Witcher series save imports

[Quirkymeister]

Hello,
I'm getting into the Witcher games, but I was wondering something; isthe save import feature where you load your choices from a previous game into the next one as crucial to getting a good experience as, say, Mass Effect, where the default world builds you used in sequels without save imports left you with no way of getting the best ending or optimal experience? Or can you get the best ending/experience in Wither 2 and 3 with a save file without importing from a previous game?
It's just that these games are really long, I have all of them but the common consensus seems to be that the Witcher 3 is the best RPG since sliced bread, and the quicker I can get to it the more I can satisfy my impatience instead of slugging through the brown click-fest that is the first game.
So anyway, how crucial to getting a good experience is the save import feature?

 

[Zetatrain]

No, save imports in the Witcher series are not as important as the Mass effect series and do not lock you out of the best ending or anything to that degree.

Importing a save file from the Witcher 1 over to the Witcher 2 will bring over certain items and like 2% of the gold you had at the end of the Witcher 1. There are 2 or 3 character you can kill or spare in the Witcher 1 that will be brought up in conversation during the Witcher 2, but it has zero impact on the story and is only a few line of dialogue. There is one character who, if you helped him in TW1, will appear and assist you in one of the quests. There are also a few other choices you make in the Witcher 1 that might get brought up in the Witcher 2 but again zero impact on the story and just a few lines of dialogue.

In the Witcher 3 there are some choices that get carried over from TW2, but again it won't lock you out of the best ending. Some of these choices might cause a few characters to be more friendly or hostile towards you depending on said choices. These characters may not help you in certain missions, but their assistance is not vital to completing the missions they appear in. There is one character you can kill or spare in TW2 who will make an appearance and provide a secondary quest (assuming you spared him), but it has nothing to do with getting the best ending.

So in short everything you need to get the best ending in TW3 is provided in the TW3.

Also, in the TW3 you have the option to either
1)import a save from the Witcher 2
2)Start with a default world build
3)Create your own world build

The third option will allow you to decide what major or significant choices you made in TW2. This will occur after the TW3's prologue level.

So while you can just jump into the Witcher 3 and get a good experience I still recommend you at least play TW2 first as it will give you a better understanding and appreciation of the Witcher universe and some of the characters. Playing TW1 will also improve your understanding and appreciation for the Witcher universe, but I find it hard to recommend because it is a difficult game to get into with its outdated combat system and bland voice acting.

 

[gigastar]

Save import from Witcher 1 > 2 isnt important in the slightest. It just starts you off with some slightly better swords that become obselete rather quickly, and it only affects the dialouge of about 2 characters, i think.

Save import from 2 > 3 doesnt really matter either, since all the ending conditions for 3 are all determined by what you do during 3.

 

[kasperbbs]

I didn't bother importint my W2 save even though i have a 4gb game save folder stored somewhere.. I don't feel like i had a lesser experience because of it and you can pick the most important choices during a dialogue early in the game.