Just started the game and as I'm trying to kill some bandits I'm getting frustrated by the fighting system. Repeatedly left clicking does not swing the sword, it just seems like he'll swing every 4-5 seconds or so making the combat very drawn out. Is this a bug in the game? Am I playing correctly - ive tried looking through the keybinds but there is nothing on attacking so i assume mouse clicking is the way to go? Is it just like this in the beginning and gets smoother and faster with better weapons?

the idea is to click the mouse button at a right time (when the sword icon turns to flame sword) in order to chain attacks so randomly clicking or trying to mash as fast as you can doesn't help. also you need to change the fighting style (fast, heavy and group) depending on the enemy and how many of them you are facing simultaneously ie when fighting 4-5 bandits use group style.

ninjad by Thiev

Make sure to be using the right combat type also, since using strong combat on a fast opponent WILL make the battle impossible, and fast combat on a strong one will make the damage so small the battle will take ages.

And whenever you have 3 or more opponents, group is the way to go.

Yeah, as others have said, clicking fast will not work when fighting. You have to click at the right time, or Geralt will actually CANCEL his attack instead of chaining it. Check out the wiki link that Thiev posted.

Also, make sure you are actually clicking ON the enemy. You can't juts click to attack in the Witcher, the cursor must actually be on an enemy (and therefore chanced into a sword icon) or you will not attack.

thanks guys i got the hang of it. I feel so dumb i couldnt figure this out after like 10 bandits. the last game i played with close combat was prince of persia: SOT and WW so i was used to getting a swing out of each mouse click.

thanks again!