First of all, is it even possible to reload at any time? In some games in ironmad mode whenever you save the game it quits and you can reload your game only when you start playing.

If we can reload at anytime, I wonder what is the stance of other players on this? Does insane mode means that any reload (not talking about those when you just start a new session ofc) is kind of cheating?

A, reloading when you have been knocked down to the ground with 1 hp left and enemies surround you :D. Would you try to cast quen or just push the esc

B, doing one of the stealthy quests and you got discovered because the stupid guard suddenly turn on you- in Henselt's camp this is fatal, other place you just may fail a quest.

C, reload for whatever other reason: did something stupid, want to take an other path in the game, try different skills etc

I've heard of people reloading mid fight.

However, if you're playing insane you should know well enough not to get caught in those situations.

Personally, I don't reload. If the game is about death = permanent, and I got outplayed, I'm gonna freakin' admit it.

A - Tempting as it may be, no, I don't reload. Was fighting the final Endrega Queen and sudenly 4 minions appeared from nowhere... almost got me good. I ran for it, regen'd and went back to the fight.

B - Yes, there's too much to lose in some Stealth missions if discovered, like the one in Act 1. I would reload if I was caught.

C - Yes, I reloaded some 3 times to try kill a Ghost that shows up in the swamp at Midnight and always vanishes when she's about to die. And that thing hits very hard. It would be safer to just go on but I had to try! =)

And since this is no Diablo 2 Hardcore, (where I was completely addicted and even got to be #1 of the USEast Ladder HC Classic in 2001), I keep some key saves at Hard difficulty because in the (God-forbid) event of death, I would reload the Hard save and continue from there in Hard. (Even if we switch to Insane again, all new saves at Insane diff will be flagged and cannot be loaded. That Geralt's run in Insane is over! Only a fresh new one will work but I'd rather finish the game in Hard first, gain more experience, then try again at Insane!)

EDIT: Frak. Can't do it on Hard diff. Insane gets under our skin and I'd rather restart than continue, after a stupid death! =0