Alchemy is very powerful once you get 6-8 slots and 25-30 skill points. Till then it is pretty hard and the early levels (1 through 4) are very hard. You damage output basically sucks as does your defense.
Best advice is to go sword till after White Orchard then spend 1000 gold to switch. Even signs at the lower levels are harder than swords.
---------- Updated at 04:06 PM ----------
Want to add one other thing. For me going into inventory all the time distracted from the games combat. On a keyboard/mouse using bombs is not that much fun and stopping combat to drink a potion broke immersion. So yes it's very strong but it has it's downsides.
Best advice is to go sword till after White Orchard then spend 1000 gold to switch. Even signs at the lower levels are harder than swords.
---------- Updated at 04:06 PM ----------
Want to add one other thing. For me going into inventory all the time distracted from the games combat. On a keyboard/mouse using bombs is not that much fun and stopping combat to drink a potion broke immersion. So yes it's very strong but it has it's downsides.