itself in certain areas where the game will allow you to sneak. Remember to use the aard sign to blow up the torches...and sneak...

Thanks, I thought one could activate stealth apart from the times that comes automatically.

Hey, Karsten,

I never had any trouble saving previously in the game (obviously with the limitations imposed by being in combat) but I will try one last time quick-saveing in the dungeon. Still, I can't get anywhere beause I can't do the one thing that sets the next sequence in motion -- -- so I am effectively game over unless the patch deals with this issue.

Otherwise the game is great, now that I understand how the combat works. I always did love Witcher.

hagatha, did you kill Aryan? The guide I have says the way to get out is different depending of where you had killed him or not.

There should not be a dead end either way. The map is very confusing, there is probably a way you cannot see.

I had kill Aryan, if you didn't you need to find him and he will show you a secret passage.

hagatha, I believe there is an alternative way to do this part of the game. Do not drop down into the lower dungeons through the trap door. Stay on the same upper level you start this part in.



EDIT: Ah, mcc, I hadn't thought of that. I know that killing or not killing Aryan changes some things later on in the game. I killed him too.

I'm having a great time running around in Flotsam. Can anyone tell me if I absolutely need to have someone craft me a silver witcher's sword before I take on the monster? I'm still missing some silver dust.

Drac, I would find one or have one made.

I just got a better one in one of the side quests.

I'm at level 8 right now, but have not tried to tackle the water monster yet.

As I said in a early post, use everything in the game enviroment, made some of the battles
so easy,after getting creamed before.

All side quests finished now.

Dunn

Draclvr, in my experience it doesn't matter much how strong is your weapon, it is more a matter of survival, not too easy, and trapping (not spoiler since Sile tells you to do that) the tentacles so you can slash them, as long as they are trapped it is easy to cut them.

I got stuck and killed after cutting them, I had to check a video WT to know what to do, since trial and error was taking me too long because the cut scene previous to the fight.

About the dungeons, I only know about the different plays because I have a mini guide that came in the boxed version that says so.

In this game apparently there are many choices affecting the play. Loading the W1 games did not make any difference as far as I have noticed.

Dunn Tawkin, the problem I have with the side quests is that even when pointed as the quest to follow the marker doesn't appear in the map and I don't know where to look, e.g. the cocoons or the entrance of caves.

I don't know about anyone else but I imported the W1 game and got my Raven Armor and the 2 swords that I had accumulated in the original game. So I already had a good silver and steel sword.

I certainly didn't get any armor from W1, I have a decent silver sword but I don't know if it is from that game, I ended the game with very good stats and equipment.

mcc and Draclvr, I did not kill Aryan, so I guess I'm hooped. There is no alternative way out of the dungeon; the trapdoor is the only one. I'll just wait for the patch and hope it works. In the meantime I'm having fun with Dragon Age 2, just having worked out which characters are romanceable.

Unfortunately I have no games saves from Witcher 1 (different computer) so I guess I'll have to start a whole new epic adventure some time. I liked all my various Geralts, but the last one was really good.

I think you're supposed to somehow find Aryan and he will show you the secret way out, hagatha. From a walkthrough -



So, don't drop down into that trapdoor and see what happens. The executioner's room is accessible from the upper level down a flight of stairs.

hagatha, I copied the saved games from another computer into my Witcher 2 folder in Documents, when installing the game it recognized the old games.

At some point soon after leaving your cell you should witness two guards leading Aryan out of the torture chamber, you should talk to him apparently.

RPGCodex bears good news - the patch for the witcher is forthcoming
The patch should be released later this evening...or maybe we'll have to wait till tomorrow.


Here's the link:


http://rpgcodex.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=59836

The changelog is a bit too long to post, but some important changes are these:



I hope this helps some of you having trouble playing this game.

Regarding W1 save, I think that it depends which save specifically you import (it offers you to choose), I have also got both swords (silver Aerondight, don't remember steel) and Raven's Armor.

I put all my saves, it must be that in my last save Gerald was having fun with a lady and didn't have his armor on

I think I had two swords from the beginning, I am not sure I need to load the first save to check.

Thanks Karsten, I'm sure it will be a smoother play now.

Well I got back into the game and finally found my way through the subterranean quest. I backed the elves in chapter one so my quest line is completely different than the walkthrough from gamespot (until it gets posted). So now I need one more ingredient for a poisen remedy and from reading various posts I need to find Cecil the Dwarf but I've gone around in so many circles thus far I don't remember if or when I met him.

Anybody know where he is?



Well I found Cecil and I have no option to discuss the ingredients for the quest "A Matter of Life and Death" so now I don't know where to go to find the last ingredient which is A Place of Power or something like that. I've read that I'm supposed to find crystals or some such but have no idea of where to look.

Well, crud... the patch doesn't let me remap all my key bindings.

Ah, well, I guess I can live with it. I'm having a terrible good time in the game.

EDIT: Does anyone know what we are supposed to do with the pods or Venus Flytrap looking things in the woods outside Flotsam? The Witcher medallion show it as something to interact with, but I can't do anything to or with them..

I don't know how to use the Mutagens, in the manual it says , I don't see anything in the Character Abilities screen.

How do I do it?

Mcc, we'll have to wait for a fellow player to get that question answered.

mcc, it seems that mutagens can be used only on skills that are at the end of the tree, I'm developing sword tree, and at the end I have 3 skills that I can add mutagens to - you can see really tiny dots, right click > add mutagen.
So, it seems that we don't have many options to use them, so it's best to keep only strong mutagens and sell the rest.


you can see green dots on three skills

Tx Srebrna

More thanks, Srebrna - I'd have looked for a long time! I have a couple of mutagens - will have to see if they are worth keeping.

Thanks Srebrna, I don't see the green dots in mine but probably because I haven't added those yet, I'll do it now.

I have several mutagens I'll have to be careful which ones I use.

I have found it now , I assume one can use only one per ability.

In Witcher 2, after i kill the Kayran, i want to return in the village and get my reward, but i cannot enter the village because ( Geralt ) i'm killed by some guards and i cannot do enything about it. Some smuck appears from nowhere yelling "kill that [blip]" and...game over. How can i get by ? What i must do or cheat ? Thanks in advance for your reply.

The Patch 1.1 is out. Apparently the FPS rates for some people are going up a lot.

For me, I'm stuck downloading 9GB because my version is from Steam. The patch isn't that big actually, but it has something to do with Steam not being able to just apply the patch so easily.

Hopefully I'll get to play tonight.

Also please note that the patch removes the drm on the system. Seems the drm was just on the game for the release then.

Here's the part from the release notes about this:

(source: http://www.rpgwatch.com/?rwsiteid=1#17359 )

Here's the link to the patch:
http://www.en.thewitcher.com/

Frame rates should be going up as well:



I hope this means some of you get to enjoy Witcher 2 in a better way than before.

Gabriel, did you check the WT linked several pages back?

I think oldman got Gabriel playing again by having him sheath his sword.

I patched the game, actually I had to reinstall it and the patch was automatic, but I still cannot register either with my old name or with a new account, I just cannot type anything.
Any ideas?

I think you can register the game via the gogforums. At least that what I picked up on my visit through the varius rpg sites on the internet.

CDP did take their forums down for now; they should be up later...

Also, remember that the first DLC Troll Trouble is included in the patch...

I had that problem when I first tried to register and found that I had my font settings on my desktop to 150%. I reduced them to 100% and was able to see the type. I don't know if that's your problem or not but it was mine.

I made it to Chapter 3 now but I've missed a whole bunch of quests along the way. I just followed the main quest. When I finish I'll do a replay and try to pick up all the quests. Plus it looks like the choice you make in Chapter 1 makes a completely different set of quests in Chapter 2 so will side with the other side second time around.

I have two major points of irritation with this game so far.

The first, is with the Monk in the inn that you have to play Dice Poker with to get a so called "relic". It took me several tries to finally win and then when you find out what it is, what a joke and waste of time.

Down the line when the game gets older, it isn't likely to be even working anymore.

The second, is the fact if you sell your formulas, you can't create anything like in the original. I thought I was fine since they all recorded in the journal and I wanted to free up that extra weight (little that it is) and make the money from them.

I'm just glad I noticed before I got too far ahead because apparently if you go too far you can't get them back again.

Thanks for the info Tempelton

I was going to do the same thing, to free up space.

I can't find anything about the books you pick up. Can you get rid of them ?.

The only one's I could read, is the quest books!

Oldman: I'm trying to do all the quest,so I can level-up more,& get a-little more story.


I sided with the elves.

Dunn

Did win all the fist fights so far.

Did the big fight with the town clowns boys. Whipped em but good.

There's a weightless mod out for Witcher 2 on witchernexus.

In Chapter 1 I missed 2 of the 3 Side Quests I was trying to do because I couldn't find the things I was looking for, I even killed one of the Queens because I found the pods by chance doing the Main Quest but I didn't find the other. I never found the entrances I was supposed to blow to stop the Nekkers. I had the Quest supposedly tracked.

I have all the pods destroyed, but haven't killed either of the queens yet. And I had to use my Witcher Medallion to find the Nekker entrances. They are very hard to see on the forest floor unless you do.

Right now I'm down in the old hospital searching for some Nilfgardian ghost, but I can't find him anywyere.

Draclvr, This is the only one I finished, I don't remember having trouble finding the Nilfgardian ghost, I found him very soon I gave the medicine to the brother that is still in the hospital, I thing his location was marked in the map but I am not sure.

Thanks Karsten, I'll check it out.

Draclvr, that ghost is around the corner pretty close, should show up on your mimi map,

if you have the quest checked in your journal.

Mcc, that other pod is just a-little south-east ,if I remember right. On a corner by a big tree.

Got to chapter 2. Big pow wow meeting done,

Won all the fist fights in the local watering hole so far.

Made a pretty good armor set up before I left Flotsam.Lot stronger charactor now.


Dunn

Well I finished the game and will not put in a spoilers however there are 2 choices on the ending. I obviously have only witnessed one. I chose to go with the elves this time around.

Witcher 1 was more player friendly in that the quests, both side and main, were marked so much better and the map was so much easier to read and understand. Plus it was so much easier to identify MPC's and those that you needed to talk to. In Witcher 2 it's a hit and a miss as to which NPC's are going to engage and which are just going to blow you off. Just my opinion.

I'm starting again and this time the game will not recognize my witcher 1 saves. They are in the same file and the same saves. The only thing different is that I'm playing the patched version now. So, to keep my Raven Armor and swords from Witcher 1 I just loaded a save game from the beginning and am playing again from there.

This time I will try to get all the side quests and see if I can enjoy the game more now that I have an idea where everthing is. This is a much shorter game than W1 and, to me, very disappointing. I was expecting so much more.

After I finish this second go around I'll probably do another run through of the original just to leave the games with a better taste in my mouth.

I have one question to those who blew up the nests in Chapter 1. Which bombs do you use and where do you get them?

Oldman, if you had to give this and the original Witcher a grade, what would it be?

oldman, maybe if you move the Witcher 2 saves to another folder you can still import your Character from W1.

I took me months to finish W1 I am amazed you finished this game already.

I had to go back to an earlier save to have him show up - don't know why as I didn't do anything differently. Anyway, made my choice and am now looking for more silver to craft the Robust Witcher's Silver Sword.

Still have to go back and get both those Endrega queens. I hope to have some good long gaming time tonight.

Well since Witcher 1 is my all time favorite along with Morrowind and KOTOR, I'd have to say that Witcher 1 is a 10 and Witcher 2 is a 6 (on a scale of 1 to 10. Actually, in my opinion there is no comparison. Witcher 2 falls far short of the original in more ways than one including the length of the game.


MCC I was just as surprised as you when I came to the end. I couldn't believe that the game was over already. Witcher 1 had 5 chapters as well as a prologue and epilogue while Witcher 2 has 3 with epilogue and prologue. Plus Chapter 3 is not really a full chapter. There are also not as many quests in Witcher 2.

I need to be able to get the shard of a corpse in the Succubus Side Quest but I don't have the right tools, has anybody found Surgical Tools or something useful for this?

Thanks I have found them in the market.

Mcc, there are surgical tools with the lady in the market that sells potions.

Ah John, this is better than the first Witcher. The story seems to flow better and other than Geralt's not so pretty face the graphics are lovely. Also prefer the new Triss.

I'm with you anne. As much as I loved the first Witcher, the story flows better in Witcher 2 and I'm really engrossed in the game. The only thing I don't like about the "new" Geralt is that huge lower jaw... Why did they do that? Also agree about the new Triss...

Draclvr, maybe someone will beable to mod his jaw, it really does spoil his face.

Anne I agree with you about the graphics and the story line and thought they continued the original story as no other sequel has ever done.

However, it is much shorter and less gamer friendly than witcher 1. My biggest pieves are the map and trying to find NPC's. In witcher 1 you had the option of turning on captions to identify everything but not so in Witcher 2.

My second playthrough is going to take me probably twice as long to finish as I'm concentrating on all the side quests while in the first I just followed the quest markers and the game automatically took me through the main quest and I was at the end before I realized it.

And, I also much prefer the new Triss Merigold. In fact, Polish Playboy even had her in a playboy spread. I've seen pictures of the actors that portray Triss and Geralt and, after makeup, they look remarkably like the game characters. I would imagine that they were used as models for the graphics designers in the game.

Anyway Witcher 1 was a little more gritty but I thought it added to the atmosphere that the game was portraying.

Now, the map is something I agree with you on, oldman. The mini-map is essentially useless. I'm doing all the quests I can in this first play through. And the "grittiness" was one of my favorite things about Witcher 1.

Oldman, the bomb to be used for nekker nests is Grapeshot, you can buy formula from elf in the village outside the town, forgot the name, but he's the one on the tree that you need to talk to regarding main quest line. It will be activated on "destroy nest" button, and you need to move away or you get incinerated to.
Regarding incineration, I have heard there is some perk that you can get if you run through fires, I think I'm on good way to obtain it as I never miss campfires when talking to npc's .

Thank you Srebna. I'm on my second time around and plan on picking up all the side quests this time around. I'm in Chapter one and have those quests on my list so will go to the elf and get the bombs and be equipped to blow up some nests.


Well I've found 3 of 4 nests and have just about given up on finding the fourth. In Wiki it states that there is one east of the others but I've searched everywhere I can and used z until I'm z'd in the face and have yet to find the fourth. Another pieve of mine. In Witcher 1 at least they showed you which way to go to get a quest.

Oldman , I stumbled on a-couple of them by accident, doing something else.

They are hard to find.

Dunn

I need to buy the Beehive Bombs or the Crafting Diagram to finish the Mines Side Quest.

This is a permanent problem I have in this game - either I don't know where to go or how to get an item I need.

I read that Beehive is a misnomer in the game. They are actually the grapeshot bombs and you can check srebrna's post above about them.

I found a map that shows all four of the Nekker nests and finished the quest. I lost the url but printed out the map so if anyone wants it let me know and I'll email you a copy of the map.

Thanks oldman, I have seen a guy who sales grapeshots.

I am interested on the map because I want to start over again after I finish this game because I am missing too many things. When I play for the second time there should be also more WTs, making these things clearer.

Let me know if you need a copy of the map. I'm holding on to the hard copy just in case. My email is available in my profile.

Okay, I've downloaded the patch and as soon as I'm done with Dragon Age 2 (sadly, I won't be diving in for a second run through it, at not immediately) I'll be trying again with Witcher 2, see if the patch gets me past that glitch in the dungeons.

hagatha, may be here there is a player who didn't kill Aryan and could advise you and also say if the task is possible or there is really a glitch, the Dungeons are very confusing and you could easily be missing something.

Do you have a mini guide that comes with the game? There is a map, not excellent, but is something. I you haven't seen Aryan maybe you haven't reached the #4 in the map, after reaching that room the game splits from A) having killed Aryan or B) Aryan is alive and the way to exit changes.

There are a couple of videos right here that show two different ways of getting out of the dungeon.

Oldman

I had to go back to a previous save to get the Nilfgardian ghost to show up, so maybe hagatha had a similar issue.

Thanks for the tips. Operator error is always a possibility with me. I'll check it out tonight. I'm still playing Dragon Age 2, but am dying to get back to W2.

hagatha , HERE you can find a very good map of the Dungeons

Hey, guys, glad to see y'all playing Witcher 2.

I'm in chapter 2 now, so can't comment on game as a whole, but at this point I'm still preferring at least the first game's interface, and alchemy and battle mechanics in the first game. (Not to mention inventory managment!)

Phew, but some of these graphics are pretty, like the forest at Flotsam!

Wow, well done on finishing already, Oldman.

Moondancer I just hurried through the first playthrough to see how the game was and didn't do any side quests. However, I was surprised when it ended. I was expecting a couple more chapters and all of a sudden I got to the end.

I'm now playing a second run through doing all the side quests and just hit chapter 2. The first time I went with the elves and this time I'm going with the Special Forces (or whatever they're called). Have been trying to find and do all the side quests in the game so it will take a little longer. I'm even disappointed in the amount of side quests in W2 versus W1.

Oh well they sold it and I bought it so I'll try to get my money's worth. Still miss all the stuff in W1 that they don't have in W2 though.

While I'm on it, I can't figure out which dice are higher and which are lower in this version of poker dice. So it's all hit and miss. I just save and guess and if I lose I reload and repeat.

I finished the game. Did very few Side Quests mainly because I didn't see how to do some of them. I will start again and do different choices as oldman did.

Excellent graphics, some the best I had seen, good story, all in all I enjoyed the game, but terrible map, difficult to find places and not clear instructions for the Side Quests. Also no many places to do real trade and the trading possibility is finished after the battle starts, I finished with a super full inventory even when I discarded may things. I hope now there are more WTs available.

The Patch 1.2 is coming tomorrow, I'll then I'll wait for it.

Yes, as mcc says patch 1.2 will be out tomorrow.


There will be a new dlc included in the patch called Barbers and Coiffeurs

(source: http://www.rpgwatch.com/#1740 )

Should make many people, including me, happy...;)

Edit:

As you probably know by now (those of us who watched the press conference - for some reasons I alwaus forget about these...) Witcher 2 will be released for Xbox 360 later this year. (same source as above)

Karsten, it should make me happy also

Count me in too!

I just want to mention, that although I don't usually play with mods or trainers, in this case, I used a mod to increase inventory capacity. You can find some nice inventory expanding mods at the Witcher Nexus.

Oldman and MCC I hope you kept your alternate choice older saves for chapter 2, since some of the (actually I think most of the chapter 2 side quests? ) are dependent on the choice you made; because you find yourself in a different place/town depending which choice you make.

I find that the side quests are taking quite a lot of my time. I also plan to play both choices so will let you know on that once I'm done.

A question for people who ended the game siding with the elves


Moondancer, I am a pack rat my inventory is always fuuuuullll and I keep ALL my saves.

As soon as the new Patch comes out I will restart a new game, trying to do more Side Quests and this time will side with Roche.

Many of the problems I had with Side Quests were related to not knowing where to go or what to do in a certain moment, in the Baltimore Dream, e.g., that I supposedly finished, I was left with a Thorak key and a chest in the shipwreck I couldn't open. In the Harpy contract the guide says one needs to find "Firefly" bombs, I don't know if it is another bomb misnomer like with the Beehives but I couldn't get any, I had harpy traps though but I didn't know where to put them.

Well when I went to launch the game today I got a popup that asked if I wanted to install patch 1.2. I clicked yes and the patch automatically installed. Now the launcher no longer has downloadable content as an option which is no big thing because it wasn't working all that well anyway. So now I have the 1.2 patch installed and I didn't have to hunt it down it just installed itself automatically which I think is cool.

oldman...

So glad it is automatic. Did it solve any of your problems with the game?

Actually I have had no problems with this game but the patches do give goodies that I have used. I got a haircut after this patch was installed. So basically I had no problems to solve.

In my case it was not automatic, I had to execute the patch but with no problems.

I got my hair cut too

The problems I had were not related to patches but with the map particularly with the Side Quests. I found a WT with lots of maps HERE ad I have the maps printed, now it only has Prologue and Chapter 1 included the Side Quests. I hope soon is more complete.

I am still unable to log in or register the game. I've even tried to log in to the regular forums where I've been a member since the first Witcher came out. Both the Login and Register options are greyed out... Is it just me? If I say I've forgotten my password, it tells me an email has been sent, but it never arrives.

I also cannot login in at witcher site (grayed out), but I have registered the game through launcher. First I tried using user/pass that I already had for witcher 1, but it didn't work, so I used option to create new account and made same account again. Recovery mail also didn't work, seems they are too busy atm to finish site.

Yes, firefly is a misnomer, it should be harpy traps. Have at least seven crafted, and put them in the slot for bombs and traps.

If you can't register the first game's enhanced edition, there is a guide and help here:



http://en.thewitcher.com/the-witcher/1/

Note that there is also an option for downloading patch 1.5 at this site.

---

And yes, it seems that the forums, login and the register options are still greyed out.
Hopefully, they're going to fix it - soon - I hope.

I've been registered since I got the first game several years ago. But I cannot register Witcher 2, nor can I log in or register at the website. I've tried registering the Witcher 2 game using my old log-in and creating a new accout - no luck either way.

Drac, Did you get your copy through Steam? I saw lots of folks who did saying they could not register.

Did you try clicking on register.exe in the installation folder?

There is a list of bugs, glitches etc and their fixes Here

No, I have a boxed disk version. And, yes, I tried every way possible. I find it odd that I can't even log in like I always did or even register under a new name. I'll glean that link you posted to see if there is something I missed there. Thanks!

Draclvr, I had the same problem, unable to register even creating a new account, the reason was that apparently I was not typing anything. I just tried to create a new account typing my new name and password even when not seeing a thing and it worked.


Moondancer,

thanks, I will try that when I replay and I side again with the elves. This time around I plan to side with Roche. I have done a couple of Side Quests of Chapter 1, this time using the maps I found, what a relief.

Draclvr if the registration etc is grayed out then that generally means that the program is not yet connected to the internet. When I had that problem at first there was some text at the bottom of the launcher showing connection status. Sometimes I started the game and then when I quit the game the launcher would be connected. Don't know if that helps at all but might be worth a try.

Also when I first tried to register the game wouldn't accept my Witcher 1 password but after the first patch it would. In fact when I tried to create a new account I got the message that my email address was already in the system.

Thanks, oldman, but the the Register option is not grayed out in the game launcher. It tells me I'm entering an invalid password, although I know it's the right one. When I select the "can't remember password," it says a password recovery email was sent, but nothing is ever sent.

I tried to to go the Community where I am registered, but the Login and Register options are grayed out there.

I give up!

Wooooweeeeeee guys, this thread has gotten long. I'm closing this one, but never fear. I made a new one with lots and lots of room for posting Here.