The Witcher 2 question

Sometimes there is an icon in the center of the screen with a timer that ive seen in Foltests camp and down the Well inside the castle (no spoilers beyond this please!).

What do these icons mean? Is it a timed mission? Do i suffer something if i dont complete the objective within that timeframe?

Also, is The Witcher like Skyrim where you can get as many items and exp as youd like, or it has finite exp and items?

Originally Posted by RPGfreak
Sometimes there is an icon in the center of the screen with a timer

You have most likely visited a circle of power (http://witcher.wikia.com/wiki/Circles_of_Power).

Also most enemies respawn as well as some items and i believe level cap is 35.

Funny enough I just (re)started this game (after finishing The Witcher 1).

The Icon+timer is a buff/debuff/dot indicator. So critical effects (incinerated, poison, stun, etc), potion duration and circle of power indicators.

The game isn't like Skyrim, it's story/quest based and there is a finite among of XP you can get.

Originally Posted by azarhal
Funny enough I just (re)started this game (after finishing The Witcher 1).
.

I did that during the summer months between playing D:OS. Replaying both of them thinking the release date was still going to be FEB/15.
So now I am into the books to get me ready….

Currently playing Witcher 2 (for the first time) too.

I'm on Roche's path and nearing the end of Chapter 3. This game's story is seriously one of the best I've had the pleasure of playing. And the choices, argh! They're tearing me apart. I've stopped playing for a moment simply because I can't decide what I want to do.

I've also started reading The Last Wish, simply because the game's setting has me intrigued.

I seem to have gotten stuck in the last chapter. I want to actually fight my way through the sewers and I found an entrance but there are two pretty strong guards there. I beat them (eventually), went down into the sewers, and found a locked gate. Then the two guards respawned and captured me!

The monsters got a lot harder suddenly, too. I can cut down harpies by the dozen but the things I run into in town… ouch.

Igni sign is all I can say for helping in fighting.

But how are you stuck?

Originally Posted by wiretripped
Currently playing Witcher 2 (for the first time) too.

I'm on Roche's path and nearing the end of Chapter 3. This game's story is seriously one of the best I've had the pleasure of playing. And the choices, argh! They're tearing me apart. I've stopped playing for a moment simply because I can't decide what I want to do.

I've also started reading The Last Wish, simply because the game's setting has me intrigued.

I switched sides half way though, then the second time playing it I only did scoia'tael. Which I enjoyed very much.

Originally Posted by Zloth
I seem to have gotten stuck in the last chapter. I want to actually fight my way through the sewers and I found an entrance but there are two pretty strong guards there. I beat them (eventually), went down into the sewers, and found a locked gate. Then the two guards respawned and captured me!

Is that when

Originally Posted by Zloth
The monsters got a lot harder suddenly, too. I can cut down harpies by the dozen but the things I run into in town… ouch.

The gargoyles? There's a silver sword outside of the town that does +25% damage to them (if I remember correctly).

Originally Posted by CelticFrost
I switched sides half way though, then the second time playing it I only did scoia'tael. Which I enjoyed very much.

I don't think you can switch sides anymore, once you go down a certain road at the end of Ch1. Can you?

Originally Posted by wiretripped
I don't think you can switch sides anymore, once you go down a certain road at the end of Ch1. Can you?

Nope, you can't change side after Chapter 1 unless you restart the game (or saved right before the quest and reload). You could in the first game, but not in the second.

You are correct you have to make a choice when to switch and I do believe it is [SPOILER]right after the battle on the prisoner boat. /SPOILER].

Originally Posted by CelticFrost
You are correct you have to make a choice when to switch and I do believe it is

Spoiler

right after the battle on the prisoner boat.

.

Right before. Doing that one starts you down the Scoia'tael path, I believe.
At least, I'm on Roche's path and never did that one.

Sure you can changes sides! Make a save before the choice then make a copy of the save game directory. Run again, choose a side, save. Exit, swap the save game directory names, run again, make the other choice!

I switched between the two for a good number of hours before I decided to stick with one. I'm sure you could do the same here!

I think I'm earlier in chapter 3. I need to see a prisoner and the game gave me a choice to either fight my way in through the back door or simply become a prisoner myself. I'm trying to do it the first way.

Originally Posted by Zloth
Sure you can changes sides! Make a save before the choice then make a copy of the save game directory. Run again, choose a side, save. Exit, swap the save game directory names, run again, make the other choice!

I switched between the two for a good number of hours before I decided to stick with one. I'm sure you could do the same here!

Not sure how to do that exactly on my X360.

Originally Posted by Zloth
I think I'm earlier in chapter 3. I need to see a prisoner and the game gave me a choice to either fight my way in through the back door or simply become a prisoner myself. I'm trying to do it the first way.

I take it you're on Iorveth's path then? I don't remember needing to do that on Roche's.

Now that I'm nearing the end of my playthrough though, I am left a little wanting. For some reason, I think the Iorveth path would be a little more gratifying. I feel like I did nothing but bad in my attempt to do good.
Also, Ch3 is disappointingly short.

Oh well, maybe I'll reload my Flotsam save and take the other path now.