[TW1] Reviews of all Fan-Made Adventures

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[TW1] Reviews of all Fan-Made Adventures

Believe or not, there are currently 21 fan-made adventures that can extend the life of your gameplay for The Witcher 1.

However, I noticed there is not much in the way of reviews or descriptions of the content of these mods, at least not all in one convenient place. So I've made this thread. This will tell you the setting, the general story, the type of gameplay, and the length of all the adventures. If anything is exceptionally good or bad I'll mention it but won't include too many personal feelings aside from recommendations for the best.

Links to downloads and discussion threads are also included (updated as of December 2015).

The adventures are best played after the main campaign. Some are prequels to the main campaign, some are sequels, some take place at indeterminate times. Almost all of them use familiar maps from the main game but often transform them into new places. Some are more successful at this than others.

Only one adventure is voiced in English. For the rest, you will click to advance dialogue when you're done reading it. You will probably get used to this very quickly.

If you upgraded to the 1.5 patch, then five fan-made adventures are already included in your game. However, three of them (Deceits, Merry Witchmas, The Wedding) have been updated since then, so be sure to replace them with the latest versions.

I can't say definitively how many hours each adventure is, since a speed-run might take an hour while a thorough, leisurely exploration could take four times as long. Therefore I'll just use this general scale:
very short < short < medium < long < very long
The shortest, "Yennefer's Valentine," is about 15 minutes, while the longest, "And a Curse, and Love, and Betrayal" is around 12 hours. All the others fall on a spectrum between those two.



Note about playing the adventures with other mods
:

It's generally a bad idea to play these adventures with mods for the main game installed. Difficulty mods in particular (Flash Mod, FCR) can cause problems. The tweaks work ok, but the core changes may give you issues The adventure authors have given Geralt the talents and items necessary to face the challenges they included, and something like Flash Mod can severely throw off the balance and turn difficult encounters into impossible or instant-kill battles..

Certain other mods can have unintended consequences: The mod that allows you to meditate anywhere can possibly cause some disappearing enemies and cutscenes not triggering right if you use it recklessly. Mods that give you a companion (Wolf, Dryad Healer, Knight, etc.) will not work in adventures either.

The high-res textures and Roxtar's UI mods are generally compatible, as are others like those that increase item stack size and those that modify camera views.

Always read the included documentation (readme files, etc.) for any special installation instructions and to see if anything is wildly incompatible.



The Adventures (Listed in alphabetical order):

And a Curse, and Love, and Betrayal by Adam "Fantasta" Dukszto
Download Mod / Mirror #1
Discussion Thread
Length: Very Long
This clocks in as the longest and largest adventure. It uses maps from almost the entirety of Chapter IV (village, fields, seaside), and they have been reworked and repopulated with new NPC's and host of powerful monsters both new and old. To start with, you learn of an interesting curse where a man turns into a wolf during the day, and the villagers are having trouble with a monster-infested gold mine. The inn has a lot of patrons who'd like to drink with Geralt, and the witcher will have to chug a lot of alcohol to loosen tongues and pursue quests there. This adventure has lots of room and time for Geralt to level up, learn things, and acquire loot, so you won't be able to just immediately charge into every area with guns blazing, so to speak. Lots of quality content here. Highly recommended.


Birth and Virgins by Simon Brooke
Download Mod / Mirror #1
Discussion Thread
Length: Medium
This adventure has perhaps the most mature themes and story, so sensitive players take note. As this story begins, you are introduced to a suicidal young priestess who is the victim of repeated gang-rapes and has an uncaring, hostile family. Furthermore, the young lady's friend, who mysteriously died, has returned as a haunting wraith. Enter Geralt of Rivia, passing through this troubled country village, which is none other than Murky Waters (a really unlucky town apparently). Is our Witcher really cut out to untangle such a grim and unpleasant situation? There is light combat with monsters but the focus is mostly on solving people's problems. This adventure features a great original soundtrack and an interesting new half-elf NPC model. It's also notable in that it includes backstory for many characters that appear in TW1, such as the Reverend and Carmen. (Note: I had a few bugs relating to the ending sequence and one was gamebreaking, so save often).


Blight of the Bogs (aka Damn Those Swamps!) by JoasiaR
Download Mod
Discussion Thread
Length: Short
The alternate title is displayed when you get the adventure through the Enhanced or Digital editions. It seems to be exactly the same adventure either way. This takes place in the Swamps, where Geralt is looking for a way to earn some coin from the local villagers. However, simple drowner-slaying and herb-picking quickly escalates into strange happenings, with hallucinations and a strange poison mist creeping in. Geralt travels through portals to fight elemental guardians, meets the spirit of the swamps, a talking drowner (or is he?) a mad scientist (or is he?) and has an interesting ethical choice at the end.


The Crossroads by Ifrit Creative Group
Download Mod / Mirror #1
Discussion Thread
Length: Long
Two enemy bandit groups have clashed in the forests surrounding Crossroads village, sucking the villagers into their conflict. Geralt arrives, on his way to Brokilon and in need of a horse and some coin. The village leader promises him a horse if can get rid of the bandits, one way or another. The map here is a gloomy, rainy village surrounded by forests. The sun never seems to peek through the clouds. Geralt spends most of the game earning the trust of one or both bandit factions by completing quests that improve or or damage his reputation with them. The villagers have no other need of a Witcher at first, but soon monsters begin coming out of the woodwork. Werewolves, wraiths, and more lurk the woods, and Geralt can also find ancient ruins of the Lionhead Spider Cult and begin an eerie Lovecraftian quest into the darkness. This adventure has some cool new revamped NPC models and a great original soundtrack that's included in the download. Highly recommended.


Deceits by Debren (aka Magun)
Download Mod / Mirror #1
Discussion Thread
Length: Medium
Geralt has been summoned to Lan Exeter on Witcher business by the King of Kovir, and after crossing a mountain range on his journey he stops to rest in a small country village named Deceits. However, things are not well in Deceits (unsurprising, with a name like that). There has been a murder, and Geralt offers to help solve the mystery and find the true killer (for a reward of course). Wolves also roam the wilderness, and a restless ghost haunts the ruins. The inn is also host to a big professional dice-poker tournament, complete with a scoreboard that Geralt can work his way up and become champion (or lose all his money). This adventure was the winner of the official fan-made adventure contest.


Deception by REDFlame Interactive
Download Mod
Discussion Thread
Length: Short
This was one of the very first fan adventures for The Witcher, and it may not have aged well but it still boasts many things that most other adventures do not have. It takes place in an entirely new map, the small town of Carreas. It is almost entirely voice-acted (though a few random lines are missing and the quality is only decent), it has a unique soundtrack, and new artwork slides for the intro and area transitions. The plot is a double-murder mystery, and Geralt's motivation is that none other than his old friend Dandelion has been arrested and sentenced for the murders. Geralt roams around the small village looking for clues and investigating, and fights waves of Fleders that for some reason plague the town at night. Geralt can "solve" the murders at almost anytime, resulting in any of four suspects taking the blame (possibly the wrong ones if solved prematurely). Geralt's voice sounds a bit like Letho crossed with Batman.


Entrapped
by Adam "Fantasta" Dukszto
Download Mod / Mirror #1
Discussion Thread
Length: Medium
Geralt stops for a rest at a country inn but the innkeeper is dead on the doorstep. What happened? Acid rain begins to fall from the sky, preventing any kind of escape. Two strange women in the empty inn aren't much help. Geralt is able to run to a nearby hut, but if he ever wants to escape and get back on the road, he's got to figure out what's going on. This adventure involves a bit of investigating and clue deciphering. It can seem claustrophobic at first, with the acid rain forcing you indoors, but there are some interesting tools at your disposal, like a golem you can control, and a large underground area at the end. There are also several branching points in the story that can change the ending you get quite a bit. The newest version is fully voice acted (Polish only). Recommended.


Evil Decision by Raven Team
Download Mod / Mirror #1
Discussion Thread
Length: Long
One night, Geralt gets a letter from Eskel: "Please come to Bann Glean immediately. I need your help." When Geralt arrives at this country village, Eskel is drunk as a skunk, miserable because he's got an unresolvable contract. Geralt agrees to take up his contract and investigates around the village. There are two apparent ways to resolve the contract, and either way, as Eskel says, "It's gonna be a bloodbath." Bann Glean is an interesting town with members of "The Order of the Golden Dawn" who have obedient golem servants roaming around while children play under their feet. There are three very memorable sex encounters, two of them with (tasteful) sex scenes and not just the sex card. One encounter was also romantic in a way I haven't seen outside of the main game. There's also one easter egg area dedicated to Raven's cat, and another one with NPC versions of the other members of Raven Team. Recommended.


Graveyard Party by REDFlame Interactive
Download Mod / Mirror #1
Discussion Thread
Length: Very Short to Very Long (as long as you can last)
This is sort of the TW1 equivalent of an Arena Mode. When you start, you get to pick one of four characters: Geralt, Triss (gets a knife, Ifrit summoning scroll, and Igni), A Knight of the Order (gets a hammer and Quen), or a Dwarf Warrior (gets an axe and Aard). You can then assign your talents or choose a pre-made build (tip: choose a pre-made build because if you assign your own talents you can't give yourself any Signs!). Then, you enter Vizima's Graveyard and battle monsters until you either die or get bored. There are spawn-points for four different monster types : Drowners, Ghouls, Fleders, and Skullheads. These monsters start spawning when you get close and they spawn endlessly. There is nothing to loot and no usuable items. There's no quests or journal entries, no objectives and no way to really complete the adventure. Just you, your weapon, your Signs, and endless waves of enemies.


John's Diary
by Feebe
Download Mod / Mirror #1
Discussion Thread
Length: Short
This is probably the single most bizarre adventure, and for some players, the most humorous. In this adventure you play a heavy metal-loving Drowner named John, who either used to be a Witcher or just thought he was (it's not clear). You roam around the Swamps and a cave in search of Witchers to kill. You also encounter other talking Drowners and Monsters. The dialogue and writing in this adventure is often baffling, often to the point of being incoherent. Regardless, there's nothing to solve or understand really, just some strange dialogues and silly fights. This is also the only time you'll get to see a headbanging drowner.


Medical Problems: The Village Mystery
by Corylea
Download Mod / Mirror #1 / Mirror #2
Discussion Thread
Length: Long
This takes place just after the events of TW1. Villages in Temeria's countryside are recovering from battles between the Order of the Flaming Rose and the Scoiatel. Even worse, in Riverford, a dye-makers' village, a strange sickness has taken hold. Shani is trying to treat the sickness, and when Geralt passes through, she enlists his aid. This adventure has professional quality writing and stellar design, with lots of depth and detail. Riverford is a colorful village packed with interesting people, dialogues, and side quests. The main plot will have Geralt finding a cure for the sickness and investigating into the cause. There are three possible endings depending on your choices. You'll also find bridge trolls, easter egg forum members, and lots of sex opportunities with redone sex cards. Highly recommended.


Medical Problems 2: The Witcher Disease
by Corylea
Download Mod / Mirror #1 / Mirror #2
Discussion Thread
Length: Long
This adventure picks up right where part 1 left off. Geralt has received an urgent message from Lambert saying that Vessemir and Eskel are gravely ill. Triss is already in Kaer Moren working on the cure, and Shani accompanies Geralt as he arrives to help. This adventure has a lot of variety and detail and will send you to more locations than any other adventure (thanks to a teleport scroll). In your quest to save your friends you'll visit the Kaer Moren valley, the outskirts of Ban Ard, Mahakam, Redania, and much more, including some very trippy hallucinations. Triss and Shani will work side by side to help you - will they get along? Professional quality writing and design, and multiple combinations of satisfying (or sad) endings based on your choices. Highly recommended.


Merry Witchmas
by Ifrit Creative Group
Download Mod / Mirror #1
Discussion Thread
Length: Long
Merry Witchmas is another humorous mod by Ifrit. It takes place one snowy winter in Vizima's temple quarter. Snowflakes fall from the sky, rooftops are frosted, and most people are indoors warming by the fire. But not Geralt. No, our witcher is out talking to witches in the graveyard who have a plan to engulf the world in fire. Maybe we help them, or maybe we help Father Witchmas instead? But Father Witchmas is depressed. So much work to do for the holiday season, he needs a helper. In this game Geralt explores the temple quarter, fighting the occasional monsters in the sewers or cemetery but mostly talking to people, finding items, and answering a riddle or two. There are plenty of character models that got a makeover (the witches look creepy and cool) as well as some silly nods to other games. There's even a homemade potion so foul that even Geralt regrets drinking it. Recommended.


Poet's Pride
by Arkray
Download Mod / Mirror #1
Discussion Thread
Length: Short
In this adventure Dandelion has once again lost his precious lute gifted to him by the elves. It begins late at night in Vizima's Temple Quarter, where an uncharacteristically cranky Dandelion informs Geralt that he insulted a poet and the poet retaliated by stealing his lute and leaving a map and a series of cryptic clues. This is a puzzle adventure - you will answer riddles, decipher clues, and click on things in a certain order to unlock stuff, all in various locations in the Temple Quarter. There is also some light combat with Drowners and Necrophages (and possibly more if you get the puzzles wrong). This adventure has a time limit: four in-game hours, though this should be plenty of time even if you spend an hour meditating. All the while Dandelion follows you around, torch in hand, desperate to get his lute back.


Red Silk
by Nandusso
Download Mod / Mirror #1
Discussion Thread
Length: Very Long
Tis adventure mixes strangeness with lots of raunchy humor. Geralt wakes up hungover dressed in a red silk shirt in Vizima's temple quarter, with no memory of where he's been or what he's done. Princess Adda is in jail, and so is a drowner (who is, incidentally, part of a group of stoner monsters). They both want Geralt to track down a magic ring, and Geralt spends the adventure helping them find it. To find it, Geralt goes all over Vizima: temple quarter, trade quarter, dike, graveyard, castle, etc.. The streets are mostly empty and most buildings are locked because ghouls infest parts of the city. There's lots of stuff to do but this mod has you running all over the place and backtracking without much help from the journal or map, which can get frustrating. There are a lot of dirty jokes, like Alvin visiting a whorehouse because he's tired of spying on Geralt and Triss, and a hooker who caters to Vodyanoi. At one point Geralt also visits a multi-level whorehouse with all kinds of fleshy delights in store.


Right to the Throne by Ifrit Creative Group
Download Mod / Mirror #1
Discussion Thread
Length: Medium
Geralt has been summoned to Vizima by King Foltest for unknown reasons, but when he stops in the Outskirts he gets waylaid by assassins, and of course, a number of citizens who need help with killing monsters, laying ghosts to rest, stopping wolves, curing illnesses, and picking herbs. Could these assassins and strange happenings be connected to the reason that Foltest sent for Geralt? This adventure takes place in Vizima's Outskirts (featuring a big, redesigned inn with some dicing and boxing opportunities) and also a big underground cave system. It has a strangely abrupt ending without much resolution, though that doesn't ruin the fun of the rest of the adventure.


The Tribute
by quz
Download Mod / Mirror #1 / Mirror #2
Discussion Thread
Length: Short
This is the only adventure with a (coherent) storyline where you play as a character other than Geralt. In this one, you're a big tough drunkard named Long. Unfortunately, four armed tough guys have showed up to your favorite bar demanding a "tribute" for their gang leader from the tavern keeper. The toughs aren't leaving until they get the money. Everyone is too scared or too drunk to do anything to help, so it's up to Long to figure out a way to save his bar. There's drinking and gambling to be done (obviously), a crpyt area where most of the plot unfolds, and eventually the story takes you outside for a little bit of wolf-hunting and ghoul-slaying. There's one main choice that affects the game ending. Combat certainly has a much more menacing feel - it's one thing to go down into a dark crypt as a mutated Witcher with a silver sword; it's another thing to go down there as a regular joe with just a torch.


The Wedding by Ifrit Creative Group
Download Mod / Mirror #1
Discussion Thread
Length: Short
This hilarious adventure begins with Geralt waking up in a large inn that is utterly packed with characters from the game and the books, both friends and foes. All are gathered to celebrate Geralt's wedding to Triss. Geralt has absolutely no idea what's going on or why he's dressed in a lace shirt that everyone keeps making fun of. The whole game takes place in a big three-room inn. There's no combat, just talking, lots of drinking (and smoking strange herbs) and even some boxing. Basically the objective is just to talk to everybody and see all the bizarre and funny things the creators thought up, until at last it's time for the big wedding - and the honeymoon? A few bugs here and there.


What a Man Needs by Arkray
Download Mod / Mirror #1
Discussion Thread
Length: Very Short
In this quick, humorous adventure, Geralt feels unfulfilled and fed-up living with the nagging Triss. He's even bored by the idea of sex with her. He ventures outside (into the Swamp Cemetery, where they live apparently) to meet Dandelion, Siegfried, and Yaevinn. There's only one quest, and two possible endings, both of them involving straight-up graphic gay sex rendered with some kind of 3D erotic movie-maker. May not be to everyone's taste.


Wraiths of Quiet Hamlet by Dan123
Download Mod
Discussion Thread
Length: Medium
In this adventure, Geralt travels to the country village known as Quiet Hamlet, which, as you might guess, is haunted by ghosts. Every night at midnight an eerie mist creeps into the town and the wraiths appear. The wraiths aren't hostile but they terrify the village and drive people to hurt themselves. The town is also desperately awaiting a shipment of medicine for sick villagers. If Geralt is diligent in solving not just the main quest but also helping all the other villagers in the sidequests, then he can get an extra-special ending that's very well made. There's also a hilarious moment of coitus interruptus - if you thought Granny was a bad cockblocker then just wait til you play this one. Recommended.


Yennefer's Valentine
by Corylea
Download Mod / Mirror #1
Discussion Thread
Length: Very Short
Short but sweet, this is sort of the heterosexual answer to "What a Man Needs." In other words, this is a very brief, humorous adventure where Geralt's goal is to get some sexy time with his lover (in this case, the raven-haired Yennefer). There's an initial quest in Yennefer's lovely home, and then the story branches into two possible locations, both small indoor areas, where Geralt's pals Dandelion and Zoltan can make an appearance. Complete this adventure to see a cool sex scene animation that was included in the game but never used. Recommended.
 
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