The ambiguous, open ended finale was obviously no accident; it paves the way to a sequel. What's more, Witcher 2 will reveal even deeper, darker secrets about Gerald that he needs to re-discover and confront, for example his bisexuality. This time around it won't be Shani vs Tris, but Dandelion vs Zoltan Chivey 
And speaking of finale... the outro was a bit disappointing. I mean all that fighting was surely very impressive and almost realistic, but I kinda expected Shani showing Gerald what a nasty girl she became due to the long waiting. Overall the sexuality in Witcher is a bit puzzling: on one hand you come across characters like the Dryad/Naiad which are almost as graphical as you can get (some of them, like the Lady of the Lake, without any reason or need to be naked), yet when it comes to sexual encounters (which are more than implied) the ladies are well dressed and all you see is some blurry image of somebody wiping a window ... oh, and the sex cards, damn, I forgot! It's almost as if developers weren't sure whether to include any sexual/erotic elements and they stopped somewhere in between. The game is sold as +18/mature in some areas anyway... so I don't see a problem.Okay, the crap ends here...I also expetected a different outcome given the fact that you spend a lot of time on character development (or, shall I say, relationship development) – talking, giving flowers & rings, and all that wooing – that goes nowhere in Chapter 5 and Epilogue. Some users point to the epiphany Gerald has in Chapter 4 as a clue that no romance is possible as long as he's a witcher, that “she deserves somebody normal”, but even after that Gerald still has the option to send a tearful love letter as opposed to one showing merely friendly affection. Furthermore, on at least two occasions there are dialogue options that offers Gerald/the player the possibility to become further involved. True, witcher doesn't claim to be a true sandbox game, but again, after all that character interaction I think it should be up to the user (and not the developers) to decide how the story ends...
And speaking of finale... the outro was a bit disappointing. I mean all that fighting was surely very impressive and almost realistic, but I kinda expected Shani showing Gerald what a nasty girl she became due to the long waiting. Overall the sexuality in Witcher is a bit puzzling: on one hand you come across characters like the Dryad/Naiad which are almost as graphical as you can get (some of them, like the Lady of the Lake, without any reason or need to be naked), yet when it comes to sexual encounters (which are more than implied) the ladies are well dressed and all you see is some blurry image of somebody wiping a window ... oh, and the sex cards, damn, I forgot! It's almost as if developers weren't sure whether to include any sexual/erotic elements and they stopped somewhere in between. The game is sold as +18/mature in some areas anyway... so I don't see a problem.Okay, the crap ends here...I also expetected a different outcome given the fact that you spend a lot of time on character development (or, shall I say, relationship development) – talking, giving flowers & rings, and all that wooing – that goes nowhere in Chapter 5 and Epilogue. Some users point to the epiphany Gerald has in Chapter 4 as a clue that no romance is possible as long as he's a witcher, that “she deserves somebody normal”, but even after that Gerald still has the option to send a tearful love letter as opposed to one showing merely friendly affection. Furthermore, on at least two occasions there are dialogue options that offers Gerald/the player the possibility to become further involved. True, witcher doesn't claim to be a true sandbox game, but again, after all that character interaction I think it should be up to the user (and not the developers) to decide how the story ends...Honestly, I decided to stick with Triss after her conversation in the mirror. I was looking forward to an eventual betrayal and ensuing trainwreck.
Sorry if this has been covered in this thread.I chose Triss and followed the order path. But Triss wasn't even showing up in the end Is this normal or did I miss anything?Or the sorceress being tortured in the cutscene is Triss?
Is this normal or did I miss anything?Or the sorceress being tortured in the cutscene is Triss?First of all, I'd like to say how great of a game TW is... I mean, this is the best game ever and I was kind of sad when it ended! Anyway, I was really looking forward to the ending, mainly because I wanted to know what would happen to Geralt and his love interest, Shani or Triss (He picked Shani). Throughout the entire game, the characters actually develop and evolve, unlike other games and the romance subplot plays a major role (Or at least that's what the game made me believe). However, there is no mention of what happened to Geralt's love interest whatsoever and that was extremely disappointing, especially when the Identity quest was so good! At some points of the game, Geralt even talks to his friends about it and asks Kalkstein for a cure...(LOL, when Azar Javed threatened Geralt about Shani being assaulted and turned into a mutant, I was so worried that I actually returned to the Druid's Cave... ;D)Granted, it didn't have to be a happy ending (Although I wanted one, partly similar to Vincent & Carmen)... Even the mention of your love interest's name at the end would have been enough...Some people say that there'll be a sequel and that's perfectly fine by me but what gets me worrying is the possibility that all the choices you have made disappear in the next game... I know the sequel hasn't even been confirmed yet but do you believe that there'll be a chance that in the next game, we keep all the previous choices made?
Anyway, I was really looking forward to the ending, mainly because I wanted to know what would happen to Geralt and his love interest, Shani or Triss (He picked Shani). Throughout the entire game, the characters actually develop and evolve, unlike other games and the romance subplot plays a major role (Or at least that's what the game made me believe). However, there is no mention of what happened to Geralt's love interest whatsoever and that was extremely disappointing, especially when the Identity quest was so good! At some points of the game, Geralt even talks to his friends about it and asks Kalkstein for a cure...(LOL, when Azar Javed threatened Geralt about Shani being assaulted and turned into a mutant, I was so worried that I actually returned to the Druid's Cave... ;D)Granted, it didn't have to be a happy ending (Although I wanted one, partly similar to Vincent & Carmen)... Even the mention of your love interest's name at the end would have been enough...Some people say that there'll be a sequel and that's perfectly fine by me but what gets me worrying is the possibility that all the choices you have made disappear in the next game... I know the sequel hasn't even been confirmed yet but do you believe that there'll be a chance that in the next game, we keep all the previous choices made?Aye, this was to me also extremely disappointing. My Geralt was faithful for the love he chose, and what I get in return... tears! Though I'm hoping TW2 will clear things up.And yeah I believe there might be a chance the choices are kept to the next game, or there can be just a series of questions before the game starts to determine what choices you made...
I really hope the choices made are kept in The Witcher 2, too but have other games ever made that possible? I'm wondering because I've never encountered one... All games that I've purchased have had either:1. One true ending and the other one, well, fake...OR2. Only one ending...Do I have to keep my save files?munq said:
I chose Shani only because I really didn't trust Triss, however after having done so, I ended up really regretting having chose her. Maybe it's just me, but Shani ended up behaving like an obnoxious, whining shrew after I chose her and I ended up wanting to stick a sword in her rather than ahem something else lol I'll choose Triss next time around and see how that pans out.
I chose Shani over Triss. My reasons were simple - Shani is more nurturing and genuinely loving. Triss is more scheming, manipulating, and hardly nuturing of children. This had the added benefit of giving Alvin a more stable and nurturing emotional environment.SPOLIER AHEADIn spite of Geralt's misgivings at the river in Chapter 4 after rescuing Alvin from the devourer, I did choose a relationship with Shani in Chapter 5 in the hospital. Shani and Geralt then agreed to explore their future together joined as a couple after all of the madness around them settled down.I was also disappointed that the story didn't present a resolution for this in the game. I hope the sequels will continue whatever relationships Geralt did choose for each player - Shani, Triss, or no-one. Just a life of continuous superficial one-night stands.There were a few other aspects of this excellent game that didn't quite ring true. Such as: Not quite realistic sexual relationships. Some partners will certainly be brief one-time encounters. Others will welcome Geralt's return. For example, when Alvin is staying with Shani and Geralt wakes Shani up, Shani should be less admonishing and more welcoming. Instead of "SHHH!! Avin's asleep!!" Shani would be more believable to whisper invitingly, "Sshhh ...Alvin's asleep ... now, come to bed ..." with a cut scene, no card necessary. So some of Geralt's partners would be brief encounters while a few would be recurring relationships, like Triss in Chapter 3 when she says, "Now, lie back. This won't hurt a bit ..." These women who welcome Geralt's return should also be opportunities to rest and meditate.With Abigail in Chapter 4, I really hoped for an option to reconcile under better circumstances. I declined Abigail in the cave because she was simply trying to use sex to manipulate Geralt. A reconcilation in Chapter 4 that led to Abigail becoming a friend and short-term lover would have been believable - and provided a convenient place to stay and rest.The "wedding guest" comments in Chapter 4 should have changed after the sisters' deaths. Many of the NPCs still spoke as if the wedding was still happening. The quest item queue in inventory should be emptied of useless items when quests are finished and quest items - like keys and Grandma's diary - are no longer needed.These are small dialogue and character interaction details. The overall game is so far head-and-shoulders above anything else that The Witcher remains simply outstanding.- Cardhu
Finished my first playthrough (Huzzah! Great game, but was also saddened by the lack of any mention of the romance (in my case with Shani) in the epilogue.By the way, the King made an interesting comment after Geralt tells him he loves Shani. He asked if Geralt was sure.. and mentioned it being ok because Geralt was sterile, and that he loved Adda... Is Shani Geralt's sister or something?Does the King make any similar comments if the relationship is with Triss?
Great game, but was also saddened by the lack of any mention of the romance (in my case with Shani) in the epilogue.By the way, the King made an interesting comment after Geralt tells him he loves Shani. He asked if Geralt was sure.. and mentioned it being ok because Geralt was sterile, and that he loved Adda... Is Shani Geralt's sister or something?Does the King make any similar comments if the relationship is with Triss?I can't believe how many people picked Shani over Triss. Shani's a girl next door. Triss is a mysterious, manipulative sex kitten and it's heavily implied that she's brewing something behind your back. Where's your sense of adventure, people?
About that. What was she exactly brewing behind Geralt's back? Never got that one.Falconpunch said:
I wouldn't say Triss specificly brews something behind Geralt's back to oust him but I think in the first instance she follows her own path for personal benefits. She has good relation to wealthy merchants with influence, advised the king. I can't imagine that a woman like her is able to care (even love) for one ordinary person.But I didn't like Shani either. I mean, I don't want to say I can't stand both. Shani is imo too pragmatic and too possessive in regard of an ordinary person.
For me, Shani just makes me nervous when I meet her. It may be silly, but the way she moves while talking, she just seems to have drunk to much coffee...On the other hand I find Triss potrayal in the game about Alvin a bit out of character compared to her relationship to Ciri in the novel "Blood of Elves". Else I think she would be a more fitting partner for Geralt.
Triss seemed downright tender to me in the keep at the beginning, but Geralt does have amnisia, and goes from there to sleep with pretty much every woman he meets. Meanwhile, Triss may be involved in polotics, but it is never clear in the game as to her motivations. Contrary to popular belief, most politicians are not in it for personal power per se, but because they really believe in what they are doing (that includes many of the corrupt ones too.. the Grand Master being a good example). She may well be trying to do the right thing, acting for the good of the people and all that. Sometimes that means tough decisions and acting a bit cold, but can still be done for caring reasons.Shani is caring from the opposite end of the spectrum.. from that of the 'common man' (or common woman in this case .It is really disappointing that there is no epilogue regarding either romance .Noone else noticed the kings comments regarding Geralt having a relationship with Shani, though? Sigh, I need to advance my 'Triss' playthough to see if he makes the same comments re:Triss.
.It is really disappointing that there is no epilogue regarding either romance .Noone else noticed the kings comments regarding Geralt having a relationship with Shani, though? Sigh, I need to advance my 'Triss' playthough to see if he makes the same comments re:Triss.Why do I have this craving to jump up and down and yell:"SEQUEL SEQUEL SEQUEL"?