However I don't think that the current system is really good, because it was really missopportunistic(does this word even exist? I want to sound smart and important.) of CDPR, becayse they had a really good chance to make the system awesome.
First, Geralt is an experienced witcher, so it would be really awesome to add some potions recipes, whirlwind, rend and secondary signs modes right at the start of the game, however who was taught in Kaer Morhen, ergo who couldn't know the secrets of all witcher schools, which probably had their own methods of dealing with problems.
Second, I would cut the skill tree-slot system and instead I based the game system on Various Witcher Schools and their knowledge, which varies from school to school.
So there would be 5 trees
Wolf School - tree, which empowers overall Geralt's sword wielding abilities, improves potions/bombs/oils of Wolf School and to a lesser extent potions/bombs in general. Provides some various bonuses to Aard, Heliotrope and Igni. Encourages use of Medium Armor. Improves damage against monsters in general.
Viper School - tree, which empowers Geralt's fast attacks. Improves potions/bombs/oils associated with Viper School and to a lesser extent potions/bombs in general. Provides bonuses to Aard, Quen and Yrden. Provides certain bonuses for using Light Armor. Increases chances of applying poisoning effects and critical hits. Provide bonuses to critical damage. Improves damage against humans.
Griffon School - tree, which empower Geralt's magic capabilities. Improves potions/bombs associated with Griffon School and to a lesser extent potions/bombs in general. Provides bonuses to all signs, and changes Quen to Sun Quen and Aard to Ice Aard. Provides no bonuses regarding the armor, however maxing out Griffon School provides a chance to increase maximum stamina and stamina regeneration. Improves damage against large monsters except for giants and cyclops.
Cat School- tree, which empowers Geralt's fast attacks and Crossbows(In a more agile way with more trickshots). Improves potions/bombs/oils associated with Cat School and to a lesser extent potions/bombs/oils in general. Increases the effectiveness of Aard, Axii and Igni. Witcher of Cat School prefers light armor. Increases chances of applying bleeding effects and critical hits. Greatly improves Geralt's oils. Also, improves barter.
Bear School- tree, which empowers Geralt's power attacks and Crossbows(In a way of improving bolts and bolts recipes with less trickshots). Improves potions/bombs/oils associated with Bear School nd to a lesser extent potions/bombs/oils in general. Witchers of Bear School prefer Quen and Igni along side Heavy armor. Greatly improves Geralt's potions as well as maximum toxicity and metabolism velocity.
Such system would be much easier to bond with quests and make it some sort of a hybrid, where some skill/recipes are given through completing quests and the other can be taken through simple leveling. Some skills can't be learnt without completing quests, but can be regularly leveled up after learning the first level of the skill.
It could give much more possibilities and would be more easy to balance and fun to play.
So, this would all about experienced witcher, who discovers the secrets of other witchers during his journey, which would be more organic way of leveling up. Treasure hunt with skills changers, unique potions, recipes and, techniques as a reward, instead of trying to find them in random chests or not maxing out skills, because there are not enough space. Just imagine that every school had it own mutagens and its own ways of creating witchers, so why Geralt couldn't use this knowledge to improve his own mutation?
Instead of focusing on Alchemy/Swords/Magic and instead of focusing on one aspect of those trees in particular we get more flexible and more various system, which doesn't focus on a single aspect, but focuses on witcher methods themselves, making it possible for a player to use alchemy/signs/swords, but in a different, unique for a particular school way, and all of this during one playthrough without sacrificing anything, which enhances the experience
