I killed the Echinops in the first chapter without fire. Haven't got to the one's in the swamp yet though, so they may be tougher. Although that will be rough as the first ones nearly did me in a few times! Love how you face them drunk... LOL
Oh and for the crypt, cat potion rocks!
I have a question for you all- I didn't manage to give the ghoul blood to the alchemist in the first part and next time I saw him (can't recall where it was now, but it was after doing the crypt), he wouldn't take it from me, even though my journal says I should give it to him for my reward. I accidentally used the ones I got from the ghouls in the abandoned houses for potions but seems the alchemist won't take what I got in the crypt?