[Quai-gon Jinn]

Hi guys  :)
This is my first play through so, I'm not sure if this can be done.  Triss has just dropped me off (through the portal) in Murky Waters.  What's VERY high on my list do do first is check the field area to get Sihil.  Then finish the “Heat of the Day” and “Ripples” quests so I can start “Free Elves” quest just enough to be “Knighted” by the “Lady of the Lake” to receive “Aerondight.”  Then, I planned on stopping “Free Elves” and doing the rest of the Side quests, Contracts, and Trophy quests.  Once those were completed I planned on going back to “Free Elves” to finish the Chapter.

My thought on doing it this way was to try and obtain the two best swords in the game as quickly as I can. So, does anyone see a problem/quest conflict with me doing it this way? Any other strategies for obtaining these swords quickly in Chapter IV or do you think my strategy is sound?  Thank you in advance for your input  ;D

”Q”

[Xellotath]

I.... THINK.... It might be better just to do the other quests naturally, explore the area as you like and do them when they come up, the sword isn't THAT great that you should go out of your way to dislodge the game experience to get a hold of it  :peace:

And some of the main quests are tied together, Ripples for example is a huge quest and i think goes along with a few of the other ones, yeah i think you should just do it normally.

I also think once you return to the lakeside with the sword, Free Elves is at the point where you can't go back, because the next time you enter the village Dandelion comes and talks to you and the very end of the chapter begins.

[game widow]

some of the quests have to be completed before you can get aerondight.. there's no choice there.

and Xellotath is quite right that aerondight is nice, but not the be-all and end-all. it's absolutely not necessary in act IV (or anywhere really -- it is nice, no doubt)

and finally, you really can't do anything much after Free Elves so, really, do everything else before that one  :peace:

[Quai-gon Jinn]

Thank you everyone  ;D 
I kind of thought that was the case about the "Free Elves" quest  :(  BTW, when I am ready to get the sword, will Ihave to have a "slot" open for the "Lady of the Lake" to give it to me?

Thanks again in advance,
"Q"  :D

[Petra_Silie]

This depends on your own arrangements on your character. I knew I had "one sword too many" and left it at the tavern owner depot. I keep all swords Geralt gets in the game because there aren't so many and it's a nice souvenir.

btw... I wouldn't rush through this chapter because you want to get asap the swords.  There are many opportunities to discover things and earn exp. You may regret it when you have a low level in the next chapter  ;)

[Owen Bishop]

I can only suggest a strategy that has never failed me in the last 7 goes.
I leave getting Aerodight until the very last of the chapter.  Last time I placed my rune silver (3 x Earth) in my inventory so I had a spare slot ready for Aerodight.  Really, any branded rune silver sword should last you through Act IV.  I then swapped it back at the dike in Act V (Aerodight in inventory) so I could get moonblade without losing my precious Aerodight, sacrificing only a simple rune silver sword.  Now my Geralt will have a choice of some decent silver weaponry when he finishes the game  ;).

I usually begin the Act by going immediately to the water nymph and starting the drowner quest.
Then I go to Black Tern Island and get the Basilisk hide.
Then I go to the cave and finish the Elven Bread quest (I already had bread).
Then I possibly meet Berengar in the Crypt.
I then complete the easy quests (contracts, trophies, fistfighting, gambling, temptation, griggs, drowners etc)
Then the hermit's wild hunt quest
Only after I have done nearly everything I find Alvin in Alina's house to start his quest - this is mainly because having Alvin follow me around all the time peeves me off.
Then you know the drill -  Help Alina and Celina.  Aerodight and Dagon is last.

[Xellotath]

Chuckles, that seems not far from the order i did things.

I think the most important thing to remember, and i should have mentioned this in my previous post, is that Ch 4 is a unique chapter in the game, and definitely my favorite of the lot. The locations are a joy to explore, the music is fantastic - the music that plays during the day at Lakeside is in my opinion the best piece in the game, and the one that plays at night is one of the best too. Then in the village there's "River of Life", the music which is also played at The Dike in chapters 2 & 3, also a great piece.

But yeah basically Ch 4 is all about temporarily being taken out of the huge dramatic conflict you've taken part in for the last 30+ hours and dropping you in the middle of this tranquil lakeside with picturesque scenery and a peaceful little village. Until of course the conflict catches up with you again at the end of the chapter...

I probably spent more time on this chapter than Ch 2 (which is technically much longer)  :peace:

[Petra_Silie]

The beauty of chapter IV was intended by the devs and is supposed to be a break from the depressing locations you explored before  ;)

Quote

Only after I have done nearly everything I find Alvin in Alina's house to start his quest - this is mainly because having Alvin follow me around all the time peeves me off.

This I will engrave deep into my long time memory for the next play. No, I better make handwritten a note, I don't trust my long time memory all the time  ;D

[Quai-gon Jinn]

Thank you Chuckles for your VERY insightful suggestions  :)  I am a little confused though about how you suggested placing your Rune Sword in inventory before you went to get “Aerondight” from the Lady of the Lake  ???

As I understand it, you placed your Rune sword in your inventory so you could have a slot ready for Aerondight( that I certainly understand.)  This is the part I'm a little hazy on, you then “swapped”  Aerondight, put it IN inventory in Chapter V.  As I understand it, once you leave Dandilion in Chapter IV, you DON'T have access to your inventory in Chapter V, is that not the case?

One other question.  As much as I've tried searching or trying to buy, I've only been able to get two Rune Stones, :( one Sun and one Earth.  Do you know where in Chapter IV I can find or buy a couple more Rune Stones to upgrade my Silver blade (it's still a generic one)?  Or do you think at this point I might as well wait till I get Aerondight?

Thanks again for your input  :) :D

[game widow]

there are lots of rune stones in act IV

Earth:
    *  corpse west of the ruined bridge outside Murky Waters
    * one of three possible rewards for Old Habits Die Hard
    * Blacksmith's son

Moon
    *  chest on Black Tern Island (near the circle of elements)
    * The Rock, one of three possible rewards

Sun
    *  Dagon's corpse
    * Blacksmith's son (three)

[Quai-gon Jinn]

Thanks for the Info Game Widow  :D

[game widow]

it's all on the wiki, grasshopper  ;D

[Owen Bishop]

Quote

As I understand it, you placed your Rune sword in your inventory so you could have a slot ready for Aerondight( that I certainly understand.)  This is the part I'm a little hazy on, you then “swapped”  Aerondight, put it IN inventory in Chapter V.  As I understand it, once you leave Dandilion in Chapter IV, you DON'T have access to your inventory in Chapter V, is that not the case?

Yes you are quite correct - in Act V you have no access to your inventory once you've left Dandelion at the dike.  I kept Aerodight in my inventory because I nearly always pick up the silver blade Moonblade in Act V, and (due to the history of the blade) don't want to lose Aerodight by leaving it on the ground in the swamp.  That way, getting Moonblade only causes me to lose my pathetic rune silver sword.

[String Of Life]

Hey to all of you!
I followed this thread as I am in ACT IV now..Did everything as Chuckles said..I finished next tasks till now: Daily Bread,Hunting the Wild Hunt,Old Habits Die Hard,Small Problems,Temptation,The Ancient Cemetaur,The Vodyan Priest..Also I did all the contracts sucessfully...I have talked to Berengar only once for now..Also I did some minor things considering primary quests,like giveing the amulet to Alvin(the kid doesn't stop following me now)..
The latest quest I have finished is the quest for Hermit.Then i went meditating(distributing talents and alchemy),and when I was returning to the village,both Alina and Celina appeared as the Noonwraiths.First I killed Cellina(or Alina-don't know exactly,I mix them) and then saw Adam killing the other sister.After talking to the Celina(which was now in form of NoonWraith) i proceeded to the village,and when entered I had a brief conversation with Adam.
So,my question is am I doing a good job so far?What should I do next?I now have these quest going on/activated in my quest tab:Alvin,Armor,Ripples,
The Heat of the Day.
On what should I concentrate?Any suggestions would be appreciated!I'm asking this because I wouldn't want to end this ACT without all quest finished.
Thanks in advance,
SoL.

[Petra_Silie]

You are very busy ;) I hope you didn't forget to word a charming letter to your beloved Triss or Shani ;)

You are on the right track. Actually you can't miss anything now. Just follow the instructions of your quest journal. You should talk to Julian now about what has happened to Alina. You talked to her during daytime and she didn't realise that she is dead?

Alvin will follow you for a while but only in the fields and the lakeside. And he is apparently afraid of crypts.

If you can't find the friendly Wodjanoi priest to continue with Ripples, don't worry, he comes back. You can't miss him cos the resolute girl always has something to tell.

Armor you can't finish in Act IV even if the quest log stubbornly tells you to search the crypt or talk to the blacksmith / elven craftsman.

Well, you can follow your quest log or check your open quests here, it has detailed descriptions but spoilers as well  :wave:

[String Of Life]

Oh yes I am,I've been playing these days up to 10hrs a day :) Hm,don't think I understood you for this letter task good enough..I got a letter from Triss,saying some stuff,and also Dandelion gave me an amulet for Alvin with the letter.Was I supposed to reply to that letter and how or did you just mean if I got that letter from Triss?
Ok,good to know that I'm doing OK. ;) Ok,that's what I intend to do next,talking to Julian about everything..Yes,I talked to her somewhere around noon,she didn't realise that she is dead and I had to kill her because she has attacked me.Did I do good?Just after I killed her,I saw Adam going after Celina and killing her.Then I talked to Celina also when she became a noonwraith.
I got that piece of armor from the sarchopagus from the crypt where I first found Berengar.After that I've talked to the blacksmith about it and he told me his story,that I need 2 more pieces I think..Good to know that it continues in the 5th ACT.
One more question...Should I solve some quests before others or I can do them all at the same time?Also all hints you can give me would be appreciated.
Thanks,
SoL.

[Quai-gon Jinn]

Hi  :) 
I just wanted to thank everyone for your GREAT replies  :)  ;D
"Q"

[game widow]

it's ok to kill the noonwraiths / nightwraith ... they're already dead, the ones you need come back  :peace:

[String Of Life]

Is there any order that quests should be done in ACT IV??I now have The Paths of destiny,Alvin,Riplles and The Heat of the day quests avilable on my quest info..Is there any particular order to do them or not?
SoL.

[game widow]

my goodness, scroll down -- the answer is on this very page for pete's sake  ::)