few separate subjects:

1) is it just me or there aren't enough random encounters with monsters and humanoids?
im only at chapter 1 and while im roaming the woods it is.... um... a little uneventful. after i killed a few of the arachnid type monsters all i have left are the occasional nekkers that burst out of the ground and dont even give the slightest chase and.... that's it. nothing else that randomly entertains me but the lovely graphics.

u feel that way to?

2) how do i blow up the nekkers nests?

3) i havent seen a single chopped off limb. is that cuz im only level 8 or something or because i disabled something in the configuration of the game?
also i am not seeing blood splatters on characters or objects. am i missing anything?

1. Random encounters reset when you leave the area or reload the game. They do NOT however, award any Exp, so unless you have stiffie for some Enderga embryos and Nekker Hearts, you won't get anything from them.

2. Make (alchemy) some Grapeshot bombs. I believe Cedric sells the recipe. You don't throw them, but as soon as you have them you plant them by left-clicking the nests.

3.The only chopped of limbs you are going to see in this game are giant stinking tentacles. No flying heads, arms and legs in this game.
The blood does appear however, but is disabled on lower Graphic levels. Go to advanced options and enable decals if you want Dragon Age-like I'm-covered-in-blood-and-i-don't-give-a-fuck feel.

thanks for the tips, mate.

1) what random encounters? there are barely any. besides the nekkers and endergas. wish i saw bandits or elfs randomly patrol the woods.

There are random elf encounters (Sco'iatel) in the woods, but only in the night. There are two bandit encampments (bonfire with 3 fat bare-bellied assholes with pitchforks standing around it) while going up the mountain to the north. And there is a swamp in the far South East where all the bandits hang out.

Have fun killing them.