I can't really imagine being without either. In Witcher 1, Aard is especially useful.

But I could deal with most monsters with a sword alone, I couldn't manage any with signs alone.

The key to sword use in Witcher 1 is method. Clicking on the opponent repeatedly will get repeated hits. But holding after a click should get into a repeated attack mode for about 4 or 5 hits, which can be repeated with another click. The problem is, this doesn't always happen.

Spending some time grinding in Chap 1, especially just after midnight, should make you an expert on this, as well as bringing you up to lev 10 for Chap 2.

Cheers Surfinjo, apart from min maxing I also like playing damage focused builds, and as such the impression I get is that a hybrid is the best way to fulfill that purpose, do you reckon that quen is effective against bosses? As 25% off the health of tough enemies sounds beneficial.

I'd like to start again and the build I'm thinking of is a max int, str, dex, aard, igni, yrden, quen as well as level 3 in stamina and combat styles (level 2 in group steel) as well as level 4 in fast/strong steel (I never finished the vanilla game but I'd like to kick the sorcerer with the eye patch's ass but I'm not sure which sword style would be the best against him, no spoilers about his identity or whether he's the final boss or not, THANKS)

For me, I found Quen, in all three Witcher games, to be of limited use. It either does nothing or only works against a single hit. Others may disagree. I confess I never invested a lot into it since, once spent, the only way to get those back is to restart.

In Witcher 1 I got my intelligence to second level so I could collect herbs, potions and such. That used about 4 or 5. That for me, was number one, especially in the insane level.

Next I concentrated on steel fast to Lev 2 using 3, then Strength to lev 2 using 3, then Igni to lev 2 using 4, then steel group to lev 2 using 2. But just before the end of Ch1, get Silver Fast up to second level and improved damage. You will need it in the sewer. Later I built up strong on steel and silver.

I'm pretty sure Yrden becomes important later, but you can build that up nearer the time.But by that time, as I recall, you have a load of points accumulated.

The thing is, I may be wrong. If I had concentrated on building intelligence, Quen and Axii I may have found it brilliant. As much as I enjoy the Witcher games, I could get fed up if I played the same things over and over. So I tried to make him the biggest baddest tough guy I could, while always being a gentleman who treats women right, doesn't cheat his friends and doesn't let kids get hurt.

Or perhaps I just take it all too seriously.

Haven't tried FCR, but from what I've heard, it's more important with oils and such, so keep that in mind too.

I prefer to build Geralt as a swordfighter, so in Witcher 1 would focus on getting those skills up. Wouldn't go to the top though, as it's rare to get 4-5 consecutive blows in. Also prefer to use Aard and Igni. Both are very useful, and I assume they are so in FCR too.

There are some other skills you want too, like the mentioned herb gathering skill. Plenty of points to go around.