http://xpadder.awardspace.com/
Xpadder is software that allows you to map assign keyboard keys to a controller. My 360 did not come with software to allow this and I kept reading on these forums how awesome Gothic is with a controller. So if anyone else like me wants to play it with a 360 controller I found this really easy to setup. Game on!

Kick ass.
Thanks.
+ rating for you.

I also accept suggestions as I'm currently stuck being unable to kill anything but molerats. The scavengers are picking my eyes out and then cackawing at me repeatedly. It's somewhat embarassing.

At first level, only take on scavengers one at a time. Approach a group slowly, and one of them starts cawing at you, wait, when it runs at you, run away a little, then turn around and kill it. It'll still be a decently tough fight, but one on one you should be able to take one down.
Keep in mind, when swinging a weapon, there is a little bit of timing involved in pressing attack + direction (left, right, forward all do slightly different things, not much though) to get a smooth and constant attack going... if you get the timing down your fighting will be much easier... I like going left right left right left right, or I believe left right forward right left right forward right left right forward works as well