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

[exxxed]

I can't really think of another game that I thought so hard about the decisions I had to make. Bastion I guess would be one (only make two decisions though) and a few times throughout the Neverwinter games (like the trial in the first game).

Aye!

I remember pausing the game, making myself a sandwich and really think my decisions through and all of their implications, the feeling was fantastic, haven't experienced something quite like it in any game before, nor after for that matter, the decisions from the sequel, even though they're throughly entertaining, they're not quite as far reaching as these ones and as far as I can tell they're not as ... broad all things considered (although the second chapter of the game might completely relocate Geralt considering his decisions in the first), they will probably be more fleshed out in the third one.

The first game was a novelty considering all these, close to every choice (even in side-quests or you missing them completely) makes a difference, even if small sometimes, but it's neatly tied together.

Have fun!

P.S.

Regarding the combat on hard, I didn't just throw myself in the middle of a mob and try to take them all at once (I got my arse handed to me when I did that in a group of Salamandra morons) but instead I used a style specific for the majority of them (usually fast since it works on strong opponents too) and kept changing targets after each combo, for example start with one target then when you have to click the second time switch target and so on until the last combo that took massive health and killed a person almost instantly reached ''the last'' who usually died and left me with fewer all low on health, of course dodging (this works for bigger opponents, flip over them and gather the mob near him so you can ''groupstyle'' them for a few rounds before setting them on fire) and setting them on fire depending on the circumstance.

Here's something similar to what I'm talking about, ignore the music if you will, completely ruins it... [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2nEnyXbBVM]

 

[porous_shield]

Regarding the combat on hard, I didn't just throw myself in the middle of a mob and try to take them all at once (I got my arse handed to me when I did that in a group of Salamandra morons) but instead I used a style specific for the majority of them (usually fast since it works on strong opponents too) and kept changing targets after each combo, for example start with one target then when you have to click the second time switch target and so on until the last combo that took massive health and killed a person almost instantly reached ''the last'' who usually died and left me with fewer all low on health, of course dodging (this works for bigger opponents, flip over them and gather the mob near him so you can ''groupstyle'' them for a few rounds before setting them on fire) and setting them on fire depending on the circumstance.

Here's something similar to what I'm talking about, ignore the music if you will, completely ruins it... [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2nEnyXbBVM]

I was a little slow on the uptake with the combat and it seriously took me near the entire first act to figure it out so I had to do like you describe to survive on medium since I got my ass absolutely handed to me by those barghest and the couple of group fights along the way. I ended up playing like that most of the game even after I figured it out. So it sounds like I might be okay on hard....so now I just have to wait another 30 hours for the game to finish downloading. My internet is so slow.

Wow that music is terrible.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

Update:
In the morning, I used the teleporter to go to the tower and Kalkstein was there! Horray! And he PAID ME! DOUBLE HORRAY!

I relooted the tower and then teleported back to the Temple district to drop off that quest with Siegfried. I did so, and he was quite pleased that I saved the people rather than capturing the elves. Well, fine - I did it to spare the Squirrels, but whatever.

I turn around to go drop off some other quests when an Adorable Street Urchin runs up. There's a bank robbery in progress. Um... okay? I follow the kid to the trade district where Vivaldi's bank (that he doesn't own) is being robbed. Siegfried is on his way, but I'm the first on the scene. And the Squirrels are the robbers. Do I want to wait for Siegfried?

FUCK NO. I head in alone, kill some vampires, and then get friendly with the elves. They need an escape route, so I kill my way through some giant spiders to get them one. OH, those things I killed earlier were Spiders! Not creatures from Silent Hill. Huh. But I still can't fucking loot them properly. Seriously, can anyone tell me where to get the book on these guys? I've read all (and I mean all) of the books at the Temple market bookseller.

Anyway, I took a spin around the sewer and connected this branch with the old branch in the temple district. Then I emerged in the Trade district near the inn, where I dropped off some loot, and the Guardhouse where I dropped off two monster bit quests (and leveled for my efforts). The guards there bitched me out for helping the elves. So, my cunning plan to claim I "chased them into the sewers" isn't going to pan out, is it?

I have someone to talk to in the Temple district (what I was about to do before the kid showed up) so I head back that way, stopping by Vivaldi's to talk with the elf leader about the heist and then I stop by the dwarven merchant to --

He won't sell to me. I just helped the elves and dwarves rob a bank, and this dwarf won't sell to me. Or, worse, buy FROM me. What the hell?!

I head to the Rose Knights, and they WILL buy from me. The merchant will, anyway. The armor upgrader calls me an Atheist. What the FUCK? I just betrayed the Rose Knights to the Squirrels, and the Squirrels won't trade with me, but the Rose Knights will?

Does the game just note how many of each side's quests I've completed without actually checking to see if I intentionally betrayed that side while doing so? What the hell?

This particularly sucks because I've four pieces of meteorite now and I was planning to upgrade my sword. Which I can't do ATM, unless there's an unaffiliated blacksmith in the Trade district.

I do, however, buy the armor upgrade. Nice.

Anyway, I finally head off to see this guy I'm supposed to see. He directs me to another guy, who won't talk to Geralt, so Geralt follows him to his house and MURDERS HIM. Yeah, Geralt... way to protect humans there.

I grab a letter off his corpse (and loot his house) and learn about the drug dealers in the sewers. Huh. Would this be that one gate that I couldn't previously open that's always guarded by mooks? Who would've guessed?! /sarcasm

I stop by the inn to drop off loot and sell some extra beer to the waitress. I am really collecting a lot of random crap here. I've got two signet rings and no idea what organization they are signet rings for. I've got a ton of random gifts that I haven't given out yet. And I've got a ton of upgrade items that I should probably use, if only the weapon guy wasn't being a dick.

And plenty of alcohol for making potions. I should probably do that too.

Oh, and I still need to kidnap that kid and take him to Triss's.

Ah well, next time.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

Update:

Okay, so I went down in the sewers to take out the base. At this point the respawning Drowners are only giving me 1 xp and are just sort of annoying.

Anyway, I don't have or don't remember the password, so I kill the guards. Turns out it didn't matter anyway since the men inside recognize me. So I kill them.

Things go pretty well until the training room, where I'm forced to take a Swallow potion to keep from getting killed. I really, really need to remember to use spells more - I keep forgetting I have them. I might not have needed to heal there if I'd gone and set some of the enemies on fire.

Then again, I probably would have needed it again for some of the other rooms, considering how swarmy the enemies got.

Oh, and I ended up killing a few chemists before I realized they were non-hostile. Whoopsie!

Outside I turn over the stuff the guards (who I almost attacked thinking they were Salamander reinforcements). Then I headed down to the other end of the sewer to fight more - and due to eating some food, I've accidently canceled my swallow regen so I almost die AGAIN. Damn it, I really need to use more spells!

I rest at the fire and practice spells on some drowners. Nice - the fire spell one-hit kills them, making the drowners far less annoying.

Outside, I decide to stop by and get Alvin, but Dandelion tells me he's been kidnapped. Lovely. So I go save him. And once again forget to use spells. Fortunately, my upgraded Group style (I went up two levels at that fire) makes quick work of them even without me setting them on fire.

I tell Dandelion to take Alvin to Triss, because he can TALK TO DEAD PEOPLE and Shani is not prepared for that shit. Then I kill a couple more Salamanders and loot all their corpses.

Very profitable night, this has been. I quickly report to Triss, who tells me to talk to Shani. I also tell her that I've sided with the Squirrels (even if I'm still not allowed in their Blacksmith and am allowed in the Rose Knight's shop). I do so because freedom is good. That isn't actually the response I want to give - I want to say that a Witcher protects PEOPLE, and Elves and Dwarves are people too, but apparently that's CRAZY talk so it's not an option. Oh well.

I go to see Shani, and she is pissed - ah well, maybe she shouldn't try to harbor psionic children.

I head back to Triss again and save before talking to her.

And that's where I've left it.

Edit: I had one item out of order. It has been corrected.

 

[porous_shield]

Abigail: "I hear witchers carry two weapons: one for humans, and other for monsters."
Geralt: "Both are for monsters."

Thanks for keeping up with this because I enjoy reading your thoughts on the game. I don't know why the dwarf won't sell to you. There must be some weirdness going on. I never experienced that problem though I do know people who have had strangeness about who would sell to them. I searched for it but couldn't find your particular problem. Someone did mention that part about the ghouls and elves in the cemetery would have an impact on whether the dwarf sold to you. Maybe you just have them both pissed off?

I couldn't bring myself to side with Yaevinn. Maybe I will side with him on my next play through...if I ever manage to download the game. Must be my internet because GoG is usually fast for me.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

Abigail: "I hear witchers carry two weapons: one for humans, and other for monsters."
Geralt: "Both are for monsters."

Exactly! The Rose Knights fight for racism. Yaevinn fights for freedom. In my book, that makes the Rose Knights monsters and Yaevinn the person.

Thanks for keeping up with this because I enjoy reading your thoughts on the game. I don't know why the dwarf won't sell to you. There must be some weirdness going on. I never experienced that problem though I have had strangeness about who would sell to them. I searched for it but couldn't find your particular problem. Someone did mention that part about the ghouls and elves in the cemetery would have an impact on whether the dwarf sold to you. Maybe you just have them both pissed off?

I took a peek in the pdf strategy guide that came with my game (GOG is fucking awesome that way) and apparently by TAKING the quest at all, no matter what I did, I have pissed off the dwarf merchant AND locked out a quest from Yaevinn. Sucks to be me apparently. I will also have to take Siegfried as an ally (instead of Yaevinn) in an upcoming quest.

When people say "your decisions will have consequences" I didn't imagine something quite so binary. I took the quest - and then BETRAYED the Rose Knights (or tried to - letting the elves go gave Siegfried a hard-on for some reason). Either way, I specifically spared the elves. Yaevinn and I are cool.

So yes, a little annoyed about that one.

 

[porous_shield]

Exactly! The Rose Knights fight for racism. Yaevinn fights for freedom. In my book, that makes the Rose Knights monsters and Yaevinn the person.

I figured the Rose Knights would be the last people I'd side with but somehow I did. Sigfried >> Yaevin. Sigfriend is awkward but adorkable and his heart is in the right place. In comparison, I think Yaevinn is an arrogant prick. I don't like the elves in this game in general though I love the dwarves.

I took a peek in the pdf strategy guide that came with my game (GOG is fucking awesome that way) and apparently by TAKING the quest at all, no matter what I did, I have pissed off the dwarf merchant AND locked out a quest from Yaevinn. Sucks to be me apparently. I will also have to take Siegfried as an ally (instead of Yaevinn) in an upcoming quest.

When people say "your decisions will have consequences" I didn't imagine something quite so binary. I took the quest - and then BETRAYED the Rose Knights (or tried to - letting the elves go gave Siegfried a hard-on for some reason). Either way, I specifically spared the elves. Yaevinn and I are cool.

So yes, a little annoyed about that one.

So I was right. You do have them both pissed off at you. I guess Yaevin really liked having his men feed peasants to the ghouls. Laughs aside, I wish the game did have more ways the cookie could crumble but I had a lot of fun making the decisions so I could live with it.

I haven't looked at any of that stuff. I bought the game a while ago so I only activated it on GoG recently when they had a promotion or something.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

I figured the Rose Knights would be the last people I'd side with but somehow I did. Sigfried >> Yaevin. Sigfriend is awkward but adorkable and his heart is in the right place. In comparison, I think Yaevinn is an arrogant prick. I don't like the elves in this game in general though I love the dwarves.

Yaevinn does come across as a bit of a douche personally, but his ideals are pretty sound. Also, he occasionally gets some very good dialogue. And Vivaldi is his buddy - and Vivaldi is awesome. The elves in general (when they aren't murdering people in graveyards for unexplained reasons) are pretty sympathetic. Particularly after I heard about some of the stuff that's been going on from the Druids.

Siegfried himself is a nice guy, but his order is a bunch of loons. And that one guy, Adda's chaperone, needs to fucking die. I should pursue that quest line just so I can kill his ass.

It sounds like you chose based on the contact NPC rather than the groups at large. I just can't do that, no matter how much I like Siegfried personally.

"The needs of the many outweighs the needs of the few. Or the one."

-- Spock, Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan.

 

[Norrdicus]

Exactly! The Rose Knights fight for racism.

No they really do not. The Order of The Flaming Rose, as an organization, does not fight for racism, they fight monsters in order to protect citizens like a group of paladins, and in Witcher 1, they fight Scoia'tael, an openly human-hating terrorist group who do not spare anybody. Perhaps you did not get to see that side of them because of some of the decisions you've made have obfuscating it. The deeds of the Scoia'tael reflect badly on the more peaceful non-humans

(Edit: yes, re-reading the last 2 pages, it doesn't look like you got the quest, where in altruistically helping beaten and bruised Scoia'tael in Act 1, you are indirectly responsible for an almost random act of violence by Scoia'tael in Act 2)

In Witcher 1, I didn't personally find a reason to side with them unless you played a very "The end justifies the means" type of Geralt. In Witcher 2 however I saw them in much better light and helped them, if only because the status of non-humans is super crappy in some of the places in that game.

 

[porous_shield]

Yaevinn does come across as a bit of a douche personally, but his ideals are pretty sound. Also, he occasionally gets some very good dialogue. And Vivaldi is his buddy - and Vivaldi is awesome. The elves in general (when they aren't murdering people in graveyards for unexplained reasons) are pretty sympathetic. Particularly after I heard about some of the stuff that's been going on from the Druids.

Well, yes and no. Neither of the organizations is very nice. Viscous terrorists fighting for the rights of their trampled people versus racist paladins, so I picked the representative I didn't want to actively murder.

Siegfried himself is a nice guy, but his order is a bunch of loons. And that one guy, Adda's chaperone, needs to fucking die. I should pursue that quest line just so I can kill his ass.

But so are the squirrels! I agree with you though that that guy is an ass.

It sounds like you chose based on the contact NPC rather than the groups at large. I just can't do that, no matter how much I like Siegfried personally.

"The needs of the many outweighs the needs of the few. Or the one."

-- Spock, Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan.

I could be wrong but isn't the human population larger than the non-human population?

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

I could be wrong but isn't the human population larger than the non-human population?

I was referring to the leadership. You made your choice based on the leaders of the two groups, whereas I made my choice based on the other members of the group.

Then random elves and dwarves are being abused and need help. The other Rose Knights.. are mostly jerks (in this game so far). Yes, there are more humans, but those humans are oppressing the elves and dwarves who aren't really any different than they are.

Having just finished a story in the short story collection where Geralt sides against humans to help a Dragon, I don't think my choice is inappropriate.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

Update: So, I spoke with Triss. She... wants to settle down with Geralt? And adopt Alvin? And she wants a ring?

Well that's... random. And bizarre.

You know, this would really rub a 2nd Wave feminist up the wrong way. Triss is basically saying that her career as a Sorceress is unfulfilling and that she wants a family instead. They'd view this as a cop out and evidence that Triss is a weak female character.

With that, I disagree. As a 3rd Wave feminist, I support Triss's right to have both a family and a career if she so chooses. So that aspect does not bother me.

However, after reading about Yennifer in the short stories and how desperate she is to reverse her sterility and have a child, I'm starting to wonder if the various writers involved with the Witcher (both Andrzej Sapkowski and the people who wrote the game) have some sort of strange idea that all women are desperate to have children.

Perhaps my issue is due to the fact that I got a similar vibe from Shani (ie, that Alvin was supposed to be some sort of surrogate son) and even Abigale earlier (to a lesser degree). It's like every single female character in the Witcher universe is obsessed with reproduction.

Except Princess Adda, who is obsessed with raw meat.

**rimshot**

It is possible that I simply need to read more of the Witcher stories and play more of the game to experience more well-rounded female characters. So far though, I'm getting an uncomfortable feeling that there is only one female character in the Witcher-verse who has been copy/pasted several times. Personality wise, that is.

I was just starting to feel like the Witcher's bad rep for misogyny was undeserved and this... very uncomfortable scene occurred.

ANYWAY... apparently Geralt feels the same way because it's time to go drinking. Much occurs. I go ahead and have Geralt admit that he'd actually like to have a family. No reason why monster hunting can't be a day job - particularly with a spellcasting wife and spellcasting child who can defend themselves from monsters seeking revenge.

Again, the concept of Geralt and Triss settling down with Alvin doesn't bother me so much as the fact that every single female character in the game seems to have that as a goal. If I hadn't just read about Yennifer wanting the same thing - and being willing to murder a dozen people to get it - I might not have reacted as strongly.

So drunkeness occurs. After that I appear in Triss's house again and she scolds me for... being a bad rolemodel for Alvin. Bwhat?

Yeah, sorry, I should have put my mildly feminist issues after this. Triss wanting to raise Alvin I have no problem with. Triss wanting to do it with Geralt doesn't bother me either.

Triss asking for a ring was a little weird.

Triss scolding Geralt for being a bad father before he's even agreed to BE a father is... pretty fucked up.

I never got the impression that Triss was a character who would "hen-peck" someone, but that appears to be what she's doing. It's just so... badly stereotypical. "Oh my," I feel I can hear the writers saying, "Triss wants to settle down and have a family. So now we have to write her like Marge Simpson, because that's what mothers act like." It's just... ugh.

It almost makes me wish I'd given the kid to Shani after all. ... wait....

**checks PDF guide**

Fuck, no. If I had, Triss would be "angry" with me (ie no more dialogue, I guess?) while Shani would be asking for a fucking ring.

It was weird when Shani acted like we were a couple after a night of casual sex. It would be even weirder for Shani to want a ring after one night of casual sex. Triss at least Geralt clearly had a long standing relationship with. They have history as lovers. I didn't get the impression that Geralt had been with Shani before now.

I am very glad I gave Alvin to Triss. Having Shani do this would have been even more disturbing.

Yikes.

ANYWAY.......

I have Geralt sleep off his alcohol (and level up, and make a metric shit-ton of potions) and then head out. I try to sell teeth to the dentist and Salamander badges to that one merchant, but he isn't at the docks anymore so I don't know where to find him, and the dentist isn't home. Maybe I should check back at night?

I do find an independent blacksmith. I have to give him a gem, so I pull an Amber out my Inn storage and give him that. Minutes later, I have a nifty new Meteorite sword. I only have two permanent runes, so I can't upgrade the silver sword yet.

I also find a new bookseller! I buy a book on insects and another on vampires, read them, and then sell them back. I don't have enough for the book on Genies. Do I need that ASAP?

So I'm broke. But I am very nicely upgraded.

I do a bit more exploring and check out the brothel. After looting the downstairs I talk to one of the prostitutes and apparently I had a quest about her because I'm supposed to tell her brother that this is her. Blue Eyes, right. I don't remember why it matters, and her brother is upset to hear she's in a brothel and I'm supposed to bring proof. OKAY. What kind of proof?

I save outside then go in and ask to sleep with her. She asks for 500, but I've only got 300 orens left, so no deal. This pisses her off, so I reload the save and just don't go in this time.

Instead I head to Triss's and talk to Alvin. He blew something up, so I encourage him to learn better control.

I teleport to the Swamp Tower because fuck paying 5 oriens to cross. Teleporting is free.

I head outside and HOLY SHIT GIANT SPIDERS! I'm very glad I read that book, because after a furious battle, I end up with a lot of dead spider loot.

I then spent about an hour slowly crossing the swamp, collecting herbs, and murdering tons of random monsters. I kill a couple archspores. Thank to the person in the thread who said they are fire vulnerable - Igni absolutely WRECKS archspores.

Those Grick looking critters who explode with poison when you kill them are still one of THE most annoying monsters around, since I can generally tank their attacks but those explosions are really hard to avoid and do a ton of damage.

I had one HOLY CRAP moment after being reduced to half HP by a bunch of them exploding and then wandering into a battle with an archspore. I was in the gray when I used a Swallow potion and then followed up with an Igni spell.

Anyway, sadly much of the Swallow spell is wasted as no enemies attacked me after that and I quickly found my way to the old woman's house. She wants me to kill Salamanders. Sounds good to me.

A quick question - it was pretty obvious when I was getting to the end of Chapter 2 - the tower was a fairly major plot point in two different quests. Will the end of Chapter 3 be similarly obvious? Someone mentioned that I'd lose access to the city after that, so I want to make sure to follow up my side quests before then.

 

[Norrdicus]

It is possible that I simply need to read more of the Witcher stories and play more of the game to experience more well-rounded female characters. So far though, I'm getting an uncomfortable feeling that there is only one female character in the Witcher-verse who has been copy/pasted several times. Personality wise, that is.

I was just starting to feel like the Witcher's bad rep for misogyny was undeserved and this... very uncomfortable scene occurred.

Yeah, it's going to be a while before it gets significantly better. And by "a while" I mean until you start up Witcher 2

ANYWAY... apparently Geralt feels the same way because it's time to go drinking. Much occurs. I go ahead and have Geralt admit that he'd actually like to have a family. No reason why monster hunting can't be a day job - particularly with a spellcasting wife and spellcasting child who can defend themselves from monsters seeking revenge.

I loved that scene because it was a really simple discussion in which you could establish your own character. Not in a "this action implies Geralt is this kind of character" kind of way, but "this is how Geralt feels"

I also find a new bookseller! I buy a book on insects and another on vampires, read them, and then sell them back. I don't have enough for the book on Genies. Do I need that ASAP?

No, the insect and vampire books were much more urgent.

A quick question - it was pretty obvious when I was getting to the end of Chapter 2 - the tower was a fairly major plot point in two different quests. Will the end of Chapter 3 be similarly obvious? Someone mentioned that I'd lose access to the city after that, so I want to make sure to follow up my side quests before then.

Yes, it's rather obvious when the chapter's climax starts. You're going to go assault a rather big Salamandra hideout with someone's assistance.

Btw, I suggest you also pack a few potions before you start that big fight, especially ones that protect against Pain and Stun, etc. Because your Act 2 investigation went wrong (like mine did) and you ended up killing Ramsmeat (and Azar got what he wanted from the tower), that quest is going to be significantly tougher in one aspect.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

No, the insect and vampire books were much more urgent.

Yes, it's rather obvious when the chapter's climax starts. You're going to go assault a rather big Salamandra hideout with someone's assistance.

Btw, I suggest you also pack a few potions before you start that big fight, especially ones that protect against Pain and Stun, etc. Because your Act 2 investigation went wrong (like mine did) and you ended up killing Ramsmeat (and Azar got what he wanted from the tower), that quest is going to be significantly tougher in one aspect.

So noted.

And thanks for letting me know. I read something about teaming up with an NPC (I think I'm stuck with Siegfried because of previous fuckups), so I'll keep an eye out for that.

 

[exxxed]

It is possible that I simply need to read more of the Witcher stories and play more of the game to experience more well-rounded female characters. So far though, I'm getting an uncomfortable feeling that there is only one female character in the Witcher-verse who has been copy/pasted several times. Personality wise, that is.

I was just starting to feel like the Witcher's bad rep for misogyny was undeserved and this... very uncomfortable scene occurred.

Yeah, it's going to be a while before it gets significantly better. And by "a while" I mean until you start up Witcher 2

Actually the first playthru' is just stumbling about in the first Witcher, the second one is what sealed the deal for me, as I knew more of the details and how everything worked, I could mold the story as I wanted to and it resulted in one of the finer moments of role playing since... Planescape Torment.

As for the last reads... hehe I wish I would remember the finer details to help you around a bit... talk to Carmen about Vincent the guard, do everything in your power to buy an armor and find another rune for your silver sword (it's gonna be hell if things go as I remember), another thing, I never tried it myself because I was out of Blizzard potions, but there's a fucked up part where things are collapsing and you gotta run... maybe it's easier with that slow-mo.

Also, I may suggest you find a friend who likes gambling and make him play dice poker to win you some cash, did that myself and the dude won me tons of coin (left everyone dry haha), there also was a quest about dice, but I guess you missed it, there's a nice pay-off at the end (it spans through the entire game), also the dentist is around Shani's house during the day, that's also a quest you should finish, you'll appreciate the prize.

As for Triss and Geralt, I personally liked that part, it was hilarious, especially coming home drunk after a day of roaming the inns and brothels with Zoltan and Dandelion, and I wouldn't compare women in the medieval ages to women today, especially in a fantasy setting, also considering the death toll in Temeria and other regions due to war, famine, monsters, plague etc. it's not as far fetched that most women there would like an offspring with someone that can provide and is a strong example to the child, just my take on it.

P.S. Alvin considers Geralt as his mentor or, as you put it, role model, so Triss' nagging makes sense.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

I wouldn't compare women in the medieval ages to women today, especially in a fantasy setting, also considering the death toll in Temeria and other regions due to war, famine, monsters, plague etc. it's not as far fetched that most women there would like an offspring with someone that can provide and is a strong example to the child, just my take on it.

What I dislike is that the game is saying (via mechanics) "all women just want to have babies" - which is bullshit. Or that all women, no matter how casual about sex now, are secretly trying to get you to give them that ring. It's like the other side of the sexism coin from the card collecting. Hell, it even sends the message (again, with mechanics) "if you sleep with the same woman twice, she'll nail you down with a kid and insist on a ring".

It's a shitty message. Sure, maybe it wasn't intended. Maybe there are (bad) excuses for it. But it really rubs me the wrong way, and I'm sure it is alienating to other women playing this game. In a game that was doing a surprisingly good job at characterization, it's a sort of 180.

You know, I wouldn't be this upset if the game hadn't been BETTER than this for most of it. The game had almost gotten me to forgive it for the card collecting - the writing was good enough that it was barely bothering me anymore. All the scenes were empowering to the female participant (except Shani's, which was still sorta romantic).

And then, all of a sudden, things went down hill again.

I'd likely feel differently if Triss and Shani reacted differently, but the fact that they both want a ring and a child to make them complete is just... icky.

Women do NOT need children to be complete. Or a ring. We're complete all by ourselves.

Ahem. Anyway, the sad thing is I even liked PARTS of it. Geralt expressing that he really wants a family (because I chose that option) is a really GOOD bit of characterization. If it was HIS idea to get her a ring, not an ultimatum, then that would have been fine. If he'd expressed an interest in helping Triss raise Alvin rather than being yelled at and forced into it, I wouldn't have minded. And that's how this could have gone down if the game didn't suddenly and unnecessarily resort to blatant stereotypes.

Anyway, I've gone on too long about this. This isn't what this thread is about. Okay, actually this IS what the thread is about - my thoughts and feelings about the game - but I'd rather move on that dwell.

An update to follow.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

Update: After talking to the old woman, I ran around the town briefly and bumped into Carmen of all people on the docks. Apparently she has a boyfriend - is that why I can't hire her? - and he's a werewolf. I volunteer to ask the druids.

So I head off that way, since it's on the way to the Salamanders I'm supposed to murder. However, by the time I arrive, the druids are "after hours" and won't talk to me. I try the dryad, but she has no new dialogue, so I collect some herbs and move on.

On my way to the tower area, where the first group is (why aren't I heading to the closer locations like the cave or lumberjack camp first? - the game is telling me to do this one first?) I kill some archespores and HOLY SHIT WYVERNS! I kill one named Moa and take it's head. And then I almost immediately get SWARMED by four more and fucking die, even with Swallow AND the instant heal potions in my quick menu. The instant heal ones don't restore all that much HP, I'm noticing.

FUCK! I didn't save manually at all. That was 30-45 minutes of monster killing, herb collecting, and quest picking up that I just lost.

So back to talking to Carmen. This time, I save at the druid's grove. Then I save again after bumping into two Archespores and completing my collection quest for them. And then I... wander around for a while looking for those fucking wyverns.

It's raining -AGAIN- so I can't see shit. It wasn't last save so I could see them from father away. I wander around for a while, saving after every Archespore or other difficult monster I kill, just to be safe and -- FUCK WYVERN CAMP FOUR AT ONCE I'M DEAD AGAIN.

I reload and try to retrace my steps. I die three or four more times until I determine exactly where on the map the wyvern island is without accidentally agro-ing the entire group. I save again with them in sight and practice Kiting - that is, drawing one and ONLY ONE wyvern over to fight me by getting JUST close enough to agro one and then running the fuck away. After one successful attempt to kite but getting killed anyway I start taking a Swallow potion BEFORE battle begins.

I finally succeed and kill one, but it isn't Moa and I don't get a head this time. Disappointing. Still, one down. So I save and do it again. I draw another Royal Wyvern away, kill it, loot it, and save again. So far so good.

I do it again, and this time I get two - a Royal Wyvern and a regular Wyvern. I concentrate on the Royal one, and the Swallow potion lets me tank the other one's damage. I open with some Fast Style, then switch to Strong to finish off the royal, shooting fire at it whenever I have the chance. The Royal falls and I finish off the regular one - and then a plant monster (the lesser one, not an Archspore) that I accidentally spawned at the end there. So far so good.

I save and go back again. Moa is just sort of sitting there, so I take a risk, run up, hit her, and then run away. She follows and FUCK she's fast. I switch to Fast style and suddenly the battle gets a lot easier. Pain keeps her from attacking much and fire is helpful too, so I eventually chip her to death and get her head! Woo Hoo!

I save, then head back to the island. There, I'm attacked by another pair, but I know the technique now (and there are no plant monsters here to interfere) and I finish them both off. I loot them and circle the island - nothing left but one corpse. Which I loot.

DAMN! That is one fine steel sword! ... better than the Meteroite sword I just upgraded to. Damn it. Oh well, gift horses and all. I equip that bad mother and finally head to the Salamander camp that I've been practically next to this while time.

This sword kicks ass. I wreck everything. Group style laughs at the Salamandra.

The brickmakers tell me about the other two camp sites. Yes, I know, I had to circle around the logging camp to avoid agroing them earlier. Why was I not supposed to kill them first? I have no idea. I'm not supposed to kill them second either, because this group wants me to help the people in the cave first.

There's also a chest here that I looted earlier. It is empty. Ah well.

My green bar is a bit high so I rest briefly at the camp fire to clear that and spend my level up points. I'm focusing on both Group styles, as that tends to be the most useful in "oh shit swarm of enemies!" situations. Then I'm focusing on both Strong Styles, as most boss fights have tended that way. Finally, I'm focusing on both Fast Styles. I don't use magic enough (due to forgetting about it) to focus there ATM - better to get what I use most (sword techniques) maxxed out.

It's morning now, so I head back to the Druids. They have a bunch of WACKY home remedies for me. Lovely. And now I need to get info from Carmen, who is back at her usual spot apparently.

And then - fuck it, I attack the lumber camp instead of the cave. I don't feel like backtracking. There's a boss Salamander here with the rest, but my new sword takes him out once I adjust my style properly. The townsfolk thank me and tell me about a big Salamander camp where the Squirrel camp was last chapter. Ah ha! And they say I will need an army. Oh my - that sounds like the end of chapter attack to me. Crap.

I then head to the cave (fighting critters on the way) and kill those Salamanders. And the birckmakers here tell me about the lumber camp. No shit. Whatever, that's done. Also, there's a boy here who keeps following me around even after the others leave - the missing boy! Ah.

I start to explore the save, but there are a ton of monsters deeper in and my inventory is VERY full, so I decide to do that later. Instead I head back to town and tell the old woman that I found the missing boy and that I rescued the brickmakers. Yay. She has no reward, but I get a ton of XP, so I don't care.

And, since it would be a LONG trip back to the tower for the teleport, I pay 5 fucking gold for the ferry. Sigh.

I have a lot of monster bits to drop off, so I do that first. I get paid 1000 gold between them, meaning that I can afford to go see that blue eyed prostitute now and continue that quest. Nifty! Also, I have room to get more monster bits for the Huntsman. I should probably try that cave.

First things first, though, I talk to Carmen. She... won't tell me. That's unhelpful. I press her and she tells me her real name. OKAY. Weird.

I stop by the inn and drop off a bunch of crap. I need to make some potions too because I've got a lot of alchemical monster bits. And flowers - so many flowers.

Okay, time to see Triss. I take four different rings out of my inventory and head over to her place. Let's get this shit overwith. I talk to Alvin because he's there and tell him he can have a dog because why not? Dogs are probably fairly practical. Triss thinks I'm spoiling him. Lovely.

I try giving Triss a ring, but she thinks I need to spend more time with Alvin first. Meh. So I ask her to rest instead. All my recent quest completion has leveled me up again, so I focus on Strong style this time (my strategy being noted above) with my silver levelups, and use the bronze to fill in anything I might have skipped or forgotten. Then I make potions. LOTS of potions. I have like 15 bottles of various strong alcohol on me, but I quickly learn that - aside from Cat - they won't make most good potions. So I end up making 15 White Gull, and then restocking my supply of Swallows and instant HP ones (can't remember the name) as well as some other useful sounding ones.

On potion making:

First, the automatic select option for the ingredients is REALLY STUPID. It will ignore ingredients that have no extra crap in them or ingredients that I have over 50 of and instead pick on whatever order they happen to be in my inventory. I wonder how many rare and useful items I've wasted earlier by not checking to make sure that the AI wasn't being completely fucking stupid.

So this time I tell it to use Drowner Tongues, Drowner Brains, White Mertile, and other materials that I have tons of.

This goes pretty well, actually, allowing me to get rid of second stacks of items and condense my materials considerably. I hurt my supply of White mertile quite a bit, actually, making all of that White Gull.

Secondly, what exactly do Albedo, Rubido, and Negrido do (apart from be voiced by Crispen Freeman **rimshot**)? I get that they're toxic, but is there any sort of mechanic to it?

Not having any idea what the fuck I'm doing, I chose to balance Albedo and Negrido while avoiding Rubido. I thought that maybe the white poison would cancel out the black poison and result in net 0 poison? Although my use of potions in the swamp suggests otherwise - I seemed to be poisoning myself quite a bit. Then again, those were older potions that I made before I started paying attention to this stuff.

So yeah, other than avoiding them entirely, what is the best way to manage the three toxins? Should I try to balance them or stick to a specific one in a given potion? Do they poison me different ways? Or is it just the number of them I have in a given potion that determines toxicity?

Anyway, I make the potions and rest for two hours (one for level up, one for potions).

When I get up, I talk to Alvin again. He wants to learn to sword fight. I consider saying "sure" because - come on, not a bad idea in this world, but instead I tell him teh swords aren't toys. Which is also true.

This melt's Triss's butter (ugh) and she will now accept a ring from me. I offer her a Gold and Sapphire ring, but she sticks her nose up at it and hints that she'd like a Ruby. Well, I do have a silver and ruby signet ring that I haven't found a use for yet. It's not even worth half as much as the Gold and Sapphire, but... Triss loves it and sexes up Geralt. Okay then. I'm happy to have THAT quest line behind me.

Oh... why is Card Triss a brunette while Game Triss is a red-head?

So, that's where I am at the moment. Any advice on tracking down Carmen's lover? How about the blue eyed prostitute? And why are all my current side quests involving hookers?

Also, is there anywhere to sell the metric FUCKTON of Salamander badges I've collected? I really need to make some room at the Inn inventory. I've heard that the dentist will take Barghest skulls (and thanks for letting me know where he's at during the day, I'll check there when I play next) so that will help a bit.

Until next time.

 

[Norrdicus]

I don't think that Salamandra base in the Scoia'tael former swamp base is the climax. You might want to check if that quest is listed as a Main Quest or something in your journal. Not sure.

Secondly, what exactly do Albedo, Rubido, and Negrido do (apart from be voiced by Crispen Freeman **rimshot**)? I get that they're toxic, but is there any sort of mechanic to it?

Not having any idea what the fuck I'm doing, I chose to balance Albedo and Negrido while avoiding Rubido. I thought that maybe the white poison would cancel out the black poison and result in net 0 poison? Although my use of potions in the swamp suggests otherwise - I seemed to be poisoning myself quite a bit. Then again, those were older potions that I made before I started paying attention to this stuff.

Albedo, Negrido and Rubedo are all potential bonus effects you can have on your potions. Iirc, the effects are thus:

All Nigredo - you deal 10% more damage for the potion duration

All Rubedo - you have slight health regen

All Albedo - decreased toxicity in the potion

The only ways to manipulate toxicity, besides resting, is to drink White Honey (this potions removes all toxicity and potion effects) and make your potions full Albedo

So, that's where I am at the moment. Any advice on tracking down Carmen's lover? How about the blue eyed prostitute?

If you go far enough the Carmen's quest, she'll tell who her lover is eventually.

The prostitute? Hmm, did the brother tell you anything about his sister other than her general looks? Sleeping with that expensive prostitue is the way to progress in the quest as far as I remember. You could also bring her a gift, if you pay (insanely) close attention, you might find out what she likes.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

Albedo, Negrido and Rubedo are all potential bonus effects you can have on your potions. Iirc, the effects are thus:

All Nigredo - you deal 10% more damage for the potion duration
All Rubedo - you have slight health regen
All Albedo - decreased toxicity in the potion

**opens mouth**

**closes mouth**

FUCK. I've been screwing myself over this whole time! I've been "balancing" my -bedos, or avoiding using them.

I do have one criticism though. Albedo should be the one that gives regen.

 

[porous_shield]

I could be wrong but isn't the human population larger than the non-human population?

I was referring to the leadership. You made your choice based on the leaders of the two groups, whereas I made my choice based on the other members of the group.

Then random elves and dwarves are being abused and need help. The other Rose Knights.. are mostly jerks (in this game so far). Yes, there are more humans, but those humans are oppressing the elves and dwarves who aren't really any different than they are.

Having just finished a story in the short story collection where Geralt sides against humans to help a Dragon, I don't think my choice is inappropriate.

The Order of the Rose does good work in protecting everyone from monsters, it just happens that many of their members are dicks about it. The Squirrels are fighting for their rights and committing atrocities left and right. I am sympathetic of their cause but not their methods. They wouldn't even talk to you if you weren't a mutant. The Squirrels are pretty damned racist themselves.

Some of the non-humans don't want their help because they are being too extreme and giving a bad name to all non-humans. They're also making it worse for many non-humans by amping up the racism.

Witchers kill monsters so I don't see how siding with a dragon goes against that. I sided with some decidedly non-humans in an upcoming quest you haven't gotten to yet and I don't think it was out of character for Geralt at all.