[Mentalist]

Did Keira quest line yesterday. Very well done. Those consequences Am mentions? Read the updated glossary...

At this point I hit lvl 11 and have almost no "low level optional content" left (note: I still haven't tried crossing the river, beyond going into Oxenfurt)

Gonna put some time into main story. I also need to check out that tomb f for the Griffon gear set.

[Mentalist]

Mentalist's list of Wild Hunt decions (to be updated, full. Of spoilers, naturally)
Only including stuff I think is major (and obviously, only stuff I remember)

Spoiler

I killed the sco'ia'tel crew. It didn't seem right to keep letting them murder folks, and when I told them off, they attacked me. Killed the whole crew, bare-knuckled.

Letho: I actually save-scummed this to help him fake his death effectively. Sent him to Caer Morhen. (CM)

Keira: I freed the decease ghost in a fairytale ending gone wrong. Turned down her advances when she asked me out. Convinced her to hide out in CM. Did not take the notes from her (likely a mistake. In TW2 I killed Cynthia to prevent the othe set of notes from falling into Nilfgaard's hands)

BB: I lifted the curse off his stillborn. Not done the quests yet.

Minor stuff that comes to mind: beat up the "Blasphemer's" who were messing up altars. Scared the "devil" thing under the manor to behave, didn't tell the peasants about him.
I've not yet once refused to take money for a Witcher contract, when the option was there. Sorry, peasants, but repairing my gear costs money.

To be continued....

Edit: Aug4
Freed tree spirit. Ouch, sorry BB.
Keeping it cool with T'riss so far.
Spared the doppler and the succubus.

Aug 14
Participated in the "Gangs of Novigrad" quest in part-did the casino hit. Played the Gladiator Pits straight.
-Killed Bastard Junior
-Gave Filippa's Crystal to T'riss. Killed the Witch Hunters (well, they left me no choice). Didn't report to Radovid yet
-Helped Roche save Ves. Told them to spare the Nilf knight. expecting problems from this.

Weekend Aug 14-16:
-Killed Menge. I dunno if there was any way to avoid it, but I asked about the treasure first, Dandelion second, which pissed him off a lot.

-Told Radovid about Fiippa w/o any evidence
-Helped out T'riss with the masquerade. Told her her not to go save the mage couple in Gold quarter. Didn't ask her to stay, nor did I respond to her advances in the park maze. Overall, I kept it professional with her.
-helped out Zoltan with the cards, let "Duke" walk, took cards as reward.

Aug 17: Took Dijkstra's offer (well, stumbled into it, really: I was looking for Roche to play for his unique card. Glad I did, b/c I love Thaler, even though I'm not convinced by the new voice actor)
Let Priscilla choose the wallpaper.

Late August: Skellige stuff
Lost the racw to Kerys, stupid jumping.
Master herbalist: spared the wild succubus

Kerys's quest on Spikeroog (sp?)-did the chyme thing her way. (tricked it)

Lifter the curse off the werewolf raider, then killed him (probably should've asked for the treasure first)
Helped Yen, told her I love her.
After killing the Frost Giant, told the Jarl's son to claim the glory.
Supported Kerys's bid- as tempting as it'd be to have the islanders charge the Nilfs, a ruler must have a brain first and foremost.

Minor quests: Heart of the Forest-did the ritual, rather than fight the Leshy. Then let Sven finish his "revolution".
Niting: put the curse back on the herbalist. Killing kids is just wrong.

Before grabbing the lighthouse contract early on, I avoided the fight with the 2 youths. I suspect this may be why Yorund died later.

This post has been edited by Mentalist: 01 September 2015 - 01:49 PM

[Mentalist]

Played a ton over the long weekend. Finished Velen questline, made it to Novigrad. Did a quick sweep of all the job boards and took a peek at most of the landmarks without spending much time doing extra things (basically this means "ignored bandit camps and rode past random mobs")
Level 15 now, and getting addicted to collecting Gwent cards. The game itself is ok (though like most, I agree that Siegemaster deck is insanely good build. That being said, i've faced some crazy Sco'ia'tel and Monster Decks, an i'd be willing to try them, if I had the cards).

Main quest is still meandering a bit. Upon completing th initial Novigrad quest (lvl 10), i'm over-leveled for a lvl 7 again. I went back to wrap up up bunch of low-level side quests before they went grey. notable side quest- the one where out of nowhere you encounter

Spoiler

Lambert. And he's gay, apparently? (translation didn't make it completely clear)

Plan right now is to collect as much Grifin gear as I can before shipping out to Skellige (need to hit lvl 18 to equip the gear). I still have a bunch of lvl 20+ contracts and scavenger hunts, as well well as treasures guarded by lvl 20+ critters, but I figure i'll go back for them later.

Bugs: the DLC quest "Fool's gold" is bugged. This is a known issue. Maybe it will re-set if I come back from Skellige, gotta check.
Have one annoying unsolved scavenger hunt, unsure if it's a bug. On the west coast, close to the entrence , the elf's hideout, there was a pirate camp and a bunch of open Graves. There's a chest there, i'm pretty sure I looted it, but now it's showing as "locked". I MAY have disposed of that particular key by breaking down @ a smith's, but the chest no longer glows red in Witcher sense, leading me to conclude it's just bugged and not registering completion for whatever reason.

Edit: remember how I complained about money in White Orchard? Over 10k right now, an frankly ionno what to spend it on. Whenever you see recipes or maps, I don't even look at the price anymore, I just buy.

Skills: focusing on passive defence. Alt Axii is great for group fights. Next up gonna unlock Griffin school buff since these days i'm sporting griffin gear.
Alchemy- the ekimma brew rocks: gett HP back for damage I deal. What can be better? And every time an enemy counters, time slows down so that I can dodge.

This post has been edited by Mentalist: 04 August 2015 - 02:24 PM

[Avatar]

Game still so good. Level 19 now, on Skellige, did main quest first. Man, the Islands are beautiful! You've got some great stuff in front of you, Mentalist. Loved a sidequest withGerald and Yen, this game is among the best written games I've played. (And I do love good storytelling) Skellige's sidequests are next, some exploring before I move on.

[paradanmellow]

amphibian, on 27 July 2015 - 12:58 AM, said:

I have not played the games, just read the books which derive strongly from them.

Sapkowski made it a point to show how small courses of action at seemingly non-important junctions affect everything later and the reveal is only done later, in reverie driven by regret.

I didn't play either, although been asked to. Fast reaction time just not my thing. As for the game's music, I got to get this off my chest somewhere and what better place than here? If it's consistent with what I heard in the trailer, I will honestly puke my guts out. (one-woman wail trope)
Now why would you mention Sapkowski? He's got nothing to do with the game, other than providing the inspirational books.

[Aptorian]

paradanmellow, on 09 August 2015 - 11:47 PM, said:

Now why would you mention Sapkowski? He's got nothing to do with the game, other than providing the inspirational books.

Maybe play the game before you judge it and make up your own conclusions?

[paradanmellow]

Apt, on 10 August 2015 - 05:07 AM, said:

paradanmellow, on 09 August 2015 - 11:47 PM, said:

Now why would you mention Sapkowski? He's got nothing to do with the game, other than providing the inspirational books.

Maybe play the game before you judge it and make up your own conclusions?

Well, he said so himself, why do I need to check if he lied or not?

[Gothos]

Mentalist, on 04 August 2015 - 02:14 PM, said:

Played a ton over the long weekend. Finished Velen questline, made it to Novigrad. Did a quick sweep of all the job boards and took a peek at most of the landmarks without spending much time doing extra things (basically this means "ignored bandit camps and rode past random mobs")
Level 15 now, and getting addicted to collecting Gwent cards. The game itself is ok (though like most, I agree that Siegemaster deck is insanely good build. That being said, i've faced some crazy Sco'ia'tel and Monster Decks, an i'd be willing to try them, if I had the cards).

Gwent is one thing I never really did seriously, if I get my second playthrough going at some point seriously, I;m definitely doing that tho.
Also, yeah, at some point you just start ignoring stuff like camps. All it gives you is encumberance Whoever else has had to backtrack when exploring from all the shit they pick up from random treasures and contraband? I've trashed orange items for melitele's sake.

Quote

Main quest is still meandering a bit. Upon completing th initial Novigrad quest (lvl 10), i'm over-leveled for a lvl 7 again. I went back to wrap up up bunch of low-level side quests before they went grey. notable side quest- the one where out of nowhere you encounter

Spoiler

Lambert. And he's gay, apparently? (translation didn't make it completely clear)

Spoiler

He's not. You'll see probably depending how you handled some other stuff

More problems with pacing in this game - this q has you go to Skellige BUT is rather low level, being below the Skellige difficulty curve. It's weird.

Quote

Edit: remember how I complained about money in White Orchard? Over 10k right now, an frankly ionno what to spend it on. Whenever you see recipes or maps, I don't even look at the price anymore, I just buy.

The only reason to have money in this game seems to be buying the maps for gear sets and then buying the rare materials. Pays to keep some money lying around.

Quote

Skills: focusing on passive defence. Alt Axii is great for group fights. Next up gonna unlock Griffin school buff since these days i'm sporting griffin gear.
Alchemy- the ekimma brew rocks: gett HP back for damage I deal. What can be better? And every time an enemy counters, time slows down so that I can dodge.

I went for light armor and strong offense, by the end of the game I was doing like 1,8k jabs. Swordmaster > * as usual.

[Aptorian]

paradanmellow, on 10 August 2015 - 07:17 AM, said:

Apt, on 10 August 2015 - 05:07 AM, said:

paradanmellow, on 09 August 2015 - 11:47 PM, said:

Now why would you mention Sapkowski? He's got nothing to do with the game, other than providing the inspirational books.

Maybe play the game before you judge it and make up your own conclusions?

Well, he said so himself, why do I need to check if he lied or not?

Because the stuff you are dismissing is quite literally everywhere in the Witcher 3. I haven't read the books but it's pretty clear that the game is littered with homages to the books.

[paradanmellow]

Apt, on 10 August 2015 - 07:56 AM, said:

paradanmellow, on 10 August 2015 - 07:17 AM, said:

Apt, on 10 August 2015 - 05:07 AM, said:

paradanmellow, on 09 August 2015 - 11:47 PM, said:

Now why would you mention Sapkowski? He's got nothing to do with the game, other than providing the inspirational books.

Maybe play the game before you judge it and make up your own conclusions?

Well, he said so himself, why do I need to check if he lied or not?

Because the stuff you are dismissing is quite literally everywhere in the Witcher 3. I haven't read the books but it's pretty clear that the game is littered with homages to the books.

I said the same thing, didn't I? We are not contradicting each other.
I witnessed what I could of the game, and the things I was interested in, like concept art and its implementation are indeed spectacular, worthy of a vigorous nod. That cinematic trailer, the one with the vampire, for example, is one f*ing huge homage. I was not dismissing the game, just the shitty, unimaginative music. As for gameplay, I could hardly attest to it, even if I tried. I prefer to take other people's word for it.

[Dadding]

paradanmellow, on 09 August 2015 - 11:47 PM, said:

Now why would you mention Sapkowski? He's got nothing to do with the game, other than providing the inspirational books.

That's like asking why someone mentions the author of a book when discussing the movie adaptation. Of course they're related, even if the author had little or no influence on the decision process.

paradanmellow, on 10 August 2015 - 08:14 AM, said:

I was not dismissing the game, just the shitty, unimaginative music. As for gameplay, I could hardly attest to it, even if I tried. I prefer to take other people's word for it.

It seems you're one of the few who dislikes the soundtrack... Not saying that the masses are always right, but I don't think I've heard anyone else attack the game on that front yet. The music seems universally-loved.

http://www.vgmonline.net/witcher3/
https://gameborn.wor...er-3-wild-hunt/
http://www.pocket-li...er-since-skyrim
http://www.wearejust...ial-soundtrack/
http://www.dualshock...-to-be-a-gamer/

[Maark Abbott]

Apt, on 10 August 2015 - 05:07 AM, said:

paradanmellow, on 09 August 2015 - 11:47 PM, said:

Now why would you mention Sapkowski? He's got nothing to do with the game, other than providing the inspirational books.

Maybe play the game before you judge it and make up your own conclusions?

Of course he has nothing to do with the books. Except providing the characters, the world, the setting, the stories that actually lead directly into the games (which act as sequels to the books, in essence)...

[paradanmellow]

Dadding, on 10 August 2015 - 12:06 PM, said:

paradanmellow, on 09 August 2015 - 11:47 PM, said:

Now why would you mention Sapkowski? He's got nothing to do with the game, other than providing the inspirational books.

That's like asking why someone mentions the author of a book when discussing the movie adaptation. Of course they're related, even if the author had little or no influence on the decision process.

paradanmellow, on 10 August 2015 - 08:14 AM, said:

I was not dismissing the game, just the shitty, unimaginative music. As for gameplay, I could hardly attest to it, even if I tried. I prefer to take other people's word for it.

It seems you're one of the few who dislikes the soundtrack... Not saying that the masses are always right, but I don't think I've heard anyone else attack the game on that front yet. The music seems universally-loved.

http://www.vgmonline.net/witcher3/
https://gameborn.wor...er-3-wild-hunt/
http://www.pocket-li...er-since-skyrim
http://www.wearejust...ial-soundtrack/
http://www.dualshock...-to-be-a-gamer/

If you put it this way, everything is related, even you and I.
Also, there is only appreciation in those links. Where are the haters? I would be much obliged if you pointed me to them instead, so we could have something to talk about. Even form a syndicate or some other type of organized resistance.
Actually, this is a call to arms! (muhahaha)

On a more serious note, I have nothing against the game, and even against its music. The soundtrack was created by people who know more about such things that I ever will, yet it is not excluded to be surprised when asking them their honest opinion on what commercial success implies. Also, it's good some people read the books and felt inspired to live the adventure as much as they understood it, either using the books as a backbone for cutting monsters and solving puzzles, or to put a face on some dear characters while making a buck on the side. It's a win-win situation. Although Sapkowski seems a bit embittered, unwilling to talk about the game. He's clearly said no to it. The link below has plenty of interesting comments on this matter and it would be pointless to add more to it.
http://www.rpgwatch....ead.php?t=18571

[Dadding]

paradanmellow, on 10 August 2015 - 01:01 PM, said:

Dadding, on 10 August 2015 - 12:06 PM, said:

paradanmellow, on 09 August 2015 - 11:47 PM, said:

Now why would you mention Sapkowski? He's got nothing to do with the game, other than providing the inspirational books.

That's like asking why someone mentions the author of a book when discussing the movie adaptation. Of course they're related, even if the author had little or no influence on the decision process.

paradanmellow, on 10 August 2015 - 08:14 AM, said:

I was not dismissing the game, just the shitty, unimaginative music. As for gameplay, I could hardly attest to it, even if I tried. I prefer to take other people's word for it.

It seems you're one of the few who dislikes the soundtrack... Not saying that the masses are always right, but I don't think I've heard anyone else attack the game on that front yet. The music seems universally-loved.

http://www.vgmonline.net/witcher3/
https://gameborn.wor...er-3-wild-hunt/
http://www.pocket-li...er-since-skyrim
http://www.wearejust...ial-soundtrack/
http://www.dualshock...-to-be-a-gamer/

If you put it this way, everything is related, even you and I.
Also, there is only appreciation in those links. Where are the haters? I would be much obliged if you pointed me to them instead, so we could have something to talk about. Even form a syndicate or some other type of organized resistance.
Actually, this is a call to arms! (muhahaha)

On a more serious note, I have nothing against the game, and even against its music. The soundtrack was created by people who know more about such things that I ever will, yet it is not excluded to be surprised when asking them their honest opinion on what commercial success implies. Also, it's good some people read the books and felt inspired to live the adventure as much as they understood it, either using the books as a backbone for cutting monsters and solving puzzles, or to put a face on some dear characters while making a buck on the side. It's a win-win situation. Although Sapkowski seems a bit embittered, unwilling to talk about the game. He's clearly said no to it. The link below has plenty of interesting comments on this matter and it would be pointless to add more to it.
http://www.rpgwatch....ead.php?t=18571

What do you mean "put it this way"? There is a clear connection between Sapowski and the game because the game draws its source material from the man. There's no logically leap you have to make, they are related, like peanut butter and jelly. You can have a jam sandwich, you can have a peanut butter sandwich, but a peanut butter and jam sandwich is not that far off. Okay not the best metaphor. I know Sapowski didn't influence the shaping of the game, but the game was influenced -nay would not be possible without- his original material. It's only natural that we touch on Sapowski when discussing the game, there's no if or buts about it. I realize that the game is not a sequel, or "cannon", but they are both clearly concerned with some of the same characters, places, events, history, and ideas.

I didn't include negative reviews about the Witcher soundtrack quite simply because I couldn't find any. The only complaint I've heard is people getting tired of the music after hearing it dozens of times.. which is to be expected in a game the size of the Witcher 3.


You say you have nothing against the soundtrack but you've just said that it could make you "puke your guts out" and called it "shitty and unimaginative"...

[Gothos]

paradanmellow, on 10 August 2015 - 01:01 PM, said:

On a more serious note, I have nothing against the game, and even against its music. The soundtrack was created by people who know more about such things that I ever will, yet it is not excluded to be surprised when asking them their honest opinion on what commercial success implies. Also, it's good some people read the books and felt inspired to live the adventure as much as they understood it, either using the books as a backbone for cutting monsters and solving puzzles, or to put a face on some dear characters while making a buck on the side. It's a win-win situation. Although Sapkowski seems a bit embittered, unwilling to talk about the game. He's clearly said no to it. The link below has plenty of interesting comments on this matter and it would be pointless to add more to it.
http://www.rpgwatch....ead.php?t=18571

I wouldn't count that as him being embittered. It only seems like he's oldschool and closeminded when it comes to art forms, and that shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who's been in contact with that persona for more than a few years. His opinion that a story can only be told by a book is foolish, empty and preposterously wrong, but it's his prerogative to have it - it's, after all, an element of the personality that gave us the books.

As a longtime fan of the books, I can say that the games capture the spirit of Sapkowski's writing, something that I would testify to. Certainly better than that godawful movie/series...

[paradanmellow]

Dadding, on 10 August 2015 - 01:29 PM, said:

You say you have nothing against the soundtrack but you've just said that it could make you "puke your guts out" and called it "shitty and unimaginative"...

Okay, okay, let's leave it at 'personal preference' and not lose any sleep over it. I plainly contradicted myself trying to end the debate.

Gothos, on 10 August 2015 - 01:29 PM, said:

As a longtime fan of the books, I can say that the games capture the spirit of Sapkowski's writing, something that I would testify to. Certainly better than that godawful movie/series...

Oh, indeed that series was appalling. What were they thinking? Was it something like: we have some budget, we have some starving actors, we need only a book to adapt - which shall it be?

[Mentalist]

Picked up the upgraded Griffin school kit. Coupled with a Griffin School mastery skill, my current Sign power bonus is 108%. Alt-Aard, and finisher moves FTW.

I really liked the story behind the Cat school gear quest.

My Nilfgaard deck is getting insane. About half my unit cards are heroes (including Ciri, ) . Still I probably won't be able to collec all the cards, unless I can go ba to White Orchard and play the merchants there, cuz I don't think I did that the first time around.

Lvl 18, STILL in Novigrad. Working my way through the main quests. My favourite minor character in the game is Sigi's pet troll.

Radovid went Loco, that's odd and random.
Hit a snag yesterday, I got to the Oxenfurt manor following junior, and it seems the only way to proceed is through a bloodbath. Now everyone's dead, but i'm missing the key to move into the manor. May need a re-load.

Even playing low graphics, with absolulutely zero post-processing , sunsets in this game are freaking gorgeous.

Currently rolling with smth like 15k in money. I gotta agree with Gothos-overincumberance is becoming a problem. I genrally carry 6 spare swords + 1 spare armour (for emergencies), but i've gotten to the poin where I'm no longer looting bandits, b/c not only is the low-lvl gear heavy, more to the point, Novigrad's smiths are running out of money to buy that junk off me. And since I don't fast-travel, it's becoming an annoyance

[Dadding]

Mentalist, on 10 August 2015 - 01:59 PM, said:

I genrally carry 6 spare swords

Why do you have 6 swords, do you lose them often?

[Maark Abbott]

Dadding, on 10 August 2015 - 02:10 PM, said:

Mentalist, on 10 August 2015 - 01:59 PM, said:

I genrally carry 6 spare swords

Why do you have 6 swords, do you lose them often?

Hah. In jokes.

[Gothos]

Mentalist, on 10 August 2015 - 01:59 PM, said:

Currently rolling with smth like 15k in money. I gotta agree with Gothos-overincumberance is becoming a problem. I genrally carry 6 spare swords + 1 spare armour (for emergencies), but i've gotten to the poin where I'm no longer looting bandits, b/c not only is the low-lvl gear heavy, more to the point, Novigrad's smiths are running out of money to buy that junk off me. And since I don't fast-travel, it's becoming an annoyance

You know you can carry repair tools with you, right?