Using the "time" thing with meditation will be important several times in the game. Like oldman says, you can find Vincent at the warehouse at midnight.

You use your talents in the character screen. You have to go to meditate and if it doesn't automatically take you there, just click on Geralt's head. Then spend your talents in the character advancement screen.

OK, here it is 1:33 a.m. and I'm still at this computer playing this game. I cannot kill that big pink thing in the swamp. I've tried so many times, but I'm having no luck at all. Believe it or not, this thing (I refuse to give it a name) is the first thing that has killed me in this game. Of course, I'm playing on the easy level, but for me to get this far in a game even on easy is terrific. But I've gotten my comeuppance with this creature. I've put oil on my blade, drunk the potions that I have (not too many, but then I didn't need them earlier, did I) tried incinerating the darn thing, but nada. I know that there are more of these things and I don't want this to be a game stopper for me, so any hints and tips would be much appreciated. I think I'll go to be now.

They can really be wicked. Have you done all the quests you can do before you've wandered the swamps? Hmm tips - well, some of them you can just run and leap by. But fighting them, what speed are you using on the blade? I mean, strong style or fast style? Have you put points into your sword style and into your magic stuff? I put a ton of points into the fire spell. I'd throw a fire spell, back out of the way, throw another fire spell, and then get up close and whack with my sword. But I had to leave the swamps the first time I went because it was just too tough, and do every quest I could find elsewhere first. Run around in the bad areas at night and look for fights, go down in the sewers, etc.
You might use something different on your blade too, and see if that has any effect. You're using the silver sword right?

Fil,
That plant is the reason that on my second play through I finished everything I could in the town to pump myself up. That plant is boss of all plants, when you kill her, you take her head as a trophy that you can sell to Vincent Meis. And whichever way you go when you're for the first time in the swamp, you will encounter it.
It is good to pump your fire spell up - first time I missed to distribute talents to basic spell slots which allow power up of the spell (when holding right mouse button you get charging graphic and you can attack from distance), however when it comes to signs, it seems that you need to put your talent to second slot in branch, and only after you can pick basic slot.
So this time around I filled my fire spell fully (both bronze branches) and used Swallow, Blizzard and some basic effect on silver sword (I think the one giving +20% damage).
You need to position yourself as close as possible to plant and hit it with fast silver style burning her whenever your endurance allows, or use fire spell from the distance with hit and run technique.

edit: forgot to say that as far as I can remember only two quest in swamps need to be finished in one shot - escorting Gramps (he will not get killed following you around) and Long Way From Home that you get from dwarven woodcutter.

Well, I can't possibly add more that nickie and Srebrna, but I'll try. The plant is a wicked foe. Potion up with Swallow and Tawny Owl, hit it with Igni and run away. Hit it with Igni and run away again. Hit it with Igni the third time and come in with your silver sword and hack away. The first time you may have to do this more than once. If you go to your Bestiary in the Journal, it will tell you what each enemy is sensitive and vulnerable to.

Thanks everyone for the tips. I'm not going to start the game again until tonight or I'll never get anything done today. I will try to finish all the town quests and I'll try to beef up my stats. What was scary last night was running into two of these things together. I missed out of some quests in Chapter 2 because I didn't kill someone in Chapter 1 (checked the walkthrough too late), so maybe I should be stronger, I'm at Level 12, but running away and fighting seems to be a good idea.

Getting real life things done while playing the game does seem a common problem! I haven't ignored so much stuff that needed to be done since Divine Divinity - but I'm not complaining, mind you. It's wonderful, isn't it, to have a game to play that is so absorbing?
Who didn't you kill Fil? I can't think of anyone that would make that big a difference - there's still a ton of quests in chapter 2 whatever your choices have been, I think. And it sounds like you're doing great!

Nickie, I didn't kill that Squirrel guy when I was doing the quest of the drowners. When I got to Chapter 2, they had already killed some guy (I think his name was Cooper) at the Inn and the walkthrough I read said that there were some quests that this guy would have given me. I don't know how much experience I missed out on there and I also missed out on some quest to find some merchant's partner in a cave. I'm really trying to be good and not use a walkthrough, but missing some of these side quests won't help me "bulk up" and I need all the "bulking up" I can get.

I didn't kill him either Fil, and I think later you may be glad you didn't. You're not missing out on quests, others take their place. What walkthrough is it that you're looking at?
I don't think it's a spoiler to tell you that there are two different parties that are each going to want your help. You can elect to be on the side of either or neutral, and the story advances this way. You don't have to choose now, although later you will, and what actions you have taken in the past do affect the story line later.
If you get stuck and can't find quests, feel free to post and we'll try to help.

The walkthrough I was checking is the one on Gamebanshee. I always found their walkthroughs very detailed, especially for a long game. I might even play Morrowwind and Oblivion after I finish The Witcher (if I don't replay it a couple of times)

Fildil, I'm so glad you're enjoying a round with our favorite Witcher! About the walkthru...this game is filled with decisions that do make differences in the storyline, the differences vary from small to very big. So try not to rely too much on the walkthru, that way you'll get a more personal game...does that make sense?

I was surfing around, and I ran across a song by a polish rock band called Vader, about The Witcher, and that led me to youtube where I saw a "story trailer" that had my jaw on the floor...my how things can change from idea to reality!!

But watching all this, fired me up all over again...I will never be able to stop playing at this point!

Fil, gamebanshee is a great site, but I really like the walkthrough here at gamepressure.com if you want to take a look.

Looney, did you see the other Witcher thread here where Belgar posted the Witcher developers are going to be providing additional content for the game? We're going to have to play again, of course!

Another question, is there anywhere you can buy potions or do you have to carry around all that potion making stuff?

You have to carry it around and use it, use it, use it! The Witcher says in the game that Witchers couldn't win all the time if they didn't have the potions. You are given a very few potions, but you can't buy the actual potions at traders.

Thanks nickie, I made a few potions while I was in the Swamp Forest just to make more room in my inventory and wound up using things that I needed for a quest. I guess I should pay more attention to the ingredients that I'm using. I keep trying to find books so that I don't have to buy them. That $5000 armor looks so out of reach.

I went crazy with buying the books, and didn't get the armor until really late in the game. You're much smarter than I was to find them!
One of the potions that helped me a lot was the cats eye potion - mainly from the standpoint that using a torch was awkward in caves ( using the torch, switching to sword to fight, etc). I only occasionally had to use some of the others, but when I needed to use them I really needed them or I couldn't have won the fight.
There are at least two specialized formula ingredients that will make up a talent - early on I was able to make a silver one from the ingredients, and that was really nice!

Gosh, I can't believe I have another question so soon. Can I go back and try to finish the side quests I didn't get to in Chapter 2 before I start Chapter 3? I really need the money.

Not sure what you mean Fil. You've gone to chapter 3 already, and want to do some of the quests you received in chapter 2? If so, some of them are still available, like collect such and such animal for x. If they had a bearing on a person or place that changed due to the main story line, those quests won't be available. Is that what you're asking?
Remember that you can make some easy money fist fighting at the inn or playing poker (scattered locations). I didn't like the fighting, but the cards were easy, especially if you save right before you play.

Fil,
If you didn't start Chapter 3 already you can go around and finish the side quests, or if you did you can reload some previous save before final trigger. And don't worry, I didn't get new armor till the end of the game for the first time, so that's why I was so determined to buy that armor as soon as possible this time around. Many books you can found looting around the houses, sell all stuff you don't need to gain money, jewelry, read books, read formulas, enemy weapon. This time around I carry only two of my swords and using other two slots to gather stuff that I can sell, torches sell pretty good also. As Nickie says, I mostly use Cat and Swallow potions, and different oils for blades.
I discovered great thing this time around, I'm going with Order, so Order Armorer is willing to buy various stuff from me, basically I can sell him half of my inventory, and he keeps it around, so you can buy back from him if you need something.

I'm sorry that I didn't make myself clear. I did start Chapter 3, woke up in Triss' house, took the spheres and put them where they had to go. I'm supposed to go to dinner tonight, but I figure I can go any time at 6:00. My quests say that I have the Alghoul and Echinops quests left and I thought that I would try to do them to make the money. I do find that I don't use a lot of potions just Swallow and Cat and I do use the oil on my blade. I've been using the signs too. Sorry to be such a bother but in games where you have choices, I go a little goofy 'cause I always think that I've made the wrong one.

fil, you're not a bother at all! Ask away and we'll try to help. That's the beauty of this game - the choices you make decide a lot about your character. I'd go ahead and go to the dinner and have a VERY interesting time there. You will definitely be back in the swamps soon enough and can complete those quests then.

OK Draclvr, I will. Hmmm, I wonder what you mean by interesting?One of the things I noticed in my censored game; is bad language more moral than sex? I've heard a few choice words, but only see Geralt after. Can anybody in the uncensored version tell me if Geralt takes off his weapons.

Fil, those two quests you can finish in Chapter 3, as you can find both Kalkestein and Gardener, I was late with them too as I didn't have journal entry for monsters needed. I think that only women cards appear different in versions.

Yeah fil, no worries about making "wrong decisions" there is no such thing in this game. Just differences in the stories. That's why I had to play a couple of times - to see the differences.

Ya know, the only time I saw Geralt without his swords was when he was crossing in the boats!

Well, I have the uncensored version and I ASSUME in those misty, lovely scenes he takes them off! But all is left to the imagination and I can only wish. *sigh* Actually, I wish some of the sex scenes on TV would be as tastefully done as the ones in this game...