[ACT I] How do I find alcohol with which to make potions?

[hope42]

[ACT I] How do I find alcohol with which to make potions?

Where do I buy or find the particular alcohols required to alchemy. I am in the cave of the Salamandras in the first part of the game and am getting slaughtered over and over again. I have ingredients for potions except for the alcohol. The Innkeeper is dead and I can't find any npr's to sell me anything.Help. ???

 

[Corylea.723]

If you search the barrels, chests, wardrobes, and so on in all the houses, you should find some alcohol.

 

[silver_gryphon]

Also, some potions need higher grade alcohol than others (like swallow). If you can't find any strong alcohol of good quality, brew up some white gulls, they're always useful. You should have the recipe already

 

[petra_silie]

If you are already in the Salamandra's cave, the innkeeper is dead.... I'm afraid you have to take a previous save to supply you with potions.Yes don't take these drinks they don't work, but this collection, standard base hooch should be alright.cheers

 

[username_2078226]

What a pity many noobs get caught in bad situations because they don't prepare.I never play RPGs, but still fiddled with alchemy in Act I and created at LEAST some swallows, blizzards etc on my first time with Witcher (back in the terrible times of 1.0 lol).It struck me that if a Witcher has a chemistry set, he may actually need to use it. Hence I experimented and made a couple of each recipe I knew. Came in handy when dealing with Act I's "boss" character.Anyway, I'm not seeking to anger anyone. Unless you have prepared earlier, don't tell the Priest that you've helped Mikul + Odo + Haren. That's an Act I "de-linerizer".

 

[hope42]

I've found lots of alcohol but not the kind with which to make a potion.Yes, innkeeper is dead.I resorted to a trainer to kill the cave salmandras.I may have to go back to a saved game BEFORE the innkeeper is dead.To Chuckles: I created some potions early on but squandered them on earlier battles.This is the first game I have bought in years that I truly HATE.

 

[petra_silie]

Maybe I missunderstand you... you hate the game because you struggle in chapter one?

 

[username_2078226]

Ease up. It can't be that bad.Just for noobs out there: this game CAN be rushed, but usually only by those who have played it a few times.This game is NOT to be rushed, because the agony of restoring to the beginning of an Act is pure torture. Take the time to finish minor quests FIRST before completing major ones and learn the inns and outs of your character. Spend your experience wisely. Take the time to gather money, alcohol, ingredients etc for later (There are 7 Chapters: Prologue, Acts I to 5, and Epilogue).Upgrade armor and weaponry when you can. Interact with NPCs that seem minor for a few surprises. EXPLORE. ENJOY.If all else fails, find a witcher guide online and follow it. But it may spoil the fun.

 

[hope42]

@Petra SilieI've been playing this game for 2 weeks on and off - that alone shows you how much I hate it - I usually will sit down and get caught up in a game and play it straight through for days without coming up for a breath of air.The game is NOT FUN. That's #1. The movement is so annoying as to totally make it a chore to play. The only game I've ever played (and I've played a TON) that moves you SIDEWAYS for right arrow and left arrow instead of TURNING. Right there it makes it a pain in the rear to play it at all.Sacred, Neverwinter Nights, and Balder's Gate were FUN. Oblivion and Morrowind were boring but at least easy to play.You don't get any clear instruction on what to do in the game...unlike in the games I just mentioned.But, mainly, it is just not fun at all to play. I mean Vampire: Bloodlines was rollicking fun from start to finish AND you could replay it with different characters. (Had amazing music and amazing actors too, I may add.)JMHO

 

[hope42]

@ChucklesI did not collect any items from houses at first because I thought it was like Morrowind and it would be considered stealing. I don't like gambling and so steered clear of the dice game. Did a little fighting to get money. Did not have enough money to buy anything from merchants either like the necessary books.

 

[username_2078226]

WARNING: RANT IN PROGRESSWell it seems you and I differ completely on the issue of liking the Witcher:I find it refreshing the way the journal sets out what you have to do, and lets you figure out how you are supposed to do it. Is there a manual on how to run YOUR life? There are goals and there are methods to attain such. I certainly don't consider this to be an action-based game with poor plotline, rather the complete opposite: like a character in a book meeting characters along the way, and choosing a path / storyline you deem to be right. The combat serves to break up the teedium of storytelling.And ok, you obviously don't like the combat system. There are many who have similar hang-ups about it, but just as many who don't. I find however that the more games some people play, the more they fall into a sort of rut when it comes to gameplay styles. The more games played which does things "this way" results in the gamers expecting all games to follow suit. It's a rude awakening to play an original game like this. This game is ENTERTAINING. "Fun" to me sounds like something akin to "Quick and Easy"; a game to play in your meagre spare time during ad breaks while simultaneously watching tv. Nobody is forcing this game down your throat, if you like "those other games" so much, go play them instead.You are obviously hooked though, 'cause your playing it now. So is it really not "FUN", or is this just sour grapes because you are finding it difficult to adjust?PS: Money isn't always a necessity to get what you need for this game. Sometimes giving a kind gift of food to an old lady can get you further than books. And where money IS needed, you get by slaying monsters that's what Witchers DO.

 

[Corylea.723]

Hope, there are two different kinds of movement control in The Witcher. It sounds like you don't like the one you're using, so have you considered using the other one? If you hit F1 or F2, it will put you into a mode where movement is done with the mouse. (F1 shows you from further away, F2 shows you from closer.)It seems to me that The Witcher gives players a lot of direction, but it sounds as if you'd like even more than that. Well, direction is available! Check out either of the links in my signature -- both of them have an immense amount of help, up to and including walkthroughs.

 

[tierce]

@Petra SilieI've been playing this game for 2 weeks on and off - that alone shows you how much I hate it - I usually will sit down and get caught up in a game and play it straight through for days without coming up for a breath of air.The game is NOT FUN. That's #1. The movement is so annoying as to totally make it a chore to play. The only game I've ever played (and I've played a TON) that moves you SIDEWAYS for right arrow and left arrow instead of TURNING. Right there it makes it a pain in the rear to play it at all.Sacred, Neverwinter Nights, and Balder's Gate were FUN. Oblivion and Morrowind were boring but at least easy to play.You don't get any clear instruction on what to do in the game...unlike in the games I just mentioned.But, mainly, it is just not fun at all to play. I mean Vampire: Bloodlines was rollicking fun from start to finish AND you could replay it with different characters. (Had amazing music and amazing actors too, I may add.)JMHO

If you want help playing the Witcher, the people here will give you help. Many people spend all their time on the board helping new players and don't mind at all: we were all newbies once. Petra is one of those people. Get off her back.If you just want to whine, shut up. If you don't want to play the game, don't. And go whine about it somewhere else.

 

[hope42]

@CoryleaThanks, I know about the various types of movement through F1 or F2, etc., but none of them addresses the problem of no way to change the keyboard right arrow and left arrow motion. THAT'S what is infuriating about this game.

 

[petra_silie]

Did you try to configurate your game control settings? There is an option in the game menu. And here is an informative article about in-game controls http://witcher.wikia.com/wiki/ControlsThe journal gives you countless information on several case, using things, etc. in particular the quest log if you lose track of what to do next. I think Chuckles hit the mark what's the game about http://www.thewitcher.com/forum/index.php?topic=18547.msg411234#msg411234

 

[mardana]

@Hope42I feel so sorry for you not being able to rotatle left and right with the keyboard instead of the mouse :'(I mean come on how old are you? Have you played games back in the DOS days or even Win95? Make a comparison! I do agree Oblivion did get a little boring after awhile--I never even finished it. But, compared to the old RPG game days "The Witcher" is like a Limo compared to a geo metro. I'm not sure why this rotate left right situation is considered more difficult for you. It's much easier for dodging left or right in battle and much smoother to rotate with the mouse.

 

[mardana]

As for the subject at hand here--the only alcohols that work for potions are "Strong" ones weak and medium are no good except for getting drunk. And if your to the point where everyone at the inn is dead your screwed from being able to buy any.

 

[danconnors]

When you first start the game one of the choices you're given is mouse mode or keyboard mode. Mouse mode is much easier to use. Hope you have a save game before you go into the cave, because you aren't going to find any alcohol there. You can buy booze from the waitress at the inn, Abigail, and the guy down by the river. They restock their supplies every day, so if you want more stay in the area for a few days. When you first start the game you are given a choice of difficulty level. If you look at the description of the hardest level it says "Alchemy is required to win". They're not lying. And for alchemy alcohol is required. Finally, this is the best game I've played since Baldur's Gate Two. The scenery is wonderful, the music beautiful, the game structure fascinating. I think it's a game you either hate or love--no middle ground.