The GWJ CRPG Club - Game 9: The Witcher 3 (In Progress)

Spoiler:

heard Graham's scream as I walked away from his hut, thinking it was one in anguish, but wanted to swing back by to see what happened. And lo and behold, he was dead and there was a fantastically creepy wraith hanging out in his house, and bolted before I could kill her.

Just don't read the quest log on that one if you want to feel remotely good about yourself.

Sorbicol wrote:

7. Completing the Bloody Baron questline up to the point where you are trying to find someone will give you a slip of paper you'll need to access other areas of the game. It'll be obvious when this happens.

I completely agree with everything else you mentioned, but it's probably worth pointing out that this isn't the only way to get that slip of paper. You can get it before even starting either the Witch or Bloody Baron questlines if you were so inclined.

halfwaywrong wrote:
Sorbicol wrote:

7. Completing the Bloody Baron questline up to the point where you are trying to find someone will give you a slip of paper you'll need to access other areas of the game. It'll be obvious when this happens.

I completely agree with everything else you mentioned, but it's probably worth pointing out that this isn't the only way to get that slip of paper. You can get it before even starting either the Witch or Bloody Baron questlines if you were so inclined.

Or you can just swim...

Wrapped up the Bloody Baron, finally...

Spoiler:

So, i decided to free the Nightmare from the tree, to save the orphans (but mostly to spite the Crones) which i'd forgotten means that it results in the Crones punishing Anna with an inescapable death curse. Awkward!

With her dead, the Baron goes on to hang himself in the middle of the Bailey by the time you've gone back to collect the reward, *nervous collar tug* ... I still get paid? Right? Anyone?

Got a metric ton of secondary / witcher quests to power through next i think.

imbiginjapan wrote:
halfwaywrong wrote:
Sorbicol wrote:

7. Completing the Bloody Baron questline up to the point where you are trying to find someone will give you a slip of paper you'll need to access other areas of the game. It'll be obvious when this happens.

I completely agree with everything else you mentioned, but it's probably worth pointing out that this isn't the only way to get that slip of paper. You can get it before even starting either the Witch or Bloody Baron questlines if you were so inclined.

Or you can just swim...

Yeah, I wasn't sure about that. I recall reading at the time that the guards will attack you on sight, but a quick search now shows that's not true at all. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

Alright, so after my sidequest break, I'm ready to resume the main quest. I'm now at level 9, and the Bloody Baron quest is at level 6. So I'm probably safely overleveled at this point.

I'm feeling pretty good about the combat, despite using the traditional movement method. It's sort of imprecise, but there's enough tools in place to make it workable. I quickly maxed out the Quick Strike ability so my basic attacks are doing reasonable damage, since the heavy strikes get me in trouble since the wind up time is so long. I also learned to A.B.R. (Always Be Rolling), since enemies just fly in from offscreen to hit me when I'm up against a pack. I've also got my pattern down as well; against basic enemies, I save up Ignii for an AOE attack to weaken them, and for single strong foes I use Axii to stun them, get in and hit them a few times, roll back, wait a beat for the spell to recharge, and repeat. This has gotten me through some battles against higher level enemies that my dodging reflexes along wouldn't.

I'm also still liking the sidequests and missions. Now, not every random sidequest or Witcher contract is as elaborate or detailed as the Noonwraith hunt in the tutorial section was, which I was kind of under the impression might be the case. Still, even the basic 'go here and kill a monster' or 'find out what happened to someone' quests still go farther than they have to. I mentioned the tower quest before in spoilers, where I got the pop up that the quest was over and I could turn it in, but then something else happened. There was no (Optional Objective) Check That Thing Out added to the quest; if I wanted to bail and ignore it, I could have, but more stuff happened when I checked it out. More recently I did a quest where I was looking for a lost Nilfgaardian patrol, and I found out what happened to them and the prompt came to turn in the quest, but there was more stuff to investigate. There was no optional Continue Investigating prompt, but I did it anyway. And there wasn't really any tangible experience or monetary benefit to doing so, but it fills out the world and the characters.

So although not every quest seems to be super deep, even the basic ones seem to have more details or go further than they have to. This is probably one of the things this game is famous for and may be old hat to the people replaying it, but as a newcomer to the game and the series, I'm always a little happily surprised by what I find.

So, uh, guess I'm in. Watched the first episode of the TV show and decided to give this another go, but on Switch. I bounced off the PS4 version years ago because I hated the combat and it made my PS4's fan run at 100% the whole time which irritated me. Stupid, I know.

The Switch version is awful looking, but I don't much mind that because it's still the AAA experience that the system lacks otherwise. I looooooooove that I'm able to play the flippin Witcher 3 on a handheld device. It's nuts!

I'm unapologetically playing on easy/just the story because combat is still terrible and I have no interest in continually brewing stuff. I've never cared for the magic system in these games either, but I assume that's because they're beholden to the books.

i, too, am just running through on easy mode. Because i'd REALLY like to actually finish this and cross it off the Pile.

I'd forgotten as well that you get basically zero XP for finishing side quests you're over-levelled for. That's...actually really helpful in incentivising me to push on with the story stuff and not worry too much about side quests.

garion333 wrote:

it made my PS4's fan run at 100% the whole time which irritated me. Stupid, I know. ;)

For real, this is a problem with a lot of PS4 games. Probably the worst was Child Abuse Is Character Growth for the Abuser God of War which I flat-out couldn't hear over the console itself. I had to play it on headphones.

Finally out of White Orchard and into Valen. Took my time, I knew I wanted to get the Witcher gear in WO plus hit all the places of power.

Well, I was toying with the idea of replaying this. Went through the tutorial, admired the scenery, played a round of gwent and talked to my buddy Gaunter. Then I saw my old saves from a couple years ago. First one dated October 15. Last one was January 31. Pretty sure I was playing this exclusively. Three and a half months.

TLDR I’m out.

pyxistyx wrote:

i, too, am just running through on easy mode. Because i'd REALLY like to actually finish this and cross it off the Pile.

I'd forgotten as well that you get basically zero XP for finishing side quests you're over-levelled for. That's...actually really helpful in incentivising me to push on with the story stuff and not worry too much about side quests.

This has helped me cut out the crap I don't "need" to do, thanks for this (although this doesn't explain why I'm trying to do Jenny O the Woods, but never mind)

The Baron's quest line is done, I've been to Oxenfurt. It's time to go and find Triss in Novigrad. Possibly my romantic interest in this game (erm, Keira not withstanding) seeing as it was all Yennefer last time out. I'm pushing to get to the DLCs in this game as that's what I haven't played yet. either of them.

gewy wrote:

Well, I was toying with the idea of replaying this. Went through the tutorial, admired the scenery, played a round of gwent and talked to my buddy Gaunter. Then I saw my old saves from a couple years ago. First one dated October 15. Last one was January 31. Pretty sure I was playing this exclusively. Three and a half months.

TLDR I’m out.

I’d better get started then

So last night, I went hunting for a certain elven mage that might have a lead on Ciri and...

Spoiler:

Ran into the Wild Hunt. Not the entire troupe, but still... it was a rough bit of fighting. Also, for a bit there, when the witch accompanying me was being assailed by an endless supply of level 2 rats, I could't figure out how to get them to stop coming, until I hit a rat's nest with Igni and then it clicked. Spent way longer than I should have in that portion hehehe also, I felt pretty dumb.

Now I have to help my companion find some lamp. Fun times.

Sorbicol wrote:
pyxistyx wrote:

i, too, am just running through on easy mode. Because i'd REALLY like to actually finish this and cross it off the Pile.

I'd forgotten as well that you get basically zero XP for finishing side quests you're over-levelled for. That's...actually really helpful in incentivising me to push on with the story stuff and not worry too much about side quests.

This has helped me cut out the crap I don't "need" to do, thanks for this (although this doesn't explain why I'm trying to do Jenny O the Woods, but never mind)

The Baron's quest line is done, I've been to Oxenfurt. It's time to go and find Triss in Novigrad. Possibly my romantic interest in this game (erm, Keira not withstanding) seeing as it was all Yennefer last time out. I'm pushing to get to the DLCs in this game as that's what I haven't played yet. either of them.

yeah I keep looking at that "level 30" requirement for the FIRST DLC...and then at my current level (12) and raising an eyebrow every so often. I don't think i hit level 30 by the time i got to Kaer Morhen the first time around!

Bloody Baron and the followup at the

Spoiler:

Crones; Anna ended up cursed, which I briefly and partially dispelled by finding the right doll, before she died, and the Baron hanged himself

done!

Now I'm cleaning up my Velen quests, before heading off to Novigrad. Not going to try for anything approaching completionism, but I'm doing the Gwent and Fisticuffs quests and some hunts.

My problem with the game is that I can only play so long before I have to turn on something else, like Pokemon, to retain sanity.

pyxistyx wrote:

yeah I keep looking at that "level 30" requirement for the FIRST DLC...and then at my current level (12) and raising an eyebrow every so often. I don't think i hit level 30 by the time i got to Kaer Morhen the first time around!

Level ups come fast 'n' furious in the late game if you're under level 32 or so.

Edit:
IMAGE(https://media0.giphy.com/media/404fzM0EURAHK/source.gif)

You know, first time I played this I don't think I remembered how unrelentingly miserable some of the fates of the people in quests actually are.

Spoiler:

There are murdered girls, because they spurned the incel who was obsessed with them
There are girls who fall for the wrong person and get eaten alive by plague ridden rats while paralysed.
There are people who are abused their entire lives only to be cursed to an ignoble death for doing a good deed.
There's an entire village that murders one another - men, women and children - because I may possibly have sent a mad spirit free. Sorry about that.

They are mostly female characters too.

In other news I am now about to head to Novigrad, having cleared up a couple of witcher contracts and returned to the Crones. Once I've finished finding the rest of the Griffin Witcher School gear. I thoroughly recommend buying the maps from the assorted merchants you meet and doing these quests when you are levelled appropriately. The gear is fantastic and looks right dapper on Mr Rivia as well.

Redherring wrote:
gewy wrote:

Well, I was toying with the idea of replaying this. Went through the tutorial, admired the scenery, played a round of gwent and talked to my buddy Gaunter. Then I saw my old saves from a couple years ago. First one dated October 15. Last one was January 31. Pretty sure I was playing this exclusively. Three and a half months.

TLDR I’m out.

I’d better get started then :)

That included the expansions if it makes you feel better.

I finished Control yesterday, and got back into Witcherizing. Cleared a few side quests in White Orchard, defeated the griffin, and departed White Orchard.

Next is the most difficult decision in the game: Which doublet to choose for my audience.

Sorry if I’m a little late to the party, was away for the holidays and just catching up now. I just picked this up on PS4 and started today.

Still working my way through the Bloody Baron and Witches quests. Level 7 at the moment. Think I'm finally getting a better feel for the combat, at least against single opponents. A pack of wild dogs can still take half my vitality before I can blink...

Math wrote:

Still working my way through the Bloody Baron and Witches quests. Level 7 at the moment. Think I'm finally getting a better feel for the combat, at least against single opponents. A pack of wild dogs can still take half my vitality before I can blink...

Quen, and roll roll roll roll slash roll roll roll roll roll slash recharge quen roll roll roll roll slash etc. Dancing star can be useful if you sneak up on them a little.

Sorbicol wrote:

Quen, and roll roll roll roll slash roll roll roll roll roll slash recharge quen roll roll roll roll slash etc. Dancing star can be useful if you sneak up on them a little.

Good to know I'm doing things right! I'm an armadillo.

As you get the hang of it dodging rather than rolling is a little easier. The camera angles aren’t great during combat though, it’s far too easy for enemies to get on your blindside and rush you when you just don’t see them. Realistic I guess, but annoying.

Godzilla Blitz wrote:
Sorbicol wrote:

Quen, and roll roll roll roll slash roll roll roll roll roll slash recharge quen roll roll roll roll slash etc. Dancing star can be useful if you sneak up on them a little.

Good to know I'm doing things right! I'm an armadillo.

Keep in mind, there are lots of approaches as you beef up alchemy and signs. Sidestepping doesn't stop stamina regeneration while rolling does, so I hardly ever use the full roll. I'll roll away at first so I can spam bombs, or get the alternative version of Yrden down because it stunlocks a lot of enemies. Then once I'm spent I mash the sidestep button a million times so I can keep my stamina regen on, then hit them with Igni or Axii to crit them a while they're stunned. I pretty much never use Quen except for specific enemies with damaging ranged attacks, or fiends that just pummel you through your attacks. I never did find much of a use for Aard however...

Sorbicol wrote:
Math wrote:

Still working my way through the Bloody Baron and Witches quests. Level 7 at the moment. Think I'm finally getting a better feel for the combat, at least against single opponents. A pack of wild dogs can still take half my vitality before I can blink...

Quen, and roll roll roll roll slash roll roll roll roll roll slash recharge quen roll roll roll roll slash etc. Dancing star can be useful if you sneak up on them a little.

Yeah, that's about it, but they seem to always time their attacks to hit me during my own attack animation...

I really wish I could do more sweeping slashes with the swords. Maybe that's what some of the other weapons are for? I have a pretty sweet relic axe I can use in... 10 levels

imbiginjapan wrote:

I never did find much of a use for Aard however...

Aard knocks flying enemies out of the sky - Harpies etc. If they are minor enough enemies you can run them through while they are lying on the ground and insta-kill them. You can do this with Human enemies as well if you knock them down. It's also very handy for knocking humanoid enemies off horses.

Finally it can also knock down some walls and doors, but these are generally scripted locations.

math wrote:

Yeah, that's about it, but they seem to always time their attacks to hit me during my own attack animation...

I really wish I could do more sweeping slashes with the swords. Maybe that's what some of the other weapons are for? I have a pretty sweet relic axe I can use in... 10 levels

The trick to combat is to time your animations right - generally dodge out of the way while your enemy is in theirs, and then attack before they can recover. It makes it sound like like a combo game like Arkham Asylum, but it's not that complex and I find it very intuitive. You can't block most monsters like you can for humans though. At least, not in my experience.

Progress with weapons is best made through crafting - you'll get better damage than using stuff you loot. Also, the non-sword weapons Geralt isn't proficient in, so you lose some of his prowess and they are harder to use. The gear to craft stuff is more than bountiful throughout the game though, so it's not usually a problem. sometimes you need to hunt down specific monsters, but generally that's it.

As I said earlier, make sure you buy the maps from merchants scattered throughout Velen and unlock the Witcher gear treasure hunts. It's by far the best gear in the game, and finding it usually nets you loads of other extremely useful gear, crafting items and recipes for better potions/bombs etc. It's well worth doing so.

Sorbicol wrote:

Aard knocks flying enemies out of the sky

It's an Aard-knock life, for us...