Seriously why are you people even playing this game? Im just reading whining about stupid stuff, playing on easy, downloading cheat mods etc. Just play something else already.
Because combat is not the appeal here? It’s an awesome setting with exceptional storytelling and characters, and the quests and moral choices are really cool and unique. If combat is getting in the way of that, well, they have an easy setting for that very purpose. But if you want to have good combat and an even challenge curve, the FCR mod is about that. It just kind of breaks on easy. Me, I’m looking for story, so that’s fine by me.
Hi, good to see you again! Take care.
I saw a mud crab the other day!
We could bring back the old “skippable combat” discussion.
Maybe they could get creative with skipable combat, just fade to black then Geralt would have a quip like Egg Shen: “How’d you get out of that?” " Wasn’t easy!"
I’m through the Kayran fight. Wow this game is addictive. I’m totally hooked on the story and the choices you can make.
Right now I’m following Roche. That path will lead to ruin, I’m sure.
ShivaX
3208
Or to naked Ves.
Which is worth a significant amount of ruin for the rest of the world.
I’m pretty sure following Iorveth also leads to ruin. It’s a ruin-y sort of world.
Both previous times I’d tried TW2, I hit the Kayran fight and stalled out. This time, I installed the FCR mod, powered through, and I’m loving this now. I really want to see more games that draw on Slavic mythology.
Yeah. I downloaded a god mod which helped with the kayran fight. Loving the story.
Vesper
3212
I just finished the Kayran fight last night as well. Playing on easy as I’m anxious to get to W3. Still really enjoying the story and decisions. I decided to go with Iorveth.
tryte
3213
Hey, we’re all at the same point, practically! I was leaning toward Iorveth, even though I don’t approve of his methods. I just don’t like Roche and hate how he’s willing to support the corrupt Governor dude, but hadn’t considered the Ves angle. Hmm.
I’ve always believed it was better to pick Roche first to see the perspective of the incumbent, and then in a second playthrough pick Iorveth to see the perspective of the rebels. The revelations are more surprising that way. I believe one or two people thought otherwise, so you probably can’t go wrong.
I still think Iorveth may be CDPR’s greatest achievement in videogame characterization: they take what appears to be a stereotypical emo elf rebel and make him an interesting and realistic individual by adding layers of complicated feelings and goals. (The Bloody Baron from The Witcher 3 is a close second.)
With so little time to play so many games these days, it’s kind of a shame they hid so much great content behind this choice. But if you really like the game and you’re willing to invest the time to play it again, it will pay off handsomely.
If you mean Loredo, I don’t think you’re parsing Roche’s feelings about him correctly at all. But you get plenty of warning before you make that call.
tryte
3216
Thanks for the insight!
I think it sort of breaks down to a likability contest in the absence of any other data; I find Iorveth to be terribly charismatic, and they do an excellent job creating empathy with the plight of the elves. Digging how all the main players have their own motivations and agendas.
If you already like Iorveth and only plan to play the game once, just go for it. I thought he was a boring cartoon at first and then I ended up loving him, so I can only imagine how you will feel about him.
tryte
3218
At the risk of double posting, no, I think that Roche’s feelings are quite clear. My concern is that by helping Roche and his ends justifying the means methodology, slimy mustache twirly Governor man will benefit, and that’s not something I (as Geralt) can tolerate.
Iorveth’s terrorism is essentially a similar philosophy. They are two sides of a bigoted, violent coin. One of the reasons I ended up not siding with Iorveth is that although I sympathize with his cause, I think his methods (at least as presented to that point, from the outside) are actively hurting that cause. Roche… The game journal says he’s a bigot and his Blue Stripes certainly have bigots among them, and they’ve done terrible things as well, but he personally doesn’t seem to have anything particular against nonhumans. It’s just that his job is to ensure the stability of his kingdom and the Scoia’tel are a major threat to that. But then, I kinda like the man. He freed me, believed me, and has supported me. Iorveth tried to kill me.
But anyway, by the time you decide you’ll have a fuller picture.
This calls to mind an effect we saw in Mass Effect. People referred to “my Shepard” and “my story” and reacted with half-joking horror at the idea of making decisions other than the ones they chose in their game. I think the decisions in The Witcher 2 are more like two sides to the same story. It’s less about paragon/renegade, right/wrong, or role-playing a character, and more about unraveling additional layers from the fascinating plot and characters.
I’m kind of talking out loud to myself here. I just think it’s neat I’m still finding new ways to appreciate this game 4 years later.
