Choosing Sides

[Colbyachi]

Choosing Sides

I just find the whole situation so frustrating because I;n stuck. I know the intended point of no true "good" factions but I'm still stuck. On one hand you have the order, while extreme in their methods, they would make a the best ally for garalt in the future. I just dislike the fact that they hunt magic users as well and I am concerned if this would come into play in Wild Hunt. On the other hand, you have the scoia'teal. A band of non-human "freedom" fighters that just want to be treated like equals. They also have methods I do not agree with, but I find their cause just and Yaevin may come back later on to help his old friend. Then their is neutral, while seeming to be the choice of most players, I could never pick this one myself. I am not a fan of the "true witcher way" everyone wants to follow from the books because that's why the witchers are dying out. This path also leaves you with the least amount of allies. I would just like more insight from you guys about this as I am in chapter 2 of my final playthrough of the game and do not know what I would like to pick.

 

[ReptilePZ]

For me personally, the most logical choice has always been either the neutral path or helping the Order. You work for and live among humans, who are protected by the Order and murdered by Scoia'tael. Aiding the elves always felt to me like you're going out of your way to help them, since they're outlaws - there's a bigger risk there, you're essentially breaking the law - while siding with the Order, who are backed by the law, seems like a more logical thing to do, if you wish to have some ally. Remaining neutral is still my preferred choice though, since I see no reason to join either of them.

 

[StaGiors]

What I do in my playthroughs is trying to remain as "Neutral" as possible. When I say neutral though, I do not mean indifferent, I mean, try to avoid aiding fanatics. Now both the Order and the Scoia'tael, are fanatics in their own way, with some exceptions of course.

In TW1, in the second chapter, both the Scoia'tael and the Order, ask Geralt to help them kill each other. In that decision, I prefer to not pick at all, meaning I do not accept any of the quests. I just tell Siegfried and Yaevinn that I will think about it.

In the third chapter, you are called to make a decision, when the Vivaldi Bank is seized by the Scoia'tael. That decision for me is quite interesting, since you can't stand by and watch. I personally choose to help the Scoia'tael, because the Order pretty much wants Geralt to slaughter the elves, while the Scoia'tael simply ask Geralt to kill Kikimores, so that they can escape.

It feels to me, that getting the elves to help us take down Salamandra, at this point makes more sense, and does not create contradiction in the ranks of the Order. Meaning DeWett is trying to stop us, yet Siegfried helps us with Soldiers of the Order. I think that Siegfried would obey the command of his superior officer.

In chapter four, another interesting fight takes place. In that fight I decide not to take part at all, and simply just run. Geralt at that point, has other things to worry about than the Scoiat'ael - Order fight. Alvin had just disappeared, the Elves started killing villagers, and the Order had already attacked. There is nothing Geralt can do in that situation. In my opinion.

And finally in the Epilogue, I do not kill neither Siegfried nor Yaevinn, because there is no reason to do so, unless they attack. Both are reasonable characters, not completely blinded by hate.

For me, Geralt is not looking for allies in the Order, or the Elves. He can not have allies that are fanatics, blinded by hate. That is why he won't help anyone. That doesn't mean he doesn't care about the fight. He will not become an executioner for either party though. That is how I see it.

 

[Damariel]

Can I choose Geralt's side?

 

[Sharpy47]

I just finished Witcher (2007) for the first time, and... WOW! What an amazing journey it was. Epic game.

With my first playtrough I ended up the on Order's side, but not because I felt like I will support them in slaying non-humans. Absolutely no. I helped Siegfried in the swaps because he was injured and he might have died if I didn't helped his knights to travel trough the swaps - and I couldn't let that happen because to me Siegfried was a friend who also previously helped me in the sewers.
I also helped the knights in the village where Scoia'tael had taken hostages, because I knew they will murder innocent people and kids and will leave only "rotting dhoine's everywhere". That being said I was terrified with the Order's brutality despite the fact that I "helped" them. I thought I have chosen the "lesser evil" by helping the Order and trying to save the innocent villagers (who were nice to these elves).

However - latter in the game get to see how amazing the script was written in this game, because you realize that the head of the Order - the Grand Master, had his own plans and ambitions to completely destroy the non-humans, not just Scoia'tael terrorists. All in All - you are cheated because the Order fanatics are just as equally evil as Scoia'tael, if not more. But thanks to Siegfried, I know that not all the Knights were fanatics, and the loyal ones who believed didn't know about Grand Master's plan helped Temeria's army to defeat the Salamandrians and end the massacares in Vizima. Thanks to the Siegfrieds loyal friendship in all the battles, I know that the order now is in the hands of a good man.

So im pretty happy with my first playtrough and how it ended. I still believe that the Order ending and the Neutral ending (which Im planning to do next) are less "bad" that the one where you could side with Scoia'tael.
Alteast in Order's ending you ended up played/cheated/trolled by the Grand Master, despite the fact that you can help the Order from a good will for friends and humans. I sided with Order only when Siegfried was injured/needed my help and when I felt like I can't just leave all those innocent villagers to be massacared by the elves. I respect the humans and non-humans equally, but not the terrorist who murder innocent people.

So after reading all the books, and knowing what Geralt thinked of Scoia'tael before he lost his memory - I just can't imagine myself siding with these brutal savages.

Like @ReptilePZ said:

You work for and live among humans, who are protected by the Order and murdered by Scoia'tael. Aiding the elves always felt to me like you're going out of your way to help them, since they're outlaws - there's a bigger risk there, you're essentially breaking the law - while siding with the Order, who are backed by the law, seems like a more logical thing to do, if you wish to have some ally.