Looking for more immersion?
Hey guys,
I'm about a third of the way through my second playthrough, and just wanted to suggest what I think is the best way to play the game on the PC if your thinking of starting a new game:
If you're looking for an immersive, challenging and better paced way of playing, I whole heartedly recommend the following:
(Note: this is really aimed at those starting a new game, as some of the suggestions require it)
1) Play on Death March difficulty
- It's so much more fun having to prepare for fights and think about a strategy, as well as relying on potions/food instead of meditating for vitality. I seriously regret playing on 'story and sword' for my first playthrough.
2) Install the 'Better XP Curve Mod' (http://www.nexusmods.com/witcher3/mods/186/?)
- This allows you to go off and explore a lot more without totally out levelling the main story quests so easily.
3) Install the 'Unlock skills from level 1' Mod (http://www.mediafire.com/download/ql8c5b5acebs9qa/Allskillsopen.7z)
- Created by Amioran. To install, extract to the 'content/patch0/bundles' location and run the .bat file.
- This allows you to chose whatever skills you want to spec into from level one, meaning it is so much quicker to have an 'identity', i.e. a spell caster, alchemist or swordsman. For me, this made combat so much more fun from the start. (it does make it slightly easier, so death march is a must).
4) Reduce the HUD to a minimum and get rid of Subtitles.
- Turn off subtitles. With subs on, I find myself reading ahead and unwittingly ignoring the scene whilst focusing on the words. With them off, I take the scene in so much more.
- Turn off NPC chatter. Its so much more realistic to ride through a town/city without it looking like an instant messenger chat room.
- Turn off hints/tutorials/combat effects etc. Less screen clutter = more immersion.
5) TURN OFF THE MINIMAP (or at least get rid of path markers)
- This one will probably be controversial, but trust me. I did this as an experiment, and it makes a huge difference! Throughout my first playthrough, I realised I never had any idea where I was, what direction I was going or how to get anywhere without staring at the top right corner of my screen. So, I tried playing without the minimap. I wish I had done so from the start. With it off (similarly to subtitles), I no longer ignore the scenery, and appreciate the game world so much more. I now have to plan routes using the map, and within a few hours I already know my way around Velen and Novigrad just by looking around me (something I never achieved with 70 hours of minimap gameplay).
So if you're up for it, give it a try. After a little time getting used it, I felt it improved my experience significantly
Hey guys,
I'm about a third of the way through my second playthrough, and just wanted to suggest what I think is the best way to play the game on the PC if your thinking of starting a new game:
If you're looking for an immersive, challenging and better paced way of playing, I whole heartedly recommend the following:
(Note: this is really aimed at those starting a new game, as some of the suggestions require it)
1) Play on Death March difficulty
- It's so much more fun having to prepare for fights and think about a strategy, as well as relying on potions/food instead of meditating for vitality. I seriously regret playing on 'story and sword' for my first playthrough.
2) Install the 'Better XP Curve Mod' (http://www.nexusmods.com/witcher3/mods/186/?)
- This allows you to go off and explore a lot more without totally out levelling the main story quests so easily.
3) Install the 'Unlock skills from level 1' Mod (http://www.mediafire.com/download/ql8c5b5acebs9qa/Allskillsopen.7z)
- Created by Amioran. To install, extract to the 'content/patch0/bundles' location and run the .bat file.
- This allows you to chose whatever skills you want to spec into from level one, meaning it is so much quicker to have an 'identity', i.e. a spell caster, alchemist or swordsman. For me, this made combat so much more fun from the start. (it does make it slightly easier, so death march is a must).
4) Reduce the HUD to a minimum and get rid of Subtitles.
- Turn off subtitles. With subs on, I find myself reading ahead and unwittingly ignoring the scene whilst focusing on the words. With them off, I take the scene in so much more.
- Turn off NPC chatter. Its so much more realistic to ride through a town/city without it looking like an instant messenger chat room.
- Turn off hints/tutorials/combat effects etc. Less screen clutter = more immersion.
5) TURN OFF THE MINIMAP (or at least get rid of path markers)
- This one will probably be controversial, but trust me. I did this as an experiment, and it makes a huge difference! Throughout my first playthrough, I realised I never had any idea where I was, what direction I was going or how to get anywhere without staring at the top right corner of my screen. So, I tried playing without the minimap. I wish I had done so from the start. With it off (similarly to subtitles), I no longer ignore the scenery, and appreciate the game world so much more. I now have to plan routes using the map, and within a few hours I already know my way around Velen and Novigrad just by looking around me (something I never achieved with 70 hours of minimap gameplay).
So if you're up for it, give it a try. After a little time getting used it, I felt it improved my experience significantly
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