The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition ReadMe – April 17, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Table of Contents
1) Installation
2) System Requirements
3) The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition
a. New Quests in Chapter 3
b. New Transitional Cinematics
c. Final Boards
d. New Movie – ‘Witchers’
e. New Game Intro
f. New Game Outro
g. New Locations
h. Additional Cut Scenes
i. Dolby* Digital Support
4) The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition Corrections/Amendments
5) DLC
6) Key Known Issues
7) Technical Support
8) Amendments to the Game Manual
9) Basic Configuration Options
10) Advanced Configuration Options
-------------------------------------------------------------------
1) Installation
Place the game disc in your DVD drive. If ‘Autorun’ is enabled on your system, the initial installation screen will appear automatically.
If ‘Autorun’ is not enabled, find the Setup.exe file directly on the game DVD and run the file, then follow the on-screen instructions. Select ‘Full Installation’ to install voice-overs in all languages, or select your desired languages from the list.
You must install the game on your system to play.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
2) System Requirements
Minimum requirements:
Processor: Core 2 Duo 2.2 GHz or dual core AMD 2.5 GHz
RAM: 1 GB Windows XP, 2 GB Windows Vista/7
Graphics: GeForce 8800 512 MB or Radeon (HD3850 512 MB)
HDD Space: 19 GB
PC audio solution containing Dolby® Digital Live required for Dolby Digital audio.
Recommended requirements:
Processor: Quad Core Intel or AMD
RAM: 3 GB Windows XP, 4 GB Windows Vista/7
Graphics: GeForce 260 1 GB or (HD4850 1 GB)
HDD Space: 23 GB
-------------------------------------------------------------------
3) The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition
a. New Quests in Chapter 3. Two quests related to the core storyline and representing up to 4 additional hours of gameplay have been added in Chapter 3.
1) Lilies and Vipers
Brigida Papebrock, a lady-in-waiting at King Foltest’s court, was recruited by Vernon Roche. Her mission - to seduce the two most powerful Temerian nobles and simultaneously keep a an eye on the assassinated monarch’s bastard children. In this capacity, she discovered the mystery behind Boussy's death and thus became an inconvenient witness, a hunted animal. Who sought to get rid of Boussy? Are Count Maravel and Baron Kimbolt involved? The truth about Foltest's last male heir is hidden somewhere within the rich web of schemes and accusations these characters spin.
2) The Secrets of Loc Muinne
The witcher is reunited with the sorceress Cynthia, who can lead him straight to the laboratory of the mysterious Aep Dearhenna, a mage who allegedly discovered the secret behind the downfall of the ancient Vran civilization. Will the witcher dare to work with the sorceress again, who managed to fool Philippa Eilhart herself, and who has revealed herself to be a young, ambitious Nilfgaardian agent? What does the Nilfgaardian Intelligence Service hope to find in the caverns beneath Loc Muinne? What did Aep Dearhenna actually discover? If they embark on the expedition, the witcher and Cynthia face numerous challenges in the monster infested and booby trapped corridors under the city.
b. New Transitional Cinematics. These short in-game movies, summarizing each chapter upon its completion, provide a smooth transition into each subsequent chapter and are designed to inform players of their current geographical position in the game world.
c. Final Boards. These video sequences, composed of procedurally combined short movies, summarize players’ in-game choices. The movies have been crafted from game levels, characters and assets, using a variety of effects and camera shots. A total of 12 movies illustrate alternative states of the game world as determined by player choices. Upon completing the game, players see most of their key in-game decisions reflected in five 30-second movies arrayed variously depending on their individual playthrough. Set to an original composition recorded using a live choir, the ‘Final Boards’ constitute a 2’30” game summary upon completion.
d. New Movie – ‘Witchers’. Designed for players new to The Witcher franchise, this movie was built using hand-drawn 2D art animated in Flash, in the same style as the ‘Flashbacks’ and ‘Memories’ in The Witcher 2. It describes witchers in some detail.
e. New Game Intro. This 3.5 minute, pre-rendered cinematic (CG), directed by BAFTA Award winner and Academy Award nominee Tomasz Bagiński, depicts the assassination of King Demavend, a key historical event occurring shortly before the beginning of The Witcher 2.
f. New Game Outro. This new 1.5 minute, engine-rendered cut scene appears at the end of the game and serves as teaser for what’s to come. An ordinary man witnesses a Nilfgaardian army assembling to march. Requiring extensive post-processing and featuring original environments, lighting and assets, this high quality sequence serves as a cliff hanger, building player anticipation for the next installment in the Witcher series.
g. New Locations. Fresh locations were produced for the significant new quests now available in Chapter 3. These includes a system of underground chambers beneath Loc Muinne and a temperate coniferous forest with a secret cave passage in the mountains surrounding the ancient city.
h. Additional Cut Scenes. Eleven new rendered cut scenes have been added at various junctures to enrich in-game events. Created using a new set of motion-captured animations, these additions include 3 engine-rendered cut scenes illustrating the events that transpire in Loc Muinne when Geralt is engaged elsewhere. Each movie is made of 3 fully animated and rendered scenes that required extensive post production.
i. Dolby* Digital Support. The game is presented in Dolby® Digital surround sound. Connect your PC with Dolby Digital Live technology to a sound system with Dolby Digital decoding using a S/PDIF digital audio cable. Make sure that your PC is configured properly to deliver Dolby Digital audio during gameplay to experience the excitement of surround sound.
Additionally, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition includes all features previously added under Version 2.0.
1. Arena
‘Arena’ is a new gameplay mode that is separate from the main adventure and narrative of The Witcher 2. In this mode, Geralt of Rivia duels a variety of foes to the death in a gladiatorial arena located in an unnamed town somewhere in the Northern Kingdoms. In addition to winning gold and valuable items, players also receive points for their wins. They can then post their point totals on-line to compare their achievements against those of other blood sport enthusiasts around the world. Geralt can encounter both foes and allies in the arena. He can recruit the latter for a fee to assist him during his most challenging clashes.To post your point totals to the forum, you must be registered and have a forum account! Register and establish your account directly through the game launcher or go to
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition. You can then log in to your account via the launcher. IMPORTANT: Players using mods to alter their character attributes and statistics will not be able to post their point totals from the Arena to the server. This is a necessary precaution to prevent any attempts at distorting competition or misrepresenting player achievements.
2. Tutorial
The game tutorial takes the form of a brief adventure during which players learn how to use a range of game mechanics and functionalities. Assuming the role of game protagonist Geralt of Rivia, players save a wounded knight named Bolton of Ironford while learning game controls as well as the basics of combat and alchemy. This transpires step by step as the tutorial guides players through a series of minor missions. Upon completion, based on demonstrated abilities, the tutorial recommends the difficulty level which the player should choose in embarking on the main adventure of The Witcher 2.
3. Dark Difficulty
The ‘Dark’ difficulty setting is the most demanding difficulty level in gameplay terms. Under this setting, each and every foe represents a significant challenge. In addition to raising the difficulty bar, the module includes several new sets of equipment/items that are linked through a dark legend detailed in the Journal. Once all their components have been collected and donned, the Blasphemer’s, Oathbreaker’s and Kinslayer’s outfits provide great advantages in combat. The swords included in the outfits strip opponents of Vitality while supplementing the witcher’s. However, given that they are cursed, the swords provide no benefit and harm Geralt by sapping him of Vitality as long as the outfits to which they belong remain incomplete.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
4) The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition Corrections/Amendments (April 17, 2012)
1. Launcher now includes an option to toggle DLCs off and on.
2. Assorted animals have been added to the game.
3. New werewolf trophy has been added in Chapter 3.
4. New, randomly dispersed swords have been added.
5. Fixed error in potions_time_bonus value at level 2 of ‘Specialization: Potions’ ability.
6. Fixed description of 'Control over the Power' ability.
7. Fixed incorrect description of ‘Alchemist’ ability.
8. Fixed incorrect description of ‘Amplification’ ability at level 2.
9. Fixed incorrect description of ‘Energy Flow’ ability at level 2.
10. Fixed incorrect description of ‘Control over the Power’ ability at level 2.
11. Fixed incorrect description of ‘Synthesis’ ability at level 2.
12. Fixed incorrect description of ‘Combat Acumen’ ability.
13. Fixed incorrect description of Gadwall potion.
14. Fixed the balance of the ‘Position’ ability at level 2.
15. Fixed incorrect damage calculation for ‘Whirl’ ability.
16. Fixed spark FX and no damage taken when rolling while being attacked by foe.
17. Fixed incorrect notification when using Axii Sign on golems.
18. Mahakam Rune Sihil sword is now imported from TW1 game saves to New Game.
19. Parry and Signs are now improved when Geralt has increased Vigor.
20. Parry bug has been fixed. Players can no longer parry for 0 damage.
21. Quen Sign has been significantly nerfed. It now wears off after one or two hits.
22. Adrenaline no longer loads during boss fights.
23. Fixed bug that caused Igni to deal no damage when used right after a sword hit.
24. Fixed incorrect game behavior when saving game while casting bombs.
25. Kayran now casts fewer stones at end of fight.
26. Fixed bug allowing potions to be consumed with Toxicity at 100%.
27. Finisher performed on rotfiends no longer adds additional weapon.
28. Redanian soldiers in Chapter 3 now spawn correctly.
29. Fire now removes Quen Sign during dragon boss fight in Chapter 3.
30. Fixed targeting on dragon in Chapter 3.
31. Added new statistics for NPCs to correct game balance in Chapter 3.
32. Cat potion effect now disappears during dialogue sequences and cut scenes.
33. Target marker and enemy names have been removed from fist fights.
34. Fixed display name for wraiths.
35. Small fixes introduced in NPC taunt behavior during fights.
36. Fixed NPC behavior after combat.
37. All critical effects dealt to player are canceled before any scene starts.
38. Fixed unusual behavior of clothing when using Heliotrope Sign.
39. Small fixes introduced in Dice Poker mini-game.
40. Several fixes introduced in mini-maps.
41. Fixed several camera shots in dialogue sequences.
42. Fixed dialogue camera in ‘Blood Curse’ quest.
43. Walkmesh fixed in Roche’s tent.
44. Walkmesh fixed in Chapter 3 sewers.
45. Walkmesh fixed when following Roche on Chapter 3.
46. Walkmesh fixed in central square of Loc Muinne.
47. Walkmesh fixed near Nilfgaardian camp in Chapter 3.
48. Fixed several camera collisions.
49. Fixed tent roof collisions in Chapter 3.
50. Fixed collisions in butcher’s house in Flotsam.
51. Fixed collisions on Roche’s ship.
52. Fixed chest collision on ship in Chapter 2.
53. Fixed broken poster at Flotsam gate.
54. Fixed Temerian flag collision.
55. Fixed several locations, decorations, walkmeshes and occluders.
56. Small fixes made in environment blending.
57. Assorted fixes made in character lighting.
58. Fixed flying meshes in Prologue.
59. Fixed blinking trees in Chapter 3.
60. Fixed blinking grass on Draug location.
61. Fixed low detail texture on rock in camp of the Order of the Flaming Rose.
62. Fixed Wild Hunt graphics in Chapter 3.
63. Fixed clock in Meditation panel.
64. Fixed broken texture during Meditation in UI.
65. Fixed spyglass icon in Inventory.
66. Added mages’ banner to Epilogue in Loc Muinne.
67. Added Nilfgaardian flags in Chapter 3.
68. Added new FX for magic in Epilogue.
69. Fixed trade stalls in Flotsam so they close at night.
70. Fixed Geralt’s head on cut scene in Prologue.
71. Fixed Golem’s facial expressions.
72. Fixed ragdoll effect on Golem’s body.
73. Fixed ragdoll effect on nekkers.
74. Fixed distortions on Saskia’s voice in cut scene in Chapter 2.
75. ‘Sneak’ mode music is now saved and reappears when a game is loaded.
76. Several fixes introduced in cut scene audio.
77. Fixed cut-scene sound synchronization.
78. Missing sounds supplemented in Chapter 3 cut scenes.
79. Balance of sound and music fixed in Epilogue.
80. Fixed problems with music playback in Epilogue.
81. Fixed reverb in sewers in Chapter 3.
82. Fixed mage teleport sound effect.
83. Fixed crowd in amphitheatre in Chapter 3.
84. Fixed waypoint for Geralt’s death cut scene in Loc Muinne.
85. Fixed situation whereby Geralt could tell Dethmold that he had a spearhead when this was not present in the Inventory.
86. Triss now always casts spell when interviewing wounded elf in Chapter 1.
87. Shilard now holds the Triss figurine when showing it to Assire.
88. Fixed block on Roche’s movement during fight against soldiers on the walls in Chapter 3.
89. Fixed blocker in ‘Conspiracy’ quest in Chapter 2.
90. Items collected in Prologue now appear in correct slots at the opening of Chapter 1.
91. Fixed interaction with Síle’s megascope in Chapter 3.
92. Fixed highlight effect on doors when using Medallion in Chapter 3.
93. Chest can now be looted after fight with Letho in Chapter 1.
94. Added loot to Dethmold’s chest.
95. Fixed loot in containers in Chapter 3.
96. Fixed Letho’s gestures in dialogue sequence in Chapter 3.
97. Fixed a number of inconsistent Journal entries.
98. Fixed Dethmold’s grimoire so it appears in ‘Quest Item’ category in Inventory.
99. Fixed instances where ‘Esc Menu’ could not be accessed.
100. Game can now be saved while walking through the forest with Anezka.
101. Assorted fixes made in game saving functionality and associated menus.
102. Assorted localization improvements have been made.
Version 2.1 Corrections/Amendments (November 17, 2011)
1. A new system has been implemented improving communications between game installations and both the registration server and ‘Arena’ mode leaderboards.
2. A number of corrections have been introduced to the Witcher 2 Configuration Tool.
Version 2.0 Corrections/Amendments (September 29, 2011)
Corrections and improvements to combat:
1. Numerous improvements have been made in the targeting system.
2. Parrying is now unlimited (even when Vigor is completely depleted), though parries no longer cancel all damage (maximum 50% reduction once the relevant ability has been acquired).
3. Responsiveness of game controls has been improved. This includes but is not limited to casting Signs, parrying, and attacking immediately after evading an opponent’s assault.
4. Geralt’s attacks are no longer interrupted by attacking opponents. Attacks are now contiguous and foes cannot interrupt Geralt’s attacks by landing a blow.
5. Assorted fixes now prevent opponents from incessantly attacking Geralt after he has been knocked down. Geralt can no longer be knocked down repeatedly in quick succession. Also, he rises quickly while evading subsequent attacks.
6. Geralt no longer attacks opponents located behind other opponents positioned nearer to him.
7. The target locking system has been improved. Preference is now given to previously highlighted targets.
8. Target selection has been improved. Priority is now given to foes affected by a critical effect facilitating the completion of a finishing move.
9. The additional two steps Geralt took after mounting an attack with the W, S, A or D key depressed have been eliminated.
10. Attacks can now be continued even when a key controlling Geralt’s movement (e.g. W, S, A, D) is depressed.
11. Attacks can now be continued if the attack key is depressed immediately after the final strike of an attack animation sequence.
12. Geralt can now pivot 180 degrees immediately after completing an attack.
13. Assorted problems with key responsiveness have been resolved. Keys no longer need to be depressed twice or more to trigger a given action.
14. A distance attack problem has been resolved. Geralt now mounts distance attacks (lunge with sword in hand in the Fast style) when opponents were located at a suitable distance from him.
Other corrections and amendments:
15. Casting several bombs no longer blocks further inputs.
16. An option has been added to the configuration tool enabling aspect ratio to be set independently of resolution.
17. The amount of disk space required for game patching has been reduced.
18. The loading of selected Witcher 1 game saves no longer causes the game to crash.
19. A greater number of monsters now appear in the cave leading to Loc Muinne.
20. Improvements have been made in the manner in which monsters are spawned in the mist in Chapter 2.
21. The visual effect accompanying Adrenaline use no longer disappears prematurely.
22. Archers now draw their swords more quickly when Geralt approaches.
23. Mages no longer automatically cast shield spells when Geralt casts daggers at them.
24. The game is now paused when Geralt executes a finishing move in combat.
25. The troll in Chapter 2 has been corrected. Previously, in some circumstances he could not be attacked.
26. Physics on cast daggers have been improved.
27. The site for aiming daggers is now more visible.
28. Geralt’s animation when he dies while casting the Axii Sign has been corrected.
29. An exploit in the fight against Letho has been eliminated. Previously, this foe could be killed by casting bombs in quick succession.
30. An exploit related to the ‘Insane’ difficulty setting has been eliminated. Previously, game saves could be loaded with difficulty set to this level, which was contrary to design intentions.
31. Camera positioning/operation has been corrected during the boss fight against the kayran.
32. Camera control via gamepads has been improved.
33. Assorted adjustments have been made in mutagen statistics.
34. The ‘Junk’ ****** in the Inventory has been adjusted to provide for correct item ******ing.
35. In the Inventory, the dialogue window warning of prohibited actions has been corrected.
36. Assorted corrections have been introduced to the mini-map in Chapter 1.
37. Audio balance throughout the game has been adjusted.
38. Erratic character teleportation in mini–games has been eliminated.
39. Assorted adjustments have been made in animations applying to nekkers.
40. A minor bug in the “Scent of Incense” quest has been resolved.
41. Numerous minor fixes have been introduced in character lip-sync throughout the game.
42. Multiple improvements have been made in the game tutorial.
Patch 1.35 Corrections/Amendments (hotfix of Patch 1.3) (August 5, 2011)
1. Shadows are now correctly displayed when the game is run in 3D Vision mode.
2. Images linked to game saves are now visible in the game loading menu when running in 3D Vision mode.
3. Achievements are now correctly reflected by the Steam client.
4. Blood textures now display correctly in Ubersampling mode.
5. Quick slot item quantities now update correctly after Geralt acquires an item previously placed in a quick slot.
6. Creating several Thunderbolt potions no longer disrupts the proper functioning of alchemy ingredient counters.
7. After the successful completion of the ‘Scent of Incense’ quest, a message regarding failure to complete this quest no longer appears when Geralt enters Loredo’s residence near the end of Chapter 1.
8. The frequency with which larger mutagens occur in the game world has been adjusted.
9. In the ‘Memories and Flashbacks’ section of the menu, deleting a game save no longer produces the ‘Loading available animations’ message.
10. The game’s .exe files are no longer identified as a threat by some popular anti-virus applications.
11. On systems running Windows XP, the automatic update of the game following installation no longer produces a Launcher.exe error.
12. The game installation directory cannot be found if the directory name includes diacritical characters not supported by the Windows version being run on the system in question.
13. The names of two scholars in Flotsam have been corrected.
14. The description of the trunk used for storing items has been corrected.
15. The description of the Mahakaman rune sihil, an importable Witcher 1 item, has been corrected.
Patch 1.3 Corrections/Amendments (July 19, 2011)
1. New FREE DLC – “A Sackful of Fluff” is a new quest in Chapter 2 of the game. To start the quest, visit the eccentric Elthon, who inhabits a solitary hut near the quarry outside Vergen. The quest will prove most rewarding to those who demonstrate patience.
2. Game now supports 4:3, 5:4, and 16:10 aspect ratios.
3. Item storage has been added. Players can now store items from their Inventory at inns. To leave items in storage or collect previously stored items, talk to innkeepers.
4. A ‘Junk’ panel has been added to the Inventory to provide greater clarity in item classification.
5. A new menu option has been added under ‘Extras’ – this enables players to view in-game animated sequences (flashbacks, memory flashes, dreams stolen by harpies) outside of the game.
6. A ‘quick load’ option has been added under the F9 key.
7. The game's HUD can now be hidden in order to produce HUD-free screenshots! On newly installed game copies, the option to hide/show the HUD is available by default under the 'H' key. Users who have modified the key assignments on their installations should go to the 'Input Settings' dialogue of the Witcher 2 Configuration Tool to assign a key to this option. Please note that the game cannot be played with the HUD hidden.
8. A counter has been added for items placed in quick slots.
9. Players can now create multiple items in the Alchemy panel.
10. Issue involving the game not running at 2560x1440 resolution has been resolved.
11. Issues with nVidia 3D Vision technology have been resolved. Players no longer need to uninstall the related drivers.
12. Assorted improvements have been made in the game’s 3D Vision, SLI and Crossfire functionality.
13. Assorted improvements have been made for running the game in Ubersampling mode on nVidia cards.
14. Key bindings have been corrected to enable configuration of mouse buttons for use by left-handed players.
15. Assorted key binding options have been added to facilitate configuration of controls and quick access to various in-game panels.
16. Issue related to game settings being reset to defaults upon patch installation has been resolved. Patches no longer reset game settings.
17. The configuration file is no longer over-written when the launcher/configuration tool is patched and over-written.
18. The launcher now closes while the game is being patched, thus eliminating the resulting game patching error.
19. The launcher now closes completely and no longer continues to operate in the background.
20. ‘Installed game version is invalid or incomplete’ error in updater when free space on system drive is insufficient – message has been corrected to reflect more accurately the nature of the error.
21. Mutagens are now alchemy ingredients. Minor mutagens drop more frequently than do major mutagens, though the overall mutagen drop rate has been reduced.
22. Corrections have been made in the mutagen drop rate and in Thorak’s store.
23. ‘Dragon’ section of Prologue does not become available until after all assault-related sections have been completed, thereby softening the difficulty curve at the start of the game.
24. During the fight against the kayran, when the bridge collapses, a map pin appears at the end of the bridge to facilitate player navigation and quest completion.
25. Map pins have been corrected in many quests.
26. Quen Sign slightly de-buffed – Sign dissipates 20% faster after foes land a blow. Assorted minor balance issues related to this Sign have also been resolved.
27. Issue with oil enhancements not working on silver swords has been resolved.
28. Issue with Dragon’s Dream bombs has been resolved. Damage to bosses from cast daggers has been reduced by one-half.
29. Several optimization improvements have been made in the tavern in Vergen.
30. Problem with music accompanying ‘stealth’ sequences has been resolved.
31. Issue related to arm wrestling Bart Bargee has been resolved. Players can no longer win coin from this character endlessly.
32. Option to fist fight woman praying at a statue in Vergen has been deactivated.
33. Mini-game contestants at one of the in-game taverns now switch positions correctly without blocking one another.
34. Problem involving Fenn’s sword in combat has been resolved.
35. Problems with herbalist’s gloves have been resolved.
36. In the Prologue, Geralt retains his steel long sword throughout, i.e., he is no longer automatically equipped with his default sword for the ‘Assault’ sequence.
37. Problem with some nekkers being immortal has been resolved.
38. Issue with triggered black screens blocking game progress has been resolved.
39. Interactions no longer appear on nekker nests after these have been destroyed.
40. The “Scent of Incense” quest no longer shows up as failed after being completed successfully.
41. Sudden switch to gameplay just prior to cut scene involving Cynthia and Philippa has been eliminated.
42. Triss, Roche and Iorveth are now de-spawned before the final credits roll.
43. Guard pacing cycles have been corrected.
44. The Redanian messenger in Henselt’s tent can no longer be killed, preventing him from re-spawning.
45. Elf woman in Vergen no longer strikes a T-pose.
46. Rotfiends feeding on corpses no longer re-spawn after corpse is burned.
47. Several fixes have been made in the functioning of in-game populaces.
48. Numerous problems with cameras in dialogue sequences have been resolved.
49. Assorted corrections have been made in dialogue sequences (including King Foltest’s gestures on the town walls in the Prologue).
50. A progression break in the ‘In the Claws of Madness’ quest has been eliminated.
Patch 1.2 Corrections/Amendments (June 2, 2011)
1. All previously released DLC packages are installed with Patch 1.2:
- “Blue Stripes Combat Jacket”
- “Ultimate Alchemist's Outfit”
- “Ultimate Mage's Outfit”
- “Ultimate Swordsman's Outfit”
- “Finisher Pack”
- “Mysterious Merchant”
- “Troll Trouble”
2. Patch 1.2 adds a new free DLC package titled “Barbers and Coiffeuses.” To take advantage of barbershop and hairstyling services, look for Einar Gausel in Chapter 1 of the game, Sambor in Henselt’s Camp in Chapter 2, Felicia Cori in Chapter 2 if you travel to Vergen, and Felicia Cori once again in Chapter 3.
3. Game saves are now compressed automatically, lowering the amount of disk space they utilize.
4. An option has been added to the game menu allowing game saves to be deleted. To delete a game save, highlight the relevant item and press the ‘Delete’ key.
5. The game menu now loads at a markedly accelerated pace.
6. The game now supports Logitech G35 headphones and other USB headsets with on-board sound cards.
7. A number of fixes have been added to the key binding functionality (actions can now be mapped to number pad and cursor/arrow keys).
8. Analog sticks on gamepads now work correctly in the GUI panels.
9. A number of game balance fixes have been introduced in the Prologue.
10. Lock on targets is not lost when the distance to targets increases.
11. A number of fixes have been made in blocking functionality during combat. Also, player character responsiveness in combat has been improved, and Geralt can attack more than one target during normal combat.
12. A number of corrections have been made in the statistics displayed in item diagrams in the Crafting panel.
13. The Witcher 1 saves are now imported correctly.
14. An auto–save has been added before the fight against the draug.
15. Flare bomb duration is now 2 (two) minutes.
16. Issue involving the equipping of bombs (or other items) even if they were not present in the character Inventory has been fixed.
17. Islamic–themed and similar textures have been deleted and/or replaced.
18. A number of fixes have been made in game dialogues.
19. Issue that blocked advancement to the next level at the start of Chapter 3 has been fixed.
20. Issue involving the occurrence of T-poses upon the destruction of nekker nests has been corrected.
21. Guards can no longer block Geralt when he is on a ladder.
22. Knives no longer affect friendly NPCs.
23. Bug related to using some containers has been fixed.
24. Ostmurk (an ingredient required to complete a quest) can no longer be sold.
25. Ingredients required to complete the “Melitele's Heart” quest have been added to the game.
26. A fix has been introduced in the “Troll Trouble” quest whereby the she–troll’s head can be won in a game of dice poker.
27. The Ghost of the Banner can no longer be killed by wraiths.
28. Issue involving the Operator being neutral and thus susceptible to being killed before any conversation occurs has been fixed.
29. A number of fixes have been introduced to prevent selected NPCs from being blocked (king in siege tower, knights when destroying a gate in the Prologue, etc.).
30. The “Three Sisters” quest has been fixed so that the door does not remain locked forever once the quest has been completed.
31. A number of progression breaks have been fixed, including instances of blocked meditation, inability to save game, and blocked combat after use of static cameras (e.g. game could not be saved after completion of the “Indecent Proposal” quest).
32. The progression break during the fight against the dragon in Chapter 3 (exploration not working properly) has been fixed.
33. The progression break during the fight against Dethmold (whereby he sometimes remained behind his barrier, doing nothing) has been fixed.
34. The progression break (black screen) in the "Little Shop of Dreams" quest has been fixed.
35. The progression break following failure to complete the ritual with Anezka has been fixed.
36. The progression break during the dialogue on the beach in the “Hung Over” quest has been fixed.
Patch 1.1 Corrections – included in Patch 1.2 when installed on retail 1.0 version (May 25, 2011)
1. The process of installing and activating the game is now easier and more stable. SECUROM copy protection has been removed entirely, making the game DRM free!
2. The “Troll Trouble” DLC package is included in the patch, bringing to an end any and all problems related to downloading this content.
3. Problems related to downloading other free DLC have also been resolved. The game launcher now correctly detects and updates specific modules.
4. Game efficiency has been improved. Game now runs 5-30% more efficiently and game loading has been accelerated. Efficiency increases will vary depending on system configuration and game version. Owners of boxed versions of The Witcher 2 are likely to notice the greatest improvements.
5. Bugs causing the game to crash, especially while saving game progress or loading saved games, have been corrected.
6. Movement key mapping has been expanded to include cursor (arrow) and number pad keys.
7. Options have been added for inverting the X and Y axes of the mouse.
8. NVidia 3D Vision Surround now works correctly with the game.
9. The hardware configuration auto-detect function has been corrected, resulting in improved game efficiency.
10. A bug preventing the completion of the “Blood Curse” quest has been corrected.
11. After beating the GOG.com penitent monk in the mini-game, the relevant link now displays correctly.
12. GOG.com credits have been corrected.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
5) Free DLC – “A Sackful of Fluff” plus “Barbers and Coiffeuses” and Six Pre-Release DLC Packages
"A Sackful of Fluff" is an additional quest in Chapter 2 of the game. To start the quest, visit the eccentric Elthon, who inhabits a solitary hut near the quarry outside Vergen. The quest will prove most rewarding to those who demonstrate patience.
“Barbers and Coiffeuses”
Some traders also provide barbershop services. For a small fee, Geralt can get them to change his hairstyle. Search notice boards for information about barbers and coiffeuses offering services of this nature in a given location. In Flotsam, in Chapter 1 of the game, these services are available from the antique book dealer Einar Gausel. In Chapter 2, look either for Sambor in Henselt’s Camp or for Felicia Cori in Vergen. This apprentice sorceress also provides hairstyling services in Loc Muinne, in Chapter 3 of the game.
This free DLC package is installed automatically with version 2.0 along with all other DLC packages. You do not need to download and install it separately.
Six previously released DLC packages are also included in version 2.0:
- “Blue Stripes Combat Jacket” - available through your character Inventory from the beginning of the game,
- “Ultimate Alchemist's Outfit” - available through your character Inventory from the beginning of the game,
- “Ultimate Mage's Outfit” - available through your character Inventory from the beginning of the game,
- “Ultimate Swordsman's Outfit” - available through your character Inventory from the beginning of the game,
- “Finisher Pack” – bonus finishers available from the beginning of the game,
- “Mysterious Merchant” - character who can first be encountered in the harbor in Chapter 1 of the game and then in all other game chapters,
- “Troll Trouble” - start this quest by finding the relevant notice on the notice board in Chapter 1 of the game. Look for the troll just outside of Flotsam, by the ruined bridge in the forest.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
6) Key Known Issues
Technical
- Playing .avi and other movie files on your system before launching the game may corrupt game graphics (new nVidia drivers will fix this issue). After playing such files, you should restart your computer before launching the game.
-Disable anti-aliasing on AMD video cards before launching the game. This hardware feature currently conflicts with the game’s anti-alias settings.
- Some AMD cards may not allow you to play the game in fullscreen mode.
- After installation, you might encounter an error about a missing .dll file. If this occurs, please run vcredist_x86.exe from the Disk2 directory.
- We advise that you de-activate any anti-virus software prior to beginning the installation process. If you fail to do so, please be sure to authorize the download and installation of any files the software detects as corrupted during installation.
- Occasionally, CPUs may not be detected correctly when using the auto-detect feature in the configuration tool.
- On some system configurations, QTE icons and icons in selected GUI panels may not be visible.
Gameplay
- A very random input block might occur when using bombs, during dynamic fistfights, and with some interactions. If you encounter this issue, please load a previous game save.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
7) Technical Support
Please make sure you have the latest video drivers installed. For configurations that include nVidia hardware, the relevant driver version is 275.33, which resolves problems previously experienced with the company’s 3D Vision technology.
Also, AMD has made a hotfix available that resolves problems experienced on systems that include the company’s Crossfire technology. The relevant hotfix (Catalyst 11.5b) can be downloaded from the company’s support site.
If you are experiencing problems with the game, please consult our technical support website at
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition, where you will also find solutions to a range of problems related to installing the game.
If you fail to find a solution to your issue at the website and are unable to install the game, please contact us at the special e-mail address we have established specifically and exclusively for those experiencing continued problems with start-up:
help2start@thewitcher.com.
If you fail to find a solution at the website and your issue does not relate to game installation, please contact us at
tw2support@cdprojektred.com.
In response to relevant inquiries sent to these addresses, we will provide advice on how to resolve practically any problem related to the game. For example, we continue to receive information regarding CRC errors during game installation. Our technical support experts are prepared to provide you with a solution to this and other problems!
Sincerely, Your Busy-As-Ever Tech Support Department
-------------------------------------------------------------------
8) Amendments to the Game Manual
EN, page 9, Map panel – the map can also be scrolled using the mouse (LMB + mouse move) or the keyboard cursor keys.
EN, page 10, Key binding - you can also custom bind keys using the configuration tool built into the game launcher.
EN, page 27, Bombs – the ‘Beehive’ bomb should be labeled the ‘Grapeshot’ bomb as this is the name used for the weapon in the game.
EN, page 31, Quick casting Signs - Signs can also be quick cast by pressing the following: 5 for Aard, 6 for Yrden, 7 for Igni, 8 for Quen, 9 for Axii.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
9) Basic Configuration Options
-Text language: set based on the language packs you install for your version of the game. Register your game copy to download additional language packs, then select from among the available text languages in the configuration tool. You can set the game to run any mix of installed voice-over and text languages.
-Keyboard setup: choose the correct keyboard setup according to your hardware. The Witcher 2 also supports French and German keyboard setups.
-Voice-over language: choose the voice-over language you prefer to hear in game based on the language packs you have installed on your system.
-Screen resolution: select from among a number of screen resolutions. Please note that Windows XP does not support 720p as a native direct3d resolution. On computers running this operating system, choose from among the available 4:3 resolutions. On systems running Windows Vista and 7, 16:9 resolutions (like 1280x720 or 1920x1080) provide the best gaming experience.
-Fullscreen: choose whether to play in fullscreen or windowed mode.
-Configuration set: select from among a number of graphics pre-sets. To customize your configuration, check the “Show advanced options” box. View and change specific graphics settings on the right side of the configuration panel.
-Auto-detect best settings: automatically detects the best settings for your system by querying your computer's hardware.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
10) Advanced Configuration Options
-Texture downscaling: higher values result in lower texture quality.
-Texture memory size: sets the amount of graphics card memory allocated to textures. Larger values will decrease the amount of streaming that occurs in game and will make the game run more smoothly, but they can also cause the graphics card to run out of memory and even result in game crashes. Choose a reasonable value based on the amount of memory available on your graphics card.
- Shadow quality: affects graphics performance. Consumes GPU power without affecting CPU performance.
- Number of shadowed lights: set the maximum number of lights that cast shadows. Affects graphics performance. Consumes GPU power without affecting CPU performance.
- LOD distance: distance scale for level of detail on meshes. Lower values improve game performance but result in reduced detail on models.
- Bloom: effect greatly improves quality of game graphics without placing excess demands on GPU.
- Light shafts: visual effect recommended for medium-high/high-end machines. Should be disabled on older systems.
- Anti-aliasing: demanding effect that can significantly reduce performance, so it should be disabled on medium and low-end machines.
- Blur effects: special blur and radial blur visual effects that are quite demanding on hardware but used rarely in the game.
- Depth of field – gameplay: subtle visual effect. Option determines appearance of effect only during gameplay sequences and does not affect DoF in cut scenes.
- Vignette: aesthetic option that produces a photographic vignette around the game screen. Does not affect performance.
- Rain, Wet surfaces rain effect: modest impact on performance.
- SSAO (Screen Space Ambient Occlusion): lighting effect that is important to the game but unfortunately places significant demands on the GPU.
- Motion blur: blur effect on camera movement, demanding on the GPU.
- Cinematic depth of field: provides movie-like depth of field in cut scenes and dialogue sequences. Extremely detailed but demands significant power. Should only be enabled on machines equipped with top-end graphics cards.
- Depth of field – cut scenes: option only affects cut scenes and dialogue sequences, does not affect gameplay performance.
- Dangling objects limit: limiter for physical animation of character components like Geralt's hair. Disabling this option places greater demands on the CPU.
- Ubersampling: high quality rendering mode under which whole scenes are rendered multiple times to provide the best possible textures, object details and anti-aliasing (superior to anti-alias and anisotropy even on the highest settings). PLEASE NOTE: Option designed for powerful, next generation systems! Use with caution, only on top-end computers (best possible in terms of both GPU and CPU).
- Vertical sync: helps eliminate "screen tearing" (
Screen tearing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) during camera movements and blinking on very quick animations (e.g., bright explosions), but can cause somewhat slower rendering and short input lags.
- Decals: enabling decals like dust or blood on characters can affect CPU performance.
Google