GrogHeads Forum

Well,
I was waiting for someone else to start this thread, but no one seems to have noticed it so...

http://www.gog.com/news/special_promo_the_witcher_3_announced_get_the_first_two_for_50_off

I did not like Witcher 2 much but Witcher 3 looks to be a Skyrim killer. They have my attention again.

I really disliked the combat in Witcher 2 - I thought it was too arcade-like.  I'd like to see them bring back the combat of the first game.

Quote from: tgb on February 06, 2013, 02:31:45 PM
I really disliked the combat in Witcher 2 - I thought it was too arcade-like.  I'd like to see them bring back the combat of the first game.

Really? I actually liked the more action-y part of it. While I have to admit it is much more simplified than the first's.

I agree with Gus.  A kind member here sent me the game as a gift, but I just could not get into it unlike the first one.  I don't think I ever progressed much past the opening bit with the castle siege.

The Witcher 2 was horribly optimized IMO.  I enjoyed it but not as much as the first Witcher.  There are other things that kind of turned me off to both of the games but that's really neither here nor there.

I got past that opening siege tutorial but I hated the first few hours of the game for some reason. It drove me back into the arms of Skyrim.

Witcher 3 is available for pre-load (at least from GOG).

I picked one and two up on sale over the weekend.

I really don't see what all of the fuss was about.  The combat is, to my taste, unfortunate.  I much prefer the combat in the 2 1/2 Drakensang games.

I'm not sure I care for the plot and backstory either.  As a Dark Eye player I'm used to a lot more depth. 

I played for a bit in English, but the accent was disconcerting.  Then I tried in Polish with English subtitles.  That was a bit better, but I think I may try German with English subtitles, or maybe French without subtitles.

I haven't closed the book on this one yet, but if anyone likes the way it plays, then they would probably like Demonicon.  I don't care for Demonicon's combat system (a bit like Joan of Arc with none of the redeeming features), but apparently some people do. 

To each his own I guess.

I like how dark and more realistic the fantasy world is.
With deep background, interesting storylines with a twist, the sexy chicks (what? I'm a guy! :D ), the way they tried to make it different
from the usual fantasy action-RPGs (no healing normal healing potions).
I liked the moral choices, where there is no real right&wrong, no Lawful Good vs Chaotic Evil crap like in D&D.

And I didn't even read any of the books :P

Quote from: Tpek on May 11, 2015, 01:03:17 PM
To each his own I guess.

I like how dark and more realistic the fantasy world is.
With deep background, interesting storylines with a twist, the sexy chicks (what? I'm a guy! :D ), the way they tried to make it different
from the usual fantasy action-RPGs (no healing normal healing potions).
I liked the moral choices, where there is no real right&wrong, no Lawful Good vs Chaotic Evil crap like in D&D.

And I didn't even read any of the books :P

Agreed...I played (and uncharacteristically finished) the first...I enjoyed the way your choices really had an impact on how the rest of the game played out; quests, storyline and finish.

I used to be a RPG player but have not played in years, I got a free copy of Witcher 1 and gave it a try on a whim...at first I really disliked it and found that the world did not really appeal to me and put it aside.  Then one day while home sick I tried it again and after a couple hours found that I was getting drawn in and was also getting used to the unique (to me) controls.  Ended up finishing it...which is rare for me, even back in the day and sad that it was over.  I bought Witcher 2 but have not yet had the heart to play it after reading all the reviews and comments about the changes made vs. Witcher 1.   I am real curious about Witcher 3 and if the reviews are favorable I might hold my nose and start up 2 so I can get 3.  Please post your impressions on this game...real curious.

The controls gave me fits in The Witcher too.  More specifically, the camera.

I ended up buying Witcher 2 on the cheap, but never got around to playing it after people mentioned they didn't improve the combat camera & controls from the first one.  >:(

Sooooooon....
Sooooo sooooooonnnnn......  :D

This game is pretty fun.
And surprisingly enough, I haven't really noticed bugs in it.

Plus there are already 2 free DLCs out for it :)

What are they? And how open is the world? How's he combat?

Something that's supposed to let you change your hairstyle&beard, and another that adds some new special armor than can be bought from a merchant at the beginning of the game (but requires level 4 to use).

Wow....£50 for an FPS?  :idiot2:

Quote from: JudgeDredd on May 19, 2015, 04:19:36 PM
Wow....£50 for an FPS?  :idiot2:

Ummmmm...FPS?

ok - fps was maybe selling it short. 3rd person RPG.

£50 is a lot of cash - looks bloody stunning though.

I could be in a bit of bother here.  :-[

Well I managed to survive this morning...I may yet be in the clear.

But it did look sooooo sexy.

Lol! From OMG what an insane amount of money for an 'FPS' to Me wantssss it because it looks sexy!

;) You're a crazy man, JD. :D

Quote from: Yskonyn on May 20, 2015, 04:31:24 AM
Lol! From OMG what an insane amount of money for an 'FPS' to Me wantssss it because it looks sexy!

;) You're a crazy man, JD. :D

I'm busy reading up on it - go away!  >:D

fkng hopeless!!  ;D

^ You want impressions don't you?

You started this ya plum!  :P

im assuming your review will be quite similar to me

'sexy and expensive'

beyond that, who cares?

True

I paid $43 for it. I don't think that is an unreasonable price in the least.

I agree - but $43 is £27...£50 is $78  ;D

£50 is the Steam version. Apparently it's cheaper elsewhere (Amazon has it for £32...but Amazon UK hasn't caught up with the digital download world for gaming as yet  ::) )

Quote from: JudgeDredd on May 20, 2015, 06:55:01 AM
I agree - but $43 is £27...£50 is $78  ;D

£50 is the Steam version. Apparently it's cheaper elsewhere (Amazon has it for £32...but Amazon UK hasn't caught up with the digital download world for gaming as yet  ::) )

Check out Greenmangaming : http://www.greenmangaming.com/s/be/en/pc/games/action/witcher-3-wild-hunt/

Currently 27% off.  Same price I paid during the pre order period (and owning the 2 previous games)
Should give you a GOG key.

Thanks Pete

mmm...£15 extra for the convenience of Steam?? Worth it??

Not that I've decided I'm buying yet  :P

Anyone actually playing it?

Quote from: Gusington on May 20, 2015, 08:07:52 AM
Anyone actually playing it?

But of course! :)
It's quite enjoyable.
Don't have much else to say about it right now.
I'm still quite early in the game.

But hey, kinda like Dragon Age 1, it has a possibility for a threesome (Yennefer and Triss) if that's your thing  ::)

SOLD!  :D

Yennefer is hawt.

^Yep, but I actually developed an appreciation of Triss along the years (a sexy young redhead with the power to do just about anything, and will do anything for you...  >:D )

I didn't really believe I'd last past getting home from work  :'(

I find I can max out he graphics no problem at all so that side of it is well optimised. Gameplay..seems like Witcher 2 but this time you get notice boards to take on jobs. Nothing ground breaking or revolutionary here. Still enjoyable so far.

Quote from: JudgeDredd on May 20, 2015, 08:44:38 AM
SOLD!  :D

The half-naked Witcher Girls are gonna make a Filet-O-DigitalDredd sammich!



So... is Witcher 3 as "open world" as Skyrim?  Or are you still being led about for the most part?

Quote from: JudgeDredd on May 20, 2015, 11:42:47 AM
I didn't really believe I'd last past getting home from work  :'(

Well, you beat me on this one. I'm holding out for a few more days to hear if there's anything seriously broken. Plus, I just don't have the gaming time to do this justice right now!

If it's as open as Skyrim I'll get Witcher 3 as soon as I get my new rig (in a week or two).

Quote from: Nefaro on May 20, 2015, 03:45:53 PM

Quote from: JudgeDredd on May 20, 2015, 08:44:38 AM
SOLD!  :D

The half-naked Witcher Girls are gonna make a Filet-O-DigitalDredd sammich!



So... is Witcher 3 as "open world" as Skyrim?  Or are you still being led about for the most part?

I honestly can't say. For a start, I'm still in the opening sequences and just going with the flow and second, I'm not sure I played Skyrim enough to know how open world it was.

I much prefer the look of this one. It's much more colourful than Skyrim.

^WHAT

Was it just me? I thought Skyrim had a washed out look to it.

Maybe I just forget - I'll fire it up and look at it again - I don't want to cause anyone to go over the edge  ;D

Quote from: JudgeDredd on May 21, 2015, 12:27:57 PM
Was it just me? I thought Skyrim had a washed out look to it.

Maybe I just forget - I'll fire it up and look at it again - I don't want to cause anyone to go over the edge  ;D

Yes, it did, just like Fallout 3 had too. I think it was by design...making it more gritty, harsh, etc. I liked it.  I still haven't seen anyone address the open world questions....Witcher 1&2 weren't like Skyrim at all in that regard. I suspect 3 isn't as well but I don't have it so I can't comment.

I'm just looking to see how open this new Witcher is.

I'll try and get back to you on the open world thing.

As for "washed out" - Skyrim wasn't as bad as I had remembered in my head - but it's not as colourful and alive as Witcher 3

^You are a tantalizing temptress. Stop teasing.

Quote from: JudgeDredd on May 21, 2015, 12:27:57 PM
Was it just me? I thought Skyrim had a washed out look to it.

Maybe I just forget - I'll fire it up and look at it again - I don't want to cause anyone to go over the edge  ;D

Correct, but most people (including me) install over a 100 mods to change the look and feel of the game.

It's running a hell of a lot smoother than shown in these videos.

I'm playing on PS4, and it seems more like Skyrim to me in terms of open worlded-ness.  I have hit the edge of the world a couple of times, and I am not sure what will happen when I leave the area I am in (first area where you get to have some freedom). 

Here is a video of the map being traversed from end to end.

http://youtu.be/_XXOofl2cXE

I am enjoying it quite a bit so far-the PS4 version feels like iit slows  down a little, although I probably wouldn't have noticed if the internet hadn't been awash with stories about PS4 performance prior to release.  Thanks a lot Internet. 

New PC Patch Out:

•Improves stability in gameplay and the UI
•Improves performance especially in cutscenes and gameplay
•Fixes grass and foliage popping that could occur after density parameters were changed
•Improves Nvidia Hairworks performance
•Boosted texture anisotropy sampling to 16x on Ultra preset
•Sharpen Post-process settings extended from Off/On to Off/Low/High
•Blood particles will now properly appear after killing enemies on the water
•Corrects a bug where player was able to shoot bolts at friendly NPCs
•Improves menu handling
•Corrects an issue with Stamina regeneration while sprinting
•Fixes a cursor lock issue that sometimes occcured when scrolling the map
•Generally improves world map focus
•Improves input responsiveness when using keyboard
•Corrects some missing translations in the UI
•Corrects an issue in dialogue selections
•Rostan Muggs is back
•Minor SFX improvements

I'm having fairly consistent CTDs. Not fun. Game is pretty much unplayable at this point.

Quote from: Gusington on May 21, 2015, 12:38:01 PM
I'm just looking to see how open this new Witcher is.

I think it's adorable that you're pretending that you won't just buy this.  :)

This is for real. I couldn't get into the 2nd one because of the combat...and there is the performance and price to think of.

Quote from: Gusington on May 22, 2015, 07:24:30 AM
This is for real. I couldn't get into the 2nd one because of the combat...and there is the performance and price to think of.

The game should run fine on older quad core pc's.   My system should be on or below the minimum requirement (i5-2500k and 6950HD card) and i can put almost everything on ultra (only view distance=medium and hairworks off) while getting 30+ FPS.
Greenmangaming still has a 27% sale going on.

This has probably been asked before but I'm too lazy to go through the entire thread, what's the combat like? I really didn't like the combat in 1 And quit only a few hours in. I own 2 but never played it.

Akin to Batman I would think. Similar view, similar movements etc. I like the little "skills" you can use - little bits of sorcery - like fire damage or containment...influence

I'm enjoying the game very much - but be aware - I am often like that with a new game - ask me in a couple of weeks.

I find the combat is not as good as it is in combat. Unless I am doing something wrong, I have trouble dealing with multiple attackers at once. I always end up taking a lot of damage. Perhaps I need to level up more first before I take on multiple opponents? If I am able to move around a lot, I can manage three to four, but if they get me closed up, forget about it. There does not seem to be a harmonious flow from attack to defense.

I have had trouble with multiples also. I just thought I was as crap at this as I am with all my games.

It certainly didn't help me locking onto one of 4 - so when I do come across multiples, I don't "lock" onto a single target

Don't forget to use everything you can : use the blocking and other signs and prepare some bombs.  These can have an effect on multiple targets. Don't rely only on your sword.
Even potions and oils can make a huge difference.

Finding gaining money to be very slow and abit of a drag. I also have loads and loads of ingredients and still have hardly anything I can craft.

Thankfully have had no bugs. I actually use the Z key to lock on otherwise you can miss alot. Just make sure you hit Z once an enemy is killed.

compared to Skyrim, there is no immersive first person view, isn't it? 

- on a side note -
i bet in a few month/years there will be a small "GoPro drone"-gadget a common sight, that allways hovers above and behind the users right shoulder and follows him around to provide the "video-game-shot"-footage of the users sport activity  :o 

Quote from: MikeGER on May 23, 2015, 01:46:16 AM
compared to Skyrim, there is no immersive first person view, isn't it? 

- on a side note -
i bet in a few month/years there will be a small "GoPro drone"-gadget a common sight, that allways hovers above and behind the users right shoulder and follows him around to provide the "video-game-shot"-footage of the users sport activity  :o

Isn't there one already that stays ahead to take "Selfies"?
Reprogramming it to stay behind instead shouldn't be too hard.

- still on a side note  -

Quote from: Tpek on May 23, 2015, 03:28:53 AM

Isn't there one already that stays ahead to take "Selfies"?
Reprogramming it to stay behind instead shouldn't be too hard.

oki, i did a little reseach: and there is actually the Airdog shown on the CES this year :o
it tracks the Bluethooth signal of the armwrist-controller called Airleash to track the owner 
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=de8GU1wPT0A)

...compared to Witcher3's cam it stays far out, and is shown in very open terrain only ...for a reason! ;)
i wait for the Airdog iteration #2 or #3.  That must has to be able to follow a Mountainbiker right through the woods 3m above the ground, evading trees and also other moving objects that about to cross its way literally 'on the fly'

This game has some easter eggs in it.
I've found a Monty Python's Holy Grail reference already:
In the sidequest "Truth in our Stars", you are sent to retrieve Dragonroot from a cave. In the cave's entrance there are several human remains and blood, and a single white rabbit.  ;)

Plus some peasant says "War, war never changes..." (Fallout reference), and there are others I already forgot about.

Quote from: TacticalWargames on May 23, 2015, 01:04:12 AM
Finding gaining money to be very slow and abit of a drag. I also have loads and loads of ingredients and still have hardly anything I can craft.

Thankfully have had no bugs. I actually use the Z key to lock on otherwise you can miss alot. Just make sure you hit Z once an enemy is killed.

I agree on both counts. Money is hard to find (though I have turned down some money 'cos I'm a nice bloke) and I can't seem to craft much of anything, despite having a huge amount of ingredients.

No crashes here as yet either.  O0

Actually, as of the last patch (1.03) I've been having whole system crashes.
Before the patch I had the occasional CTD, now it reboots my entire system  >:(

Quote from: Gusington on May 22, 2015, 07:24:30 AM
This is for real. I couldn't get into the 2nd one because of the combat...and there is the performance and price to think of.

(https://ethicsalarms.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/horrified.jpg)

Who are you and what have you done with our beloved mascot?!

I'll never tell.

Ok - so now I have a few hours of play under my belt I can say a few things I am finding annoying

• Crafting - what is with the humongous amounts of ingredients and yet almost nothing can be crafted?
• Identifying - it's quite annoying that you actually have to get off your horse to gather not knowing what the item is you are grabbing - it kind of makes you just gather everything even though it's entirely useless at the moment
• Understanding - maybe for me only, but I'm finding it difficult to have info at hand - for example breaking down "junk" to craft stuff...you don't necessarily know what you will be crafting. From how I remember it when I've done it, you have to go through several info screens gathering info on what's required to make a product then go back to breaking the items down...the "junk" listed just says "Can be sold to merchants or dismantled for crafting components" - so...what components and what can be crafted? Well, you have to go to a forger to dismantle items - and even then all you know is what it will be dismantled into - you have to go to yet another place to find out what the dismantled items can be used to create - all rather cumbersome
• Repetitive NPC's - whilst the world if busy with people wandering around and yacking,  what they are actually yacking about is repetitive. I thought the world and the people talking was a great thing at first, but unfortunately, it does get repetitive
• Desktop - I haven't had any bugs - but I have noticed on a few occasions when fighting that I'm dumped to the desktop. The game is still running and I can get back to it (and it's in PAUSE mode at that time, but it drops me to the desktop for some reason. I'll have a look at the screen mode - because I think there were 3 options - windowed, full screen and another option...and it could be that

I'm enjoying the game a lot - but the gathering/crafting aspect is very time consuming and not entirely intuitive. I just have an absolute shed load of ingredients but can't actually craft much of anything. On top of this, trying to find the right ingredient is very difficult and I eventually reverted to an online guide to find a particular herb to create a potion I needed for a quest.

If anyone else has a better way to do this, then feel free to chuck me a couple of hints.


Regarding my last point, there's window mode, borderless window and full screen and my option was borderless window - so hopefully it was that.

Just wrote a big post about some things and chucked it. I don't want anyone to get any bad vibe from what may well be just my lack of understanding - but in a nutshell, I'm finding it incredibly difficult to perform some actions and that is likely a combination of my lack of understanding of the mechanics, lack of available (fingertip) info and just confusion.

Currently, I can't seem to create more Grapeshot bombs even though I have the ingredients. In the crafting menu it just says "You already have this item"  ::)

I am doing a lot of searching on the internet - thankfully the game is ALT-TAB friendly

Quote from: JudgeDredd on May 24, 2015, 10:49:04 AM

Currently, I can't seem to create more Grapeshot bombs even though I have the ingredients. In the crafting menu it just says "You already have this item"  ::)

I've not played this, but I recall hearing somewhere that you only need to craft some consumables once, and then they replenish (back up to three uses) every time you meditate.

See "Work Your Alchemy Skill" here:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidthier/2015/05/22/6-tips-for-playing-the-witcher-3-this-weekend/ (http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidthier/2015/05/22/6-tips-for-playing-the-witcher-3-this-weekend/)

and "Make All the Oils and Bombs You Can" here:
http://kotaku.com/tips-for-playing-the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-1705588522 (http://kotaku.com/tips-for-playing-the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-1705588522)

Ah....so you have to meditate?

Thanks. I definitely haven't tried that yet...why would I? Why would I not imagine you could "craft" these things?


Thanks though. I'll try that when I get back from the gym

I should point out that the tutorials in the game are good...and it's almost definite fact that I was told this...but my memory is pretty poor and so whilst I might have been told it, it would be handy to have a popup explain that when trying to create more.

I still haven't picked up Witcher 3 yet, gut having played the prior two I can say that having read the novels was a help in understand a lot of the mechanics and backstory of the games. The novels aren't spoilers for the games, either, since the games happen after the events of the novels - and the last half of the series hasn't been translated into English yet, anyway.

They're good books, too. Reading them you'll get the idea that Dragon Age borrowed fairly liberally from them, too.

15 hours in and I've just completed all the "question mark" areas and side quests that I could find on the first part of the map

Onto Velen

Quote from: JudgeDredd on May 25, 2015, 04:02:34 AM
15 hours in and I've just completed all the "question mark" areas and side quests that I could find on the first part of the map

Onto Velen

?!

15 hours and you haven't even ventured into Velen yet?
That area is huge in comparison with White Orchards, and has a lot more "question marks", many of which only become available after finishing some main/side quests.

I know.

I do kind of flounder around at times...but mostly, that was gaming. Just making sure I completed all the undiscovered places and side quests.

Velen is huge but I've got a problem. I've pissed off the Baron, so I can't go in that city. I can't get across the bridge (I can't afford 100 gold). I can't find any villages with anything to speak of useful and I NEED to get my silver sword fixed  :(

^You're still talking about the game, right? Hard to tell with you.

:)

lol - yes - still talking about the game.

I now have 20 hours in it.  :o That's the equivalent of 5 hours a day!

The witcher team just keeps cranking out patches...another one released today....


The patch 1.04  for PC is available for download now. Please find the list of changes below:

-Rebinding of all keys is now available after switching on the 'Unlock Bindings' option in the Options\Key Bindings submenu.
-Corrects an issue in the dialogue system that might have caused dialogue looping in certain scenes.
-Fixes an issue with incorrect behavior of Wild Hunt warriors after they were affected by the Axii Sign.
-Corrects a bug that caused spontaneous combustion of gas clouds.
-1280 x 720 resolution is now properly displayed as a valid resolution option.
-Fixes boat stuttering in cutscenes.
-Texture rendering quality for the high and ultra presets has been improved.
-Further improvements made in NVIDIA Hairworks performance.
-A few additional gwent cards are now available in the Prologue area.
-Fixes an issue where users with usernames incorporating non-Latin characters were unable to import saves from The Witcher 2.
-Includes a series of overall stability and performance improvements.
-Fixes issues related to alt + tabbing and minimizing the game window.
-Updates the game icon.
-Enlarges the loot pop-up window in the UI.
-Fixes an issue where, in certain circumstances, the comparison window could extend beyond the game borders in the UI.
-Upgrading items included in gear sets no longer destroys rune sockets on said items.
-Introduces small tweaks in the UI for gwent.
-Corrects some missing translations in localized versions.

New AMD beta driver 15.5 (for Witcher 3) released : http://support.amd.com/en-us/kb-articles/Pages/latest-catalyst-windows-beta.aspx

Quote from: JudgeDredd on May 25, 2015, 05:38:48 AM

Velen is huge but I've got a problem. I've pissed off the Baron, so I can't go in that city. I can't get across the bridge (I can't afford 100 gold). I can't find any villages with anything to speak of useful and I NEED to get my silver sword fixed  :(

Did you break your silver sword in the Baron's wife, or something?

lol

I did eventually find the Baron's village and get my sword fixed.

Good game. Mechanics and game remind me alot of Warcraft strangely

    ....new Witcher in town  O0
you will would recognize me by the jerky movement ;-) (or i don't hope so ...still downloading)
Thank god there is no multiplayer ;D

just got me the latest Nvidia driver too 

I have payed this game for 2weeks now and I really liked the vivid graphics, user control and experience. Also it is one of the most talked Game these days on web.

Are you guys still enjoying this? Is the combat the same as Witcher 2?

Its pretty much the only thing I have been playing for the last month.

The story is and quests are incredible.  I just had to help Hatori (of Kill Bill fame) move from making dumplings back to making swords so that I could get my hands on some sweet new steel

Con

Quote from: Con on August 28, 2015, 09:34:05 PM
Its pretty much the only thing I have been playing for the last month.

The story is and quests are incredible.  I just had to help Hatori (of Kill Bill fame) move from making dumplings back to making swords so that I could get my hands on some sweet new steel

Con

There's another quest that's a reference to Kill Bill.
It's the one where you help your fellow Witcher (forgot his name),
And chase after a gang (that has since broken up), killing them one by one in order to locate the guy who wronged him (called something similar to Carradine, the actor who played Bill).
And finally reaching that "Bill" guy, only to find he's retired and living with an adopted daughter :P

Is the combat the same as Witcher 2?

Quote from: Gusington on August 30, 2015, 07:06:33 PM
Is the combat the same as Witcher 2?

Don't get side tracked.  You are supposed to be playing Pillars of Eternity.

^This is true.

- important note -

freeze solution

For those players who had freezes and intensified freezes coming with patch 1.08 (in my case caused by using a dual core CPU,  i had to put Witcher3 beside because after "thread-optimisations" in 1.08. the game run 30sec then stopped for 2-3 then continued, then stoped  ...unplayable! and it was fine in 1.07)

check this thread for info:
http://forums.cdprojektred.com/threads/57019-Possible-solution-to-long-freeze-with-dual-thread-CPU?p=1900882#post1900882

i got the free little tool called "BES", ( http://mion.faireal.net/BES/ )
limited the Witcher3 process after the games is started by -3% (the default is -33% so go into 'Control'-menu when the thread got limited and adjust the slider there to your convenience)

I just tested it (15 min no freezes so far) and i can play again  ...finally :D   

How's the combat?

Practicing my thread necromancy skills. I see a Witcher 3 Complete Edition is due out on August 30 with all flc and dlc for 50.00...I plan on getting this and hell bent on learning the combat this time, even if it kills me. The reviews are just to glowing to resist this forever. One year of resisting is a good stretch though :)

Quote from: Gusington on August 12, 2016, 02:08:08 PM
I see a Witcher 3 Complete Edition is due out on August 30 with all flc and dlc for 50.00...

What I've been waiting for! Sweet!

Quote from: Gusington on September 02, 2015, 08:34:30 PM
How's the combat?

Sorry, I missed this way back.

I have no problems with the combat. It can get a bit manic with the various spells and various other things you can do - but overall I enjoyed the combat. I have no experience of the previous ones.

I haven't finished it and like most games I have not gone back to it for some time, but it's still on my SSD!

Overall I thought it was a very polished game with a very good story and lots of excellent aspects, including combat. AND it seems huge! I have 52 hours in it and I've barely made a dent in what appears to be a vast world. I've also not explored everything I could explore.

Quote from: JudgeDredd on August 12, 2016, 02:30:26 PM
I have 52 hours in it and I've barely made a dent in what appears to be a vast world. I've also not explored everything I could explore.

This is how it's been with me and Dragon Age: Inquistion. I have just over 50 hours into it and I'm not sure I am the 25% mark. Just when I think I'm done with a region, I discover some new part.

I'm pretty aligned with dread. The quests, The lore and the character you play are Top Notch. Far more than Most Bioware worlds--and i'm a Mass Effect fan- But the World of the Witcher is far more adult aimed whereas I think most Bioware aims are to a younger crowd. I never liked the combat in The Witcher-whereas the World is very computer based and realistic the combat reaks console action. So much so it's akin to playing Mortal kombat. the first game was frustrating getting the swing timer--I thought the 2nd was downhill even more--wheras here I can manage it and put up with it. That's a significant improvement for me because the combat alone is why I quite playing the First two games. Here, the one thing you need to learn is the roll key and your be fine. Mapping it to a mouse key--and a few tries and your get it down. It can be fun i suppose but unlike the rest of the presentation it's miles away from realistic.

There's other gamey aspects that have appeared-mostly in navigation and open world management--and the in game dice game again is changed. i really liked it in the 1st game- and I think it should have stayed consistant as part of the World lore.

I never finished it but do intend to revisit it. My reason was moreso waiting for the final expansions and not having to replay the whole game again. I'm really antisipating CDProjects Cyber Game- at least with guns/lasers the worst they can do is a FPS slant- but it's bound to be better than a Bethseda fallout.

Thanks guys. I didn't have a problem with the combat in the first one but for the life of me I couldn't grasp it in the second one. But for this one...because it's open world...I will smash my head against the screen until I get it.

Like mirth this complete edition is exactly what I have been waiting for. And like Ghost I am looking forward to CDs cybergame.

DA:I was a GREAT game.

To those that have played both would you say one was better than the other?

I've had my eyeballs on Witcher 3 since release

In my opinion The Witcher 3 is better than Dragon Age Inquistion. But they are very different games.  Combat  is better compared to oblivion or something. I like DA combat far more. I think overall First person combat in any fantasy/RPG is really hard to do and get right- but I'll take the combat in Oblivion over Witcher combat-as clunky as it is, at least the controls are logical, like swing, thrust defend with shield--the witcher is more ---combine key press to unreastically zoom past enemy as a speeds only seen in the Matrix, flip 3 times like Bruce Lee, and swing at subzonic speed to depacitate said opponent. In oblivion, the creature hits your shield--and the game lets you feel it, you are connected to the enemy. In the Witcher because of the rediculous arcady moves your just not. The move fires you when. you never really feel 'in the world' as you would with Oblivion combat.

Outside of combat Dragon age----any of the 3 games--don't hold a candle to the Witcher 3. The quality of the writing is just stellar--these are not fed ex quests ala bethseda and much of DA:I-- in other areas--both games do inventory and game management much better-there is no war room in The witcher and the inventory is pretty much as bad as the first two games. Crafting is introduced here and has it's issues as well. Some things create on the fly and you must create others yourself--but mainly once you create it once it auto creates---depending on what it is. If that sounds confusing...it is.

But those things can be overcome---to experience the World--which quite frankly--blows DA, Oblivion and most others out of the competition. This is the 180 degrees opposite of a Bethseda open world game. The quests are fine tuned and are never repetative and always have great story. Even side quests.

Note the game's tutorial seems to restrict the open world aspect-but be assured it does open up as advertised.

I really like DA:I but it does not feel open to me at all. But I am ok with that.

The only thing that has kept me away from The Witcher 3 all this time is the horrible experience I had with The Witcher 2's combat.

But now I can't wait until 8/30...:)

I'm not really interested in comparing DA to Witcher. Both are outstanding RPG series. I can love them for their differences.

Definitely looking forward to 8/30.

What is coming 8-30?

The full shebang - main game and all DLC I believe - for $50

Quote from: AchillesLastStand on August 13, 2016, 01:42:31 AM
What is coming 8-30?

Witcher 3 with all DLCs bundle

I highly recommend it when your rigs system spec are capable to run it.

i didn't finish it because after a patch i had stuttering with my decade old dualcore CPU at that time...
(...when my mainboard died on me and i got me a decent system i checked again and now it runs perfect, but i had gotten to distracted by other new releases and RL issues in the meantime to just jump in at my last story save-point.... its extreme high on my rainy autumn month playlist!)       

Quote from: Gusington on August 12, 2016, 06:57:38 PM
I really like DA:I but it does not feel open to me at all. But I am ok with that.

The only thing that has kept me away from The Witcher 3 all this time is the horrible experience I had with The Witcher 2's combat.

But now I can't wait until 8/30...:)

I think you can live with the combat. It's disapointing , as i mentioned- as immersive as the world is , the combat actually removes you from that immersion by it's rediculous console action nature- but unlike the first two games where the controls were sluggish and complex it's rather simple in the third. Learn to roll- map that one key- and the ocassional spell and your do fine-

I'll also add in hindsight I wish i too had waited-- I quite at level 14--and will have to replay with expansions. By all accounts the last expansion really puts a great cap on the end of Geralt's tale and life. And when your playing your probably come to the same conclusion as I did-- DA:I was trying to do what the Witcher 3 does great --bring meaning to open world designed games. DA:I threw in a lot of useful mechanics but it falls short as the story telling fails- and it just gets very repetative. It's a good game, don't get me wrong, but The Witcher 3 really is groundbreaking in how they managed to do open world.

Linky for those interested. I don't see it on Steam yet but I can't imagine it won't be.

https://smile.amazon.com/Witcher-3-Wild-Hunt-Complete-PC/dp/B01K6010DO/ref=sr_1_1_twi_gam_3?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1471114199&sr=1-1&keywords=the+witcher+3+complete+edition

I want to pre-order this so friggin bad, but I still need to finish Witcher 1 &2 and I have weeks, if not months, of DA:I left to play.

I might be ready for Witcher 3 by Christmas.

Can you just start with Witcher 3, or is it best to start with Witcher 1 then 2 excetera?

I believe there's a connection between the stories but I started with lll. I did try 1 and then 2, but being a graphics whore, I couldn't stick with them and jumped into lll.

You can start with just the Witcher III. However its much more rewarding if you know some of the lore behind the Witcher. This book at Amazon  is fantastic.


https://www.amazon.com/World-Witcher-CD-Projekt-Red/dp/1616554827/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1471615598&sr=8-7&keywords=Witcher+Book



Myself, I just started the Witcher III a few months ago, and it has jumped easily into my top 10 games of all time.  First is that it looks unbelievable running on my GTX 1080. The amount of detail that they put into the game is just mind boggling.  From the cities, to the countryside, to the villages, to the Viking like Skellige Islands, its fucking amazing. 

The Story so far is excellent as well. Rarely are thing as black and white as you think.  It's also made for adults, and does not sugarcoat anything. 

Thanks for the help!

Crap. I just know I'm gonna pre-order 3 before the weekend is out.

Quote from: mirth on August 19, 2016, 02:46:59 PM
Crap. I just know I'm gonna pre-order 3 before the weekend is out.

Or get it right now for the same price : https://www.gog.com/game/the_witcher_3_wild_hunt_game_expansion_pass

GOG is having a Witcher sale this weekend ( https://www.gog.com/promo/20160819_special_promo_the_witcher_series )

I cannot believe Boyer posted the link to that book above. Bastard.

The game is currently on sale at Steam for half off!!!

I am trying now to figure out if I can get it and all the DLC right now for less than 49.99...DLC is on sale too, right now.

OK so The Witcher 3 and all its DLC is in my cart right now for $50.47...

Game of year version only $30

http://www.cdkeys.com/pc/games/the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-goty-pc-gog-cd-key

WOW! Thanks Grim.

It is for gog vs steam if that matters

I've got accounts at both...GoG is giving me some trouble right now but for ~30.00 I am determined...

Downloading the GOTY right now  :D

Quote from: Gusington on August 30, 2016, 08:31:26 PM
Downloading the GOTY right now  :D

I hate you.

~30.00 dollah!!!

DO IT

Finished Hearts of Stone expansion last month and its a great tale with a lot of interesting quests.  Really enjoyed it plus some of the boss fights are very unique.  Working on the Blood and wine quests now and exploring Tousant.  I have my villa already and like a true wine retirement home I am throwing my life savings at restoring it! ;)

Con

^How many hours do you have in?

Quote from: Gusington on August 30, 2016, 08:47:03 PM
~30.00 dollah!!!

DO IT

.

It's been in my cart so many times. Can't do it. I literally have hundreds of hours of RPGing ahead of me before I could start Witcher 3.

^Fairy.

I see that players can start a fully new campaign, or start Hearts of Stone or Blood & Wine as standalone. Has anyone played the expansions standalone?

Quote from: Gusington on August 30, 2016, 09:06:08 PM
^Fairy.

Suck my left nut.

You know my standard response to you for that.

I told you about my right nut. That's non-negotiable.

On sale at Green Man for 29.00 dollah jerk face!!

GET IT

I hate you so much.

Did you get it??

According to steam I have 246 hours in it. :D

And loved every minute

Con

Not sure if I am going to fire this up next or do one more Dark Age campaign in Attila TW...

I got the complete edition a few months back and it's one of the best gaming choices I ever made.

God I wish I weren't so freaking terrible with Witcher 3 combat. I mean panicky button-mashing, ahh what do i do? utterly confused terrible.  ... also inventory management is really cumbersome and confusing to me.

...all that said, I'm convinced Witcher 3 is one of the most astounding games ever created. What CD Projekt Red pulled off here just blows me away.

Quote from: sandman2575 on September 02, 2016, 09:21:49 AM
God I wish I weren't so freaking terrible with Witcher 3 combat. I mean panicky button-mashing, ahh what do i do? utterly confused terrible.  ... also inventory management is really cumbersome and confusing to me.

...all that said, I'm convinced Witcher 3 is one of the most astounding games ever created. What CD Projekt Red pulled off here just blows me away.

Dodge. Dodge when they're about to hit you. Some critters are fast and that is very difficult to do, so just dodge all the damned time. I remapped power attack to alt, roll to X and dodge to space bar.

Usually dodge puts you in a good position to get a blow in from the side or rear. If you are still in front, dodge again. Slow critters like bears and golems should never lay a finger on you.

Roll works, too, but I think dodge is better because of the chances it gives you to get hits in from the side and rear, and also because roll uses stamina.

The combat in Witcher 2 made me stop playing but I am hell bent on mastering it this time around...HELL BENT

Also don't forget to use your powers and special equipment. For example - I can't remember the details - but there's a bomb you can craft which will slow enemies down...and use your special abilities like pushing etc.

Sorry I can't be more specific, it's been a while since I played.

And dodging is very handy.

Quote from: JudgeDredd on September 02, 2016, 04:48:13 PM
Also don't forget to use your powers and special equipment. For example - I can't remember the details - but there's a bomb you can craft which will slow enemies down...and use your special abilities like pushing etc.

Sorry I can't be more specific, it's been a while since I played.

And dodging is very handy.

I recommend quen. You never miss with quen. I miss a lot with the other signs. But if you make quen the default, others are situational. The mind one often gives you a stun, plus it unlocks conversation options. You can say howdy to a pack of wolves with a well-timed igni.

Also, I think fast attack is better than power attack, generally. If you get behind somebody, go ahead and light 'em up with a power attack, but against, e.g., regular humans and such, you can typically hit faster than they do with the fast attack, and interrupt most of their attacks.

These are tips coming from somebody who also found Witcher 2 combat frustrating. I had trouble in this game until I remapped dodge and get used to hitting it. Now I am level 12 and I just killed 2 pairs of level 16 wraiths with no time to heal between pairs and still had over 50% health.

Depending on what kind of mouse you have -I use a gaming mouse with 7 buttons but I only remap the dodge key to a side button---and I'm good. i don't worry about all the other key combo nitendo crap finishing moves--just the dodge. It's really all you need.

Thanks Glen and Ghostie...these tips should help, I think.

All I ever used was roll.  Especially to get behind dudes with shields.  And as mentioned above, Quen.

Really as awesome game.

Do your self a favor and follow Angry Joes advice and get an Xbox controller for the PC.  It took a couple of tries to get used to it after only using a mouse keyboard but now I dont know how I would have been able to play Witcher without one.  They are pretty cheap.  I got a wired one

https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Wired-Controller-Windows-Console/dp/B004QRKWLA

Con

Quote from: Gusington on September 02, 2016, 07:30:53 PM
Thanks Glen and Ghostie...these tips should help, I think.

erm?  ???   ;D

Appreciate the tips as well.  Yeah I definitely use an Xbox controller for Witcher, as I do for pretty much all games in this vein. Feels much more intuitive to me than mouse and keyboard.  ...yet I still suck  ;)

I have an XBox controller but I hate it.

Anyone know if the game of the year edition is the same as the base game plus all DLC? I read that the GOTY has new areas, but someone said the update contains the new stuff if you have all the DLC. Is this true? Thanks.

Quote from: Gusington on August 31, 2016, 09:25:44 PM
Did you get it??

Amazon is running a $10 off deal for Prime members. I caved and picked up the Xbox One version. It arrives Wednesday.

YES!!!

I feel so dirty.

Quote from: Ian C on September 05, 2016, 07:59:00 AM
Anyone know if the game of the year edition is the same as the base game plus all DLC? I read that the GOTY has new areas, but someone said the update contains the new stuff if you have all the DLC. Is this true? Thanks.

In addition to the main game, Wild Hunt and the 16 free DLC packs, the GotY edition of The Witcher 3 also includes both of the full expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine.
The release of the GotY / Complete Edition is accompanied by another update, game version 1.30. It fixes a number of bugs as well as adding some new features to the game.

This makes me think (and hope) that when you have the base game and dlc you have the GOTY version.  The new stuff should be included in patch 1.30 for everybody.

Quote from: mirth on September 05, 2016, 02:10:05 PM
I feel so dirty.

You are dirty  :knuppel2:

Filthy.

Well, now I'm a little aroused.

Filthy but $10 richer.  :uglystupid2:

Quote from: mirth on September 05, 2016, 02:10:05 PM
I feel so dirty.

I, uh...kinda like you for that.

Quote from: Sir Slash on September 05, 2016, 02:52:27 PM
Filthy but $10 richer.  :uglystupid2:

That's a way of looking at it.  :D

Quote from: panzerde on September 05, 2016, 02:58:09 PM

Quote from: mirth on September 05, 2016, 02:10:05 PM
I feel so dirty.

I, uh...kinda like you for that.

Ok. This is just getting weird.

(https://cdn.meme.am/instances/500x/65974565.jpg)

I didn't say stop.

It's difficult keeping up with your safety word every 12 hours.

Star keeps up. Quit yer bitchin!

Star's an ankle bearing strumpet. At least try every 24 hours you ignorant slut.

You're a saucy one all of a sudden!

And I like it!

You're welcome.

This thread is getting a little gay.

I approve.

Quote from: Pete Dero on September 05, 2016, 02:28:25 PM

Quote from: Ian C on September 05, 2016, 07:59:00 AM
Anyone know if the game of the year edition is the same as the base game plus all DLC? I read that the GOTY has new areas, but someone said the update contains the new stuff if you have all the DLC. Is this true? Thanks.

In addition to the main game, Wild Hunt and the 16 free DLC packs, the GotY edition of The Witcher 3 also includes both of the full expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine.
The release of the GotY / Complete Edition is accompanied by another update, game version 1.30. It fixes a number of bugs as well as adding some new features to the game.

This makes me think (and hope) that when you have the base game and dlc you have the GOTY version.  The new stuff should be included in patch 1.30 for everybody.

You're right. I put the GOTY edition in my steam basket and it says I already have it and the only option is to gift it, so yes.

A little gay?

Just got this from Amazon.

QuoteYour package was left in the mailbox.

I may have to leave work early.

You went to work?  :idiot2:

Believe me. I am very disappointed with myself.

Is that your NAMBLA lifetime achievement award?

Con

Quote from: Con on September 07, 2016, 04:29:14 PM
Is that your NAMBLA lifetime achievement award?

Con

That's some Goatfury-quality humor right there. Well played.

That's icky.

It is, but I have Witcher 3 now.

And true one-ness with everything that is good.

Did you install?

I bought the Xbox One version. I'll run it later once the kids are asleep. They have the TV privileges at the moment.

WHATWHATWHAT

WHY???

It's easier than listening to them whine and bitch.

No why did you get the XBox version??

Quote from: Gusington on September 07, 2016, 06:10:02 PM
No why did you get the XBox version??

My current laptop won't run the game and I'm not ready to upgrade it yet. It'll probably have to wait til 2017.

Does this version of the game still have all the naked ladies and the..... Horizontal Refreshment?  O:-)

Quote from: Sir Slash on September 07, 2016, 10:36:40 PM
Does this version of the game still have all the naked ladies and the..... Horizontal Refreshment?  O:-)

Lord, I hope so.

I wouldn't have bought it otherwise!!

There's a nice view of Yennefer's lovely posterior in the first 5 minutes, so promising start.

Trying for the threesome works out about as well as you would think in real life

Con

Quote from: mirth on September 08, 2016, 06:49:13 PM
There's a nice view of Yennefer's lovely posterior in the first 5 minutes, so promising start.

Keira = nice rack, although you have to pay plenty of dues to see it.

I have no issues paying, I am not proud. Never have been.

From The Witcher 3 Wiki:

QuoteWhile adventuring, Geralt of Rivia has more than one opportunity to polish more than his steel sword for an evening. There are a number of women that can be wooed into a night of passion. But how many? Who? And where? Glad you asked. The following are the times, quests (where appropriate), and ladies you can spend a romantic evening, or a rutting session, with. Any stipulations are listed in their appropriate quests

http://witcher.wikia.com/wiki/The_Witcher_3:_Wild_Hunt_-_Guide_to_Romance

Oh my.

That's a lot of action. Better take more than just your sword with you Gus, if you know what I mean. And let us know how the Three-Way with the unicorn works-out will you?

A gentleman never kisses and tells.

So you know I'll tell you everything.

This game is absolutely gorgeous and I don't just mean the ladies.

There's a bit of the uncanny valley with some of the characters though, young Ciri especially.

You're going to have to be more specific. Or more uncanny.

Dare I ask mirth - how is the combat?

Combat is a choice between fast attack / strong attack and getting in a good position (flank/rear etc.) Add in different weapons, alchemy, weapon & armour upgrades, blocks/parries and dodges, magic and that's it.
It's relatively simple but there is a knack and some skill in using everything together, particularly against strong opponents.

Use the glossary/bestiary its critical to put the right oils on and use the right signs.

Combat has an ebb and flow to it there is button mashing but not as much as you would think.  Blocking and counter attacking is ideal for humans and rolling gets you out of trouble with monsters.

There is a nuance in using your points in your trees (I went all red for combat) apart from increasing the schools for heavy bear armor.  Use mutagens in the right slots to strengthen the bonuses

Getting complete matched sets of witcher gear gives great bonuses.

Spend time getting the potion recopies and ingredients you only have to do it once then every time you meditate its replenished no more farming the same monster drop to make a certain potions

Careful with exploring there are many things out there that will kill you fast the game does not hand hold you on where to go so be ready to run.  If it has a skull over it you will die!

Play Gwent.  Its fantastic.  I chase after every merchant did every Gwent quest and got all the cards.  I am a bona fide Gwent master and they tremble at my Gwetishness.

Con

^I've read that about you on bathroom stall walls.

Thanks guys.

How does the combat in 3 compare to 2? The combat in 2 sent me into a nerdgasm of rage quit.

Quote from: Gusington on September 10, 2016, 02:54:17 PM
How does the combat in 3 compare to 2? The combat in 2 sent me into a nerdgasm of rage quit.

I can't compare the two and I've only had a couple of small battles so far in 3. I'm playing on the second lowest difficulty level. It seems okay, but I really suck at any kind of real time combat. I've been playing purely tactical, turn based style stuff for too long. It's going to take me a while to get used to the button combinations and I have a feeling I'm going to get my ass whooped in the first boss fight.

The game itself is totally amazing. In just an hour or so of play, it has drawn me in. Took months of playing DA:Inquisition for me to feel engaged by the story. It's going to be hard to go back to DA:I now that I've started Witcher 3.

This pleases me as I liked DA:I and its combat right away, and I loved it's lore. I want to try and squeeze one more campaign in Attila TW before I start The Witcher 3 but I don't know if I can wait that long and I am incapable of playing two titles simultaneously...

Quote from: Gusington on September 11, 2016, 02:34:58 PM
This pleases me as I liked DA:I and its combat right away, and I loved it's lore. I want to try and squeeze one more campaign in Attila TW before I start The Witcher 3 but I don't know if I can wait that long and I am incapable of playing two titles simultaneously...

Yeah, I think I am going to have to put DA:I on hold. I love the entire DA series, but Witcher 3 is so friggin good.

I must play it.

Quote from: Gusington on September 11, 2016, 03:16:47 PM
I must play it.

Yes, you must. Be prepared for it to consume all your gaming energy!

I'm tinkering with Attila TW right now but the pull of The Witcher is stronger, I think...

Just played two hours of The Witcher 3 and HOLY F*CK IS IT GOOD! And...I can actually perform the combat. I have everything set to ultra as well and I see what mirth means by uncanny valley with some of the characters. I was chatting with a character named O'Dimm in the first inn and he looks A LOT like me. Then I found an old frying pan for an old woman down by a river and she looked exactly like my grandmother. Just accepted the mission to find and then deal with the griffin that you guys were talking about...I feel very similar to how I felt when I started playing Skyrim five years ago. I'll be playing this for a while. Months, at least.

Heh. You look like O'Diimm? Awesome!

O'Dimm could be my brother! Oh and I played my first couple of round of gwent and won...not sure if the game is scripted to let me win this early on or not. Fun sub-game. I think I will pick up that standalone gwent game when it comes out.

So, what did you do with your Grandma's frying pan? And how did it get down by the river? My Grandma used to send me out to look for things. But it wasn't near the river, usually it was 'out in the traffic'. But the joke's on her. Whatever she sent me to find.... was never there.  :idiot2:

Quote from: Gusington on September 12, 2016, 09:32:10 PM
O'Dimm could be my brother! Oh and I played my first couple of round of gwent and won...not sure if the game is scripted to let me win this early on or not. Fun sub-game. I think I will pick up that standalone gwent game when it comes out.

You will be interested to learn the O'Dimm is a major character in the hearts of Stone expansion.  And he is a right bastard....still think he could be your brother?

Con

Now more than ever 😎

Tonight I take on the griffin that so many of you despise.

Quote from: Gusington on September 15, 2016, 05:52:13 PM
Tonight I take on the griffin that so many of you despise.

Heh. I still have that on my to do list.

There are so many great quests in Witcher 3 which totally draw you int  There is one that sends you to a cave mouth ringed with rocks with scores of skeletons and bodies left over from a great massacre.  In the middle of them hops a little white rabbit....with sharp pointy teeth.

Con

That bunny's dynamite!

I came, I saw, and I kicked that griffin's ass :)

On the way to Vizima now. Stopped off at another secondary quest and now I'm dealing with noonwraiths and other scary ghostlike things.

This game is great!

Watch out for scary white rabbits with pointy teeth Gus. Were-Rabbits?

^I read that somewhere else too..right now I am concentrating on these phantoms or whatever the hell they turn out to be.

Ok, so I know I'm late to the game but this is really starting to grab me. Although I'm still extremely early game.

Combat is difficult in that there is a lot to remember at first (Sword type, signs, parry vs dodging, quick attack vs heavy)

I solved the arsonist quest - let the guy swing. I'm on the well sidequest now. What is the best way to find the herbs you need for formulas? Can you buy them?

Buy 'em or pick 'em.

I'm not sure how much I have left in the game.  Feels like I'm almost finished the main quest.  I've been delaying it by doing a bunch of the side quests (pissed off that I ended up breaking the Gwent questline by finishing a story mission before I'd got all the cool Gwent cards.  Guess all those sweet 15 strength cards are out of reach now.)

As SDR said, you can buy or pick.  When you wander around you will see a ton of herbs.  And a lot of the villages have herbalists.

Quote from: challerain on December 03, 2016, 11:17:21 PM
As SDR said, you can buy or pick.  When you wander around you will see a ton of herbs.  And a lot of the villages have herbalists.

Yeah after I killed the noonwraith I found the herbs I needed right in the contract owner's garden.

So I've had this a while now but have only started really investing time in it this weekend.  I think I played something like 4 or 5 hours. 

A botchling?  Really?  Those dudes at CD Projekt have some sick minds.

Anyway, all of the reviews are so damn glowing and gushing over this game, but I feel like I'm watching a movie, not playing a game.  I feel like I'm missing something.  The story is interesting, don't get me wrong, but the way it transitions constantly to cut scenes just destroys immersion.  I like Skyrim oh so much better than this.

I'm going to stick with it because it's been so overwhelmingly praised that I know the problem must be me, but damn.

Stick with it....the humor and the way the story weaves together so you never feel as like you are grinding out a worker compensation in quests to level is sublime. 

Witcher 3 is my favorite RPG since Skyrim. But if you are not particularly in to eastern European legends and history I can see how you would be less than enthused. I loved it for the creatures alone!

Quote from: Toonces on July 24, 2017, 06:53:38 PM
A botchling?  Really?  Those dudes at CD Projekt have some sick minds.

the whole story is based on several novels (a very good read! - to get in the immersion mood) by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski not CD-Project,
who salvaged all kind of eastern Europe fairytales, myths, and local folk religions for a hundred fold of entities

in medieval times the local folks just needed a colorful explanations for each and any unusual (scary) things they encountered and all kind of mischief happening to poor Villagers at night or walking (and disappearing ) into dark woods, swamps, while working or when on travel on small trails to the next little settlements or the road to the next city marketplace
add to this the pagan religion remains parallel to overlaid crude Catholicism and living in a constant war-torn situation between local counts / landlords  mixed up with bands of traveling mercenaries turned into bandits between two jobs ...and all this without CNN with NGOs sob-stories 'to explain 'n blame' it on breakfast TV ^-^.   

i reckon those "botchling"-explanations was invented by midwifes when confronted with remains of distorted miscarriages/ abortion or deformed stillborns  and later medical problems by that same mother or other pregnant villagers,  ...puerperal fever.

All those fairy tales also had a social behavior educational function at that time. 
to steer behavior in a wanted moral driven direction without an explicit order or prohibition
that abortion or filicide (and so also getting in a situation fristhand where abortion is needed) is a dangerous idea,
or to keep children and youth away from dangerous areas like swamps for a playground and to stay in general in sight of the hut and not stroll outside of home at dusk where a tenfold of monsters are lurking         

Love me some botchlings. I love the whole Witcher bestiary, actually.

Does it include the dreaded Gusling?

Smaller but more grotesque than the botchling! Of course.

"Guslings" seem to still exist today in the remote area woods on the Swiss/German border ^-^
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi64.tinypic.com%2F2dlqk4m.jpg&hash=48891035aa4f48bacb54d79a98f468ad5edd4969)
(F.Wrousis police pic)

...just yesterday one exemplar attacked an office in the small town of Schaffhausen (sounds like picked from Witcher maps too) with a chainsaw it had found 

Although small I am a much better physical specimen than that guy.

Quote from: Gusington on July 25, 2017, 10:29:18 AM
Although small I am a much better physical specimen than that guy.

sure!
...its more about that some witcher creatures might had made it into our universe too when that Conjunction of the Spheres had happend   :o

That does look scary. And confused too. Probably needs some Bacon & Beer to snap it back in shape.

i saw a pic on twitter that suggested: its a member of a lost Neanderthaler tribe that somehow survived and adjusted to our times ???
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi63.tinypic.com%2F2mhfuas.jpg&hash=97d69e602c9835ace6417faac0e64216ff4335be)

I'm familiar with the Witcher lore, I read a couple of the books.

I guess I'm not making my point very well.  Typically RPGs are panned when they are linear, or have too many crutches to gameplay.  For example, Skyrim was blasted by the hardcore RPG crowd for having objective markers, yet W3 has a nice little mini-map in the corner with the marker on it.

The story, while interesting, is linear.  And the way the game requires you to do each little thing....like when you're investigating something.  You work through each little dialogue piece, and you can't move from one point to the next without doing each part, sometimes in order.  Skyrim has some of this, but you can also screw it up by simply wandering around and poking your nose into things.  I don't want to be more specific because I don't want to give away any spoilers.

I watched an Angry Joe review of the game, and it could be that by playing it on easy mode I'm missing aspects that make this game more special, like having to craft potions and oils in order to survive.  I'm not really a big fan of alchemy mini-games, I'm more of a buy the crap I need in town and carry it with me RPG'er.  Perhaps that's part of the problem?

I guess ultimately this game does so many things that typical RPG'ers bash RPGs for...the anger against the dumbing down of the Elder Scrolls series comes to mind, and W3 feels like an easier version of Skyrim, but where you spend more time watching the story play out in cut scenes than actually doing anything. 

So, like I said initially, I feel like I'm missing something because this game feels very...generic isn't the right word...not special in the way every review makes it out to be.

It might be because of you settin it to 'easy' - even for me, easy was really easy and I played it on 'normal' which felt perfect. I don't particularly like crafting armor or potions either but I found and bought everything I needed throughout the game world.

I did occasionally feel like there was too much telling and not enough doing, but it never realy became an issue for me because I love the stories. But I see your point.

All that said, I love The Witcher 3 and can't wait to jump back in and finish up the expansions, Heart of Stone and Blood and Wine. I finished the main game a few months ago and was very satisfied and happy. Took me a shorter amount of time to finish than Skyrim + DLC.

And, like in Skyrim, I did stumble around early on in to quests that were way above my stats, and I just saved them for later. It's true that some quests disappear if you choose a certain path, but that didn't occur to often during my campaign. I never felt ripped-off, content wise.

I may go ahead and crank the difficulty up a notch.  Some of the underlying mechanics of the game annoy me, but it could be that by bypassing many of the gameplay options the game is feeling more on rails than it should.

I would try that, definitely. I know when I increased the difficulty the combat actually became more fun.

The basic design is indeed annoying. Although an improvement the combat is far to console gamey- the GUI is as bad as every other witcher title-even moreso with the added armour and weapon construction. The quest ointers are indeed dumbdowns ala skyrim. There just is no excaping these low points. However if Lore is everything...as I often preach to no end here- then that supersedes the low points because no one does story and lore better. Certainly not Bethseda and even Bioware has slipped into generic story telling in the recent titles they've dumped on us. Warts and all it is the best presented and rich world going-with the most interesting quests--so good one puts up with the above lame issues to experience it.

Gun play should make Cyberpunk 2077 far better-although I quess you could console action the crap out of that as well it will still be better than actiony sword play that just is so rediculous in the witcher series. I'm looking forward to it.

As for easy I don't mind--helps getting past the combat-which there is no way for me to enjoy--but rather tolerate. although it does put on a tamper on things the last thing I want to do is narrow the focus on combat even more by a higher difficulty setting. Keep in mind these guys dumped QTE's on us in this series and they seem to be learning what fans hate--but they never came close on combat sad to say.

I like the combat

Thanks for posting, GR.  You're one of the people I was specifically thinking of when I was discussing hard core RPG"ers who would rail against Witcher 3.  The fact that it gets your seal of approval, despite its flaws, is saying a lot.

Ok, you all have sold me.  I'm going to stick with it.  I mean, I am enjoying the story after all.  But this is no Morrowind.

And I definitely feel like it was designed with consoles in mind from the start.

I also like the combat in Witcher 3. And I couldn't for the life of me figure out wtf I was supposed to be doing in the combat in The Witcher 2. Had no issues with the original, but that was a very very different game.

Quote from: Toonces on July 27, 2017, 05:01:39 PM
Thanks for posting, GR.  You're one of the people I was specifically thinking of when I was discussing hard core RPG"ers who would rail against Witcher 3.  The fact that it gets your seal of approval, despite its flaws, is saying a lot.

Ok, you all have sold me.  I'm going to stick with it.  I mean, I am enjoying the story after all.  But this is no Morrowind.

Ramp up the difficulty (I followed Angry Joes review advice bought a controller for the PC and put it on the second highest difficulty setting).  Wait till you get to the witches...creepiest story and monsters I have ever battled.

The Witcher 3 is definitely one of the better "all round" open world games I have bought (open world, lots of quests (and not simply boring repeats), great loot and fantastic story).

I don't mind the combat and in fact would say I enjoy it given I'm not too prone to liking sword games (Skyrim didn't really flick my switches at all). Is that because Witcher 3 is dumbed down? I don't know and I can't really say I care considering whatever it is they did with the game tickled my fancy right from the off.

Superb game well worth the full entry price and a steal at anything less imo. You should stick with it. As mentioned, turn the difficulty up a bit. Enjoy the quests. Go rampaging off somewhere on your own between the story to break it up a bit.

'Purists' say The Witcher 3 is dumbed down, thereby implying that because I love it, I am dumbed down. F'em. If I enjoy it I could care less. And you are correct that purists also said that about Skyrim - they actually screamed it from the rooftops. Until Witcher 3, Skyrim was my top rpg of the last few years.

Funny you mention it Gus--I actually like the combat moreso in Skyrim as opposed to the combat in Witcher 3. It feels organic----as an example-creature swings at you---you block with shield---not only do you hear a nice 'thug' as the weapon hits but it knocks you back a bit. It is pretty close to what you'd expect in an actual sword fight.

The witcher on the other hand. Geraldt doing flips and rolls like batman at speeds only seen in a console Mortal Kombat fight. Here the world just ozz's reality and then you go into combat and get instantly ejected out of the reality -- the combat just screams..."Hah! your not in an alternate world--what were you thinking--this is a game!"

Luckily it isn't near as bad as previous titles--on my game mouse I can key a roll or whatnot to a side button---as anyone knows you do not stand and fight ---as you would realistically--in this game--no-you need to jump, roll and run around like spiderman with a firecracker stuck up his butt to suceed here---I don't even think those old corny Bruce Lee movies had this amount of rediculous circus moves--

...and amonst it all there's no sense at all a sword is connecting by sound nor stutter---unlike skyrim whereas your almost sure the game's physics engine is tied to it here it's just cartoon presentation with nary any feedback other than flashes of images going at light speed ---

I mean come on...no one fights like this. They just don't.

To go to such lengths to present a world and then throw this in-- I just shack my head and wonder what in the world were they thinking.

You do understand you're playing a character that has supernatural abilities? When you play Batman are you disappointed by all the cool gadgets and superhuman abilities?

Yeah I liked the combat because it made me feel like a supernatural badass.

Which is what Geralt is supposed to be.

A Supernatural Bad-Ass that beds lots of hot Babes. Or do they bed him? Either way a well-timed flip or roll comes in handy.

Quote from: mirth on July 28, 2017, 10:08:20 AM
You do understand you're playing a character that has supernatural abilities? When you play Batman are you disappointed by all the cool gadgets and superhuman abilities?

Exactly.  IMO, the combat reflects the books fairly well

Stay strong. One day we won't be oppressed for enjoying Witcher 3.

It's not easy being a Witcher.

Or a fan of a Witcher.

(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/45/c0/ff/45c0ff78f0758e6b5b5a58c1cfb5d781.jpg)

 \m/

You do understand you're playing a character that has supernatural abilities? When you play Batman are you disappointed by all the cool gadgets and superhuman abilities?


That is not correct in any way. there's absolutely nothing supernatural about witchers. They were created through alchemy experimentation and controlled mutations. Even the potions they drink that buff them is alchemy based. Alchemy is akin to Lance Armstrong dopping to win a bike race. Sure, he doesn't tire like the other riders and he seems to be stronger-but he certainly isn't defying the laws of physics or any other laws in our universe--gravity for example.

witchers are trained from childhood. Their bodies age much more slowly than those of ordinary humans, are immune to diseases, and can shrug off almost any poison. Witchers can also see in darkness and, thanks to the many modifications to their metabolism, are able to regulate the speed of their pulse and the flow of adrenaline, giving them unparalleled reflexes and strength. Again think of Lance Armstrong.

in any event these mutations are not supernatural--they don't come from other planets ala superman.They come from experiments by mages and the use of alchemy. High adrenaline ups strength, alertness...etc etc. But witchers still are governed by the laws of their world. They can't "supernaturally fly" and they certainly are not immortal. They die--as is seen by the deminishing numbers or in game by bad reflex responses from the player when defeated in combat.

That just isn't being mirrored by this mini game Mortal Kombat arcade rigamoral being sold as RPG combat. He'll be more accurate and his sword will hit harder-he'll be a bit faster-----but all said and done his actions would be part of the world and not in some other alternate world this combat portrays.

Combat in the third/first person is just very hard to do overall- but every attempt should be made to make it part of the world your trying to draw the player into. And I'm sorry but in my opinion they completely failed -- there's nothing organic about the combat. It isn't part of the world they portray. Therefore it breaks immersion---and puts a tamper on the experience for me.

They didn't get it all wrong though. As mentioned--Witchers are mutations with some buffed strength and speed and resistances-but they can still be defeated. They win by their training and the knowledge they learned about whatever beast they are attempting to slay. When a witcher downs a creature it has absolutely nothing to do with supernatural powers. The witcher knows what oil to put on his blade to target the creature's weakness. The game does mirrow that and does provide that--and it is key--or should be key- in winning the battle. Not Batman Bruce Lee in the matrix nonesense that the combat portrays. That combat in fact takes away from the strategy of knowing you foe and using the right tool or oil---just zip around and win! No special preperation needed--

And that's why it's rediculous--because it removes all the LORE we know about the witcher universe. In this game witchers can ignore all their training. They can completely ignore their Beast enchyclopedia- they can ignore oils and potions. You can simply dodge, roll and jump your way to victory every time.

Acording to the Lore it's not supposed to work like that.

Quote from: challerain on July 28, 2017, 11:56:16 AM

Quote from: mirth on July 28, 2017, 10:08:20 AM
You do understand you're playing a character that has supernatural abilities? When you play Batman are you disappointed by all the cool gadgets and superhuman abilities?

Exactly.  IMO, the combat reflects the books fairly well

After reading the above do you still stand by that? how exactly does this combat reflect the Lore in the books? You don't really need lifelong training in this game. A couple months learning to roll and dodge is what the combat portrays. Know your enemy? Totally optional in the game. Again roll and dodge supersedes that. Oils? It'll shorten the creatures death but it isn't really needed. Your still win by being Bruce Lee in the Matrix.

For this combat to REALLY mirror the books---ignoring your training and what you know about beasts as well as your oils should get you killed straight away. The combat in this game nullifies all the LORE and makes it pointless--it is exactly opposite of what the LORE is--

A witcher (or hexer) is someone who has undergone extensive training, ruthless mental and physical conditioning, and mysterious rituals (which take place at "witcher schools" such as Kaer Morhen) in preparation for becoming an itinerant monsterslayer for hire. Geralt, the central character in Andrzej Sapkowski's Witcher series and the subsequent games inspired by them, is said in the stories to be one of the greatest witchers; he is certainly legendary, but whether famous or infamous is more open to interpretation (and/or subject to gameplay, as the case may be).

Taken in as children, witchers-to-be are subjected to intense alchemical processes, consumption of mutagenic compounds, and relentless physical and magical training to make them dangerous and highly versatile against their vast array of opponents, many of which possess superhuman speed, strength and/or other deadly powers. These procedures ultimately mean that each fully-trained witcher is a mutant built specifically to hunt and kill inhuman prey. The key permanent results of mutations shared by all witchers include:

Sterility (which partially explains selection from the outsiders, as they cannot breed to pass on their traits).

Cat-like eyes that grant very acute nightvision - witchers can constrict their pupils to see in blinding light or open them to see in near pitch darkness. This nightvision can be further enhanced with the cat potion, but in general, it is good enough by itself to not require further enhancement.

Tremendous resistance to disease (which functions in most cases as complete immunity) and a boosted immune system, allowing them to consume large quantities of potions that could prove easily deadly if consumed even in small amounts by a normal man.

Exceptionally increased strength, speed, reflexes, and endurance, far beyond any normal or well-trained human, that allows them to swiftly end fights with minimal effort, and perform physical feats non-witchers couldn't hope to match. A witcher's physical skills alone are sufficient to defeat most monsters single-handedly if combined with extensive training and proper weaponry, whereas regular men could only hope to accomplish this in large groups. Witchers have also been shown to shrug off hits that would normally render normal men unconscious. Additionally, they have been known to survive the strikes of powerful monsters such as giants, or other beings possessing heruculean strength, that would otherwise kill others with a single blow. 

Having the ability to perform simple yet incredibly versatile combat magic in the form of signs. They also develop a sixth sense that allows them to "feel" things around them, be it items of importance or people's immediate intentions. This explains their uncanny ability to track and hunt people and monsters.

Accelerated healing granting quick recovery from injuries.

Incredibly long lifespan and prolonged youth (Vesemir is said to be at least a few centuries old but has the appearance of a middle-aged man).

The Witcher, and the world witchers live in, minimizes the supernatural, but it is still a part of the world and of witcher training. I can think of several side quests in Witcher 3 that I played that deal with haunted houses and similar types of things, as well as whole sections of the Bestiary that cover supernatural creatures like wraithes, phantoms, and the three horrific witches mentioned in the posts above. The world of The Witcher is crawling with the supernatural and so is The Witcher himself.

God I'm a nerd.

Quote from: ghostryder on July 29, 2017, 01:12:31 AM
You do understand you're playing a character that has supernatural abilities? When you play Batman are you disappointed by all the cool gadgets and superhuman abilities?


That is not correct in any way. there's absolutely nothing supernatural about witchers. They were created through alchemy experimentation and controlled mutations. Even the potions they drink that buff them is alchemy based. Alchemy is akin to Lance Armstrong dopping to win a bike race. Sure, he doesn't tire like the other riders and he seems to be stronger-but he certainly isn't defying the laws of physics or any other laws in our universe--gravity for example.

witchers are trained from childhood. Their bodies age much more slowly than those of ordinary humans, are immune to diseases, and can shrug off almost any poison. Witchers can also see in darkness and, thanks to the many modifications to their metabolism, are able to regulate the speed of their pulse and the flow of adrenaline, giving them unparalleled reflexes and strength. Again think of Lance Armstrong.

in any event these mutations are not supernatural--they don't come from other planets ala superman.They come from experiments by mages and the use of alchemy. High adrenaline ups strength, alertness...etc etc. But witchers still are governed by the laws of their world. They can't "supernaturally fly" and they certainly are not immortal. They die--as is seen by the deminishing numbers or in game by bad reflex responses from the player when defeated in combat.

That just isn't being mirrored by this mini game Mortal Kombat arcade rigamoral being sold as RPG combat. He'll be more accurate and his sword will hit harder-he'll be a bit faster-----but all said and done his actions would be part of the world and not in some other alternate world this combat portrays.

Combat in the third/first person is just very hard to do overall- but every attempt should be made to make it part of the world your trying to draw the player into. And I'm sorry but in my opinion they completely failed -- there's nothing organic about the combat. It isn't part of the world they portray. Therefore it breaks immersion---and puts a tamper on the experience for me.

They didn't get it all wrong though. As mentioned--Witchers are mutations with some buffed strength and speed and resistances-but they can still be defeated. They win by their training and the knowledge they learned about whatever beast they are attempting to slay. When a witcher downs a creature it has absolutely nothing to do with supernatural powers. The witcher knows what oil to put on his blade to target the creature's weakness. The game does mirrow that and does provide that--and it is key--or should be key- in winning the battle. Not Batman Bruce Lee in the matrix nonesense that the combat portrays. That combat in fact takes away from the strategy of knowing you foe and using the right tool or oil---just zip around and win! No special preperation needed--

And that's why it's rediculous--because it removes all the LORE we know about the witcher universe. In this game witchers can ignore all their training. They can completely ignore their Beast enchyclopedia- they can ignore oils and potions. You can simply dodge, roll and jump your way to victory every time.

Acording to the Lore it's not supposed to work like that.

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Forig12.deviantart.net%2Fef9f%2Ff%2F2011%2F090%2F0%2Fd%2Fdemotivational__old_man_yells_by_amaya_zorifuki-d3cwvbe.jpg&hash=c80d3e4ba947b471077b970e81802a6969724296)

Quote from: Gusington on July 29, 2017, 12:47:48 PM
The Witcher, and the world witchers live in, minimizes the supernatural, but it is still a part of the world and of witcher training. I can think of several side quests in Witcher 3 that I played that deal with haunted houses and similar types of things, as well as whole sections of the Bestiary that cover supernatural creatures like wraithes, phantoms, and the three horrific witches mentioned in the posts above. The world of The Witcher is crawling with the supernatural and so is The Witcher himself.

God I'm a nerd.

The problem with the fantasy role playing video game where the hero battles supernatural monsters is the unrealistic combat.

And that I'm a nerd.

Exactly.

LOL.

The point is...Witchers are not supernatural beings as is claimed above. They are mutated humans. Through Alchemy and a bit of magic...but not supernatural. They are not immortal. What gets them through combat is their lifelong training. That training isn't just Bruce lee at Matrix speed. It's the study of the beasts and demons. Oils and potions. And low level magic through signs. Combined with his body skills gives him an edge.

And again...in this game none of that matters. The only thing that determines the outcome of combat is your twitch response as in dodging and rolling. Fail that...you die. Do it right...you win. It is THE ONLY deciding factor. And that is NOT Witcher Lore.

the combat is BS to the lore. It literally throws the lore out so the player can partake in console action gaming. Oils and potions are treated as mere lip service to the lore of the books. they can be completely ignored. A lot of players don't bother. Some don't even bother with potions or ever look up a monster to discover what oil to use. It is, after all with this lame ass combat system rather pointless.

I'm glad I don't know anything about the series, the lore or the books - because I can thoroughly enjoy the game as a game.

I'm not being facetious here - I genuinely mean it. By knowing more about something (a period of history, an aircraft, a tank, a series) it can ruin your gaming experience (same for other mediums like films for example)

Quote from: ghostryder on July 29, 2017, 08:31:48 PM
The only thing that determines the outcome of combat is your twith response as in dodging and rolling. Fail that...you die. Do it right...you win. It is THE ONLY deciding factor.

no, not my experience!

IIRC  i had to fight some ghost-women in a side quest i took and died a lot.
(I had to ignore that quest several times and came back several times for another attempt later in a better leveled up situation.... i am not sure if that quest is not still open today in my last save-game;-) ) 
I was not able to do enuf damage until i had the right combination of oils and portions and a good blade and sufficient armor and sign-powers to see a chance ... jumping and rolling didn't helped to deal the damage and that bitch seemed to be recovering fast when not trapped or hit enuf.   

you are correct their might be a console kiddy out there that honed its evading-rolls skills to the max
but with a boring shitload of his lifetime wasted to train the skills to win a fight with a vanilla-Gerald figure and a starters blade   ...and to later brag about his silly achievement to the world on YT video .

but that's not a fun way to enjoy the game and the story 
its just a long long grind of training to hone a gamy trick to overcome the game mechanics, like Sport Stacking nonsense with plastic cups.

and if i remember the novels well, light of foot evading skill is an important part of Witcher education so it has to be in the game somehow , he is not a tank who put up a stand-up fight like a Conan the Barbarian
even so the evading skill from the novels are not portrayed nice in the game with this 'jump and roll'. it should be more like a backward sidestep swirl 'dance of a fencers' (i don't have the right English expression for it.... you get the idea)           

Quote from: JudgeDredd on July 30, 2017, 02:28:20 AM
I'm glad I don't know anything about the series, the lore or the books - because I can thoroughly enjoy the game as a game.

I'm not being facetious here - I genuinely mean it. By knowing more about something (a period of history, an aircraft, a tank, a series) it can ruin your gaming experience (same for other mediums like films for example)

It does have it's downside...that's for sure. Watching Bethseda mangle Tamreil was a nightmare. The grandest city of them all...portrayed in Oblivion couldn't even be compared to vivec in Morrowind. Lost ancient crepts...every ten feet you were tripping over them. Skyrim brought back some of that space and openness that was all squashed and minimized in oblivion....to of course fit in the 256k ram of an xbox.

Witchers are not immortal, true. But the existence of alchemy and magic and the Witchers' use of them to some degree shows a level of supernatural influence. The supernatural is a part of the whole Witcher world and the way it is presented (in a subdued) way is one of the reasons I like it so much.

And I enjoy Witcher 3 combat...for me it went from impossible to figure out in Witcher 2 to fun and fast in Witcher 3.

Come on Gus. your reaching. just because witchers fight supernatural beings doesn't make witchers supernatural. By your logic even the victims of said supernatural beings would be supernatural. Magic-mana-is not in itself supernatural either. It's a power source. And magic overall -much like LOTR-is used sparingly and at low levels. In that 3 movie trilogy I don't think Gandalf used magic more than 4 times. In the hobbit he used his sword almost exclusively.

In the witcher most Kings have their own mage--and that mage basically deals in potions and such. in rare instances-like during an assasination attempt-will you see them use it. There's a couple quests regarding evil mages-but like the sole combat example given above...one encounter doesn't make it common. What you and MikeGer are claiming is that one isolated battle/quest somehow mirrors the other hundreds of battles/quests in the game. Hogwash. As a general rule combat is all twitch. And the twitch decides if you win or die. Nothing else. Even with difficulty cranked up you can count on one hand when any of that ever matters. And generally it's moreso a 'not being high enough in level' rather than you must use a certain oil.

Saying that of the three titles this is the best combat---although witcher 1 really did require the correct oils or you had a very hard time. witcher 2 was so bad I couldn't get far in the game. This...although I'm certainly not a fan of the combat is something I can at least tolerate to experience the rest of the game. So don't let this discussion sway you away from the game. I only expanded on it because people were wrongly saying a witcher was some supernatural being with unearthly abilities.

All his abilities are in fact earthly.

but imagine how cool it would be if things came down to those oils and beast database---

Batman isn't supernatural either, but I don't want him to fight like a regular dude. And I don't get upset by the Arkham games because Batman has superhuman abilities and James Bond gadgets.

Witchers, by dint of their training and enhancements by potions, etc, possess superhuman abilities. You can be pedantic and claim the high ground that they aren't 'supernatural', but the notion that they are regular dudes is ludicrous.

QuoteTaken in as children, witchers-to-be are subjected to intense alchemical (http://witcher.wikia.com/wiki/Alchemy) processes, consumption of mutagenic (http://witcher.wikia.com/wiki/Mutagen) compounds, and relentless physical and magical training to make them dangerous and highly versatile against their vast array of opponents, many of which possess superhuman speed, strength and/or other deadly powers. These procedures ultimately mean that each fully-trained witcher is a mutant built specifically to hunt and kill inhuman prey. The key permanent results of mutations shared by all witchers include:

   
• Sterility (which partially explains selection from the outsiders, as they cannot breed to pass on their traits).
• Cat-like eyes that grant very acute nightvision - witchers can constrict their pupils to see in blinding light or open them to see in near pitch darkness. This nightvision can be further enhanced with the cat potion, but in general, it is good enough by itself to not require further enhancement.
• Tremendous resistance to disease (which functions in most cases as complete immunity) and a boosted immune system, allowing them to consume large quantities of potions that could prove easily deadly if consumed even in small amounts by a normal man.
• Exceptionally increased strength, speed, reflexes, and endurance, far beyond any normal or well-trained human, that allows them to swiftly end fights with minimal effort, and perform physical feats non-witchers couldn't hope to match. A witcher's physical skills alone are sufficient to defeat most monsters single-handedly if combined with extensive training and proper weaponry, whereas regular men could only hope to accomplish this in large groups. Witchers have also been shown to shrug off hits that would normally render normal men unconscious. Additionally, they have been known to survive the strikes of powerful monsters such as giants, or other beings possessing heruculean strength, that would otherwise kill others with a single blow.   
• Having the ability to perform simple yet incredibly versatile combat magic in the form of signs. They also develop a sixth sense that allows them to "feel" things around them, be it items of importance or people's immediate intentions. This explains their uncanny ability to track and hunt people and monsters.
• Accelerated healing granting quick recovery from injuries.
• Incredibly long lifespan and prolonged youth (Vesemir (http://witcher.wikia.com/wiki/Vesemir) is said to be at least a few centuries old but has the appearance of a middle-aged man).

Gee, if only my uber-trained, mutant monsterslayer fought like a regular human  ::)

To clarify, I think if Witchers embrace supernatural oils and potions and other practices, which they do, it makes them to some degree supernatural.

If you read the books-of which all have not been translated---or view episodes of the old witcher series that was produced--combat is always a chore and is always full of danger. Never...ever...does he non chalantly just battle his way ala Batman or superman---many are very close calls and he barely...just barely succeeds.

That is the drama. The always present  possability he overlooks something and gets his ass handed to him. and BTW that is exactly why witcher numbers are diminishing. Mutated to live long is an oxymoron as most witchers die young in battle. With the pressures of bigotry recruit numbers shrank--to the point they can't replenish to replace the fallen.

It is also intellectually dishonest to invoke the comic book soap opera worlds of Batman in an argument in The witcher worlds. It's as rediculous as bringing it into the game of Thrones. because that adult dark fantasy of Game of Thrones is exactly the gendre The Witcher resides in. And there's no one going around like batman in the Game of Thrones.

And Gus-your making false statements to argue false statements. Potions and oils are Alchemy. They are not Supernatural. There is no such thing as a supernatural oil or potion in the Witcher world. They battle the supernatural--that's as close as it comes.

If you're going to reference Game of Thrones, how would you categorize everything north of The Wall? Are the White Walkers supernatural?

And how would you categorize alchemy itself and the powers alchemy gives to The Witcher? The powers alchemy gives are not natural, they are a step above natural, at least.

Quote from: ghostryder on July 31, 2017, 01:09:42 AM
If you read the books-of which all have not been translated---or view episodes of the old witcher series that was produced--combat is always a chore and is always full of danger. Never...ever...does he non chalantly just battle his way ala Batman or superman---many are very close calls and he barely...just barely succeeds.

I don't give a rat's ass about the books. I am interested in playing a video game. And I want to feel like a badass monster-slayer while I am slaying the monsters.

QuoteIt is also intellectually dishonest to invoke the comic book soap opera worlds of Batman in an argument in The witcher worlds. It's as rediculous as bringing it into the game of Thrones. because that adult dark fantasy of Game of Thrones is exactly the gendre The Witcher resides in. And there's no one going around like batman in the Game of Thrones.

Because the Witcher universe is entirely grounded in reality? Mutant monster-slayers fighting demons, witches and super natural monsters. Sounds realistic to me. I mean, we're talking Buffy the Vampire Slayer levels of realism.

You've missed my point. my point is there's comic book Lore and there's witcher lore. Apples and oranges. doesn't matter what batman does in the comics- he isn't in the witcher universe. My argument from the get go is the combat betrays the Lore. Involking batman in the debate is rather pointless.

I don't give a rat's ass about the books. I am interested in playing a video game. And I want to feel like a badass monster-slayer while I am slaying the monsters.


Which is how they get away with it. It's how Walmart becomes number one. Low expectations and low bars. Thus you get what you want and another fine world gets dumbed down for the xbox crowd.

Quote from: Gusington on July 31, 2017, 08:31:27 AM
If you're going to reference Game of Thrones, how would you categorize everything north of The Wall? Are the White Walkers supernatural?

And how would you categorize alchemy itself and the powers alchemy gives to The Witcher? The powers alchemy gives are not natural, they are a step above natural, at least.

Good points gus. many things north of the wall i'd say could be supernatural. john Snow coming back to life as well. But that doesn't justify batman gung fu. nor does it make every character 'supernatural'. i'd argue even the dragon queen isn't supernatural. She'a a hot babe that also stars in Terminator movies -- but her abilities-as explained btw--are dynasty based....she has the blood.

but remember--as buffed as the witcher is...the monsters in this lore are even more buffed. A werewolf can hand geraldt his ass--only his training and knowledge and the use of proper oils allows him to defeat one. That's how the Lore is. But that's not how the combat in the game is.

if your going to create a world at least respect it's rules....don't bend them to appaise the bean counters looking at console gamers. That ultimately leads to Fallout 4 type games. We got enough of that crap. you want action go play something sold as such. I understand the batman games are very good in this regard. but don't ruin my RPG.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Quote from: mirth on July 31, 2017, 05:55:22 PM
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

:2funny:

OK so if the creatures that The Witcher fights can kick his ass...which is true - don't wander into areas you are not prepared for in this game - doesn't that make the game a little less dumbed down?

Quote from: Gusington on July 31, 2017, 07:48:49 PM
OK so if the creatures that The Witcher fights can kick his ass...which is true - don't wander into areas you are not prepared for in this game - doesn't that make the game a little less dumbed down?

^ I done exactly this and ended up giving up and moving out the area - I just couldn't kill what I had to. I think it was Level 10 and I was 7 or 8

Me too! I chalked it up to 'a learning experience.'

Storm of Zehir for Neverwinter Nights 2 uses a map of the surrounding area with wandering parties of monsters, soldiers, etc. and they're labeled by what they are, what level they are and whether hostile, friendly, or neutral. But the info is based on what you know about them, your ability to "Spot", "Listen", and your "Survival" skills. So what you think you know maybe wrong. You know you can kick plenty of Kobold-Ass but how many Ogres can you handle? And while you're trying to decide, the wandering parties also can "Spot" you. And come after you.  :hide:  It all works surprisingly well and makes exploring fun.

I like that sort of thing. Auto level games...like bethseda games level the monsters to you. It is actually a cheat in the game to not level and stay level 1-- as abilities don't start being added until the higher levels-and monsters are actually more difficult once they get them. You have no sense of progress in these games-and the exploration aspect is tampened because everywhere you go the monsters will always be at your level.

For those of you who loved Witcher...here is a little nostalgia tribute celebrating Witchers 10th anniversary

I have to admit I actually got excited and a little bit emotional seeing these characters again all interacting.  Never had that from a computer game.

Great vid from one of the greatest RPG series of all time.

Great vid. It brings it back home immersive the game is.
I need to replay Witcher 3 after seeing this. Anyone replayed it fully for a second time? Is it as good as the first run?

I still have to play Heart of Stone and Blood and Wine, but I would not hesitate to play the main game through again. Looking forward to the Gwent standalone game's campaign too, even though I really sucked at Gwent in the main game.

You're making me all weepy!

Keep it together, man.

Damn, I really need to step away from board gaming and model making to play this game.

I'm gonna lose it. I'm all faclempt.

I don't know why, but it just doesn't grab me. Maybe its the lack of customization for the player character. I just never feel like he is my own. The combat is also not satisfying. Still, I do see how the game is a technical marvel and how the game world is a true achievement.

JH justs wants more love from Geralt.

It didn't really grab me either, Jarhead.  I posted a diatribe a few pages back a while ago.

#faclempt

#covfefe

Witcher Lives Matter

They certainly do.

Quote from: Jarhead0331 on September 20, 2017, 08:50:07 AM
I don't know why, but it just doesn't grab me. Maybe its the lack of customization for the player character. I just never feel like he is my own. The combat is also not satisfying. Still, I do see how the game is a technical marvel and how the game world is a true achievement.

Same for me. As much as I like so many aspects of the game, Geralt is not a character I would create, he doesn't look like or act like someone I would want to roleplay, and although I've managed to sink into one or the other Witcher iterations for a while a couple of times, not liking Geralt always pulls me out prematurely.

That is not a proven method.

Witchers use the rhythm method with 100% success

Hahaha

Wait...was that 2:08 the whole video?

WTF?

#faclempt

The Witcher III is a superb game. It was superbly immersive. All the characters were very believable and the dialog was extremely well done imo. I only just managed to stop short as dressing as one when playing, it was that immersive for me.

As for the combat, I've heard it was dumbed down and that it wasn't as good as I (or II). I wasn't exposed to the combat in those games, but I thought the combat was very well done and very enjoyable. I can't compare it to 1 or 2, but I can compare it to other 3rd person games and the combat stacked up very well for me.

Horses for courses - but I loved it  :clap:

I could never get a grip of Gwent though.  :uglystupid2:

Quote from: Jarhead0331 on September 20, 2017, 08:50:07 AM
I don't know why, but it just doesn't grab me. Maybe its the lack of customization for the player character. I just never feel like he is my own.

maybe there is a misunderstanding of Witcher (3) as an RPG from the beginning for some people.
if you would get yourself a James Bond Game or let's say a Batman game, you get of course James Bond or Batman.
You may can find, craft or adjust the gadgets Batman typically has at his disposal in the 'Batman universe', but you cant set-up or evolve your Batman character into Superman or Spiderman or in any 'compose your own superhero-crossover'-vision. Batman does Batman-stuff and use Batman approaches to solve problems.
Maybe there should have been better communication that you roleplay not 'a Witcher' but The Witcher  ...just like a Western game where you actually roleplay Doc Holliday, with TB disease, O.K. Corral and all, and not just a gunslinger-type in the West

Witcher is based on a "historic figure", protagonist in a very good novel series which was there before the game, which is the reason that this fictional universe and the narrative is so honed and so can be very immersive from the beginning when you let yourself get sucked into this world.

well, I could imagine a future spin-off game in the Witcher world as a procedural sandbox or MMO (probably set a few hundred years before The Witcher was born so closer to the conjuction-event. and the world was more rich of beasts and still contested by all the races and so there would be no conflict with the well known novel narrative) and in that game you could be free to chose to be any kind of person from any faction or even an entity and just room around and interact.
 

I could never grasp the combat in the 2nd Witcher. The first game, I enjoyed.

It helps to have a gaming mouse when dealing with the combat. It's still console action but remapping the roll key alone will go a long way. I think the combat is far better than 1 or 2-- saying that the combat of 1 and 2 kept me from finishing either game. As good as the world is the mechanics always work to kill it for me. It is an action adventure to me and not an RPG. To be an RPG stats should always determine hits and misses and not reflex response from the player--once your in that area you got an action game. It's a better world than what Bethseda puts out, it's more interesting, has better characters and is better acted and voiced. But bethseda does everything else better. Combat in a bethseda game doesn't remove the player from the world like it does in the witcher--it feels a part of the world.

I think guns are going to work far better for how CDPROJECT wants to do things and I think I'm going to enjoy their Cyberware game far more.

I agree with you on The Witcher 2 combat and I remember peeps recommending remapping the controls, but I never did it. And I didn't get beyond the tutorial. Maybe I should go back to The Witcher 2.

CDPR did a great job with The Witcher 3 all around IMHO, but a lot of the credit for tbe world has to go to the author.

http://www.pcgamer.com/the-witcher-3-outgrossed-some-of-2017s-biggest-games-because-its-just-that-good/

I did not know that CD Projekt owned GOG...more reason for me to be content at having bought The Witcher 3 there.

That's actually odd/interesting as I think gog billing comes through from an Italian exchange but CD Projekt is a polish company.

Quote from: Gusington on January 09, 2018, 08:47:30 AM
I did not know that CD Projekt owned GOG...more reason for me to be content at having bought The Witcher 3 there.

Some day Cyberpunk 2077 may actually show up, too.

Although Witcher 3's camera view was making me a bit nauseous, as do so many other 1st/3rd-person console adaptations.  Which sucks because it looked like fun. 

I hope Cyberpunk has some more in-game camera view adjustment options for the PC version, but that's usually not the case.  :tickedoff:

Wonder how this game would look on a 34" monitor?  :dreamer:

Awesome but bigger.

Quote from: Gusington on January 09, 2018, 03:14:34 PM
Awesome but bigger.

Giggity.

^HA

On my phone right now so I can't link but the Gwent campaign game that CDProjektRed have been working on has morphed in to Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales...a full RPG with combat, quests, etc., resolved through playing the Gwent card game. This is the best news I have read today!