Thanks all of you. I now know there is a good place to try for the next time through. I did find those in the barracks, but only after I already did the other thing. :) I appreciate that people are willing to offer ways to work around difficulties, It's a nice part of this community.

In my case, the guards just approach me threateningly when I draw my sword but do not attack me no matter how long I draw it. But if I made one move (such as attacking the training dummies) the guards will attack me. The safest way to be to unequip both swords and fight the dummy bare-handed - the guards would just ignore me in this case.

I confirm it works.
I still can't belive someone was able to figure it out. :)

Anyone tried using Aard on the blocked passage befor roche breaks it? Just wondering if there is a sneaky way to get it. xD

I still can't believe someone was able to resist Triss' charm

Exectly ;)

I did try it yesterday, the wall would not break from the outside for me. I messed up though, since I told Triss not to even come along while we were on the boat after talking to the elf there. Consequently, the fight with the statue guys was skipped and there was no falling into the bath area. I did not get the ability trying that way, but the sad puppy look from Triss was really great.

I could not find a way to get Resistance to Magic whilst also being intimate with Triss.

Telling her you want to go alone is not a big deal, as you can always go back and tell her you changed your bind, and she'll follow you to the elven ruins.

However, if you try to left-click on the wall (which promises to trigger a cast of Aard, just like when you tell Triss "never mind") prior to speaking with Triss, it just triggers the dialogue. So you remain stuck with either telling her "Never mind" and then repeating your attempted wall-blasting, or, do the skinny dipping and wait for Roche to break through from the other side. It was no longer possible to interact with the wall after making love to Triss.

Resistance to Magic says +20% damage redution from magical attack, but my Reduction of Damage from Magic stat only goes from 27% to 32% after getting this ability. Is there something else going on here that I'm missing?

From what I have seen with the other abilities and this, they add to your base value. For example, you have 27% from your armor. The 20% multiplies that number by 1.2, so you get 27 + 5.4 = 32.4%

Thanks, that clears it up. I haven't actually worked through all the mechanics of the game yet.

I suspect I won't be taking it anyway on the first time through. Don't want to see Triss mad at me for not picking up on her hints.

Or miss out on the hot scene :P

15. You need to suffer incineration 15 times. The campfires are the easiest way to do it. Set yourself on fire, wait for the flames to die down, set yourself on fire, repeat.

15 times always works for me.
Confirm 10 dummies. There are 2 more in the Flotsam garrison building, on the second floor. Do not advise you use your sword on them, though, because the guards in the building are not going to be happy to have you draw a weapon on their turf. What you can do is put your swords in you inventory, don't wear them on your back. Pressing 1 will then put Geralt in a fist fighting stance and you can punch the dummies. The guards won't bother you then. Be warned that Geralt does crap damage with his fists and sometimes he won't get out of his fist fighting stance until you're almost back out the door.

There's another ability that hasn't been mentioned here: Sapper.
You get it by interrupting Geralt four or five times (not sure of the number)

Example: you stand beside a snare trap and let's say you click to arm it. Before Geralt actually does it, you interrupt his action by using the medallion or casting a sign. Blocking doesn't work. Do that four or five times to get the ability.

What it does is give a 50% chance of not getting any damage from traps or bombs.