Hey guys,
I'm leveling up so slow in this game. I've been playing about six hours and am still a level four and falling behind the recommended levels of the main story. Does anyone have any advice for me as to why I'm going so slow.
Thanks

I also had this problem and wrote a post about lack of xp available in the first zone.

The answer is to pretty much ignore everything and go straight to the storyline mission; After you finish it, you will go from 4 near the start of that third zone (counting palace) to 6 after the exit from the wizard caves.

After that, you are RIGHT where you need to be power and equipment wise for the rest of the map.. ;-)

Yeah once it's done.

Make sure you fully repair and get all yoru potions before goin gin though.
Not many chances to rest in there at certain points.

tak bylo

You get most of your Xp from completing quests not monster slaying. I slew a lvl 11 monster at lvl 4 and got no Xp. Then a minute after, talked to a quest giver and got one full level and then some. Ignore the monsters and distractions in the world, aim for the billboard quests. those give good reliable Xp.

there is a point around levels 4-5-6 where i was on the edge too. i did the sidequests & i was barely at the level of the lowwest quest (but as said keep in mind these can be done then anyway). if you are in velen or about to be most of these quests seem to last awhile, give a lot of XP, im lvl 8 after 16 hrs playtime, & seem to be on pace as far as the being on the level of the quests im on, i have a couple 6-8s & then next after that is 10 i think.

Not true. You can get exp if you find trophies and equip that gives bonus to exp for killing monsters/humans, or non-humans. Like the noonwraith gives 5% exp bonus for killing humans/non-humans, or some swords that you either craft or find.

Also look out for power shrines (or places of power I think they're called in the game), they don't necessarily give you XP or level you up but they do give you a free ability point the first time you use them!

Apparently there is also a mod available that increases XP gain.. not hugely but I guess more in-line with whatever the mod maker's vision of the game should be.

Even with an exp bonus on kills it's still not a viable way to level up by just farming monster kills. The game is setup to level you through quests and hunting.

This is true.
Still, 5% bonus xp from killing monsters adds up in the long run, when you'll be killing them for their hides to sell, anyway.
So if you have a 5% xp sword that's the same power then another one, the xp one is a viable choice. :-)

Leveling up in this game IS too slow, and they've made the same mistake that the developers of BG2 made: you're forced to go 'adventuring' while trying to rescue a loved one. That is just utterly stupid.

I have been to Kaer Morhen, my character is level 22, and I've just completed a quest that gives me a suit of armour that requires level 27! But not only that, I'm seeing items for sale requiring level 39! I'm never going to reach that level at this rate. I absolutely fail to see how retrieving Billy-Bob's lost bauble gains you 'adventuring' experience, and yet ridding a town of a monster nest does not (example). It's silly, it's stupid, it's ill-advised, it's wrong.

No problem for me. Its great to stay some time in the same level and use the items to the fullest and i dont have level problem with the missions or monsters five levels bigger than me.( its hard but no impossible)

Leveling up is slow, enemys are too strong...even at the easiest setting!

But that is definately OKAY! :D

As usual, most people completely miss the point. C'est la vie!