Ciri is my favourite character and I would love a TW4 with Ciri and the whole 'Mary Sue' thing can be fixed and I've said this in multiple threads. I'll mention you in said thread check your notifications in a few mins.
No, I didn't feel any sympathy for her. Some of that was because the game seemed confused about her. I couldn't understand why, with her powers, she didn't just go straight to somewhere she knew, like Kaer Morhen, or tell Triss who she was when she arranged to meet her. On the one hand she was caring (e.g. Skjall) and on the other just did silly things to advance the plot. However, my feelings may be influenced by the fact that I really didn't enjoy playing as Ciri, either her style or having my "being Geralt" immersion broken. I only wanted to know what Geralt knew, and that could have been accomplished by short cutscenes/art scenes. Knowing how OP Ciri was, I couldn't really worry about her, either.
Don't understand the appeal of Ciri as a protagonist for a fourth game, either. The end of 3 - whichever one you get - makes her future pretty clear, and there's no great story potential in any of them. You'd also have to destroy some people's chosen game endings.
(should probably add, only read a couple of books, Ciri seemed pretty bratty, but then that's kids for you - with or without super powers..)
Don't understand the appeal of Ciri as a protagonist for a fourth game, either. The end of 3 - whichever one you get - makes her future pretty clear, and there's no great story potential in any of them. You'd also have to destroy some people's chosen game endings.
(should probably add, only read a couple of books, Ciri seemed pretty bratty, but then that's kids for you - with or without super powers..)
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I think that Sapkowski did not want to do a sympathetic character with Ciri, a character which readers could feel identified. He deliberately made a character with some good qualities, and a huge dark side. I think is a good election for a novel that does not intend to be a fairy tale or a story Disney style, but I´m sure it´s a huge problem now for CDRED if they are thinking in an hypothetical TW4 with Ciri as main character.
There are "The witcher saga" fans, as myself, that not only does not feel identified with the character, but even feel antipathy for her. And this is not good for a main character in a role game. You don´t buy a game to play as a character that you dislike.
There are "The witcher saga" fans, as myself, that not only does not feel identified with the character, but even feel antipathy for her. And this is not good for a main character in a role game. You don´t buy a game to play as a character that you dislike.
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You are not the only one. One of my friends loves her. Absolutely loves her character. I dont quite understand him, but ... hey, it is his personal subjective opinion, he has his reasons.
But no, you are not the only one. As for me? I did not feel anything negative nor very positive about her. I did feel sympathy though.
Bonhart is the exact type of person you want a Speznaz officer to have fun on
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Sapkowski himself said that Ciri is supposed to represent the evil so...
The game simplifies her character way too much.. which is a shame.
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Do you feel pity for a murderer that kills inocent people just for fun because she's a "broken girl"? Well, it´s a work of fiction, so, it´s OK. But sincerey I hope you don't feel that kind of pity and understanding for vicious murderers and terrorists in real world. People usually feel pity for the victims, not for the killers, even in novels.
And I think that Sapkowski do pretty well representing evil through Ciri; the worst of possible evils: The one that is attractive, seductive, and makes some people - not all, fortunately - feel pity, understanding, simpaty or even attraction for evil. There is a lot of it in real world too.
Ciri was raised to be the most annoying entitled brat in existence but you can't really hold that against a child.
After some tragic events she pretty much became the most universally abused character in literature. So yes, I do feel sympathy for her.
The only one who didn't have an ulterior motive for Ciri was Geralt (and maybe Nenneke) and that was the whole dynamic (and point of the books if you will) in their relationship.
That said Ciri is IMO an excellent side character/plot device. When she started transforming to a main character is when the books started to lose their appeal for me. Also her abilities are way overdone in the game. Her power was about traveling between worlds and not some ADHD blinking. They might as well called her the Incredible Nightcrawler.
I love the ending where Ciri becomes a witcher since it's the least depressing, but the very notion that she even could be one is rather ridiculous.
Think about Geralt's fight with the Bruxa from "Night to remember" trailer. She is too fast even for Geralt (and for Ciri?). He only defeats her by clever use of potions (which Ciri can't drink). That's quite a list of contracts she can't accept due to the fact she can't handle them. Even Vesemir noted that Ciri wasn't particulary talented compared to other children he trained.
TL; DR I do sympathize with Ciri but don't really like her portrayal in the books or the game.
After some tragic events she pretty much became the most universally abused character in literature. So yes, I do feel sympathy for her.
The only one who didn't have an ulterior motive for Ciri was Geralt (and maybe Nenneke) and that was the whole dynamic (and point of the books if you will) in their relationship.
That said Ciri is IMO an excellent side character/plot device. When she started transforming to a main character is when the books started to lose their appeal for me. Also her abilities are way overdone in the game. Her power was about traveling between worlds and not some ADHD blinking. They might as well called her the Incredible Nightcrawler.
I love the ending where Ciri becomes a witcher since it's the least depressing, but the very notion that she even could be one is rather ridiculous.
Think about Geralt's fight with the Bruxa from "Night to remember" trailer. She is too fast even for Geralt (and for Ciri?). He only defeats her by clever use of potions (which Ciri can't drink). That's quite a list of contracts she can't accept due to the fact she can't handle them. Even Vesemir noted that Ciri wasn't particulary talented compared to other children he trained.
TL; DR I do sympathize with Ciri but don't really like her portrayal in the books or the game.
It's hard to not simplify character when you are adapting from book to game. There's not enough screen time, and you can't make the same narrative as in books which allows to sink into character. Beside that, IMO there's no space in Witcher 3's plot for describing how Ciri had bad childhood, that she was killing innocent people, that she had been treated like a dog by bonhart and the other I won't mention.What purpose would it have?
P.S. I wish post of the person who quoted you updated if you made any change after he replied to you
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Yeah, I understand it. By no means did I expect to see Ciri as she was in the books...not only is she older now, but also the things you (and others) mentioned here : a)that would be impossible and b) she had to be presented in a 'sympathetic' light in order for a player to actually care for her and to understand why Geralt cares for her
Quite surprised to read that. Do you have a source?
About the main topic, simpathy is exactly the feeling I had for the character, both literal and ethimologically. Sapkowski drag me as the reader together with the character through all those awful experiences to make me feel as revolted and destroyed as she is. And he does it quite effectively, I would say.
So yes, I woud say I have simpathy for Ciri. Who is not a nice character , by any means. Considering her crappy childhood, the ill-temperness we observed during TW3 is a very minor defect.
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Yes, pity. Just look the characters background, or don't you believe the experiences that people live change them? And understanding and accepting ARE NOT the same thing, just don't twist my words. She didn't turn herself a murderer and joined the Rats from nowhere, and this has nothing to do with vicious murderers and terrorists, i think that you gone too far in your comparison.
Of course the experiences that people live change them. That, and their own natures, carry people to become in a criminal. Of course is a legitim twist of the plot of the books that Ciri becomes in a criminal. But this is not a excuse for becoming in a vicious murderer, and so, I don't feel pity for criminals, but for their victims, in real life and books.
Probably, all the criminals in the world have similar excuses as Ciri: I had bad fathers, or I had no fathers, I was poor, the bad luck, bad companies, the society made me like that... bullshit. And yes, Ciri and the rats are vicious murderers. The author does not sweeten that at all.
"They plundered and murdered, and their cruelty became legendary."
"They attacked, robbed and killed for entertainment"
"The Rats attacked like rats. Quietly, treacherously, cruelly. The Rats adored killing."
Time of Contemp.
Ah, but for me that is exactly one of the strongest messages of the books: it is not bullshit. They are not excuses, but causes. And that makes me thinks twice when I judge other characters with "low moral fiber".
So, you think that causes are excuses. That it´s legitim that someone becomes in a vicious murder because is a "broken girl", "society made me like that", "had to take a lot of shit when young" or something, and we can´t judge her. And her innocent victims, screw them.
Actually, that´s not the message of the author at all. He indeed judges Ciri, by the old man that tells his story:
"Ciri was with the Rats, hiding under the name of Falka. She took to the bandit’s life because, although nobody knew it then, in that girl was wickedness and cruelty, all that is wrong, which is hidden in each person, had emerged from her and gradually took advantage over the good. Oh, it was a big mistake made by the witchers of Kaer Morhen, who taught her to kill! She, however, could not imagine that by killing, the Grim Reaper himself was on her heels. Because the terrible Bonhart was on her trail."
Baptism of Fire.
The author judges the character as "evil" and punishes her with Bonhart.
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Don't missunderstand me. I don't think Ciri is an angel, she has done horrible things of wich she is reponsible for. But, at the same time, the circumstances are there, and they are not only worth to consider, but absolutely necessary and integral to the narrative if you want to understand it (IMHO). That is the ambivalence that makes her a great character. And understandment is different from justification, of course.
Take Mistle, for instance. To me it's clear she a rapist. And a murderer, that's for sure. But I am also quite simpathetic with the character, partially because I imagine she had suffer herself abuse in her childhood. She's both a victim and an executioner.
I am still trying to make my mind regarding the Sapkowski's affirmation that Ciri is evil, so thanks for letting me know that, anyway
Take Mistle, for instance. To me it's clear she a rapist. And a murderer, that's for sure. But I am also quite simpathetic with the character, partially because I imagine she had suffer herself abuse in her childhood. She's both a victim and an executioner.
I am still trying to make my mind regarding the Sapkowski's affirmation that Ciri is evil, so thanks for letting me know that, anyway
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Devils4dvocate, the author can´t say it more clearly: "She took to the bandit’s life because, although nobody knew it then, in that girl was wickedness and cruelty, all that is wrong, which is hidden in each person, had emerged from her and gradually took advantage over the good." He don´t say "the poor Ciri was a broken girl, she was sad, lost and alone, and so she become in a criminal, it´s understable." or something like that. Ciri is evil and cruel and that´s why she become in a criminal when she mets others like her and when the good influence of Geralt (that tries to teach her that the sword if for defending herself and others, not for getting revange) and the other witchers, Nenneke, Triss and Yennefer dissapears from her life.
I sort of think the question is out of tune. Ciri is not there to be an object of condemnation or pity. She is who she is, and unless we have walked a mile in her shoes, our need to judge her says more about us than about her.
The quote tells us much about Sapkowski's purpose: he meant to show how great cruelty is in the soul of every one and can emerge under such extreme circumstances. He may be using Ciri, but he is nothing like her judge. Or if he is inviting us to judge, he is likewise making us to judge ourselves.
The quote tells us much about Sapkowski's purpose: he meant to show how great cruelty is in the soul of every one and can emerge under such extreme circumstances. He may be using Ciri, but he is nothing like her judge. Or if he is inviting us to judge, he is likewise making us to judge ourselves.
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I posted it a while ago in a Yen's thread. Don't have a link to that interview tho (but it's pretty new)
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