The Witcher (I, II, III) - CD Projekt RED games

**DaVinci** · September 04, 2017, 06:38 PM

This is great! Thanks Caligula for posting.

**DaVinci** · September 08, 2017, 12:26 PM

Related to post #640 by Caligula, the 10th anniversary video, i get or got some thoughts in regard of the game outcome/s of the main questline, when Geralt has got its villa. Which for many players was/is not really a welcome part of the game. Because, Geralt principally gets played further as lonesome guy. Even when some certain outcomes offer the presence of beloved ones (in the villa, but mere without dialog or according gameplay). There were even "petitions" by players andwhatnot else (fe. many complains in the CDP forums) regarding this item. A background for this was/is also, that certain player decisions lead to certain outcomes (without really that the player has an idea about the linkages). The 10th anniversary video might solve the one and other grievances, but still, it is not part of the game, just a video.

I wonder if (or why not) something like the content of the 10th anniversary video isn't (or rather gets now) part of the game and/or could be still delivered as further (free) dlc by CDP.

What about you, how are your thoughts there? I would be all for such additional dlc.

(and as we are by that, the one and other might add his kind of game end-phase, decision taking etc.)

**Commissar Caligula_** · September 08, 2017, 05:43 PM

I was pretty happy with my ending to be honest. All the good guys lived and Ciri became a Witcher but Geralt didn't get either Yen or Triss, so he's back to going on adventures with Dandelion like in the books.

**DaVinci** · September 10, 2017, 11:41 AM

Well, the different possible endings of W3 have potential for motivation to provide multiple playthroughs (fe. atm. i think about to find/start a save where i decide the romance item, vs what i did, went with Triss and Yen, which results in having nobody, lol).

However, i find for example the end of Wild Hunt, in my case Geralt finds himself alone in the huge Kaer Morhen hall, somewhat depressing.

Formerly the somehow high atmospheric meeting with Zoltan and Rittersporn (Dandelion) and the related nice "Rabbit Hunt" quest in White Orchard with Ciri (which reminded me to the snowball-battle in Kaer Morhen with her), then she went with the Nilfguardians ... for becoming Emperor, taking the place of Emhyr. The rest is then game-end storytelling of the according outcome.

All alone in Kaer Morhen, i wanted to compensate that doubtfree sad feel of lifelessness with going to Novigrad to experience "life" ... what do i find there?
A city unchanged, the same evil guys still hunt and kill the opressed ones. This just vs the end-storytelling. While sure, the game UI explains, that the world is set back to that state. Alright, that was just the design choice of CDPR (to finally end their work on Wild Hunt).

But exactly there i have a certain grime with the development. Imo., CDPR could have well made a proper fitting follow-up world after the (different) Wild Hunt end(s), as they did in the story with its several outcome options. This latest, with the GotY step, aka if one have HoS and BaW installed (or just the all-in-one edition) and is going to play further after Wild Hunt is finished.

For me, it feels like an unfinished product in this regard. In my case, i find/found it demotivating to step into HoS and/or BaW quests, experiencing a world which does not consider the end of the Wild Hunt story, and to this, all main characters are absent in the according realms.

I'm still in this phase ... paused playing on, the expansions and/or remaining quests of Wild Hunt (some contracts, some treasure/witcher school searches, and very few other non-relevant sidequests).
What i did as of yet was to run or ride through the streets, roads and locations, looking around, searching for motivation, lol.

I hope i get soon a driver to play on.

P.S. Also tried HoS to starting it separately, which imo. is even more demotivating, cause one starts on level 32 with very limited equipment (non-considering what was achieved with Wild Hunt), and also there, the outcome of Wild Hunt's end(s) is unconsidered, and to this, i see just only two main quests (the starting one of HoS and BaW), incl. that fe. the Gwent deck is a starter deck again.
I know and understand, game developers have to make design decisions (where resources etc. play a big role), thus this is no wining from my side, just my thoughts on the W3 game design in this particular regard, which but imo. makes up a relevant item. As for me, instead of putting efforts into free dlc's and some extra work for the GotY edition, they could have created better transition contents for the Wild Hunt endings, the option to play that further, combined with the two expansions, in a world, that fits to the "chosen" end of Wild Hunt. That would have been just my design decision if i were the art director. It would also be possible to offer choices, ie. the ones which are realised by CDPR, by default, and the other ones, which i described (which require a playthough of Wild hunt; as we know HoS and BaW can be started/played also isolated) as option.

Impressions, somehow along what i describe above

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

EDIT

Just found this comment on page 30

Originally Posted by Wulfburk

Yeah id say the best is to start and finish HoS before the Final preparations main quest. And start B&W after finishing the main quest and everything you want to do in novigrad and skellige. The ending of B&W is the best way to end the game and series.

... which seems to be the kind of approach as "workaround" for me and the ones who feel similar as i layed out above ... lol.

Yeah, that could be the right way to play the W3 game without to stumble upon the according discrepancies, which means for me restarting a save pre-final Wild Hunt battle, go into HoS and finishing that first, etc..
Thus, a late thankyou, Wulfburk.

**Commissar Caligula_** · September 10, 2017, 06:31 PM

What happened in your ending with Ciri? Did she live and become a Witcher, live and become Empress or die and then Geralt presumably dies as well?

I'm currently replaying Witcher 3 as well, but its nowhere near as awesome as the first time ='(

**DaVinci** · September 10, 2017, 07:54 PM

Originally Posted by Caligula

What happened in your ending with Ciri? Did she live and become a Witcher, live and become Empress or die and then Geralt presumably dies as well?

I'm currently replaying Witcher 3 as well, but its nowhere near as awesome as the first time ='(

Find pics no. 6, 7 and 8 within the spoiler of my post above ... Ciri became Empress.

In a (perhaps possible) next playthrough from start, i'll look for decisions which a) give me Triss and b) give me Ciri as witcher. Knowing, it's versus the lore, but much more satisfying for the game, or the player, lol.

And in my current game, i'll restart a save, where i can solve at least the above item about the Wild Hunt world ending, which is the playorder Wulfbirk suggested.
The only Wild Hunt ending, where the world mess of the inquisitional acts goes on and makes sense, is when the quest Reason of State fails, means Radovid survives, wins the war, aka his inquisition and then genocide goes on, when Wild Hunt ends.
Perhaps i even go back to a save where i can still "correct" the Triss/Yen romance item.

The by you linked ending, which is one of three possible Wild Hunt endings, is imo. somehow not playable, if interpreted that he dies as well. I mean, how fits this overall to HoS and BaW? Afaik, there is no game indicator that fe. HoS and BaW contents are events which happen before the final Wild Hunt ending, and also wouldn't make sense gameproduction-wise where HoS and BaW are expansions of Wild Hunt. Also another critique for this ending, the wolf-medaillon which he finds there: Geralt knew that one of the three Mume's survived as Ciri fought them and fled with her medaillon... Ciri told Geralt this outcome. In conclusion, one can resume, that somehow this sad ending is a flawed game-storytelling, and as for Geralt, latest after the HoS and BaW releases, makes practically no sense.

Besides the epic game production which The Witcher 3 doubtfree is, and unparalleled, but some of the contents have also imo. drastic implausabilities. Again, if i were the art director i would have steered the production to iron these out.

Btw., i highly suggest two mods (especially for a re-play) which change and enhance the gameplay a lot, imo. musthave's for the gameplay:
Lore-friendly Economy
Primal Needs

**Commissar Caligula_** · September 10, 2017, 09:08 PM

Hearts of Stone takes place before the end of the main game, because at the end Gaunter O'Dimm offers to tell you where Ciri is.
Blood and Wine takes place after the main game because at the end Ciri can come and stay with you as a break from being Empress.

I use about 19 mods, most of them graphical and the rest just quality of life things.

**JaM** · September 11, 2017, 01:52 AM

not necessarily.. neither of those require main game to be finished... plus, you can finish Blood and Wine with Heart of Stone still not done, this way Regis will ask you about your mark on your face... both expansions are fully adjusted for whatever path you chose..

**DaVinci** · September 11, 2017, 11:50 AM

Alright, we speak of the gaming-style, when the player has GotY or just Wild Hunt and the two expansions HoS and BaW, and plays them in one flow, in whatever order but in one installment, right?

My critique about the CDPR development is mainly that (as pointed to above already):

When you made the quest Reason of State (which the player should do latest prior to the final battle with the Wild Hunt), king Radovid is killed by Philippa, and Roche, Ves and Thaler survived, then Temeria becomes a substate by Nilfgard. Redania (incl. Novigrad, as its capital) just lost the war vs Nilfgard. It results in an order, where the witchhunt and genocide by Radovid and his subordinates (witchhunters, temple guards) ends, and that Emhyr seeks revenge at the ones who opposed him (mostly just the loyal followers of Radovid, his soldiers and aristocrats). So far the end storytelling of Wildhunt, in my case.
Now, if you play on after Wild Hunt end, and you visit Novigrad, the world is set back, as if that didn't happen.
The game UI explains, that the world is set back, okay. Just exactly this design annoys me or rather disappoints me.
Because if you travel to Novigrad, you experience exactly that ... no relation to the end storytelling in that part of the world. Imo. an immersion-killer of highest degree.
Thus, to work around this for me demotivating worldstanding, Wulfburk's hint (or suggestion) how to play, is the right one for me (quoted in my post 644). Well, that but also means, never go back to Novigrad after the final of Wild Hunt and here then, HoS is also finished before Wild Hunt is finished.

Also this gaming order is not really satisfying, because i personally loved it to wander through Novigrad, visiting its locations and characters.
In my conclusion, CDPR should have done one more quest and its proper worlddesigns for the outcomes (options) of the war, which closes this gap. And thus shows a world, which is true to the Wild Hunt end storytelling (its options). Only then, the game design would be round, so to speak, just in this regard.
... and i could gladly wander through Novigrad whenever i wish, just without the presence of stakes, witchunters and temple guards.
Just for a little example, you wanna enhance/create master swords, then you have to approach Hattori, right?

Another design gap comes to mind regarding the Bloody Baron's people at his castle and its governed inhabitants (all around), the latter, which speak to Geralt as if the Baron would still be present and wouldn't have made a change of mind (in my case, he went to the Blue Mountains with his wife Anna to seek healing).

P.S. I wonder why nobody else seems to have that kind of critique. Maybe i'm special in this regard and have a unique gaming experience?

I use about 19 mods, most of them graphical and the rest just quality of life things.

I have 25 mod files in my mods folder. One is MergedFiles aka script merging.

Btw., i attach here my rendering.xml file (zipped), for the ones who wanna try/play around with advanced graphic setting options, that means, if installed, go into your usual graphic settings you'll see additional/higher setting-options than ultra. It cannot do any harm, but as always, remember to back up first your rendering.xml file for the case you prefer to apply that (store that backup outside of the according folder). The higher graphic setting options call "ultra+" and "ultra++". Try them if you have now easily 60+ fps with ultra settings, then there is good space to increase your fx quality even more with those + or ++ settings (the ++ setting is set in my case only for one setting: Detaildegree; players with GTX 1080 or similar and according cpu can probably apply all the available ++ settings). These higher settings can make up for applications of environment/architecture texture mods andthelike aka can make them obsolete or is an option for a kind of replacement for any preset mods (lighting, re-shades, injectors); note, the effects are not the same, the higher settings just press out what the vanilla fx engine can provide, without thirdparty files.
Example path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\The Witcher 3\bin\config\r4game\user_config_matrix\pc

**JaM** · September 11, 2017, 05:00 PM

DV: just look at it this way - War is lost, Radovid is dead, yet Redanians are still controlling their cities, while there are negotiations running about surrender and ceasefire.. in medieval times, things like this took some time, with armies facing each other and still controlling their areas.. What you have in Novigrad after finishing the Wild Hunt is situation few weeks after Redanian surrender, so Nilfgaardians are still not there to occupy.

**DaVinci** · September 11, 2017, 05:28 PM

Originally Posted by JaM

DV: just look at it this way - War is lost, Radovid is dead, yet Redanians are still controlling their cities, while there are negotiations running about surrender and ceasefire.. in medieval times, things like this took some time, with armies facing each other and still controlling their areas.. What you have in Novigrad after finishing the Wild Hunt is situation few weeks after Redanian surrender, so Nilfgaardians are still not there to occupy.

One could watch it that way, as background-interpretation. Thing is but, the game itself does not suggest it that way in any way, not in the slightest. Vice versa, game UI says, the world is set back to prior the war endings.

Thus there is no way for me to watch it that way, when you travel to Novigrad.

And, you can watch it also in the following way:
Thing is, Radovid, the driver of the inquisition and genocide is dead (if one have chosen that path with Reason of State quest) ... even if things take time administration-wise etc., it is no excuse that you experience the worldpart there, as if nothing happened ... for the game-option that the player plays on, if sole Wild Hunt quests, or just HoS and BaW.
As said, imo. CDPR could have done something there. This is just fe. remove the stakes, remove genocide-scenes, replace withhunters and temple guards with usual soldiers, ie. a mix of usual Redanian soldiers, Temerians and some Nilfgaardians (Nilfgaard army camps were just not that far away from Novigrad). Remove according voice-texts of inhabitants and best way replace them with fe. "finally that mess came to an end" and similar. Imo. not thaaat much work (for every outcome option).
Also, infos and messages of war and whatnot outcomes would imo. be no secrets, vice versa such events (Radovid dead, Redania lost war) would be known very very quickly. Emhyr fe. protected then the sorcerer-club, already prior to the ending. Redanian soldiers have no agenda leader anymore, thus they won't backup the inquisition and genocide anymore.
Witchhunters and temple guards would rather seek a getaway in fear of revenge of all which they persecuted/tortured/killed, incl. would be afraid of the gangs of Novigrad, which protected the mages, are dwarfs etc., plus violent uprisings by Elves etc..*
It's just not logic, the chosen design in this regard.

* this even would/could offer interesting sidequests, where Geralt helps in some revenge actions vs fe. damn fanatic witchhunters and/or temple guards

Btw., atm. i think about another gamestart from scratch

... oh jesus, all that once again, lol.
But perhaps i try now to go more for the main quests, and sidequests only which have actually an impact on the main story. Without to explore everywhere and hunting for the many treasures and contract offers, etc.
This time then, i'll try to finish HoS far before the final Wild Hunt battle and its preparations, and will look that i make everything that happens in Novigrad, so i don't "have to" move into that area after the final Wild Hunt battle and the end storytelling. Another option would be to not do the Reason of state quest, which means Radovid's regime goes on (also not satisfying, but would solve the very implausable item above).

**JaM** · September 12, 2017, 01:40 AM

actually, if you let Radovid win, streets of Novigrad are full of his troops, his banners are everywhere, etc etc..

**Wulfburk** · September 12, 2017, 09:49 PM

Primal needs sure makes me want to reinstall witcher 3 and play it all over again. My most fun skyrim playthrough was with frostfall, realistic needs, alternate start + some 80 other mods, mostly immersion and realism.

Cant have most of that, specially alternate start, in witcher 3, but primal needs + friendly hud, preparations, slower time scale and some more realistic combat (more damage less health all around) should be quite fun.

Now only if i could do like i did in skyrim, and set up camp, with some tents, cooking pots, read some in game books, and stare at the night sky...

Friendly hud gives you the campfire but only it

For me witcher 3 is the best game of all time but this is literally the only thing missing in it to make it perfect.

Oh and also... having useable rooms in all/most of the inns. Specially now that corvo bianco has the bed feature...

**JaM** · September 13, 2017, 03:35 AM

there are plenty of camps all around... you can sit near fire at those places

**DaVinci** · September 13, 2017, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by Wulfburk

Primal needs sure makes me want to reinstall witcher 3 and play it all over again. My most fun skyrim playthrough was with frostfall, realistic needs, alternate start + some 80 other mods, mostly immersion and realism.

Cant have most of that, specially alternate start, in witcher 3, but primal needs + friendly hud, preparations, slower time scale and some more realistic combat (more damage less health all around) should be quite fun.

Now only if i could do like i did in skyrim, and set up camp, with some tents, cooking pots, read some in game books, and stare at the night sky...

Friendly hud gives you the campfire but only it

For me witcher 3 is the best game of all time but this is literally the only thing missing in it to make it perfect.

Oh and also... having useable rooms in all/most of the inns. Specially now that corvo bianco has the bed feature...

I really, with emphasis, recommend to apply the Lore-friendly Economy mod (LFE, which is from the same author as Primal Needs). It solves a LOT the lacking economical part in W3 vanilla, and like with Primal Needs, you have control over it (various slider settings); i did that so that i experience actually a monetary challenge, as it should be for Geralt lore-wise. This LFE mod is for me even more important as Primal Needs, for an increased realism and immersion, while they both complement each other.

And yeah, i'm also within a re-play from start. Still level 4 and piss-poor, also equipment-like (but at least have the two Viper-swords and the Warriorjacket).
Just visited the Bloody Baron first time, and Ciri's room and the little girl. I'll prepare though to do first the "Witchhunt"/Travel through the Dark quests with Keira, before continuing the Baron's family adventures (iirc. vs my last playthrough).

Some more recent screens

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

For me witcher 3 is the best game of all time

For me, too.

but this is literally the only thing missing in it to make it perfect.

Perhaps, who knows, with time, some true/further realism/immersion mods will be created/released for W3 (similar to the ones for Skyrim, which were also for me requirement to play that Bethesda game with far increased joy and in a very prolonged way). Time will tell. This would offer indeed a play-further within the world-areas after the story-quests are done. One could then also leave aside some of the sidequests and visiting several locations (world exploration).
Perfect but would be, if Novigrad etc. get according changes true to the Wild Hunt endings, which possibly can only be done by CDPR, and thus very probably won't happen, ever.

Originally Posted by JaM

there are plenty of camps all around... you can sit near fire at those places

Which mod do you apply for a sitting animation? Link?
(but i don't want a mod with a plethora of other gameplay changes, that's the issue in my case ... means, i would love to get mods which offer single features, which i can make compatible with the script merger)

As for animations (besides the ones from PN), i can highly recommend:
Better Combat Animations (both main files make Geralt's fighting anims much more realistic, efficient and better looking; need a bit/easy script merging with each other, if both applied)
No more rolling down stairs
No Fall Damage
Another newer simple gameplay mod, which makes a lot sense:
Abandoned Sites ...
And as the only Lighting mod, i apply this one:
Clear Lighting in Toussaint

**Commissar Caligula_** · November 21, 2017, 05:20 AM

Someone might be interested in this Witcher 3 mod that recreates the Witcher 1 prologue nearly scene by scene. Its incredibly faithful and is pretty cool in my opinion.
https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher3/mods/2767/?

**JaM** · November 21, 2017, 05:36 AM

last time i played the game i used this mod:

https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher3/mods/2521/?

gameplay is quite challenging, but mods adds a whole new level of immersion with a lot of changes... plus, its completely deleveled, you gain skills by using them (like in skyrim) and alchemy is no longer unlimited

**Commissar Caligula_** · November 21, 2017, 06:41 AM

I'll try that mod if its compatible with my save-game, I'll have to check next time I get around to playing TW3. I'm definitely going to miss alchemy being unlimited though ='(

Have you tried any of these mods? I'm also going to give em a shot.

https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher3/mods/1897
https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher3/mods/2358
https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher3/mods/2267
https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher3/mods/2366

**DaVinci** · February 07, 2018, 03:54 PM

I just found the whole Witcher franchise on Sale at Steam (once again).

The ones who still possibly have not W1 and W2 have again the chance to pick these old but excellent games for very little money. It feels like nearly an insult having to pay only 1,19 € for W1 or 2,99 € for W2, at least somehow weird.

I almost wish i wouldn't have all the Witcher games and could repeat my fanboyish experience as i discovered the Witcher series, merely a new virtual world - after JaM recommended me that, as i asked after something that could impress me, in our dev forums; iirc. that was first in the end of 2015 or the starting 2016.

In my case started with W1, then W2, and at last all the W3-titles, and i still highly recommend the chronological order. But well, we had that theme already in this thread.

Btw., same as with reading all the Hexer-saga books by Sapkowski, which have a recommended reading order ... loving them, too (best fantasy reading-stuff, imo.).