Is a pure mage build viable?

[vitamin boost]

I like playing spellcasters in RPGs. I played this game a bit in the past, and I know it has some magic in it. However, I never actually progressed that far in the game. Reached only til the lighting the markers around the village part and I got a bit bored. I'm thinking of playing again.

I want to use just pure magic and I feel the game doesn't want me to do that. It forces me to swing swords/maces/whatever around physically or I will always lose fights. The magic damage is just underwhelming even when I dump almost all my skills under rune upgrades. I can spam the Fire rune (which I assume is the most damage-oriented rune?) and the fight just takes forever compared to swinging your sword around.

Does this mean this game just isn't for me if I want a pure magic-user main character, i.e. no melee and ranged weapon use, just pure runes?

[Ragnarök]

Magic is pretty op, partucularily Aard and Igni. That being said, Witchers are not mages. Their magic is basically little more than cantrips compared to a proper sorcerer in the lore, not to mention you're playing a pre-established character who is primarily a swordsman.

[Sunsetter]

^What he said. This isnt a rpg where you get to pick your class, do your thing. Geralt is not a mage, and the signs ("spells") are there to help out/add variety but not to be used as a main source of damage.

[vitamin boost]

Originally posted by Ragnarök:

Magic is pretty op, partucularily Aard and Igni. That being said, Witchers are not mages. Their magic is basically little more than cantrips compared to a proper sorcerer in the lore, not to mention you're playing a pre-established character who is primarily a swordsman.

Originally posted by Samael:

^What he said. This isnt a rpg where you get to pick your class, do your thing. Geralt is not a mage, and the signs ("spells") are there to help out/add variety but not to be used as a main source of damage.

Thanks guys.I was afraid it was as I thought. *sigh*