I don't know if you've tried this, but I'm (on my first way through, so I am quite the newbie admittedly) going through without using the signs. Mostly because I can't figure out which is which (except for aard and igni) and partly because I can't get the timing right and really can't be bothered spending time learning to this time around. I don't know if that would help you in your quest to make this game more challenging for yourself, but I'm certainly having trouble keeping up with the monsters sometimes and really do have to go full-out with the potions to keep myself from dying. Several times I decided to leave a certain group of mobs for later as well. For example, it took me three tries to get the mix of potions right to kill the Night hunting wraiths, the beast was really difficult, the uber echinops killed me a few times, I opted to help the squirrels so I had to clear the swamp of the order and in that camp I died a few times, the Wyverns in the swamp got the better of me a few times before I figured out how to kill them. Etc. In short, I had to plan the bigger fights, or I die.And another one, I had no idea secondary ingredients existed, let alone had a secondary effect. So how about you use only regular old swallows etc. as I do 
So basically, in rpg wording, you play a swordfighter who's been made to sit in on a few classes on how to make potions. Like Eskel says in the prologue, Vesemir knows the basics, but it's definately not his forte. And in martial arts, down the lineage things only ever get watered down...
So basically, in rpg wording, you play a swordfighter who's been made to sit in on a few classes on how to make potions. Like Eskel says in the prologue, Vesemir knows the basics, but it's definately not his forte. And in martial arts, down the lineage things only ever get watered down...