The Witcher catch-all

silentsod wrote:
Warriorpoet897 wrote:

I just finished this without any mods... I love the way choice is handled in this game. It actually makes the Bioware version seem relatively inconsequential and binary. I actually thought the combat was fine, but maybe I'm the only one... I'll agree with the others who stressed to use potions and herbalism to its fullest. I don't know if the game would have been fun without it.

The BioWare "friend meter" or "paragon/renegade" meter subverts the efficacy of those systems, IMO. Even if they are implemented that way behind the scenes it strips away and makes a meta game of something that should be in the background and a real role play decision instead.

Just as a guess, I think one possible reason that meter is in Mass Effect isn't so much that they felt it important to know you were 73% badass, so much as a side-effect of how they can track everything.

In many games (mostly multiplayer shooters) you can get quite frankly a silly amount of stats, time spent looking down a scope, distance run, times you fell to your death while looking at the map. I think if Bioware are guilty of anything it's thinking "what can we do" rather than "what should we do", or being naive to think it wouldn't affect how people play. People will figured out any system that's put into a game, but chances are it would have been buried on a FAQ somewhere, rather than consequences being evident through the gameplay itself, as is The Witcher's way.

The Witcher's choice system and general completely grey area plot lines are one of the most compelling aspects of these two games for me.

The nessecity of potions takes a bit to figure out, but honestly I liked the potion system a lot more in The Witcher than in The Witcher 2.

My strategy was to focus on damage people with my sword, saving my mana/endurance bar for the self shield sign (quen?). It only takes a couple upgrades to make this thing a complete damage reduction beast. the combat buff pots like Wolverine and the other ones and carry around plenty of White Rafford's (the instant heal pots). As for skills, make sure you're upgrading your base stats, strength, intelligence, yadda yadda, first. Those bad boys give you a laundry list of upgrades.

Squee9 wrote:

My strategy was to focus on damage people with my sword, saving my mana/endurance bar for the self shield sign (quen?). It only takes a couple upgrades to make this thing a complete damage reduction beast. the combat buff pots like Wolverine and the other ones and carry around plenty of White Rafford's (the instant heal pots). As for skills, make sure you're upgrading your base stats, strength, intelligence, yadda yadda, first. Those bad boys give you a laundry list of upgrades.

Interesting, I went in a completely different offensive-minded direction, boosting the shockwave spell (Aard?) and Ignis for fire and built for high damage and rapid endurance recovery/low cost sign casting. I would just stun groups of enemies and mop them up. For larger bosses that couldn't be stunned, I'd set them alight. I didn't even know White Rafford's existed - I relied on Swallow the whole time for healing.

imbiginjapan wrote:
Squee9 wrote:

My strategy was to focus on damage people with my sword, saving my mana/endurance bar for the self shield sign (quen?). It only takes a couple upgrades to make this thing a complete damage reduction beast. the combat buff pots like Wolverine and the other ones and carry around plenty of White Rafford's (the instant heal pots). As for skills, make sure you're upgrading your base stats, strength, intelligence, yadda yadda, first. Those bad boys give you a laundry list of upgrades.

Interesting, I went in a completely different offensive-minded direction, boosting the shockwave spell (Aard?) and Ignis for fire and built for high damage and rapid endurance recovery/low cost sign casting. I would just stun groups of enemies and mop them up. For larger bosses that couldn't be stunned, I'd set them alight. I didn't even know White Rafford's existed - I relied on Swallow the whole time for healing.

Very similar to how I played, although I did discover White Raffard's Decoction.

I enjoyed the combat in the game, it had a nice sense of rhythm once I got the hang of it.

The common point of frustration for people going into the game now. Once

Spoiler:

you get to the swamp, don't fight the plants, just run past them until you gain a few levels.

MrDeVil909 wrote:

The common point of frustration for people going into the game now. Once

Spoiler:

you get to the swamp, don't fight the plants, just run past them until you gain a few levels.

Yes, this. I actually never fought those stupid things. I got anxiety every time I had to go into that area.

That is excellent advice on the swamp. Took me forever to figure that out on my own.

tuffalobuffalo wrote:

That is excellent advice on the swamp. Took me forever to figure that out on my own.

... I stopped playing when I hit the swamp because I could kill the first damn plant I came across...

Yonder wrote:
tuffalobuffalo wrote:

That is excellent advice on the swamp. Took me forever to figure that out on my own.

... I stopped playing when I hit the swamp because I could kill the first damn plant I came across...

Kinda sad how most video games train players that they should be able to kill every new enemy the second they discover it. Dark Souls is another good example of a game where you can't assume that everything is instantly killable.

I'm thinking about picking this game up again. I have it installed and am looking for a narrative-focused RPG to play next. My main hesitation is that I am 30 hours in and am somewhere near the middle of chapter two. I had a lot of Ch 2 missions open that I feel need to be cleaned up. I'm hoping if I pop back into the game that the combat mechanics and story can counteract my fear of just how long this game is going to take me to beat it.

Warriorpoet897 wrote:
MrDeVil909 wrote:

The common point of frustration for people going into the game now. Once

Spoiler:

you get to the swamp, don't fight the plants, just run past them until you gain a few levels.

Yes, this. I actually never fought those stupid things. I got anxiety every time I had to go into that area.

I did a lot of grinding in the swamps, wish I knew how dumb it was at the time for me to fight every plant I saw. I am also lad to read the advise about potions-- when I played the game before the only potion I ever used was Cat Vision (whatever it was called). I think I may have made the game harder on myself than it needed to be.

demonbox wrote:

I'm thinking about picking this game up again. I have it installed and am looking for a narrative-focused RPG to play next. My main hesitation is that I am 30 hours in and am somewhere near the middle of chapter two. I had a lot of Ch 2 missions open that I feel need to be cleaned up. I'm hoping if I pop back into the game that the combat mechanics and story can counteract my fear of just how long this game is going to take me to beat it.

Warriorpoet897 wrote:
MrDeVil909 wrote:

The common point of frustration for people going into the game now. Once

Spoiler:

you get to the swamp, don't fight the plants, just run past them until you gain a few levels.

Yes, this. I actually never fought those stupid things. I got anxiety every time I had to go into that area.

I did a lot of grinding in the swamps, wish I knew how dumb it was at the time for me to fight every plant I saw. I am also lad to read the advise about potions-- when I played the game before the only potion I ever used was Cat Vision (whatever it was called). I think I may have made the game harder on myself than it needed to be.

It took me about 50 hours to play through. I did pretty much all the side missions. Yeah, you definitely need to use the potions and run past stuff when it's too tough. The last part of the game is the best, so I'd recommend sticking with it. Chapter 3 is pretty cool and the game's story starts to get a bit tighter. It's just fun to get out of that dreary area that Chapter 2 takes place in. The next area is bright and bustling. It definitely started coming together overall for me at about the ending of chapter 2.

Just started this morning and played to the point where Geralt meditates the first time. Upon seeing the 16 or so talent trees, I despaired and turned off the game. Too much for my feeble brain this early in the morning.

Yonder wrote:
tuffalobuffalo wrote:

That is excellent advice on the swamp. Took me forever to figure that out on my own.

... I stopped playing when I hit the swamp because I could kill the first damn plant I came across...

That is right where I ended up too. I will go back and play it again with a different mindset. Hopefully I can get past that point this time.

For those of you going back to play.... "Blizzard" is the best of the potions - it's fantastic.

AndrewA wrote:

For those of you going back to play.... "Blizzard" is the best of the potions - it's fantastic.

Heheh. Blizzard rocks and is fairly easy to keep a stock of IIRC. Slowing down time (making you move really fast in theory) was essential in most fights. You feel almost invisible.

Since Baulder's Gate I've realized that the way I play RPGs is to hoard as many potions as possible for when I might need them and to barely end up using any of them. I really appreciate the advice to actually use them in Witcher. I really think I was doing my self a disservice up to this point. Pretty sure I'm going to restart playing this week.

demonbox wrote:

Since Baulder's Gate I've realized that the way I play RPGs is to hoard as many potions as possible for when I might need them and to barely end up using any of them. I really appreciate the advice to actually use them in Witcher. I really think I was doing my self a disservice up to this point. Pretty sure I'm going to restart playing this week.

I do the exact same thing. And most of the time, when I'm committed to drinking potions regularly - like I'm trying to do in Skyrim - I forget they're even an option. (But in the Witcher 2 run-through I did last year, I made a point of using them and it really helped.)

After hearing the discussion about this game on the new Conference Call, I'm really interested in picking this up. Just have to find the time to play....

I was the same way in SNES RPGs. There were plenty of one use buff potions or "Throw" items that were expensive and never got used. I'd finally crack them open for the final boss fight, buffing every single character with every potion and still having some left over. Something about those games made it a requirement for me to have at least one of every possible item in my inventroy at all times...just in case it was required for some random quest.

The abundance of ingredient is makes it easy to both hoard potions and ingredients, which quickly led to my inventory getting filled up, which quickly led to my dislike of that UI and HATRED for useless FOOD and DRINK items.

Played another hour or so last night. I definitely dig the art style, combat and lore so far. The camera and movement controls are almost as alien as in Gothic 1, but nothing I couldn't get used to. The games I played it reminds me off the most is definitely Gothic series (though I never played anything past part 2).

That being said, it is really hard not to "wiki" this game hard. I've probably been ruined by MMOs, but initially looking at a talent tree like the one in The Witcher and being used to talent calculators and spec guides was really scary. I have no idea how many talent points there will be and if choosing casual difficulty means I'll make it even with the most screwed up talent build.
Then they casually throw Alchemy at me without any explanation why I can brew that first potion to save Triss and how the profession works. A while later I see unknown herbs, which I can't pick. I tried putting two talent points towards Herbalism and still couldn't pick them.
Also, what is up with that pin-up card that popped up after I charmed my way into Triss' bed?
And what is up with there being no differentiation which of the items in my inventory I'll actually need. Does this game even have vendor junk?

Don't mistake me as complaining here. Diving into The Witcher reminds me so much of diving into the unknown worlds and mechanics of Gothic, Morrowind or even WoW many years ago. I feel intimidated, but also very excited, to be able to dive into an RPG again where I don't understand 90% of the mechanics right away. That happened to me with the Kingdoms of Amalur demo I recently played and I guess that's why it didn't click with me all that much. The Witcher definitely has me hooked and I am looking forward to the coming weeks and my time with Geralt.

In case these questions aren't rhetorical and you're actually looking for answers.

Luggage wrote:

Then they casually throw Alchemy at me without any explanation why I can brew that first potion to save Triss and how the profession works. A while later I see unknown herbs, which I can't pick. I tried putting two talent points towards Herbalism and still couldn't pick them.

In order to identify and brew potions you need to read books. They will contain both detail on pickable plants and recipes. Once you have the knowledge of the plants you can pick them, assuming you got Herbalism. Once you have the recipes, you can brew potions that use the ingredient when you meditate.
Make sure to Read books before selling them! Buying books is also worthwhile assuming you have the cash (you will probably not have the cash early on, but income ramps up quickly). Books also contain information about monsters and their harvestable parts. Note also that once you read the books actually reading monster descriptions in the notes will give you insight into defeating them more easily.

Also, what is up with that pin-up card that popped up after I charmed my way into Triss' bed?

That's just cheescake - it has no game effect.

And what is up with there being no differentiation which of the items in my inventory I'll actually need. Does this game even have vendor junk?

Quest items go into the top right area of the inventory (labeled "Quest Items", oddly enough). These will not be salable, and you generally don't have to touch this stuff (but you do want to read any scrolls/book that end up here).

The larger area labeled Satchel is everything else. This can be sold or used as desired. There is "vendor junk" in a fashion, but generally your inventory will contain items that will eventually be useful. You want to hold onto some strong alcohol to share with NPCs, flint to light campfires, and meteorite pieces and stuff will come in handy for weapon upgrades. Quest contracts, once read and accepted, can just be dumped. Books can be sold for good coin once they are read, and gems and jewelry can be sold or given as gifts. A lot of vendors will only buy specific classes of items - many won't buy anything more expensive than food or herbs, so you have to find the ones that do. Even those guys don't carry tons of orens to trade with.

You also have an "Alchemy Sack" that contains any gathered plants or alchemy ingredients.

EDIT: Note the above inventory stuff applies to the enhanced edition, if you're somehow still rocking the original version the inventory is much less refined.

Luggage wrote:

That being said, it is really hard not to "wiki" this game hard. I've probably been ruined by MMOs, but initially looking at a talent tree like the one in The Witcher and being used to talent calculators and spec guides was really scary. I have no idea how many talent points there will be and if choosing casual difficulty means I'll make it even with the most screwed up talent build.

Just experiment and have fun with it. There is no way to gimp yourself. Think of them as bonuses rather than necessities. You'll have more than enough level points if you do all the sidequests. By the end of the game I had so many of the bronze points I was just putting in whatever was available. Some skills do seem useless though: the one involving drunken fighting or anything that increases your abilities while a critical effect is affecting Geralt (he's bleeing or on fire). Oh, and the upgraded Aard spell is very useful against some opponents. The stun effect will allow for instant kills. Quen and Ignii have there good moments too. Didn't ever use Axii and rarely used Yrden.

imbiginjapan wrote:

Note the above inventory stuff applies to the enhanced edition, if you're somehow still rocking the original version the inventory is much less refined.

Why anyone wouldn't be playing the Enhanced Edition is beyond me though. You can upgrade any copy of the game to it for free, after all.

Hey guys, sorry if this has already been addressed elsewhere, but I couldn't find it. I'm pretty new to PC gaming - been a lifelong console man - but I've just discovered that Witcher EE is on sale at GamersGate. Does anyone know if I buy it there, will I be able to activate on Steam? I love the idea of having my games in the cloud and being able to download/reinstall from my Steam account. Thanks!

Steam has a list of keys you can activate: https://support.steampowered.com/kb_...

If it's not on that list, or they don't explicitly say you can - assume you can't.

There are two types of games that you can buy somewhere other than Steam and still get them on your steam account. The first one is any game on this list:
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_...
The second one is games that use Steamworks. Those games require Steam. The Witcher 1 however is not in either category, so the answer to your question is no, you'll need to buy it on Steam if you want it there.

Thanks for the info guys! This helps a lot. I had found a similar list in a Steam forum thread, but wasn't sure how authoratative it was.

I've never used GamersGate and didn't know what keys (if any) come with the purchase. I guess I'll wait for a Steam sale or try to find someone to trade with.

soonerjudd wrote:

Thanks for the info guys! This helps a lot. I had found a similar list in a Steam forum thread, but wasn't sure how authoratative it was.

I've never used GamersGate and didn't know what keys (if any) come with the purchase. I guess I'll wait for a Steam sale or try to find someone to trade with.

Steam usually has some fantastic discounts on the Witcher fairly regularly. Personally, I tried to pay full-price for everything Witcher-related, simply because I wanted to support the devs for their fantastic attitude and work-ethic. I think you'll get your money's worth even if you decide to pick it up at its regular price.

Does a Steam sale actually affect the amount of money the developers are getting? I don't know the details of publisher->Steam deals but I assumed discounts were given by the retailer.

Squee9 wrote:

Does a Steam sale actually affect the amount of money the developers are getting? I don't know the details of publisher->Steam deals but I assumed discounts were given by the retailer.

As far as I know, yes. The publisher/developer sets the price, I assume with guidance offered by Valve, and sales are opt-in, the whole price may change but I think the steam/publisher proportions stay the same. Apparently the volume of sales more than compensates for the less they make per-unit.

Got ya, so...

1) I put The Adventure of Squee out on Steam at a price point of $100, which is a price Steam and I agreed on.
2) I make $50 for each sale. There is much rejoicing.
3) Steam offers to put my game on sale, I agree to it, and AoS goes on sale for $50.
4) I only make $25 a sale, but I move so many copies (digital copies no less, very little expense on my end here) that I end up making a bunch of money from the sale.
5) Coldstream waits until the sale is over so he can spend $100 on my game to ensure that Squee gets his full $50.

Right?