05/11/12 - So, where are they going to announce the winner?

05/09/12 - I think you're supposed to click the link in the post to enter.... >.>

05/09/12 - After finishing the game on Normal and Hard I was talking to my friend about the game, and I said I might try the Insane mode. He happily bet me I wouldn't make it before a certain date. I proved him wrong, with this here build I came up with. I decided to use Alchemy as my main build. Admittedly, it's not great at the start. But later on, with the right potions and a little bit of Swordsmanship thrown in, it becomes very powerful, especially if you have the luck to find some good mutagens. The drawback of this build is the dependance on potions, obviously. You need to plan ahead and drink up before moving out / fighting, and if a fight surprises you, you're into some trouble. TRAINING The first six points have to go in the Training tree. I went with 2/2 Hardness (early 50hp is a must on Insane), 1/2 Parrying to unlock the last two, and 2/2 Fortitude. While Vigor isn't all that useful if you don't use Signs a lot (save for parrying), I still find it better than Arrow Redirection. You don't get shot at all that often, and even then it's better to roll around and slice/Aard the archer, rather than stand and block. The last point doesn't really matter, I like to put it in the Dagger Throwing to be able to do the Blue Stripes quest in Act 1. Before going to Alchemy, pick up Position and possibly Feetwork from Swordsmanship. Position will keep you from being murdered in 2 hits, and Feetwork will allow you to move around the battlefield easier. It's rather important, really. ALCHEMY Because I was playing on Insane, I took Synthesis and Specialization : Potions for starters. It's a more defensive choice than Alchemist / Side Effects, which is obviously better for more offensive characters. Plus, the extra potion duration removes a part of the annoyance that is reapplying potions. 1/2 Harvester and 2/2 Catalysis. The latter is a must-have, and makes some average potions great. Just pick it, trust me. 1/2 Specialization : Oils to unlock further and then 1/2 Taster, which is another no-brainer, as more potion slots -> better, obviously. Impregnation is a tough nut to crack. When mutagens were a lot easier to farm, it was a no brainer ability, one that made Alchemy really overpowered. Now, the mutagen drop rates are considerably lower, so it takes a lot of patience and/or luck to get the good ones. You can always pick it up later though, since it's supposed to work retroactively now. Metathesis 1/2, Berserker 1/2, Mutant 1/2, 2/2 Amplification. Not much to be said here. You can either move on to Swordsmanship or fill out Mutant and Metathesis (which is what I'd do). SWORDSMANSHIP You can either go with Schemer and Tough Guy, or Violence and Whirl. I chose the latter, it being more offensive, and by that point I was confident in my survivability. And slicing 5 nekkers with one slash is awesome. 1/2 Hardy to unlock the rest of the tree. I choose Finesse out of the 3 available, I don't really like bleeding or instant kill (which obviously doesn't work on bosses). 1/2 Invincible, 1/2 Combat Acumen, 1/2 Whirlwind, then fill out the last three. You should be close to the game's ending by now, anyway.

05/07/12 - In Witcher 1, I went the Ranger/Rogue route technically. I go for Sword skills but also skills that are more Dex and sneaky. I have no plan of attack and just pick what suits me really. Never been one of those Min/Maxer type of folk. That is the whole point to a skill tree like this... YOU are the creator and direction for the character. Don't let anyone take that power away from you.

04/29/12 - like a sir