FCR F.A.Q. - Frequently Asked Questions: F.A.Q. translation by Piotr 'Szczepek' Szczepankiewicz, Iwona 'Raine' Pułanecka, Karolina 'Nemi' Luba
General questions:Question: What are the main differences between Flash Mod and FCR? I don't know which one I should choose.Answer: Flash Mod significantly increaces the difficulty, but leaves the original game mechanics, whereas FCR is an overhaul of the talent and fighting system, which, apart from increasing the difficulty, also maximises the realism, while maintaining the gameplay at the highest standard at the same time. FCR is a set of completely new, worked out rules for the Witcher.
Q: Which of the following mods; Flash Mod and FCR is harder on the INSANE difficulty level?A: FCR on INSANE is harder than Flash Mod. The player, who will read what the new skill tree offers, who will plan the development of his character, who will keep up with the bestiary, the noted strong and weak points of monsters, will be more satisfied with FCR than with Flash Mod.
The problem is that most of the players simply install FCR, start playing on INSANE and throw themselves impetuosly into a fight without knowledge of the new rules and ways to play. Such an approach results in numerous defeats and frustration.
Q: While reading about the differences in the difficulty between the levels HARD and INSANE I wonder what the differences really are?A: In FCR the difference between the levels HARD and INSANE lies mainly in the damage bonus. While the HARD level forgives the player an ill-considered character development, on INSANE it is necessary to know what to invest in first. If the player doesn't do enough damage, he won't get through the creatures' thick skin, thus he won't make a succesful hit. The HARD difficulty level provides a significant bonus of +5 to damage, so even if for some reasons we have ignored the development of the strong style, strength and/or we have ignored the oils suitable for a particular monster, the bonus will smooth away the player's mistakes. With an additional option of Easy Monsters in the installator we get an avarage bonus of +10 to damage depending on the monster, which is a value equal to the bonus of oils for necrophages and specters.
Q: Isn't winning a fight a matter of luck in this mod?A: FCR is based on a percentage chance for hitting succesfully, making a critical hit, etc., so a win is affected by "luck". Just as in The Witcher without the mod, Baldur's Gate 1,2, Icewind dale 1,2, Planescape Torment, Fallout 1,2,3, KOTOR 1,2, Arcanum, Diablo 1,2, Neverwinter Nights 1,2, Titan Quest, ..., ..., ...
Q: Is there anywhere I can read the exact information about the changes in difficulty levels, new rules and the amount of talents, similar to how you showed it in Flash Mod?A: All of the descriptions of talents and items in FCR are more than exact. The entries in the tutorial, in-game hints etc. are filled in.
Charts comparing FCR, Flash Mod and the original version of the game are available after the installation in "The Witcher" folder. There you can find all the information concerning monsters, NPCs, weapons, armours and many others.
Q: Do the changes made by FCR also affect other adventures? I mean, i.e the Heliotrop sign, new talents, increased enemy damage etc. A: Yes, however it should be remembed that both Flash Mod and FCR were created for the basic version of the game and was tested with the basic version, not with additional adventures.
The mods aren't balanced in the respect of difficulty in the additional adventures and it is possible that errors may occur.
Q: What does it mean that FCR offers "all the improvements known from Flash Mod."?A: All the bugfixes and modifications not affecting the game difficulty available in Flash Mod, i.e. visable wounds on the enemies' and Geralt's body after each hit, the possibility of obtaining warewolf fur without killing it, etc are also available in FCR. It's not about the changes related to difficulty and game mechanics - these elements are completely different in each of the mods.
Q: If the mod offers all the improvements of Flash Mod, why doesn't it change the models of forged swords?A: I haven't changed the swords' models, because I didn't see it as an improvement. I have a different plan for the forged swords looks. They will look different, but it's not connected with changing models.
Q: Can I install FCR on Flash Mod?A: Before installing FCR you have to uninstall Flash Mod.
Q: How can I uninstall Flash Mod/FCR?A: In the Witcher base folder there's a file named
unins00x (x - a number), which is used to uninstall the game. You can also get into your Windows control panel ->Add/remove programs, find the mod on the list and click REMOVE.
Q: Won't installing the 1.5 patch cause crashes to the mod ? A: The mod works with The Witcher: Enhanced Edition, which actually means it works with patches not older than 1.5 and 1.4.
Q: Will the new version of the mod be compatible with the saved games from the older version?A: At the moment, all existant and future versions of the mod are compatible with the older ones. You can easily continue your game using the saved games from the previous mod version.
Q: Would it be possible to install all the modifications without chaning the difficulty level ? It's hard and I want to just chill while playing the game ...A: As in Flash Mod, it's possible to install the modifications without making the game harder. All you need to do is to uncheck the FCR option in the installator.
Q: Where can I find the main menu music theme? It's awesome!A: The main music theme of FCR can be found in the folder
The Witcher\Data\music\menu.oggQ: I've searched in the installator options, but couldn't find it - is it possible to restore the previous main menu music theme?A: You can uncheck the new song in the installator. To restore the original one you should get to the folder The Witcher/DATA/MUSIC and run the
restore_ogg.exe file.
Q: I have Windows Vista 64 and running restore_ogg didn't change anything, I still can hear the mod's music theme in the menu.A: The
restore_ogg file was created for Windows XP. It works for the majority of people, who use Vista 64, if it doesn't, find the backup of the old music theme in the
music folder. All you need to do is to manually change the file's name.
Q: I've read that the mod adds a new sword. Where can I find it?A: The sword belong to the head hunter, who will come after us if we kill a town guard. Siegfried also possesses the ruby sword, if he is wearing the full plate armour of the Order.
Q: I've installed the mod correctly and I still have the old model and description. A: The equipment's parametres are stored in the save game data. The mod does not affect saved games, so it is necessary to obtain a new sword or start a new game, which is recommended.
Q: Will the change of the texture/model of xyc will be added to the next version of the mod? I've just collected 3 meteors and I don't know should I forge them now or later? A: If it were up to me all the graphic details would have been corrected ages ago. Unfortunately, i'm not a graphic designer and it's hard to predict how much time the IFRIT graphic designers would spend doing it.
Q: Could you add the descriptions of all the talents here on the forum?A: 240 talents along with formating?? Copying entry after entry manually, sorting and removing the formating would take several hours and I have other things on my head.
An example of Igni:
<cHEADER>IGNI (level 2)</c>
Angle <cBOLD>60</c> degrees
Sign Intensity <cBOLD>+25%</c>
Sign Range <cBOLD>+33%</c>
Damage: <cBOLD>20</c> + ((0.04% to 0.05%) x Sign Intensity x opponent's max Vitality)
Endurance Cost <cBOLD>30</c>
Base Sign Intensity without bonuses: <cBOLD>50</c>
<cBOLD>Requires level 2 Intelligence</c>
<cBOLD>Requires Silver Talent</c>
If any player is eager, he is welcome to make such a list.
Q: I have noticed that one can't buy the talent power-upping sings(it requires a bronze talents), if one hasn't got any silver talents. How to fix it?A: It's a known bug, unfortunately it belongs to the "unexplainable and illogical game behaviour" category. The mod does not require the possesion of a silver talent for buying the sign power-up, however the game itself does. I don't know where the cause of this problems lies. Anyway, the mod's script responsible for this action does not contain any error.
Combat questions:Q: Making a mod that makes the game feel a lot more "true" to the original world by the books sounds like a very intresting idea. How does it changes the gameplay? Aside from making it harder.A: FCR is aimed to be more realistic so you can kill humans with 2 hits but you can die as easy as them. Dexterity is most important. Enemy accuracy is set to vary between 15-35% depending on class type (weak, normal, elite, boss, elite boss). It's 15-35% with optimal character development when you first meet that particular enemy. Blizzard decrease enemy accuracy by another 10%, pain and bleeding by 5% each. You end up like a witcher in books - a duel master, unbeatable by humans in swordfight but when you fight monsters or you are surrounded you can die easily and extremely fast. Even the best blademasters die when backstabbed. Only monsters and skilled humans will hit you in solo battle, but when attacked from the flank or from behind every opponent gets +50% bonus to accuracy. It's a sudden death. Mobility, blizzard, good use of signs is crucial. You will be rewarded by killing most enemies with 1 or 2 attacks. Fights are extremely fast and dynamic. Specialised sign user will deal extreme damage with Igni. 75 base damage + value dependend on enemy max health and sign intensity, could be even >100 damage while the strongest non-boss humans have around 90 hp... Aard is very useful even without critical effects. By using aard you gain few seconds to attack. Enough for 1-2 attacks and that's all what's needed to kill with FCR mod.
Q: When I uninstall Flash Mod and install FCR everything works fine, but the game is horribly easy. I understand that it's normal for the bandits in the prologue to die after one hit??A: Yes. The Witcher's blade brings death to unarmed opponents in a wink of an eye. The prologue may seem easy, but it will quickly turn out that Geralt can die as easily as his enemies.
Q: I can't beat xyz. I simply can't hit him.A: The value of the damage done is lower than the opponent's armour class. When the damage is lower or equals 0 the enemy automatically parries the hit. To increase the damage always use an oil suitable for the opponent's race.
Q: Xyz have a tendency for dying even with the having their health close to it's half. The health bar decreases strangely fast. There's no integrity between the damage done and opponent's health bar.A: Two things can be responsible for this occurence:
1. The Witcher Texturen Mod installed, which affects the health bar. In this case the files
fx_kolo.dds and
fx_kolo2.dds ought to be removed.
2. An unexplainable bug of the game itself. Longer playing session without the game being turned off or without having the computer restarted may results in bugs, because of which both Geralt and his enemies may die even when having a considerable supply of health points. The only solution in this case is turning the game off and on again.
Q: The enemies do damage before they even perform the animation. The opponent stays still and we loose HP, it's horribly irritating.A: It's how the game works and the problem isn't connected with the mod. I can't do anything about it.
Q: They killed me in the beginning of the tutorial. When I fight with a few opponents at the same time I get hit all the time. What am I doing wrong?A: If you are attacked from the back or from the flank, the enemy will receive a +50% chance to hit. You have to be mobile and don't let yourself get surrounded.
Q: How to beat the frightener? Before I can hit the siege cauldrons and the bell, one of it always stops ringing too early. The endurance energy is too slow.A: Drink a Tawny Owl potion and some water in order to maximize the endurance regeneration. Use the Aard on a cauldron, use the bell and cast Aard on the next cauldron when enough endurance regenerates. The manouver has to be repeated twice to kill the frightener.
Q: I can't handle Ozzrel. Any ideas on defeating him?A: A necrophages oil is necessary. Dexterity on level 3, strong style on level 2, Swallow, Tawny Owl and Blizzard are highly recommended. One of the elixirs has to have an albedo domintant, otherwise you'll have to give up one potion in order to not cross the 50 point toxicity threshold. Setting Ozzrel on fire regularly between the sword sequences with the Igni sign or a torch may come in handy.
Q: I'm doing the mission for Haren and I choose fighting with the scoia'tael. One shot of an elvem archer almost takes all of my health. What can do about it?A: I suggest buying the Deflecting Arrows talent, having at least level 2 dexterity and the Blizzard elixir. Charging into archers with the Aard sign works very well.
Q: Why can't I defeat the fleder in the second act?A: Without oil used against vampires, which can be picked up instead of the brown one in the third act, Geralt is not able to break through the monster's skin and do damage severe enough to overcome the great vampiric regeneration.
Q: Where can I find the ointment against vampires?A: The oinment has been substituted for the Brown Oil. The Brown Oil could be received from the alchemist in a workshop placed in the Market District.
Q: If the fleder in the second act is so indestructible, what is the best way to kill him in the crypt at the cemetery, where it is necessary to move the story forward?A: Defeating the fleder is not necessary. Just kill the nearest necrophages, lure him far away from the hall, knock him down with Aard and quickly flee away from the scope of battle, then return to search the body. The appropriate use of the garlic talisman against vampires bought from Kalkstein could make the task easier, although it is still not necessary.
Q: During the fight with Azar in the second act the cutscene did not appear despite the fact that the guy has been almost knocked out.A: In the second act it is better to concentrate on the Magister / Professor instead of fighting Azar. After all, it is he who says that he was nearly killed because of Azar's incompetence again. Attacking Azar will not make the Magister/ Professor a dead man.
Q: The situation in the bank in the third act is a true comedy. I run into the crowd and I end up dying after few seconds.A: This is a tough battle and it is better to leave it until Geralt gains a few more levels. I recommend standing near the stairs during the fight and attack using the group style with the Crinfrid Oil on your weapon.
Q: Is it true that it is better not to focus on keeping the sequence in the attack, but rather try to fight using sequence 1 and 2, ie, attack, dodge, retreat, attack, etc.? I am talking about the fight against more than 1 opponent.A: Hits make the current level attack and attacks make one full sequence. For example, the sequence of the Witcher with 3 levels in the strong style in FCR will use:
- 1 first leveled attack consisting of 2 hits,
- 1 second leveled attack consisting of 4 hits,
- 3 third leveled attacks consisting of 3 hits,In total, 5 attacks consisting of 18 hits form one sequence for third leveled strong style.
After this short explanation, let's go to the answer. Yes, when we are fighting with several opponents at once, it is almost always good to stop the sequence and even an attack after a blow, and then
jump back changing the position to avoid the environment. Bonuses from the styles main tree in FCR (not the improvements) affect the attack of each level. For example, the +10 bonus to the damage from 5
level in the strong style will also make the first leveled attack in the same style, which is always performed at the beginning, do the same, +10 damage. In this situation (opposite to the game without the mod), the interruption of the sequence is a much smaller loss. The Witcher without the mod, by the structure of attacks, forced the player to stand in one place and chop, click, click, click, one opponent after another. It definitely had a negative effect on the dynamics of battle, as the player never moved and was only clicking the left mouse button.
- 1 first leveled attack consisting of 2 blows,
- 1 second leveled attack consisting of 4 blows,
- 3 third leveled attacks consisting of 3 blows,
The attack of highest level which has been bought by us is used 3 times in the sequence. In FCR an attack made 3 times will get a +1 bonus to the damage for the second and third attack. It is the only thing that we lose when interrupting the sequence.
Q: Does using the strong and fast fighting styles alternately in order to cause pain and bleeding play an important role in FCR?A: Pain+bleeding always come in handy, however in FCR most of the opponents will die before both effects are triggered. if a tough enemy is encountered, applying the pain and bleeding effects will make the fight easier.
Q: Is it better to kill most of the monsters by fighting with the strong style? Against which monsters the fast style is most effective one?A: FCR does not force the player to use any particular style. While in the original game it was logical that the strong style won't allow to hit a quick opponent, it was completely incomrehensible to not be able to hit a tough opponent with the fast style. In FCR you can hit any opponent using any style if only the damage done is higher than the enemy's armour's value. Lower damage, or damage which equals 0, mean an automatical miss and a parry of the oponnent.
The selection of styles is up to the decision of the player, which now doesn't have to be guided by any artificial rules, but by the effectivness of his attacks. For example, hacking kikimores down with the strong styles hurts it like hell, but instead of hitting blindly it's better, using the fast style, to precisely and with finesse hit in an exposed area, a gap in the armour. The difference in damage is big and it increases with the number of talents bought.
The strong styles offers a damage bonus and it's the most effective one when it comes to unarmed opponents or opponents wearing leather armour. This damage bonus effective in the case of the numerical damage reduction of the leather armours and monsters skins, gives a weak performance witht the percentage damage reduction of steel armour plates, reptile scales and chitin exoskeletons.
Examples of fights from their damage perspective along with precise calculations may be found here
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