joeblow69

So I bit the bullet and gave it a shot ... so far it's pretty darn neat. I can't help but think the actor voicing Geralt was channeling batman though!

slop101

He is supposed to me emotionless.

joeblow69

Oh yeah, forgot my questions:

1) Is crafting necessary? Alchemy doesn't seem to bad, but the armor and weapon building stuff looks confusing ... will I get decent enough armor and weapons from quests?

2) Ugh, SO many skills to put skill points into. Can I screw this up royally? Do I need to consult a guide to make sure I don't put points in the wrong spot?

brainee

No, crafting isn't needed (especially if you're not going to play at the hard levels).

I think special Witcher gear (armor and swords) is worth crafting. You'll probably run into quests about them. I didn't bother with potions and bombs much, but there are some that came in handy in tough spots.

Give crafting a chance though ... I don't think it's as complicated as you think. You get recipes or diagrams to craft something (some you buy, some you find). Get the ingredients and get it made (though you'll need help of NPC's for the weapons and armor). In the course of your adventuring, you'll collect stuff that can be used for crafting.

Here's something that will set your mind at ease about that ... as you go through the game, you'll see potions for sale (Potion of Clearance) that let you redistribute all your skill points. The first time you see one it'll look pricey (1000 gold). But as you get higher level, that cost becomes more trivial. I used it once. Not that I screwed things up, but I realized based on my game play that there were some abilities I just wasn't using.

That said, Witcher 3 is pretty robust for allowing a wide variety of character builds to succeed. Go with what seems a fun way to play for you.

There are guides out there, but I don't think you really need them. If you search, you'll see many different builds that players are saying are great. And once you start looking for information online, it'll be really easy to spoil yourself. And you don't want to do that. Witcher games are great at characters, plot, and branching story possibilities. It's best to experience those as the game delivers them, not through an online walkthrough that you looked at before.

slop101

1. no, not necessary, especially if you're playing on easy - just have fun with it

2. no, you can't really screw it up - you're gonna have a lot of point - just put them towards how you prefer to play.

lwhy?

I just started playing this today. I like it so far, except for the horse. It doesn't control very well especially after playing Assassin's Creed Odyssey where the horse maneuvers a lot better.

Noonan

Enjoy the ride! Fantastic game with endless content.

Horse isn't as good as AC but much better than RDR2.

Obi-Wanma

I picked up a used copy of the complete edition on PS4 the other day for $15 at 2nd and Charles. Never played it before, but seemed like a good dea.

lwhy?

Also, does it matter if you simulate the events of Witcher II or not? I haven't played it and didn't know if that affected the ending or not.

slop101

It may take away/add missions - but if you've never played W2, some of those may not make any sense to you anyhow.

lwhy?

It's one of the worst I have ridden in a game. I ended up jumping over a rail on Roach and didn't know how I even did that. It was really hard to get back to the main area after that.... I prefer the RDR2 horses better especially once you get them fully leveled up.

lwhy?

Thanks! I unknowingly selected simulate on.... I did some research and read an article and more than half of this thread before starting. Seems like quite an interesting world. I've only made it to the pub after saving a man from a griffin attack.

lwhy?

I'm really enjoying this so far. I've just been exploring White Orchard and trying to do some grinding. It might just be me, but leveling up is taking quite a bit of time. I've almost finished all the side quests and I'm barely level 3. Also, it seems like money it hard to come by so far too. You only get 20 coins from the first witcher contract and some low level food items cost 20.... I do like the combat so far. I didn't know you could slice arms and legs off and slice people in half....

slop101

You haven't even started. White Orchard is basically the tutorial and not really the place for grinding.

lwhy?

mndtrp

I'm having a hard time remembering what I spent my money on, aside from Gwent cards. I think all of my gear was from missions, especially when I started hunting down the witcher armor sets. I rarely used potions or oils, only when I got in over my head a few times.

lwhy?

I've spent the majority of my money so far on repairing my swords and armor, and saddlebags.

davidh777

OldBoy

Is this like a true Elder Scrolls type or action RPG where 3rd person control and fighting and stuff? Is it really as hard as they say, even on easy?

gerrythedon

CD Projekt Red Strikes New Deal With Witcher Author


https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/12...witcher-author

K&AJones

I'll let the Witch experts chime in as I'm in the first area still though about 85% complete. But this and ESO are similar in a lot of ways....the resource gathering, crafting various skills from clothing to food to potions to weapons. both you need to upgrade and maintain your "Stash Space" There's the side and main quests to level, main Storyline to side Stories. In both you even level up your Horse....but the biggest difference is...ESO has other players around that can help while in The Witcher it's you or at least where I'm at it's just me though I had my traveling companion help out with the first Boss. The Witcher looks a bit more polished and has more conversation choices that determines your path of progress. Of course in ESO you have more character choices, builds and styles. I like how ESO is and plays but hate that Stash Restriction that more or less almost forces everyone to pay monthly for unlimited stash space. You can play without it; it just really limits you as you progress unless you find a Guild and others to make stuff for you.

brainee

Does this game really have a reputation for being hard? I rarely stray from the default “normal” difficulty level for games. But this was one I bumped up to a harder difficulty level after finding combat too easy at a certain point. I would imagine that anyone who does fine with Elder Scrolls gameplay will do fine with this.

joeblow69

I didn't think it was particularly hard. I seem to remember the second game was REALLY difficult to start out with, so much that they actually re-did the opening areas to better explain what was going on.

mndtrp

I played on normal, and thought it was overall pretty easy. I never crafted potions or anything else. There was one part with a frog monster that tripped me up for quite a while, but even that I got through without getting too frustrated. I don't recall doing much with my inventory, either. As I came across new gear, I dumped the old gear.

slop101

If you want to get the most out of a Witcher's "abilities" and use all the resources available to Geralt, play on a harder difficulty, which requires you to do some research in the robust beastiary to find the best way to defeat the more difficult foes, not just with your swords, but potions, abilities, etc. While it's more time consuming, it can be more satisfying, and you "feel" more like what a Witcher is supposed to be doing.
But, if you just wanna feel like some badass, you can drop the difficulty and easily chop everything in your way without breaking a sweat.