An Impromptu Witcher Lets Play - now with the Witcher 2!

[porous_shield]

Yaevinn does come across as a bit of a douche personally, but his ideals are pretty sound. Also, he occasionally gets some very good dialogue. And Vivaldi is his buddy - and Vivaldi is awesome. The elves in general (when they aren't murdering people in graveyards for unexplained reasons) are pretty sympathetic. Particularly after I heard about some of the stuff that's been going on from the Druids.

Well, yes and no. Neither of the organizations is very nice. Viscous terrorists fighting for the rights of their trampled people versus racist paladins, so I picked the representative I didn't want to actively murder.

Siegfried himself is a nice guy, but his order is a bunch of loons. And that one guy, Adda's chaperone, needs to fucking die. I should pursue that quest line just so I can kill his ass.

But so are the squirrels! I agree with you though that that guy is an ass.

It sounds like you chose based on the contact NPC rather than the groups at large. I just can't do that, no matter how much I like Siegfried personally.

"The needs of the many outweighs the needs of the few. Or the one."

-- Spock, Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan.

I could be wrong but isn't the human population larger than the non-human population?

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

I could be wrong but isn't the human population larger than the non-human population?

I was referring to the leadership. You made your choice based on the leaders of the two groups, whereas I made my choice based on the other members of the group.

Then random elves and dwarves are being abused and need help. The other Rose Knights.. are mostly jerks (in this game so far). Yes, there are more humans, but those humans are oppressing the elves and dwarves who aren't really any different than they are.

Having just finished a story in the short story collection where Geralt sides against humans to help a Dragon, I don't think my choice is inappropriate.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

Update: So, I spoke with Triss. She... wants to settle down with Geralt? And adopt Alvin? And she wants a ring?

Well that's... random. And bizarre.

You know, this would really rub a 2nd Wave feminist up the wrong way. Triss is basically saying that her career as a Sorceress is unfulfilling and that she wants a family instead. They'd view this as a cop out and evidence that Triss is a weak female character.

With that, I disagree. As a 3rd Wave feminist, I support Triss's right to have both a family and a career if she so chooses. So that aspect does not bother me.

However, after reading about Yennifer in the short stories and how desperate she is to reverse her sterility and have a child, I'm starting to wonder if the various writers involved with the Witcher (both Andrzej Sapkowski and the people who wrote the game) have some sort of strange idea that all women are desperate to have children.

Perhaps my issue is due to the fact that I got a similar vibe from Shani (ie, that Alvin was supposed to be some sort of surrogate son) and even Abigale earlier (to a lesser degree). It's like every single female character in the Witcher universe is obsessed with reproduction.

Except Princess Adda, who is obsessed with raw meat.

**rimshot**

It is possible that I simply need to read more of the Witcher stories and play more of the game to experience more well-rounded female characters. So far though, I'm getting an uncomfortable feeling that there is only one female character in the Witcher-verse who has been copy/pasted several times. Personality wise, that is.

I was just starting to feel like the Witcher's bad rep for misogyny was undeserved and this... very uncomfortable scene occurred.

ANYWAY... apparently Geralt feels the same way because it's time to go drinking. Much occurs. I go ahead and have Geralt admit that he'd actually like to have a family. No reason why monster hunting can't be a day job - particularly with a spellcasting wife and spellcasting child who can defend themselves from monsters seeking revenge.

Again, the concept of Geralt and Triss settling down with Alvin doesn't bother me so much as the fact that every single female character in the game seems to have that as a goal. If I hadn't just read about Yennifer wanting the same thing - and being willing to murder a dozen people to get it - I might not have reacted as strongly.

So drunkeness occurs. After that I appear in Triss's house again and she scolds me for... being a bad rolemodel for Alvin. Bwhat?

Yeah, sorry, I should have put my mildly feminist issues after this. Triss wanting to raise Alvin I have no problem with. Triss wanting to do it with Geralt doesn't bother me either.

Triss asking for a ring was a little weird.

Triss scolding Geralt for being a bad father before he's even agreed to BE a father is... pretty fucked up.

I never got the impression that Triss was a character who would "hen-peck" someone, but that appears to be what she's doing. It's just so... badly stereotypical. "Oh my," I feel I can hear the writers saying, "Triss wants to settle down and have a family. So now we have to write her like Marge Simpson, because that's what mothers act like." It's just... ugh.

It almost makes me wish I'd given the kid to Shani after all. ... wait....

**checks PDF guide**

Fuck, no. If I had, Triss would be "angry" with me (ie no more dialogue, I guess?) while Shani would be asking for a fucking ring.

It was weird when Shani acted like we were a couple after a night of casual sex. It would be even weirder for Shani to want a ring after one night of casual sex. Triss at least Geralt clearly had a long standing relationship with. They have history as lovers. I didn't get the impression that Geralt had been with Shani before now.

I am very glad I gave Alvin to Triss. Having Shani do this would have been even more disturbing.

Yikes.

ANYWAY.......

I have Geralt sleep off his alcohol (and level up, and make a metric shit-ton of potions) and then head out. I try to sell teeth to the dentist and Salamander badges to that one merchant, but he isn't at the docks anymore so I don't know where to find him, and the dentist isn't home. Maybe I should check back at night?

I do find an independent blacksmith. I have to give him a gem, so I pull an Amber out my Inn storage and give him that. Minutes later, I have a nifty new Meteorite sword. I only have two permanent runes, so I can't upgrade the silver sword yet.

I also find a new bookseller! I buy a book on insects and another on vampires, read them, and then sell them back. I don't have enough for the book on Genies. Do I need that ASAP?

So I'm broke. But I am very nicely upgraded.

I do a bit more exploring and check out the brothel. After looting the downstairs I talk to one of the prostitutes and apparently I had a quest about her because I'm supposed to tell her brother that this is her. Blue Eyes, right. I don't remember why it matters, and her brother is upset to hear she's in a brothel and I'm supposed to bring proof. OKAY. What kind of proof?

I save outside then go in and ask to sleep with her. She asks for 500, but I've only got 300 orens left, so no deal. This pisses her off, so I reload the save and just don't go in this time.

Instead I head to Triss's and talk to Alvin. He blew something up, so I encourage him to learn better control.

I teleport to the Swamp Tower because fuck paying 5 oriens to cross. Teleporting is free.

I head outside and HOLY SHIT GIANT SPIDERS! I'm very glad I read that book, because after a furious battle, I end up with a lot of dead spider loot.

I then spent about an hour slowly crossing the swamp, collecting herbs, and murdering tons of random monsters. I kill a couple archspores. Thank to the person in the thread who said they are fire vulnerable - Igni absolutely WRECKS archspores.

Those Grick looking critters who explode with poison when you kill them are still one of THE most annoying monsters around, since I can generally tank their attacks but those explosions are really hard to avoid and do a ton of damage.

I had one HOLY CRAP moment after being reduced to half HP by a bunch of them exploding and then wandering into a battle with an archspore. I was in the gray when I used a Swallow potion and then followed up with an Igni spell.

Anyway, sadly much of the Swallow spell is wasted as no enemies attacked me after that and I quickly found my way to the old woman's house. She wants me to kill Salamanders. Sounds good to me.

A quick question - it was pretty obvious when I was getting to the end of Chapter 2 - the tower was a fairly major plot point in two different quests. Will the end of Chapter 3 be similarly obvious? Someone mentioned that I'd lose access to the city after that, so I want to make sure to follow up my side quests before then.

 

[Norrdicus]

It is possible that I simply need to read more of the Witcher stories and play more of the game to experience more well-rounded female characters. So far though, I'm getting an uncomfortable feeling that there is only one female character in the Witcher-verse who has been copy/pasted several times. Personality wise, that is.

I was just starting to feel like the Witcher's bad rep for misogyny was undeserved and this... very uncomfortable scene occurred.

Yeah, it's going to be a while before it gets significantly better. And by "a while" I mean until you start up Witcher 2

ANYWAY... apparently Geralt feels the same way because it's time to go drinking. Much occurs. I go ahead and have Geralt admit that he'd actually like to have a family. No reason why monster hunting can't be a day job - particularly with a spellcasting wife and spellcasting child who can defend themselves from monsters seeking revenge.

I loved that scene because it was a really simple discussion in which you could establish your own character. Not in a "this action implies Geralt is this kind of character" kind of way, but "this is how Geralt feels"

I also find a new bookseller! I buy a book on insects and another on vampires, read them, and then sell them back. I don't have enough for the book on Genies. Do I need that ASAP?

No, the insect and vampire books were much more urgent.

A quick question - it was pretty obvious when I was getting to the end of Chapter 2 - the tower was a fairly major plot point in two different quests. Will the end of Chapter 3 be similarly obvious? Someone mentioned that I'd lose access to the city after that, so I want to make sure to follow up my side quests before then.

Yes, it's rather obvious when the chapter's climax starts. You're going to go assault a rather big Salamandra hideout with someone's assistance.

Btw, I suggest you also pack a few potions before you start that big fight, especially ones that protect against Pain and Stun, etc. Because your Act 2 investigation went wrong (like mine did) and you ended up killing Ramsmeat (and Azar got what he wanted from the tower), that quest is going to be significantly tougher in one aspect.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

No, the insect and vampire books were much more urgent.

Yes, it's rather obvious when the chapter's climax starts. You're going to go assault a rather big Salamandra hideout with someone's assistance.

Btw, I suggest you also pack a few potions before you start that big fight, especially ones that protect against Pain and Stun, etc. Because your Act 2 investigation went wrong (like mine did) and you ended up killing Ramsmeat (and Azar got what he wanted from the tower), that quest is going to be significantly tougher in one aspect.

So noted.

And thanks for letting me know. I read something about teaming up with an NPC (I think I'm stuck with Siegfried because of previous fuckups), so I'll keep an eye out for that.

 

[exxxed]

It is possible that I simply need to read more of the Witcher stories and play more of the game to experience more well-rounded female characters. So far though, I'm getting an uncomfortable feeling that there is only one female character in the Witcher-verse who has been copy/pasted several times. Personality wise, that is.

I was just starting to feel like the Witcher's bad rep for misogyny was undeserved and this... very uncomfortable scene occurred.

Yeah, it's going to be a while before it gets significantly better. And by "a while" I mean until you start up Witcher 2

Actually the first playthru' is just stumbling about in the first Witcher, the second one is what sealed the deal for me, as I knew more of the details and how everything worked, I could mold the story as I wanted to and it resulted in one of the finer moments of role playing since... Planescape Torment.

As for the last reads... hehe I wish I would remember the finer details to help you around a bit... talk to Carmen about Vincent the guard, do everything in your power to buy an armor and find another rune for your silver sword (it's gonna be hell if things go as I remember), another thing, I never tried it myself because I was out of Blizzard potions, but there's a fucked up part where things are collapsing and you gotta run... maybe it's easier with that slow-mo.

Also, I may suggest you find a friend who likes gambling and make him play dice poker to win you some cash, did that myself and the dude won me tons of coin (left everyone dry haha), there also was a quest about dice, but I guess you missed it, there's a nice pay-off at the end (it spans through the entire game), also the dentist is around Shani's house during the day, that's also a quest you should finish, you'll appreciate the prize.

As for Triss and Geralt, I personally liked that part, it was hilarious, especially coming home drunk after a day of roaming the inns and brothels with Zoltan and Dandelion, and I wouldn't compare women in the medieval ages to women today, especially in a fantasy setting, also considering the death toll in Temeria and other regions due to war, famine, monsters, plague etc. it's not as far fetched that most women there would like an offspring with someone that can provide and is a strong example to the child, just my take on it.

P.S. Alvin considers Geralt as his mentor or, as you put it, role model, so Triss' nagging makes sense.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

I wouldn't compare women in the medieval ages to women today, especially in a fantasy setting, also considering the death toll in Temeria and other regions due to war, famine, monsters, plague etc. it's not as far fetched that most women there would like an offspring with someone that can provide and is a strong example to the child, just my take on it.

What I dislike is that the game is saying (via mechanics) "all women just want to have babies" - which is bullshit. Or that all women, no matter how casual about sex now, are secretly trying to get you to give them that ring. It's like the other side of the sexism coin from the card collecting. Hell, it even sends the message (again, with mechanics) "if you sleep with the same woman twice, she'll nail you down with a kid and insist on a ring".

It's a shitty message. Sure, maybe it wasn't intended. Maybe there are (bad) excuses for it. But it really rubs me the wrong way, and I'm sure it is alienating to other women playing this game. In a game that was doing a surprisingly good job at characterization, it's a sort of 180.

You know, I wouldn't be this upset if the game hadn't been BETTER than this for most of it. The game had almost gotten me to forgive it for the card collecting - the writing was good enough that it was barely bothering me anymore. All the scenes were empowering to the female participant (except Shani's, which was still sorta romantic).

And then, all of a sudden, things went down hill again.

I'd likely feel differently if Triss and Shani reacted differently, but the fact that they both want a ring and a child to make them complete is just... icky.

Women do NOT need children to be complete. Or a ring. We're complete all by ourselves.

Ahem. Anyway, the sad thing is I even liked PARTS of it. Geralt expressing that he really wants a family (because I chose that option) is a really GOOD bit of characterization. If it was HIS idea to get her a ring, not an ultimatum, then that would have been fine. If he'd expressed an interest in helping Triss raise Alvin rather than being yelled at and forced into it, I wouldn't have minded. And that's how this could have gone down if the game didn't suddenly and unnecessarily resort to blatant stereotypes.

Anyway, I've gone on too long about this. This isn't what this thread is about. Okay, actually this IS what the thread is about - my thoughts and feelings about the game - but I'd rather move on that dwell.

An update to follow.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

Update: After talking to the old woman, I ran around the town briefly and bumped into Carmen of all people on the docks. Apparently she has a boyfriend - is that why I can't hire her? - and he's a werewolf. I volunteer to ask the druids.

So I head off that way, since it's on the way to the Salamanders I'm supposed to murder. However, by the time I arrive, the druids are "after hours" and won't talk to me. I try the dryad, but she has no new dialogue, so I collect some herbs and move on.

On my way to the tower area, where the first group is (why aren't I heading to the closer locations like the cave or lumberjack camp first? - the game is telling me to do this one first?) I kill some archespores and HOLY SHIT WYVERNS! I kill one named Moa and take it's head. And then I almost immediately get SWARMED by four more and fucking die, even with Swallow AND the instant heal potions in my quick menu. The instant heal ones don't restore all that much HP, I'm noticing.

FUCK! I didn't save manually at all. That was 30-45 minutes of monster killing, herb collecting, and quest picking up that I just lost.

So back to talking to Carmen. This time, I save at the druid's grove. Then I save again after bumping into two Archespores and completing my collection quest for them. And then I... wander around for a while looking for those fucking wyverns.

It's raining -AGAIN- so I can't see shit. It wasn't last save so I could see them from father away. I wander around for a while, saving after every Archespore or other difficult monster I kill, just to be safe and -- FUCK WYVERN CAMP FOUR AT ONCE I'M DEAD AGAIN.

I reload and try to retrace my steps. I die three or four more times until I determine exactly where on the map the wyvern island is without accidentally agro-ing the entire group. I save again with them in sight and practice Kiting - that is, drawing one and ONLY ONE wyvern over to fight me by getting JUST close enough to agro one and then running the fuck away. After one successful attempt to kite but getting killed anyway I start taking a Swallow potion BEFORE battle begins.

I finally succeed and kill one, but it isn't Moa and I don't get a head this time. Disappointing. Still, one down. So I save and do it again. I draw another Royal Wyvern away, kill it, loot it, and save again. So far so good.

I do it again, and this time I get two - a Royal Wyvern and a regular Wyvern. I concentrate on the Royal one, and the Swallow potion lets me tank the other one's damage. I open with some Fast Style, then switch to Strong to finish off the royal, shooting fire at it whenever I have the chance. The Royal falls and I finish off the regular one - and then a plant monster (the lesser one, not an Archspore) that I accidentally spawned at the end there. So far so good.

I save and go back again. Moa is just sort of sitting there, so I take a risk, run up, hit her, and then run away. She follows and FUCK she's fast. I switch to Fast style and suddenly the battle gets a lot easier. Pain keeps her from attacking much and fire is helpful too, so I eventually chip her to death and get her head! Woo Hoo!

I save, then head back to the island. There, I'm attacked by another pair, but I know the technique now (and there are no plant monsters here to interfere) and I finish them both off. I loot them and circle the island - nothing left but one corpse. Which I loot.

DAMN! That is one fine steel sword! ... better than the Meteroite sword I just upgraded to. Damn it. Oh well, gift horses and all. I equip that bad mother and finally head to the Salamander camp that I've been practically next to this while time.

This sword kicks ass. I wreck everything. Group style laughs at the Salamandra.

The brickmakers tell me about the other two camp sites. Yes, I know, I had to circle around the logging camp to avoid agroing them earlier. Why was I not supposed to kill them first? I have no idea. I'm not supposed to kill them second either, because this group wants me to help the people in the cave first.

There's also a chest here that I looted earlier. It is empty. Ah well.

My green bar is a bit high so I rest briefly at the camp fire to clear that and spend my level up points. I'm focusing on both Group styles, as that tends to be the most useful in "oh shit swarm of enemies!" situations. Then I'm focusing on both Strong Styles, as most boss fights have tended that way. Finally, I'm focusing on both Fast Styles. I don't use magic enough (due to forgetting about it) to focus there ATM - better to get what I use most (sword techniques) maxxed out.

It's morning now, so I head back to the Druids. They have a bunch of WACKY home remedies for me. Lovely. And now I need to get info from Carmen, who is back at her usual spot apparently.

And then - fuck it, I attack the lumber camp instead of the cave. I don't feel like backtracking. There's a boss Salamander here with the rest, but my new sword takes him out once I adjust my style properly. The townsfolk thank me and tell me about a big Salamander camp where the Squirrel camp was last chapter. Ah ha! And they say I will need an army. Oh my - that sounds like the end of chapter attack to me. Crap.

I then head to the cave (fighting critters on the way) and kill those Salamanders. And the birckmakers here tell me about the lumber camp. No shit. Whatever, that's done. Also, there's a boy here who keeps following me around even after the others leave - the missing boy! Ah.

I start to explore the save, but there are a ton of monsters deeper in and my inventory is VERY full, so I decide to do that later. Instead I head back to town and tell the old woman that I found the missing boy and that I rescued the brickmakers. Yay. She has no reward, but I get a ton of XP, so I don't care.

And, since it would be a LONG trip back to the tower for the teleport, I pay 5 fucking gold for the ferry. Sigh.

I have a lot of monster bits to drop off, so I do that first. I get paid 1000 gold between them, meaning that I can afford to go see that blue eyed prostitute now and continue that quest. Nifty! Also, I have room to get more monster bits for the Huntsman. I should probably try that cave.

First things first, though, I talk to Carmen. She... won't tell me. That's unhelpful. I press her and she tells me her real name. OKAY. Weird.

I stop by the inn and drop off a bunch of crap. I need to make some potions too because I've got a lot of alchemical monster bits. And flowers - so many flowers.

Okay, time to see Triss. I take four different rings out of my inventory and head over to her place. Let's get this shit overwith. I talk to Alvin because he's there and tell him he can have a dog because why not? Dogs are probably fairly practical. Triss thinks I'm spoiling him. Lovely.

I try giving Triss a ring, but she thinks I need to spend more time with Alvin first. Meh. So I ask her to rest instead. All my recent quest completion has leveled me up again, so I focus on Strong style this time (my strategy being noted above) with my silver levelups, and use the bronze to fill in anything I might have skipped or forgotten. Then I make potions. LOTS of potions. I have like 15 bottles of various strong alcohol on me, but I quickly learn that - aside from Cat - they won't make most good potions. So I end up making 15 White Gull, and then restocking my supply of Swallows and instant HP ones (can't remember the name) as well as some other useful sounding ones.

On potion making:

First, the automatic select option for the ingredients is REALLY STUPID. It will ignore ingredients that have no extra crap in them or ingredients that I have over 50 of and instead pick on whatever order they happen to be in my inventory. I wonder how many rare and useful items I've wasted earlier by not checking to make sure that the AI wasn't being completely fucking stupid.

So this time I tell it to use Drowner Tongues, Drowner Brains, White Mertile, and other materials that I have tons of.

This goes pretty well, actually, allowing me to get rid of second stacks of items and condense my materials considerably. I hurt my supply of White mertile quite a bit, actually, making all of that White Gull.

Secondly, what exactly do Albedo, Rubido, and Negrido do (apart from be voiced by Crispen Freeman **rimshot**)? I get that they're toxic, but is there any sort of mechanic to it?

Not having any idea what the fuck I'm doing, I chose to balance Albedo and Negrido while avoiding Rubido. I thought that maybe the white poison would cancel out the black poison and result in net 0 poison? Although my use of potions in the swamp suggests otherwise - I seemed to be poisoning myself quite a bit. Then again, those were older potions that I made before I started paying attention to this stuff.

So yeah, other than avoiding them entirely, what is the best way to manage the three toxins? Should I try to balance them or stick to a specific one in a given potion? Do they poison me different ways? Or is it just the number of them I have in a given potion that determines toxicity?

Anyway, I make the potions and rest for two hours (one for level up, one for potions).

When I get up, I talk to Alvin again. He wants to learn to sword fight. I consider saying "sure" because - come on, not a bad idea in this world, but instead I tell him teh swords aren't toys. Which is also true.

This melt's Triss's butter (ugh) and she will now accept a ring from me. I offer her a Gold and Sapphire ring, but she sticks her nose up at it and hints that she'd like a Ruby. Well, I do have a silver and ruby signet ring that I haven't found a use for yet. It's not even worth half as much as the Gold and Sapphire, but... Triss loves it and sexes up Geralt. Okay then. I'm happy to have THAT quest line behind me.

Oh... why is Card Triss a brunette while Game Triss is a red-head?

So, that's where I am at the moment. Any advice on tracking down Carmen's lover? How about the blue eyed prostitute? And why are all my current side quests involving hookers?

Also, is there anywhere to sell the metric FUCKTON of Salamander badges I've collected? I really need to make some room at the Inn inventory. I've heard that the dentist will take Barghest skulls (and thanks for letting me know where he's at during the day, I'll check there when I play next) so that will help a bit.

Until next time.

 

[Norrdicus]

I don't think that Salamandra base in the Scoia'tael former swamp base is the climax. You might want to check if that quest is listed as a Main Quest or something in your journal. Not sure.

Secondly, what exactly do Albedo, Rubido, and Negrido do (apart from be voiced by Crispen Freeman **rimshot**)? I get that they're toxic, but is there any sort of mechanic to it?

Not having any idea what the fuck I'm doing, I chose to balance Albedo and Negrido while avoiding Rubido. I thought that maybe the white poison would cancel out the black poison and result in net 0 poison? Although my use of potions in the swamp suggests otherwise - I seemed to be poisoning myself quite a bit. Then again, those were older potions that I made before I started paying attention to this stuff.

Albedo, Negrido and Rubedo are all potential bonus effects you can have on your potions. Iirc, the effects are thus:

All Nigredo - you deal 10% more damage for the potion duration

All Rubedo - you have slight health regen

All Albedo - decreased toxicity in the potion

The only ways to manipulate toxicity, besides resting, is to drink White Honey (this potions removes all toxicity and potion effects) and make your potions full Albedo

So, that's where I am at the moment. Any advice on tracking down Carmen's lover? How about the blue eyed prostitute?

If you go far enough the Carmen's quest, she'll tell who her lover is eventually.

The prostitute? Hmm, did the brother tell you anything about his sister other than her general looks? Sleeping with that expensive prostitue is the way to progress in the quest as far as I remember. You could also bring her a gift, if you pay (insanely) close attention, you might find out what she likes.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

Albedo, Negrido and Rubedo are all potential bonus effects you can have on your potions. Iirc, the effects are thus:

All Nigredo - you deal 10% more damage for the potion duration
All Rubedo - you have slight health regen
All Albedo - decreased toxicity in the potion

**opens mouth**

**closes mouth**

FUCK. I've been screwing myself over this whole time! I've been "balancing" my -bedos, or avoiding using them.

I do have one criticism though. Albedo should be the one that gives regen.

 

[porous_shield]

I could be wrong but isn't the human population larger than the non-human population?

I was referring to the leadership. You made your choice based on the leaders of the two groups, whereas I made my choice based on the other members of the group.

Then random elves and dwarves are being abused and need help. The other Rose Knights.. are mostly jerks (in this game so far). Yes, there are more humans, but those humans are oppressing the elves and dwarves who aren't really any different than they are.

Having just finished a story in the short story collection where Geralt sides against humans to help a Dragon, I don't think my choice is inappropriate.

The Order of the Rose does good work in protecting everyone from monsters, it just happens that many of their members are dicks about it. The Squirrels are fighting for their rights and committing atrocities left and right. I am sympathetic of their cause but not their methods. They wouldn't even talk to you if you weren't a mutant. The Squirrels are pretty damned racist themselves.

Some of the non-humans don't want their help because they are being too extreme and giving a bad name to all non-humans. They're also making it worse for many non-humans by amping up the racism.

Witchers kill monsters so I don't see how siding with a dragon goes against that. I sided with some decidedly non-humans in an upcoming quest you haven't gotten to yet and I don't think it was out of character for Geralt at all.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

Witchers kill monsters so I don't see how siding with a dragon goes against that. I sided with some decidedly non-humans in an upcoming quest you haven't gotten to yet and I don't think it was out of character for Geralt at all.

Vampires by chance?

Rereading this, I think the only issue we disagree on is which group are the monsters. ^^ We both have reasons for saying the other side is worse.

That's actually a sign of good writing - both sides are equally bad, and it is our perceptions that make one worse than the other. It means that you and I can take different sides for the same reasons.

See, it's good writing like THAT that makes me like the Witcher. And then it's bad writing like Triss's weird change of heart that makes me go 'ugh.'

So far, the good and bad have been pretty well in counterbalance. I can see why some people love this game, and why others absolutely hate it. I'm not in either camp so far, but I'm having a fun time.

Speaking of which....

Micro-update!

Not a lot happened this time.

First, I sold some teeth to the teeth vender. I was hoping I could sell all 20 remaining barghst skulls, but he only wanted ONE the bastard. So I sold him one. Poo.

I sold him one of several others as well.

I then went looking for Leuvaarden. Where the fuck is he? I have a TON of Salamander badges to sell, and no one else wants to buy them. Unless he won't buy them anymore, in which case why do the Salamanders keep dropping them? I have 40 of these damn things - what am I supposed to do with them?

I ended up accidentally finding Dandelion's missing Lute while I was looking. Nifty!

I also slept with Blue Eyes to confirm she had bite marks.

I tried to drop these off at the Inn, but it was too late in the evening. So I tried to go see Triss to rest, but she wasn't home, weirdly.

So, having nothing better to do, I teleported to the swamp and killed monsters until I leveled up. Kiting Wyverns continues to be awesome, particularly now that Moa is dead. I also found a Wolf with a prize head. Awesome! Oh, and a metric fuck-ton of Ghouls, Gravers, and... Centaurs? Did I not read that right?

Once I leveled up (and had stuffed my inventory with monster bits) I headed back to the Tower and had Kalkstein let me rest there. Then I teleported back to Triss's. NOW she's home. Oh well, I leveled up anyway.

I headed to the Inn first to drop off the Lute and talk about Blue Eyes. Apparently she's been possessed? I take a moment to drop off the wolf head for my reward, then head to the brothel again. I bribe the guard to get up stairs (reloading after a minor fuck-up on said bribe) and meet the Madamme.

Who is a Vampire. Okay then. She offers me sex to take her side. Since the guy is a douche (and a Rose Knight) I decide to side with her and I get a very... not pleasant looking 4-way.

And what now? Rose Knights? I continue to side against them in the hopes that I can get back with the Squirrels by continually pissing on the Rose Knights. It's murder time!

Victory is had. I loot the bodies and head out (after a brief word with the madamme and blue eyes again).

If found some more teeth in the swamp, but I'd like a few mroe, so I head back to the Inn and pick a few fist fights hoping for a "Fighter's Tooth" to appear, but it doesn't. I do, however, get another weapon rune! Time to upgrade the Silver Sword! Which I do - for another Amber and 1000 gold. Still, +30 damage, +50% chance of Blinding on a crit, +30% Pain - looks pretty sweet to me.

I see the dentist and sell some more teeth. Which levels me again. Horray! I head back and rest at Triss's (and tell Alvin he can't have sweets cause Triss said so and I have none in my inventory). I rest until morning because I'd really like to find Leuvaarden.

Actually, this first: will Leuvaarden still buy my Salamander badges? And if so, where is he?

And if not, what am I supposed to do with them?

 

[Ryotknife]

Women do NOT need children to be complete. Or a ring. We're complete all by ourselves.

Ahem. Anyway, the sad thing is I even liked PARTS of it. Geralt expressing that he really wants a family (because I chose that option) is a really GOOD bit of characterization. If it was HIS idea to get her a ring, not an ultimatum, then that would have been fine. If he'd expressed an interest in helping Triss raise Alvin rather than being yelled at and forced into it, I wouldn't have minded. And that's how this could have gone down if the game didn't suddenly and unnecessarily resort to blatant stereotypes.

.

meh, you are looking at it from our societal standpoint. It is absolutely true that women in real life do not need children to be complete.

However, we have...what...7 billion people? Our survival as a species is not at risk. If anything, our survival would improve if like 25-50% of the people in the world decided not to reproduce. Even then, we still have pretty heavy societal pressure to reproduce. I am almost 30 and im getting hounded by family and friends for me to settle and have kids. Women have it worse I would imagine as they have a time limit (and the longer they go the higher risk).

Now consider the society in the Witcher. Constant monster attacks and wars. Death everywhere (not to mention lower life expectancy due to no modern medicine). Plus, humans are not the only sentient beings. In that society, I would imagine the societal pressure to reproduce would be exponentially greater than what we would experience. It would not be far fetched for reproducing to be considered your moral imperative, your contribution to the improvement/survival of X kind.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

meh, you are looking at it from our societal standpoint. It is absolutely true that women in real life do not need children to be complete.
Now consider the society in the Witcher. Constant monster attacks and wars. Death everywhere (not to mention lower life expectancy due to no modern medicine). Plus, humans are not the only sentient beings. In that society, I would imagine the societal pressure to reproduce would be exponentially greater than what we would experience. It would not be far fetched for reproducing to be considered your moral imperative, your contribution to the improvement/survival of X kind.

First off, the societal standpoint has nothing to do with a lack of characterization and bad writing. Triss and Shani are two very different characters, but they have exactly the same reaction? It was written that way for ease of programming, but it is BAD WRITING that reduces women to stereotypes.

Please, don't try to defend this to me - it is indefensible. It treats women as if we are interchangeable - just like the stupid card collecting.

Meanwhile, as far as I know, becoming both a Witcher or a Sorceress is entirely voluntary. And, from what I've read, both processes render one sterile.

That means Triss VOLUNTEERED for this. She chose to give up having children in return for being able to BEND PHYSICS WITH HER MIND. Or at least runes. The same with Yennifer.

I could understand ONE of them being like "Oh, now I regret my decision" - but both of them is that same "all women are the same" crap I was upset about above. The game is basically saying that, no matter how devoted to a career a woman is, she will always regret her decision, seek a man, and settle down.

Don't give me this medieval crap. Triss has insanely powerful magic and is effectively immortal. That whole reproductive impetus doesn't apply to her. She only seriously interacts with other Sorceresses and Witchers - all of whom made the same choice she did. No one is putting pressure on her to have children.

So I call bullshit on this not once but twice. Your attempt to defend this game with an analysis of the average commoner is fallacious because Triss ISN'T an average commoner. She's a Mage. She makes the laws of physics her personal ***** every day of her life. No one expects her to have children, so she doesn't feel any reproductive pressure. And, when she can easily provide for herself, she doesn't need a father figure to help her take care of Alvin if she decides she wants to.

And all that said, Shani isn't the same as Triss, so why is she acting like it? For that matter, why are both Triss and Shani acting like Yennifer from the stories?

It's just bad.

 

[exxxed]

Triss has insanely powerful magic and is effectively immortal.

Hardly, after every spell there's a chance that she'll loose consciousness or be completely overwhelmed and drop dead if it wasn't for her training, it's not all flowers and fairies in this world, there's no absolute,so to speak, regarding anything.

And all that said, Shani isn't the same as Triss, so why is she acting like it? For that matter, why are both Triss and Shani acting like Yennifer from the stories?

It's just bad.

It's a game, they're giving you choices, I guess Shani could have been better written in that regard, but I never went with her anyway... she was creepy in a possessive kind of way, as for Triss, well she always had a thing for Geralt (remember Kaer Morhen) and wants to settle down after all this bullshite, but things will escalate to the point that it won't matter.

It's kind of cute how strongly you feel about such trivial details, but I guess we come from different worlds.

Right, back to the game, Leuvaarden is at the inn in the market district top level (I don't recall him buying any more badges after the initial quest, just like the drawner brain priest thing in chapter one).

Carmen told you her full name so you can connect her to a story the priest in Chapter I said about his daughter (some fucked up shit as usual).

Funny I never bothered with the details in potion making, cheers for elaborating on that, will be useful when I finish that damned Letho in W2 and start over ... sadly he's mopping the floor with me... literally.

When it comes to the two factions, they're a bunch of egocentric assholes ('scept for Siegfried and Toruviel who are both run down by circumstances) and in my view their ends don't justify their means, so I went neutral in all my playthru's, with minor deviations helping a few members from both factions as I saw fit with a clear conscience.

Have fun!

P.S.

It's Cemetaur, just remembered...

 

[BathorysGraveland2]

Meanwhile, as far as I know, becoming both a Witcher or a Sorceress is entirely voluntary.

You're entirely incorrect there. Witchers are young boys taken from their parents and transformed into Witchers as a price for help. So for example, a Witcher slays a beast for someone, and their payment is "give me that which you find at home yet do not expect", which would be an unborn child still in the womb. That is the obvious method at least, some are simply kidnapped. The few who survive the training and mutations become like Geralt and the other Witchers. So no choice there. Whether females also undergo Witcher training and mutations, I do not know. I don't believe there has been any hinting toward female Witcher in either books or games.

Sorceress' and sorcerers, and anyone who wields magic, has this ability from birth, and are required to attend magic schools to train and control their magical abilities lest they become insane. So again, no choice.

 

[exxxed]

Whether females also undergo Witcher training and mutations, I do not know. I don't believe there has been any hinting toward female Witcher in either books or games.

There's Ciri in the books, it happened exactly as you described.

 

[BathorysGraveland2]

There's Ciri in the books, it happened exactly as you described.

Whether that happens in the books yet to be translated, I do not know, but in Blood of Elves I remember the Witchers not willing to perform the mutations on her. They trained her with a sword and how to move, sure, but they hesitated and ultimately chose not to go through with the meat of the process. After all, anyone can learn to use a sword but to undergo the Witcher mutations - that is something far, far different.

 

[exxxed]

There's Ciri in the books, it happened exactly as you described.

Whether that happens in the books yet to be translated, I do not know, but in Blood of Elves I remember the Witchers not willing to perform the mutations on her. They trained her with a sword and how to move, sure, but they hesitated and ultimately chose not to go through with the meat of the process. After all, anyone can learn to use a sword but to undergo the Witcher mutations - that is something far, far different.

Yea she didn't go through with the entire process, it was more aimed at the ''means of payment'' part of your comment and partial witcher training , she's as close as we'll ever get to a female witcher.

 

[BathorysGraveland2]

Yea she didn't go through with the entire process, it was more aimed at the ''means of payment'' part of your comment and partial witcher training , she's as close as we'll ever get to a female witcher.

Well, the closest we've gotten are the females in training in the television series, but I don't think anyone treats that as canon at all.