CDProjektRED website countdown leads to Witcher 3 cinematic trailer + Tywin Lannister as voice actor

[Eduku]

Some more good news for Witcher fans. Charles Dance (a.k.a. Game of Thrones' Tywin Lannister) has been announced as the voice of Emhyr var Emreis, the Emperor of Nilfgaard. As a big fan of his portrayal of Tywin Lannister, I'm really looking forward to his performance in Witcher 3.

Oh yeaaaaaaahhhh...

Just as a sidenot, wasn't there like thing of the Nilfgaardians having this weird accent? An accent Charles dance ( with his amazing voice) definitely doesn't use? Oh well, it's gonna be awesome anyways.

Yeah I don't think we'll be hearing his usual Tywin voice, but I have faith in his abilities.

Also on a sidenote, he isn't the only Game of Thrones character to be in a Witcher game. The voice actor for Letho played GoT's Shagga, the leader of the Stone Crow hill tribe which joins Tyrion in the first season.

 

[SonicWaffle]

I think it's a case of having to get out of the 'completionist' mindset of typical RPGs and accepting that you aren't going to be able to get everything on the first playthrough.

I don't really have a problem with that. Many games lock off options because of choices the player makes, necessitating a second playthrough to see what happens if you choose the other option. My resentment from the Witcher is that unlike these other games, it doesn't give you any hints that it's locking off content; unless you're bored or dedicated enough to go around re-interviewing and re-examining every person and object and area, you are going to miss stuff. I don't mind not getting anything - what I dislike is only finding out a few hours later that I missed something important or useful because there was never even the faintest hint towards it. There's a difference between discovery through exploration and discovery through repetition.

I do think you're underestimating the number of people you have played the games through multiple times, though. Especially in the second game, the fact that there is a wildly different second act depending on your choices during the first is a big indication that the game is meant to be played through more than once.

Remember a few years ago when Rockstar released the data on GTA IV achievements and it turned out that only about 30% of people (whose achievements could be checked) had completed the game? It's probably quite similar for another long game like The Witcher, except that the playerbase is much smaller. Of the percentage who actually did finish, I don't imagine many of them could be bothered for a second playthrough. Plenty of people will have done, but I don't think it will be a very high number when compared to the number who bought or played the game.

Yeah, that would be him. It's quite a long quest, but if you keep following it you'll run into him at some point.

I think I've hit a snag, actually, and can't progress on it. All my other quests want me to go kill monsters in a swamp though, so I'll go do that for a while and maybe a clue will turn up.

 

[Eduku]

I don't really have a problem with that. Many games lock off options because of choices the player makes, necessitating a second playthrough to see what happens if you choose the other option. My resentment from the Witcher is that unlike these other games, it doesn't give you any hints that it's locking off content; unless you're bored or dedicated enough to go around re-interviewing and re-examining every person and object and area, you are going to miss stuff. I don't mind not getting anything - what I dislike is only finding out a few hours later that I missed something important or useful because there was never even the faintest hint towards it. There's a difference between discovery through exploration and discovery through repetition.

Hm, maybe you're right, I haven't played the first Witcher in quite a long time. The second does it a lot better though, it makes it very clear when the game is going to cut off (it will only 'lock' you out when you move to the next act). Quest givers are also made clear in a subtle way, a lot of the time they'll say something along the lines of "you're the Witcher, aren't you? I need your help" as you walk past.

Yeah, that would be him. It's quite a long quest, but if you keep following it you'll run into him at some point.

I think I've hit a snag, actually, and can't progress on it. All my other quests want me to go kill monsters in a swamp though, so I'll go do that for a while and maybe a clue will turn up.

If I recall correctly, it's a long quest in that it spans several chapters across the whole game, so don't worry if you get 'stuck' and can't progress.

 

[SonicWaffle]

Hm, maybe you're right, I haven't played the first Witcher in quite a long time. The second does it a lot better though, it makes it very clear when the game is going to cut off (it will only 'lock' you out when you move to the next act). Quest givers are also made clear in a subtle way, a lot of the time they'll say something along the lines of "you're the Witcher, aren't you? I need your help" as you walk past.

That sounds handy. Have they removed the random, nameless NPCs who will occasionally (a la Planescape Torment) remember Geralt and give him money or information? Those guys are a pain in the arse. They're all identical and other than the few specials ones, say exactly the same thing, so there's no way to know which ones you have or haven't already spoken to.

If I recall correctly, it's a long quest in that it spans several chapters across the whole game, so don't worry if you get 'stuck' and can't progress.

Not that kind of stuck, unfortunately. I've got one or two related items in my journal to do, I just...can't. I need to get into a hospital to interview a guy, except (as it stands) I have no way in. I also have the option of talking to Coleman at the Hairy Bear for information about Berengar, but Coleman is dead. Journal hasn't changed though. Left me at a bit of a loose end on that one.

 

[Eduku]

That sounds handy. Have they removed the random, nameless NPCs who will occasionally (a la Planescape Torment) remember Geralt and give him money or information? Those guys are a pain in the arse. They're all identical and other than the few specials ones, say exactly the same thing, so there's no way to know which ones you have or haven't already spoken to.

Not quite sure what you mean, but anyone who is remotely important (i.e. not a random bystander) has a name.

If I recall correctly, it's a long quest in that it spans several chapters across the whole game, so don't worry if you get 'stuck' and can't progress.

Not that kind of stuck, unfortunately. I've got one or two related items in my journal to do, I just...can't. I need to get into a hospital to interview a guy, except (as it stands) I have no way in. I also have the option of talking to Coleman at the Hairy Bear for information about Berengar, but Coleman is dead. Journal hasn't changed though. Left me at a bit of a loose end on that one.

I couldn't remember the details so I did a quick google search, apparently you can bribe the guard if you don't have the ring to get into the hospital, and Coleman is purely optional and you can carry on without having to worry about him. If a quest is altered due to your choices, there's usually an alternative route.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

Seems very cool, but I must say, I'm unsure of the portrayal of Geralt here. Those soldiers are ultimately just following orders, I find it hard to believe he would attack them when he could walk away and lose nothing, especially after they just paid him for a contract.

... doesn't he do this exact thing in the novels at one point?

Since he regained his memory at the end of the Witcher 2, I'm sorta assuming that we're fully back to novel Geralt at this point. He has a... thing about violence against women.

Note also: He was willing to let them hang her for crimes committed. However, when they decided to rape and torture her, he kills them. A hanging is lawful punishment - a rape is the act of a monster, and thus Geralt kills them.

And when has "following orders" ever been an excuse with Geralt?

Edit: Sorry, just read that you are "currently reading" the novels. So um... it's a very good thing that I deleted a MAJOR spoiler from the novels before I posted this the first time, huh? For some reason, I had assumed you'd already read the novels.

Anyway, having read the novels, this seemed pretty canon to me.

 

[Chris Tian]

Seems very cool, but I must say, I'm unsure of the portrayal of Geralt here. Those soldiers are ultimately just following orders, I find it hard to believe he would attack them when he could walk away and lose nothing, especially after they just paid him for a contract.

But who knows, maybe there will be a character arc at some point. Also, I heard Vesemir alongside Geralt. It would be very cool to see more of the other Witchers, maybe even see 'em fight a little.

The Geralt from the books would 100% do that, in fact he does stuff like that several times. One scene from in the books is almost exactly like the trailer, incl. a friend telling him not to meddle because it could make problems for Geralt and his companions.

I agree with you that I would very much like to see other witchers from Kaer Morhen again.

This trailer looks awesome. Everything CDProjectRED publishes about TW3 looks/sound awesome. I cant wait for that game, I have literally never bin this excited for a game and I never preoderd anything but this will be a first.

 

[SonicWaffle]

That sounds handy. Have they removed the random, nameless NPCs who will occasionally (a la Planescape Torment) remember Geralt and give him money or information? Those guys are a pain in the arse. They're all identical and other than the few specials ones, say exactly the same thing, so there's no way to know which ones you have or haven't already spoken to.

Not quite sure what you mean, but anyone who is remotely important (i.e. not a random bystander) has a name.

What I mean is that, in the first game, random unnamed bystanders can sometimes be important. Like the old women who appear like every other NPC, but there's a chance that talking to one (not all of them, just some of them) will allow you to give a gift and receive information in return. In terms of other NPCs, take the very first village as an example. There is an NPC, just called "merchant" or "townsman" or whatever who is completely indistinguishable from others with the same name, until you talk to him. Then he'll remember Geralt from pre-amnesia times, and repay the 100 or so orens he owes Geralt.

It's really, really annoying, because you either make a point of approaching every single NPC (and remember that they move around and some only appear at certain times of the day) or you resign yourself to not getting everything.

If I recall correctly, it's a long quest in that it spans several chapters across the whole game, so don't worry if you get 'stuck' and can't progress.

Not that kind of stuck, unfortunately. I've got one or two related items in my journal to do, I just...can't. I need to get into a hospital to interview a guy, except (as it stands) I have no way in. I also have the option of talking to Coleman at the Hairy Bear for information about Berengar, but Coleman is dead. Journal hasn't changed though. Left me at a bit of a loose end on that one.

I couldn't remember the details so I did a quick google search, apparently you can bribe the guard if you don't have the ring to get into the hospital, and Coleman is purely optional and you can carry on without having to worry about him. If a quest is altered due to your choices, there's usually an alternative route.

That's weird. What ring? I showed him the Order of the Flaming Rose or whatever they're called, the ring you get from the Preacher in the opening section. He didn't care. Then I tried to bribe him, and he told me to fuck off. I just assumed there was something else I needed to do first...

 

[Chris Tian]

I don't really have a problem with that. Many games lock off options because of choices the player makes, necessitating a second playthrough to see what happens if you choose the other option. My resentment from the Witcher is that unlike these other games, it doesn't give you any hints that it's locking off content; unless you're bored or dedicated enough to go around re-interviewing and re-examining every person and object and area, you are going to miss stuff. I don't mind not getting anything - what I dislike is only finding out a few hours later that I missed something important or useful because there was never even the faintest hint towards it. There's a difference between discovery through exploration and discovery through repetition.

Its funny how you describe the things you don't like about The Witcher and that are exactly the things I love about it. I really love that it doesn't hand you everything on a silver platter, that you have to think and pay attention. The guard talks about his guys clearing a new coridor in the crypt, better go check that out. I like that you never know wich decisions will have severe consequences down the line, it makes you think about everything you do instead of thinking "oh no glowing red or blue text, than this wont come back to me", even something little like letting the squirrels take their supplies can come around and bite you in the ass.

Not that kind of stuck, unfortunately. I've got one or two related items in my journal to do, I just...can't. I need to get into a hospital to interview a guy, except (as it stands) I have no way in. I also have the option of talking to Coleman at the Hairy Bear for information about Berengar, but Coleman is dead. Journal hasn't changed though. Left me at a bit of a loose end on that one.

Coleman is an entirely optional npc, except for the one quest that you have to turn in to him. The Berengar quest will progress when you find the next clue about him. Not to spoiler to much, but just talk to the people in the swamp he might have been seen there.

 

[Chris Tian]

That's weird. What ring? I showed him the Order of the Flaming Rose or whatever they're called, the ring you get from the Preacher in the opening section. He didn't care. Then I tried to bribe him, and he told me to fuck off. I just assumed there was something else I needed to do first...

You offered to little money, I think he goes for 30 Orens. There are other rings too in the game, think about what kind of ring he might want to see and who could have one of those.

 

[Eduku]

What I mean is that, in the first game, random unnamed bystanders can sometimes be important. Like the old women who appear like every other NPC, but there's a chance that talking to one (not all of them, just some of them) will allow you to give a gift and receive information in return. In terms of other NPCs, take the very first village as an example. There is an NPC, just called "merchant" or "townsman" or whatever who is completely indistinguishable from others with the same name, until you talk to him. Then he'll remember Geralt from pre-amnesia times, and repay the 100 or so orens he owes Geralt.

It's really, really annoying, because you either make a point of approaching every single NPC (and remember that they move around and some only appear at certain times of the day) or you resign yourself to not getting everything.

Oh, I don't think you get any of that in the second game.

That's weird. What ring? I showed him the Order of the Flaming Rose or whatever they're called, the ring you get from the Preacher in the opening section. He didn't care. Then I tried to bribe him, and he told me to fuck off. I just assumed there was something else I needed to do first...

If you bribe someone and they don't take it, it usually means you're not bribing high enough. Different NPCs have different 'prices', so to speak.

 

[SonicWaffle]

Its funny how you describe the things you don't like about The Witcher and that are exactly the things I love about it.

Different strokes and all that. It'd be a boring world if we were all the same.

I really love that it doesn't hand you everything on a silver platter, that you have to think and pay attention. The guard talks about his guys clearing a new coridor in the crypt, better go check that out.

I agree with you that is this is a good attempt, but the issue comes up because in The Witcher - as with any other RPG game, honestly - there is a metric fuckton of dialogue. If a player listens to all of it and takes it all to heart, they'll end up doing a ton of pointless stuff and running around chasing rumours. In that case I'd literally just left that crypt, and the walls were blocked. I tried the wind spell on them, as shown in the tutorial, to no effect. At this point I'd exhausted all avenues the game had previously provided, and since I was coming off the heels of such oddities as the drunkard's pointlessly barking dog (complete with cutscene to give a false idea of importance) I wasn't likely to give much weight to another random NPC's announcement that maybe at some future time some other NPCs would consider opening up the crypt. Perhaps. If they felt like it.

Nice idea, poor implementation. Things like that go outside the sphere of understanding provided by the game; Geralt hears a rumour, rumour goes into journal, player knows rumour is worth investigating. Geralt hears pointless chatter, journal ignores pointless chatter, player doesn't waste time investigating. If the game is willing to step outside its own rules whenever it feels like it, it creates an inconsistent and frustrating standard for player behaviour: should we investigate everything unless told not to, wasting hours upon hours on dead ends? Or should we only investigate that which the game labels as noteworthy, potentially missing out on sidequests and loot?

I like that you never know wich decisions will have severe consequences down the line, it makes you think about everything you do instead of thinking "oh no glowing red or blue text, than this wont come back to me", even something little like letting the squirrels take their supplies can come around and bite you in the ass.

I like that too. It makes things interesting, and removes the often mindless selection of the good or evil path. The idea that decisions have consequences is not my problem; it's that there's an inconsistently applied design structure to the game which can lead to players missing out. By all means hit me with unexpected consequences, just don't ask me to scour every corner of the map twice and chat repeatedly to every dull, cookie-cutter NPC in order to get maximum returns.

Coleman is an entirely optional npc, except for the one quest that you have to turn in to him. The Berengar quest will progress when you find the next clue about him. Not to spoiler to much, but just talk to the people in the swamp he might have been seen there.

Heh. This was about the point I ragequit last week, and haven't been back. I got to the swamp, was guiding Gramps past the Drowners, when all of a sudden some fucking plant monster bit my tits off and killed me. I'm yet to summon up the will to go back

You offered to little money, I think he goes for 30 Orens. There are other rings too in the game, think about what kind of ring he might want to see and who could have one of those.

If you bribe someone and they don't take it, it usually means you're not bribing high enough. Different NPCs have different 'prices', so to speak.

I just assumed he was a Flaming Rose, like the other guards near the area. If he's a city guard I guess I could find a city guard ring, but as the Flaming Rose operate the hospital (unless I'm mixing them up with someone else) it seemed like that would work.

As for the bribe, after I offered it to him and he told me to go away, he then wouldn't talk to me again. Is that a glitch, or is there some kind of reset timer on bribery?

 

[Neuromancer]

Coleman is an entirely optional npc, except for the one quest that you have to turn in to him. The Berengar quest will progress when you find the next clue about him. Not to spoiler to much, but just talk to the people in the swamp he might have been seen there.

Heh. This was about the point I ragequit last week, and haven't been back. I got to the swamp, was guiding Gramps past the Drowners, when all of a sudden some fucking plant monster bit my tits off and killed me. I'm yet to summon up the will to go back

What level were you when you went into the swamp? Because the plant monster is most likely the other trophy kill of chapter 2, so if you're not around 13-14 it's gonna be a really darn tough battle, if not downright impossible.

 

[SonicWaffle]

Coleman is an entirely optional npc, except for the one quest that you have to turn in to him. The Berengar quest will progress when you find the next clue about him. Not to spoiler to much, but just talk to the people in the swamp he might have been seen there.

Heh. This was about the point I ragequit last week, and haven't been back. I got to the swamp, was guiding Gramps past the Drowners, when all of a sudden some fucking plant monster bit my tits off and killed me. I'm yet to summon up the will to go back

What level were you when you went into the swamp? Because the plant monster is most likely the other trophy kill of chapter 2, so if you're not around 13-14 it's gonna be a really darn tough battle, if not downright impossible.

About 12, I think. It was more that it caught me by surprise - the camera can be a real dickhead in this game, and it had already munched me a few times before I could attack it.

Related question - since plants are monsters, presumably the silver sword is better?

 

[Chris Tian]

I agree with you that is this is a good attempt, but the issue comes up because in The Witcher - as with any other RPG game, honestly - there is a metric fuckton of dialogue. If a player listens to all of it and takes it all to heart, they'll end up doing a ton of pointless stuff and running around chasing rumours. In that case I'd literally just left that crypt, and the walls were blocked. I tried the wind spell on them, as shown in the tutorial, to no effect. At this point I'd exhausted all avenues the game had previously provided, and since I was coming off the heels of such oddities as the drunkard's pointlessly barking dog (complete with cutscene to give a false idea of importance) I wasn't likely to give much weight to another random NPC's announcement that maybe at some future time some other NPCs would consider opening up the crypt. Perhaps. If they felt like it.

Nice idea, poor implementation. Things like that go outside the sphere of understanding provided by the game; Geralt hears a rumour, rumour goes into journal, player knows rumour is worth investigating. Geralt hears pointless chatter, journal ignores pointless chatter, player doesn't waste time investigating. If the game is willing to step outside its own rules whenever it feels like it, it creates an inconsistent and frustrating standard for player behaviour: should we investigate everything unless told not to, wasting hours upon hours on dead ends? Or should we only investigate that which the game labels as noteworthy, potentially missing out on sidequests and loot?

I actually like all that, you never know whats important and whats not. I like that alot more than have my journal spoon feed me every interesting thing.

The Dog is a poor example, because he is important. The dog belonged to the brother of Odo(the guy who owns this little farm), and the dog howls there because the brother is buried there. The monster plants that appear on the grave only grow where violantly killed people are burried. These two informations prove that Odo murdered his brother for his money.

I like that too. It makes things interesting, and removes the often mindless selection of the good or evil path. The idea that decisions have consequences is not my problem; it's that there's an inconsistently applied design structure to the game which can lead to players missing out. By all means hit me with unexpected consequences, just don't ask me to scour every corner of the map twice and chat repeatedly to every dull, cookie-cutter NPC in order to get maximum returns.

Again something I like far more than always being able to see or know where hidden stuff is because the game hints strongely at it. I am always positively surprised I can can find even in my third or fourth playthrough something new. I get your completionist mindset, I have that too, but it somehow liberates me knowing that, in the witcher, I cant get maximum results because some choices are mutually exclusive. I get drawn much more into the game thinking "what would geralt do" instead of "what yields the most xp and the nicest items".

I just assumed he was a Flaming Rose, like the other guards near the area. If he's a city guard I guess I could find a city guard ring, but as the Flaming Rose operate the hospital (unless I'm mixing them up with someone else) it seemed like that would work.

As for the bribe, after I offered it to him and he told me to go away, he then wouldn't talk to me again. Is that a glitch, or is there some kind of reset timer on bribery?

He is a city guard, they are very distinguishable, the flaming rose guys are in red, the guard guys in white. The only reason the guard in the outskirts reacts to the flaming rose ring is because the priest there is a very respected person everyone looks to for guidance.
The hospital is operatet by the priestesses of melitele, the flaming rose just finances it or something.

If you offended someone or they say "come back later" you just need a loading screen. That means leaving a house, entering a house and traveling to any new area resets them and you can talk to them again.

 

[Neuromancer]

About 12, I think. It was more that it caught me by surprise - the camera can be a real dickhead in this game, and it had already munched me a few times before I could attack it.

Related question - since plants are monsters, presumably the silver sword is better?

Yeah, 12 is kinda low for dealing with the trophy monster. A good way I found for doing it around that level was use the silver talent you get from the hellhound's soul potion into getting Igni level 3 along with the improved chance to incinerate talents, while also having taken the strong silver talents that increase damage to incinerated targets. That way you can deal a good deal of damage in a short while. Taking some swallow and blizzard(I'm pretty sure its attacks are dodgeable, but I can't remember for sure) can also help tank the damage as you take it down.

And yes, the silver sword does work better against the plant monsters.

Alternatively, there are plenty of quests in town, enough to take you up around 15. And most of them require barely any fighting at all.

 

[Chris Tian]

Related question - since plants are monsters, presumably the silver sword is better?

Everything you couldn't come across in the real world requires the silversword or Humans, Dogs and Wolves are to be fought with your steel sword, everything else... silver it is.

Another usefull tipp, there is absolutly no reason to not have 1-3 potions active everytime you could encounter enemys, meaning whenever there is a claw slash in the little thingy that shows you the aproximate time of day/night in the upper right corner. Having a few bombs and swordoils/other sword enhancements ready at all times can make the game much much easier too.

 

[BathorysGraveland2]

snip

Well, I'm only up to Baptism of Fire, so you may know something that happens later that I don't, but so far, he's never really killed people for doing their jobs, nor accused people of being monsters. So far, he has only killed in self-defense or to defend those he cares about.

Times of Contempt spoiler

Spoiler

He could have killed Djikstra and his companions, but instead knocked them out. That's just one example I can think of

Maybe it's because they were Nilfgaardian soldiers, I dunno, but so far, it just didn't seem like something Geralt would do since there was no danger to himself or anyone he cared about. And soldiers raping and beating someone isn't particularly monstrous, it's more par for the course in that time and setting. Every army engaged in that sort of thing, even Foltest's.

But again, maybe something changes in the last three books that I haven't yet read. If so, my apologies.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

Well, I'm only up to Baptism of Fire,

**zips lips**

^^

Enjoy. Baptism of Fire is probably the most Geralt-centric book of the entire series. It also introduces a LOT of really awesome characters.

The Tower of the Swallow (book 4) is pretty awesome as well.

I'd love to hear your thoughts as you read the books (I read them recently after my Lets Play) so feel free to PM me as you read. I enjoy chatting with people about what they're reading!

And with that, I'll shut up and let you get back to reading.