Lets have a nice thread about tips and hints to get you going in the game:

- Explore all the maps. You'll find plenty of ?s on the map you are on - visit them. They give you treasure, contains Stones of Power (which give you an ability point the first time you use each of them), receipts for witcher gear, quests and more.
- Mounted combat is far preferable if you're in an open enough place - ride them down with a slash of your sword then gain distance to reduce the horses fear level and repeat. Practice practice practice
- Stock up on food! It sucks being empty in the middle of a semi-long dungeon (been there, done that, reloaded earlier save).
- It might be wise to save some of the more expensive ingredients (like emerald dust). But no real reason to carrying around 25 bear pelts - sell it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRCS8JLPLfs



I still don't know what to keep and what to sell, so for now keeping everything. Need to learn and make bombs too.
And is it just me but leveling up is soooo slow, I've done all the missions, cleared all the initial area and still only the top of level 2.

Keep your ingredients (unless you have 50 of something), sell pelts and whatnot where the description says it's a useless item.

As for slow leveling, if you just got out of the starting zone you've barely scratched the surface. The next area is 5 times as big and there's many more after that. Leveling is slow because it's a looooooooong game and progression needs to last

Signs...

http://www.gamersgreed.com/witcher-3-wild-hunt-signs-guide/

Yeah I'm pretty weak right now and an engagement with three or four bandits can take me several tries.

Need to get around to buying this, eventually.

Note their level, it may just be a fight that you can't win. Playing on hard sometimes fights with enemies a couple levels above me are hard without preparation and dodge skills. Remember to bring healing potions, use Quen to absorb the blows you don't dodge, and use bombs and appropriate oils as needed. The more prepared you are for a fight the easier it gets.

I'm having a right game trying to defeat the "Botchling". I just don't have enough food stuffs for life etc.

From what I hear he's a royal PITA to kill, but he's similar to an alghoul so use axii signs liberally to prevent injury from his defenses.

I took a different route on that quest but good luck to you sir

I shall endeavour to defeat said creature, however, I've gone back a little to try and level up a wee bit.

Keep in mind if you're within 5 or so levels it should be doable. Like Dark Souls as long as you never get hit even the hardest boss can be killed with the crappiest gear