An Impromptu Witcher Lets Play - now with the Witcher 2!

[DementedSheep]

It depends. If Philippa shows lesbians as cold mind-rapists, Dethmold shows gay people as.... kinda gross and ugly? Really, his sexuality is barely of any consequence. It only ever comes up in 25% of playthroughs

Also evil, crazy

Also funny, witty and enthusiastic about their profession if we're just going to link all of the character traits ever shown in any cutscene or conversation to their sexuality. I was merely comparing the scenes where the 2 characters' orientations had absolutely any visibility or relevance

Reply if you want, but I'm going to drop this discussion right here. I need to have some restraint to keep from going overboard and say something I'd regret

Captcha: "be careful"

I'll try

I only mentioned evil and crazy because you made it sound him being kinda gross and ugly where his only negative traits. There are lack of "good" characters in this game in the first place. Its mostly his death scene that bothers me anyway.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

Aside: Rose Reviews The Last Wish

I haven't had time to play any more of the game since my last post. So, instead, I'm going to write up a review-ish post about The Last Wish short story collection.

SPOILER WARNING

Spoiler: If you plan to read this book, do not click on this.

First off, this collection has a framing story called "The Voice of Reason" which links the stories together.

The framing story is all about Geralt's visit to a temple of Melitele. During this story, we learn a number of things - including the fact that priestesses of Melitele can enter into a vision trance by having sex with the target of said vision. We meet Iola and Nenneke, the two named priestesses in the story. More on this later.

The first short story in the collection is "The Witcher" - the story about Princess Adda the Striga that many of us got included with our copy of the game, and that gets reviewed at the beginning of the game. I'd already read it, so I didn't reread. However, we do learn (in the next piece of "The Voice of Reason") that the reason Geralt is visiting the Nenneke and the temple of Melitele is to have his Striga bite treated. Thus, "The Witcher takes place directly before "The Voice of Reason" - and is the only story that is placed so firmly in time compared to the framing story.

The next few stories are somewhat less plot relevant, but no less good for it.

Geralt meets the Beast from "Beauty and the Beast" and Snow White (from Snow White, obviously). Both are reinterpretations of the stories, and I really enjoyed both versions. The only other rendition of Snow White this interesting is the one from the TV series Once Upon a Time. Actually, they're pretty similar in a lot of ways.

Next is a sort of reversed gender version of "Sir Gawain and the Loathly Lady" or perhaps a version of the "Frog Prince" with Frog replaced by Werewolf. This story introduces the concept of the "surprise gift" or "surprise child" - which ends up being Geralt's price for services rendered. Ah - so THIS is where new Witchers come from.

Back in "the Voice of Reason" we've met the Order of the White Rose (template for the future Order of the Flaming Rose) and Dandelion! I thought Dandelion was a less important character in the books, but it appears not, because he makes his presence known not only in the framing story, but in the next story (framed as reminiscence about one of their adventures). The flashback also introduces two more items of interest - the fact that Geralt doesn't kill sentient monsters if he can instead reason with them, and Toruviel! She spends most of her time on screen kicking Geralt's ass, which amuses me.

Geralt brings up Yennifer and apparently he wants to give her his reward for saving Adda to help pay for her to get her sterility fixed. Nenneke points out that A) Geralt's reward is pocket change to Yennifer, and B) that if he wants to apologize, he should do it himself, and in person.

The final story is "the Last Wish," and tells the tale of how Geralt met Yennifer. It again features Dandelion, who gets injured and that injury is why Geralt ends up seeking out Yennifer. Some aspects of the story get a little confusing, such as why Geralt develops feelings for Yennifer (there's a spell, but he also sees through her facade, and Geralt's internal monologue never really makes it clear where his feelings for her got started). The story is also ambiguous about the method by which Geralt saves Yennifer, but that ambiguity is clearly intentional where as the earlier ambiguity just seems to be Geralt being vague.

Either way, here we see Geralt and Yennifer beginning their relationship. Also, Yennifer mentions her friend Triss, foreshadowing future events.

Back in the framing story, Geralt duels a Knight of the White Rose (without touching him), and says goodbye to Nenneke and Iola at the temple. She has a vision of what I assume is Geralt's eventual death as explained in the games. Or perhaps it refers to some other bloody event that will scar him. Either way, there is something BAD coming for Geralt.

The end.

SPOILER WARNING ENDS

Overall, I very much enjoyed The Last Wish story collection. I have always been a fan of retold fairy tales. Seeing several classic tales told from Geralt's point of view - and how the events in those fairy tales might have implications beyond what the tales themselves deal with - was a really creative way to introduce the world of the Witcher and the character of Geralt. It gave readers something familiar to hold on to, while simultaneously turning that familiarity upside down.

I also liked the framing story and how it was used to introduce so many of the well known characters from the games (and obviously the rest of the books).

I will also make another interesting point. The sexism I've noticed in the games seems mostly absent from this book (and the parts I've read of the next). Renfri, in particular, was a strong and complex character. Her flaws were caused by the injustice inflicted upon her. Likewise, THIS Yennifer (and the Yennifer from the beginning of Blood of Elves) is strong, competent, and very much in control of herself. I find myself rather shocked that this is the same character I was reading in The Sword of Destiny.

Suffice it to say that I very much enjoyed reading The Last Wish and am also enjoying what I've read so far of Blood of Elves. And, before anyone says anything, yes only a chapter later Triss proves to be alive and well, although the creepy voice seems to have comments about how she's supposed to be dead. Creepy. ^^

I'm getting ahead of myself.

I feel like I should give a numeric rating to The Last Wish like a proper reviewer. However, since this is my first review, it would be a number in a vacuum.

Instead, I will say that, if you haven't yet read The Last Wish, you certainly should. I enjoyed The Last Wish far more than the first Game of Thrones book. Consider this book Recommended.

Next time: back to your regularly scheduled Let's Play.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

Deathmold is on Roche path, and more Ves ( I like her as a character.) I would recommend playing the game again (maybe not right away, tho that may give you more perspective) on Roche's path and even choosing different smaller choices as you go as well (like maybe the guys in the asylum and such.) The game is really quite impressive with how different it is based on your choices it's basically an entire act and a half are completely changed.

Would you recommend playing the entire game again for Roche's path, or just loading a save file from near the end of Chapter 1?

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

**snip**

**snip**

Oh my, it seems an argument about Gay Coded characters has started without me.

I think part of the issue - at least with Phillipa/Cynthia, since I haven't met Death-whatever yet - is that so much of the cast spends the game dicking one another over. When EVERYONE is evil, even your allies (Triss is playing her own games with people), one could make the argument that Phillipa and Cynthia aren't being insulted as a lesbian or bisexual because they're just behaving like everyone else.

I am actually more willing to accept that now that I've gotten further (as of my last post). Phillipa dicked over her ally, but she did it to secure that ally's place as Queen. Phillipa is a jerk for not trusting Saskia, and she might have used mind control to seduce her (or maybe not?), but she was technically doing it for Saskia's own good. She might be a mind-rapist, but she's a well intentioned mind-rapist, and that's the sort of gray this game LOVES.

Likewise Cynthia, our resident bisexual, kills one of her nations officers to save Geralt. Rather than simply a traitor, she is actually FROM Milfguard - she is a legitimate spy with a job to do. She's still a manipulative *****, but she is honorable in her own weird way.

So, in regards to the lesbian and bisexual woman in the game, I'm feeling less upset. There are still issues with them, but they aren't quite as badly "gay coded evil" as they first appeared. Although, they still suffer from the same female role issues....

If I've been getting annoyed with the game, it isn't for individual characters but the fact that they start getting kinda samey with the women on the Princess/Witch side of things.

Or, to use the analogy from Team America World Police - all of the women in the Witcher games appear to be either Pussies (Triss, Yen, and eventually Saskia), or Assholes (Phillipa, Cynthia, and Sile). One of the reasons I liked Saskia before the mind-rape and why I liked Renfri (from The Last Wish) so much is that both of them are Princes (to use the Utena metaphor) or Dicks (to use the Team America metaphor). They're upfront and honest about their jerkiness.

Saskia won't sneak around and back stab you - she'll cut your fucking head off. Same for Renfri, even if she does so in a slightly more dickish fashion. I want to see more women in the Witcher games who are willing to punch people in the face instead of conspiring in dark rooms.

Triss has her moments of this early in the game - and those moments are solid gold AWESOME. It's why I'm annoyed that she spends two out of three chapters in the game as a hostage.

Yennifer in the first bit of Blood of Elves is equally badass. She kicks open a door and WRECKS SHIT in her very first appearance in the book. Considering that, in the Sword of Destiny she A) acted like a jerk and B) talked big but got herself captured and nearly raped when combat started, she honestly seems like a different character. I'm much more willing to accept her private quest to restore her fertility after seeing her kick ass and take names rather than get immediately captured.

However, in the games (so far), Yen is the ultimate captured Princess. Even after saving Triss (requiring two freaking chapters of the three chapter game) Yen is still a hostage of the Wild Hunt.

I hate seeing good, strong female characters getting shoved into the "captured Princess" role - the "pussy" role - just for plot convenience.

Okay, here's another comparison.
Dandelion and Zoltan need to be rescued at the beginning of Chapter 1. This takes no more than 10 minutes in game, after which they are around as NPCs that help Geralt at various times (such as the battle of Vergen).

Triss needs to be rescued for two whole chapters (end of chapter 1, all of chapter 2, first half of chapter 3).
Yen needs to be rescued for two whole GAMES.

While the men do get into trouble to, their trouble gets resolved quickly and is a single minor quest point. When the women get into trouble, they need huge amounts of time - much of the plot, in fact - to be saved.

Geralt would be just as willing to risk his life to save Dandelion. So why not have Letho capture Dandelion and hold a sword to his throat, demanding that Triss make him a portal and taking Dandelion with him while Triss joins up with Geralt? As far as I can tell, it wouldn't have a significant effect on the plot (aside from the Rose of Remembrance being a plot point, which could be easily corrected by Letho taking her pack as well).

^^;;

Sorry to keep ranting about this. It is an issue at the moment in gaming history, and it bugs me. I like Triss. A lot. Particularly in this game. I want to do more stuff WITH Triss, and spend less time trying to find Triss.

And speaking of gender, more thoughts on that after I read more of Blood of Elves when I can talk with authority about Ciri.

 

[The Madman]

The first piece of Witcher 3 art that was released showed what looks to be Ciri in it so I've high hopes for Witcher 3 having more prominent and capable female protagonist. The main reason I figure they had Triss nabbed in Witcher 2 was two-fold; one to give a reason why Triss doesn't just magic half Geralts problems away, and two to try and give more story incentive for, let's be honest here, a majority male audience.

It's corny as hell but it works. With Witcher 3's more open world approach however hopefully that wont pop up again even if 'finding Yennefer' is a big plot point. But then we already know where she is, apparently she's in Nilfgaarde among the aristocracy there after having happily suffered from the same amnesia as Geralt and, so far as we know, now employing herself as a court sorceress or some such. I imagine if CDProjekt do it well the main problem wont be finding or even having to 'rescue' her but instead just getting to her given her surroundings and then having her remember.

And I'd say Witcher 2 is worth replaying. Chapter 2 in particular plays entirely differently based on the Iorveth/Roche choice and personally while I prefer the setting for Iorveth's path, Roche and his crew I found more interesting companions. You also get a completely different perspective on the war from what you get from Iorveth's path. Chapter 3 as well will have different quests although it does all eventually lead to the same series of events.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

Geralt would be just as willing to risk his life to save Dandelion. So why not have Letho capture Dandelion and hold a sword to his throat, demanding that Triss make him a portal and taking Dandelion with him while Triss joins up with Geralt? As far as I can tell, it wouldn't have a significant effect on the plot (aside from the Rose of Remembrance being a plot point, which could be easily corrected by Letho taking her pack as well).

^^;;

Sorry to keep ranting about this. It is an issue at the moment in gaming history, and it bugs me. I like Triss. A lot. Particularly in this game. I want to do more stuff WITH Triss, and spend less time trying to find Triss.

It's a fair complaint, and I worried about this bothering you when I first recommended the game. It's about the only time I'd be tolerant of a charge of "sexist" leveled towards The Witcher 2, because for the most part I feel the female characters are competent and powerful and practically oozing with agency. But there is that problematic damsel in distress vein running through the game...most predominantly with Vess, but somewhat with Triss as well.

All I can suggest is that having Dandelion kidnapped wouldn't be nearly as emotionally compelling for Geralt as Triss. Yes, he cares about Dandelion, and yes, he'd try to save him, but having Triss taken is more of a gut punch for Geralt, and Geralt is still the titular character here. It's not a terribly satisfying defense of the decisions made re: Triss, but it's all I've got, really.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

The first piece of Witcher 3 art that was released showed what looks to be Ciri in it so I've high hopes for Witcher 3 having more prominent and capable female protagonist.

Oooh! That's exciting.

Now, here's hoping that the specs to play it aren't insane. It would be nice if I could play it on one of my current computers.

Edit: **goes to Wikipedia to look at the Witcher 3's description**

**reads Skyrim, but 20% bigger**

My Computer: "Oh gods, no! No, you can't make me! I'll kill myself first!"

**My Computer grabs a gun and holds it to its own head**

My Computer: "I'll fucking do it! Don't even try!"

**reads: also on Playstation 4**

Me: "Maybe I can use USB to transfer my Witcher 2 save files to the PS4 and load from those?"

My Computer: "Sure. That's reasonable." **puts the gun down** "But if you try to double cross me, I will fucking do it. That's a promise."

The main reason I figure they had Triss nabbed in Witcher 2 was two-fold; one to give a reason why Triss doesn't just magic half Geralts problems away, and two to try and give more story incentive for, let's be honest here, a majority male audience.

You'd think a Bro would be good enough incentive. Male or not, he is your (ie, Geralt's) best buddy.

Edit: forgot to address magic. Well, she has magic all through Chapter 1 and it doesn't really change things. She doesn't rescue you from prison (although she is waiting with a boat). Hell, Triss doesn't even offer to teleport you to quest objectives that she is teleporting herself to. Triss always makes Geralt walk. :[

And I'd say Witcher 2 is worth replaying. Chapter 2 in particular plays entirely differently based on the Iorveth/Roche choice and personally while I prefer the setting for Iorveth's path, Roche and his crew I found more interesting companions. You also get a completely different perspective on the war from what you get from Iorveth's path. Chapter 3 as well will have different quests although it does all eventually lead to the same series of events.

Yes, but do I need to replay the whole thing, or can I just use a save from near the end of Chapter 1? I don't recall any major decisions prior to the Rose of Remembrance quest.

 

[DementedSheep]

Deathmold is on Roche path, and more Ves ( I like her as a character.) I would recommend playing the game again (maybe not right away, tho that may give you more perspective) on Roche's path and even choosing different smaller choices as you go as well (like maybe the guys in the asylum and such.) The game is really quite impressive with how different it is based on your choices it's basically an entire act and a half are completely changed.

Would you recommend playing the entire game again for Roche's path, or just loading a save file from near the end of Chapter 1?

There is only one real choice I can think of that makes a difference proir to sword thing and that's whether or not you talked Aryan La Valette down in the prologue. You save him in the prison rather than his mother and it potentially would have a political effect but it doesn't pay off in this game. So if you don't want to replay the first chapter don't bother. Just load a save before you picked a side.
You might want to load a save before the Triss/Saskia choice too so you can see how that pans out.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

So if you don't want to replay the first chapter don't bother. Just load a save before you picked a side.
you might want to load a save before the Triss/Saskia choice too so you can see how that pans out.

Well, if I pick up before the Iorveth/Roche choice, I can later choose the change the Triss/Saskia choice in that same playthrough.

I'd go after the kingslayer instead of Triss, then save Saskia instead of Triss - it actually makes more RP sense that way. Obviously that version of Geralt is holding out for Yen.

 

[DementedSheep]

So if you don't want to replay the first chapter don't bother. Just load a save before you picked a side.
you might want to load a save before the Triss/Saskia choice too so you can see how that pans out.

Well, if I pick up before the Iorveth/Roche choice, I can later choose the change the Triss/Saskia choice in that same playthrough.

I'd go after the kingslayer instead of Triss, then save Saskia instead of Triss - it actually makes more RP sense that way. Obviously that version of Geralt is holding out for Yen.

You can't. The Triss/ Saskia choice is only on Iorveths path. There is similar type of choice on Roches but it doesn't involved Saskia. You don't even find out Saskia is a dragon or mind controlled on Roches path (so that quite a surprise if you did that first and killed her lol). They cover different aspects of the plot. Roches path is more about the king slayers and politics involving the big nations rather than the lodge and non humans.

 

[The Madman]

So if you don't want to replay the first chapter don't bother. Just load a save before you picked a side.
you might want to load a save before the Triss/Saskia choice too so you can see how that pans out.

Well, if I pick up before the Iorveth/Roche choice, I can later choose the change the Triss/Saskia choice in that same playthrough.

I'd go after the kingslayer instead of Triss, then save Saskia instead of Triss - it actually makes more RP sense that way. Obviously that version of Geralt is holding out for Yen.

Saskia isn't really in the Roche path. I mean she shows up a couple times, but she's not a major player. Chapter 3 has a different set of choices you have to make.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

Okay then - I guess I'll have to ALSO go back and play Saskia's path.

Actually, logically, I should do that one first, while I'm still working on the current path. IE, I should finish this play-through, then backup and do Saskia's rescue and what follows until the paths converge again.

Then I should do the Roche path.

And, at some point, I should go back and play the Witcher 1 again and do the Order path.

 

[BathorysGraveland2]

You know, you got me thinking. I've played the first game about 6 or 7 times, and I've NEVER gone Neutral. Ever. I am planning on reading the books, and playing both games closer to Witcher 3's release, so I can re-experience it all in one continuous go, so I guess I'll go Neutral then.

Regarding Witcher 2, I'd say playthrough it all again when you wish to experience Iorveth's path. There are plenty of things you can do differently that effect small things in the future. For example, Aryan la Valette, the leader of the Rebels at the start of the game whom you dueled? You can convince him to lay down his sword and he lives. Things like that can be worth a 2nd or more playthroughs.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

Update: Chapter 3 Ends and Epilogue

And here we go.

So, I meet Triss. She asks me to get past the guards. I try to sneek around (and meet a woman who offers to grow a beard for 200 gold) but the quest updates and says "kill the guards" so I go kill the guards. In the most hilarious fashion possible.

See, I took that Deflect Arrows ability in the Training tree. So, I agroed the guards, but did not approach. They kept shooting at me with crossbows - and dealing no damage because Geralt would deflect the arrows. I, meanwhile, have 7 points of Vitality (with my +1 vitality sword drawn) so I just stood back and slowly Igni-ed them both to death. It was wonderfully stupid and it made me laugh. Win.

Triss shakes her head and Geralt's passive-aggressive murder and they head in. Within, the meeting is in full swing. Saskia is there and gets proclaimed Queen. Awesome! Ranovid doesn't want to acknowledge her. Can I stab him? Pretty please? I bet Adda would be willing to recognize Saskia if I made her the ruler of Redania.

Triss decides this is a good time to rat out Sile. Unfortunately, since Sile is currently controlling Saskia, Saskia sneaks off, turns into a dragon, and wrecks shit up, letting Sile escape and trapping Triss. Guess it's up to Geralt to save the day....

So I start climbing the tower. And... I get killed by a collapsing floor. Twice.

How do I beat the collapsing floor?

By realizing that I am IMMUNE TO DRAGON FIRE! Yes, my +133% vs Incineration means that Geralt takes no damage from the flame breath! I can walk right through it and Geralt grunts, but takes no damage. Win!

So, no longer pausing for dragon fire, I easily run up the stairs before they collapse and face Sile. And she teleports away - but there's something wrong! She asks me to... do something? I click on something and suddenly everything's okay and she teleports away successfully. Um... crap? Did I just save her accidentally? Shit.

Anyway, Saskia the Dragon shows up and I continue to be immune to dragon fire. So screw it, I walk up and start wailing on her face. There doesn't seem to be a negotiate option. Also, Quen proves to be very helpful in this fight.

Eventually she gets peeved and flies away. And the game autosaves and leaves me standing on a thin wall. It takes me a few minutes to realize the game wants me to climb UP rather than down.

On the top - more dragon bossfight! Rince, repeat. More Quen. And then - cut scene. Geralt gets to ride Saskia!

**rimshot**

And ride her he does, until Saskia crashes into the woods and IMPALES HERSELF! Shit! Geralt then gets to make a choice, kill her or not. I choose not - Geralt doesn't kill Dragons, and even if Sile and Phillipa are alive ATM, Saskia has a much longer life span than either of them.

There's another cut scene - fighting in Loc Mo-whatever. Phillipa is alive, and stumbling blindly about. Two soldiers see her and... oh my, this is going to go badly isn't -- HOLY SHIT, Phillipa just burnt them alive! Nice! ... wait, why can't she just use a spell to navigate? Instead of stumbling around. If her hearing is that good (magically augmented) then couldn't she use some sort of echo-location spell? Or, maybe, a HEALING SPELL on her eyes? No? Fine.

Epilogue

Geralt meets up with Triss and she has a message from Letho. Time to go see him. I head through the ruins (avoiding weird green plant tentacles for some reason???) and bump into Iorveth on a cart guarded by some soldiers. I attempt to talk to them, but can't, so instead I kill them. Triss is like "um, what was that about?" and I explain that I'm helping Ivo there escape. And could Triss heal him maybe? And stay with him while I kill Letho? Thanks.

I loot the guards (pointless, I know) and find... Phillipa's dagger? A quest item. Um... okay?

Anyway, confused and wondering what that is for, I go to see Letho (with no further anything, so I'm not sure what that dagger is for). He's sitting around waiting for me. I question him on the plot and learn that Geralt traded himself to the Hunt to get Yennifer back, that she's got amnesia, and that Letho et al were keeping an eye on her in Milfguard. And then they got caught. Yen is being held by Milfguard, while Letho got dispatched to murder the northern kings and cause chaos. And how he was planning to frame Sile before she hired him to do what he was planning to frame her for. Ha!

Yeah, I kinda wish I hadn't accidentally saved her.

Anyway, all that's nice, but it's time for that duel. We each take a swig of vodka, and then it begins.

It turns rapidly into a game of who casts Aard faster. He knocks me down, then casts Quen while I'm on my butt. I wait until his spell wears off, then knock him down and wail on him while he's defenseless. Once, we cast Aard at the same time and both went flying - it was pretty funny, actually, in a frustrating sort of way. Also, half the time, instead of falling down, he just sort of stumbles for a moment and I can only get one or two hits in. Jerk.

I'm glad I had all that practice knocking over spellcasters, because it came in handy during this fight (particularly since I couldn't pin him in a corner this time).

Anyway, eventually cut scene activates and I kill Letho. Triss shows up and we head out. Geralt pauses to look at a lady but before opening the door and walking off with Triss.

Aftermath - Flotsam gets sold, Vergen is free (and happy), and Temeria gets torn in half by Adda's Husband and King Asshole. So I guess Adda got her kingdom back after all (or half of it anyway). Good for her.

End credits. They go on FOREVER. Damn.

And post credit video - some rabbit hunter almost gets trampled. He returns home and holy crap Milfguard is invading. Yeah, we kinda knew that already. Still, the map being swallowed up by them is quite impressive.

The End.

And there we have it.

I will add some musings later. Also, I will reload a save and do Saskia's path really quick just to see how that's different.

I may or may not do Roach's path immediately. We'll see.

 

[Norrdicus]

So why not have Letho capture Dandelion and hold a sword to his throat, demanding that Triss make him a portal and taking Dandelion with him while Triss joins up with Geralt? As far as I can tell, it wouldn't have a significant effect on the plot (aside from the Rose of Remembrance being a plot point, which could be easily corrected by Letho taking her pack as well).

Actually, no, there is a reason why Dandelion being taken as a hostage would not work with the plot that the game has right now. The Lodge of Sorceresses is important to the events of Witcher 2, and so is Triss' involvement with them. Triss got captured and interrogated because Nilfgaardians want solid information about The Lodge so they'll work better as scapegoats

Dandelion gets taken? Well, Letho might as well drag around dead weight. Triss is valuable.

She asks me to... do something? I click on something and suddenly everything's okay and she teleports away successfully. Um... crap? Did I just save her accidentally? Shit.

Yeah, you kinda saved her. For the moment anyway, since Síle's a wanted woman now.

 

[DementedSheep]

So, no longer pausing for dragon fire, I easily run up the stairs before they collapse and face Sile. And she teleports away - but there's something wrong! She asks me to... do something? I click on something and suddenly everything's okay and she teleports away successfully. Um... crap? Did I just save her accidentally? Shit.

Yep, if you wait she ends up exploding...nice.

There's another cut scene - fighting in Loc Mo-whatever. Phillipa is alive, and stumbling blindly about. Two soldiers see her and... oh my, this is going to go badly isn't -- HOLY SHIT, Phillipa just burnt them alive! Nice! ... wait, why can't she just use a spell to navigate? Instead of stumbling around. If her hearing is that good (magically augmented) then couldn't she use some sort of echo-location spell? Or, maybe, a HEALING SPELL on her eyes? No? Fine.

Well I know she can't just heal herself. Yen got her eyes burnt out in the battle of sodden in the books and it takes her a while to heal it with the help of other mages so healing things like eyes seems to be slow and take a lot of effort.

I loot the guards (pointless, I know) and find... Phillipa's dagger? A quest item. Um... okay?

You'll see whats that is for on the save Saskia path.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

Not So Final Thoughts:

I have to say, I've quite enjoyed my play through of the Witcher games. The first game was a bit slow, but I enjoyed the isometric viewpoint. The second game was a little short, but it was a good ride.

Overall, I am very impressed with this franchise. It connects well with its own history, and it does a great job of being character focused throughout.

It is a bit... old fashioned in some of its views, which is likely where some of my annoyance at it comes from. That was polite talk for the sexism and homophobia. Then again, it's not like many games are exactly doing that well, and I'll credit the Witcher with at least trying even if it did screw it up.

I gotta say, I'm glad I took a risk and bought the Witcher on GOG. It was a damn good investment for one dollar. As was the Witcher 2 for 7 bucks. Somehow, I don't think I'll wait so long for the Witcher 3 when it comes out - assuming I have something to play it on.

And, the Witcher has also helped me discover another fantasy series that I'm enjoying. What I didn't spend on the games the original creator will certainly see in book sales from me.

So yeah - my annoyed complaining aside, I very much enjoyed the Witcher - the game, the characters, and the world. I'm not ready to promote the Witcher to Best RPG ever, as some have (that's still Xenogears), but it has certainly risen to one of my favorites.

Thank you all for reading along!

And, yes, I'm going to add a few bits of replay and another book review, so this thread isn't over yet. Stay tuned.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

The End: Saskia Path

Okay, so I reloaded my save and did the ending again. I restarted right before entering the prison and redid the dialog with Phillipa - then chose to go with her. I met Iorveth outside and killed monsters back to her house. In her house, I got her notes and helped with the ritual. And then Phillipa dicked us over and teleported away.

One battle with an Elemental later (ouch!) I loot the dagger. Iorveth heads off to the summit - I'm to meet him there later.

I level up (once again, hit max level), took a moment to put runes on my sword, and then followed him there. Iorveth already killed the guards for me, so we headed straight in.

Things started out the same, but instead of Triss interrupting, it's Letho. Yikes. He sets Radovid against the mages - and then Saskia shows up and sets the place on fire.

Since I know the drill, I headed up to the top of the tower, letting my fire-proof armor soak the damage. At the top, I let Sile explode, and then fought the dragon.

Upon the next cut-scene, Geralt automatically freed Saskia of her mental fuckery and... Saskia and Geralt have a long talk. Turns out she's the daughter of the dragon from the story where Yen wanted to harvest it for parts. I chat as much as possible - enough to learn that Saskia has a Dwarf Fetish - and then Saskia leaves. Yeah, don't give me a ride back to town or anything....

Back at town - HOLY SHIT. Things are MUCH WORSE than last time.

Last time there was some chaos and looting, but generally the Mages came out okay. This time, due to Letho's "confession" - ha, right - all the mages have not only been murdered, but IMPALED. Or hung in a few cases. I meet up with Iorveth and prevent one last rape and then head in to meet Letho - who is holding Triss hostage.

I chat with Letho again, covering some dialog options I missed last time, and then - just to see if it makes a difference - I let Letho go.

We head out, ladybug not withstanding, and I learn that there is a North-wide Witch hunt - with a female mage being burnt at the stake in case I don't know what a Witch-hunt is. Well shit.

Meanwhile, the epilogue in Vergen is IDENTICAL to when I left Saskia under mind control. So Vergen is no better off, and everywhere else sucks worse.

Clearly rescuing Triss is the proper course of action to end this path. I mean, even in this path, Phillipa pretty much states that she only mind-controlled Saskia because Phillipa's paranoid and wanted to make sure Saskia stuck with the plan. This is really stupid, since Philipa effectively just screwed herself - and all of her mage friends - over by being overly cautious. If she'd just cured Saskia, she probably could have talked Saskia into what she needed done and not had everything blow up in her face. Or fewer things, anyway.

So that's that. I think I'm going to take a break from the game itself (except perhaps some pointless Arena mode action) and let things settle before backing up any further. I want to take some time and read Blood of Elves.

 

[InsanityHalls]

Well, I'm glad you did your walk-throughs. They were entertaining and let me see both games with the sides I didn't pick ( I went with the Order and Roche.) Also if you continue to do the books I'll keep reading, I've never read the books and I don't really have time to; so that's pretty cool also.

All and all, thanks!

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

Well, I'm glad you did your walk-throughs. They were entertaining and let me see both games with the sides I didn't pick ( I went with the Order and Roche.) Also if you continue to do the books I'll keep reading, I've never read the books and I don't really have time to; so that's pretty cool also.
All and all, thanks!

No problem. I'm glad you're enjoying it.

Actually, I was trying to keep the book stuff semi-spoiler free. I was considering saying more detailed things, but I thought that I might encourage readers to pick up the books if I was mostly vague.

I CAN be more detailed, if that's what people wants. I have quite a bit more I wouldn't mind saying about some of those stories - particularly the ones who take an interesting twist on classic fairy tales.