Hey Guys!
I've watched I guess all interviews and videos about TW3 already and I'm kinda curious about how they plan to "improve" upon the signs. Specifically how they want to make other signs than AARD usable.
In TW2 - at leas for me - AARD was far superior to all the other signs due to it's instant effects and -till fcr2- the ability to stun enemies. Other signs were completely useless if it wasn't for specifically designed encounters like the Kayran. I even tried at my last playthrough to use "igni" instead of aard, but ended up switching to aard again, because igni wasn't even close to how good aard is.
So regarding TW3, it's a confirmed fact, that the signs will have some sort of special improvements. As far as I understand, it's like you can chose AARD to be an effect who hits everything in front of you, or make it a surrounding effect or whatever. If that's the case for ALL signs, we might get a chance to utilize igni, or even some axii signs
But isn't the overall-concept of the signs a bit flawed if you only want to use "aard" and not all of them. Or at least "more". If i recall correctly, in TW1 you could use - lets say - Igni, to set enemies to fire (like those archespores) and your choices of signs were at least somewhat caused by the monsters you faced.
In TW2, setting on fire didn't really do that much, if you managed to do so at all.
So, what do you guys think about the AARD being way to superior to all the other signs. Does it bother you ?!
Cheers
Pargulan
I'm going to be honest with you here. I think that is your personal opinion that one only wants to use Aard, becuase I personally did use Aard about 3 times in each of my entire playthroughs.
My main Sign to use is Quen, since I am more the alchemy/mage/swordsman hybrid, then I use Yrden sometimes to keep enemies at distance while attacking others (very useful for Gargoyles IMO) and then I use Axii to create a distraction or Igni to set a whole group of enemies in front of me on fire.
Aard was about the least useful sign for me personally.
I think it depends highly on your preferences and on how you personally use the signs. I myself think that every sign has it's advantages and when you know those each sign can be used in a situation that is ideal for it.
I normally use Yrden if I have large groups of enemies, Quen no matter what, Igni if I deal with humans and animal-like monsters, Aard mostly against mages (since Aard can pierce through the protection shield the Mages have) and if I want to stop an enemy attack right in front of me, and Axii also with huge groups, although mostly only with groups of humans.
I like that they want to improve the signs (I just hope they get the mages right this time, they should be more "Powerful", at least in terms of magic itself), especially if it comes to crowd control, time-based shielding (using Igni to keep an enemy away from you for a few seconds) and other effects one could possibly think of.
I liked that one very much, was very useful for crowd control and if fighting against other powerful magic or semi-magic creatures or humans.
I hope the basic philosophy of TW2'S skilltrees is kept or expanded upon, it's great to see others agree they are versatile, since occasionally someone posts they're insufficient, and I tend to think they just haven't explored them.
The only thing I hate about the skill tree are the mutagens.
The system is complete and utter bogus.
That needs a big overhaul.
But since I am always the hybrid kind of guy I had a good amount of points in all trees, less in Swordsman (but enough to make some damage), just a tad bit more in Alchemy (because Impregnation), and the most in magic. A combination of all is IMO the best you can do for me personally, I like that very much. But even there you can go back and forth and see which one is the most efficient and balanced combination.
I for example never upgraded Aard because I didn't use it often, only upgraded Igni once and rather went for Quen and Yrden and Helio, plus - of course - Sign intensity.
Yrden I've never found use for
It's best for either a lot of enemies or for big enemies. I for example did kill the Endrega Queens with it. Gives you some breathing room if you fight against monsters which have a lot of charging attacks and are fast to follow your dodges.
Axii - needs a serious overhaul. Only safe way to cast it was using Quen first. It just took too much time. Upgraded Axii was of minimal worth. They should make the sign more diverse. Have different types of effects on foes, or the ability to hex more than one foe at a time.
Yrden - needs a significant overhaul. It was useful in TW2, but hardly worth upgrading. The whole trip wire thing, what was the point of that when it only trapped one enemy? Have the traps do significant damage, or allow Geralt to cast them from a distance, in the same manner we could slow time and aim with bombs. Allow him to cast larger traps, or more than one at a time.
While I agree that those 2 need an overhaul I have to say that those things you mentioned, such as hexing multiple enemies or casting multiple Yrden traps are already in the game as 2nd or 3rd level of those signs.