I have been struggling with this for a while - saw and read this thread: http://www.gog.com/en/forum/the_witcher_2/q_assassin_conjurer_strong_back_and_other_abilities_may_contain_spoilerzz/page4, but it doesn't seem to clear up the issue.

Spoiler warning!!

I have played through two ways, and never got the ability. I need specific spoiler details, preferably from someone who actually got the ability.

Here's the overview of what I did:

First playthrough:
Malena - told the soldiers monsters killed the guards; followed Malena into her trap; tracked her down and killed her afterward
Rupert and Gridley - allowed the ghost to lure them into its trap and kill them
Vencel Pugg - closed down the incense dealers shop, gave Vencel a fake formula, killed them all when they found out (I don't know if my Smell of Incense/Little Shop of Dreams decisions even factor into the executioner ability)
Mavrick - took his side against the spirits (so he lived and they died, which is apparently the correct path, but may prevent acquisition of the executioner ability)
Adam Pangratt - killed him
Henselt - let Roche kill him

I did NOT have the executioner ability in act 3.

Here's the overview of what I did in my replay:
Malena - as above
Rupert and Gridley- as above
Vencel Pugg - as above
Mavrick - took the demons side against him (so I killed him and the demon that manifested)
Adam Pangratt - killed him
Henselt - let Roche kill him

...and I still did NOT get the ability.
Frustrating.

So here we go, from clear to unclear:
1. It seems pretty clear that Adam must die and Henselt must be killed (by Roche).
2. Rupert and Gridley need to be given to the ghost
3. Are Vencel Pugg and the Incense quest even factors?
4. Am I handling Malena right? I could have turned her over to the guards (presumably she's killed), but if I cover for her I get to kill her personally. Is this an error on my part?
5. Does Mavrick have to die? Since I played it through both with his death and without him dying, and didn't get the ability either time, I'm thinking maybe I mishandled one of the other steps.

Thanks.

*********** SPOILER ALERT *********************


I read before, that you only need to kill 3 guilty parties and then Henselt. But I never really tested out all the variations.

I got the Executioner Ability. This is what I did:

Malena - I told the soldiers monsters killed the guards, followed her to the waterfall and killed the ambushers, found her hiding place and personally killed her with my sword.

Rupert and Gridley - I took them to the Angry Ghost and let it kill them.

The Scent of Incense - I got the REAL formula from the incense merchant. I let Vencel blindfold me and take me to his secret hideout. After he confirmed the formula was real, I refused to do any future business with him and killed them all. (I hate those Salamandra guys... leftover grudge from TW1. LoL!)

Little Shop of Dreams - I closed the shop after completing The Scent of Incense (I dont think closing the shop made any difference to getting the Executioner ability)

Mavrick - I took his side against the spirits. We killed the spirits like heros!

Adam Pangratt - I killed him.

Henselt - I let Roche kill him. Right after Roche killed Henselt, I got the message that I gained the Executioner ability.

This sounds exactly like what I did except I had a fake formula for Vencel - but he's never been mentioned in the executioner ability, so I assume he doesn't matter... that being said, I found that with the real formula, he takes it, but that ends the quest - I was able to kill him and everyone else in the lab afterward, but it isn't acknowledged in my journal. I don't recall an option to kill him in the lab as part of the quest unless I kill him after he discovers the fake formula. So did you just kill them all after the fact? I never let him blindfold me though - could that make a difference? If he's even included as a potential "guilty" npc, that is.

I'm really confused. Shame this ability spans 2 whole acts, making playtesting very inconvenient.

I'm going to start a new playthrough. Hopefully I'm not encountering some obscure bug in my game. I mean, it sounds like we played through the same way at least once (w/ the except of the formula for Vencel).

If anyone else can provide additional feedback, it'd be great. And thanks, LenSquig!

************************ SPOILER ALERT ************************************** I dont know if The Scent of Incense is required for the Executioner ability. But to answer your question about the quest, this is the sequence I did:

After you get the REAL formula, talk to Vencel on the warf, he will ask if you got the formula, tell him yes. Vencel will take the formula and tell you he wants to test it. You must tell him you want it back because you dont trust him. Vencel will reluctantly suggest that you go together to his hideout to test it.
Meet Vencel outside town by the market gate, he will be standing under a big tree. He will offer to lead you to his hideout, but he must blindfold you. Agree to this. You will be knocked out by one of his henchmen and you will awaken behind bars in his hideout (without your weapons).
After Vencel gleefully verifies that the formula is real, he will offer you a reward and more future business. Refuse his offer. He will tell you that you will have to stay in that cell.
Knock down the cell door with your Aard and proceed to kill everyone in the hideout. After you kill everyone, your quest log will update as completed.
Be sure to reclaim your weapons and stuff from the chest facing the cell door.

From the wiki, although I don't know if it's entirely factual:

"Seems you might have to kill at least three guilty npcs (Malena, Gridley & Rupert,Adam Pangratt and maybe Mavrick) AND let Roche kill Henselt.
(Roche's path) at the end of Chapter 2. "

Yeah, but notice the "maybe" in front of Mavrick and the absence of details about Malena (she can die at your hands directly or be taken by the guards for torture and presumably, death).

Did exactly as described and did not get the ability.

I mean, what the hell??

Makes me really hate the game. All the graphics and design points aside, it is pathetic to have an ability that requires nearly 3 acts worth of play to even find out if you qualified for it, and then you don't get it. I can't imagine what's wrong here. My game is fully patched (1.3) and I have played this thing through about 3-4 different ways to no avail.
So disappointed.

That sucks, you should have gotten the ability.

The only other things that I can think of that might pertain:
1. Some players think you might also need to kill Aryan La Valette back in the Prologue. Checking back, I did kill him both times I got the Executioner ability.
2. I am playing US retail version of TW2.
3. I am using patch 1.35
4. Are you using any mods that might be interfering?
5. I got the ability when I played on Normal and again on Hard mode.
6. Were you getting any game errors, save errors, things that could have caused a file error?
7. Is it possible you got the ability but didnt scroll far enough down to see it on the list?

Thanks for checking in - and you raise some great points/questions.
I think your big one is Aryan LaValette. I always let him live - in fact, in my replays I don't replay the prologue ('cause it's got a tutorial-like feel and I felt like I played it through to my satisfaction). This must be the issue. It means I'll miss out on the strong back ability, but I think I've gotten good at eliminating unnecessary loot, so probably irrelevant.
Otherwise, I clear everything else on your checklist:
Playing the retail version (US), fully patched (1.35), no mods, normal mode, and no error messages... defintiely scrolling all the way down (made that mistake with "resistance to magic" - swore I wasn't getting it, but it was just offscreen - now I know better).

Alright - I'm going to do another run-through - from the very start - and kill Aryan. I'll bet you're right.

Thanks again!

*drumroll*

Got it!

So, after all is said and done, yes, I had to replay the prologue as well because...

*drumroll again*

...You have to kill Aryan LaValette in order to get the executioner ability. And then, it is safe to say, you must kill Adam Pangratt, let Roche kill Henselt, let the ghost kill Rupert and Gridley, and, at least in my playthrough, kill Malena - which I did personally by lying to the gurads and letting her lead me into her trap. I also killed Vencel Pugg, but I cannot say for sure that this matters. Perhaps he is an option if you didn't kill Rupe and Grid or Malena. Importantly for me is knowing that you do not have to kill Mavrick (as suggested on the wiki) b/c this fails that quest, and that would have stunk.

So the tradeoff here is that you will sacrifice the Strong Back ability from carrying Aryan out of prison, but you will have the opportunity to get the executioner ability.

Lotsa thanks to LenSquig for his help - I would've never backtracked far enough to solve this one on my own. Thanks, man!

According to a developer who posted over at thewitcher.com, you need just three kills. Those must be Aryan, Adam Pangratt, and Henselt.

I can definitely understand letting Roche kill Henselt. I can sort of understand killing Aryan. I cannot for the life of me understand why Geralt would want to kill 'Adieu.'

CONGRAGULATIONS Greywulfken !!!!

I'm so glad to hear you finally got it.
I dont anyone that has more patience than you.

*Does happy dance*

Ive never seen that post from developer, I ran several searches over there too. I must be going blind.

I agree with you about Adam Pangratt. I never felt he should have been classified as a "guilty" party deserving death. He always was a straight forward mercenary soldier and made no pretense about it, there was nothing evil or personal about what he did. Besides, he had a new wife an baby on the way. I can see why he was trying earn some extra money. If Geralt was worried Adam would follow them in the tunnels, he could have just tied Adam up and sent a crew to retrieve him after the battle was over.

Here's the link: http://en.thewitcher.com/forum/index.php?/topic/22979-witcher-2-full-list-of-attributes-perks-important/page__p__706101#entry706101

Thanks cjrgreen!!