Please take special attention to game world

[majin_streater]

Actually, even better, use the official Witcher wiki
http://witcher.gamepedia.com/Witcher_Wiki

Nice one, forgot all about this site. Kind regards sir!

 

[Blothulfur]

I damn well hope we don't have too much handholding and explanations, I was able to understand both games before I read the books, @knightofphoenix still hasn't read the books as far as I know and his series on the Politics of the Witcher are fucking great and detailed. All you need was in the game, just pay fucking attention, maybe look at the game map, put two and two together and you should be golden. If a thick bastard like me can do it anybody can.

 

[StaGiors]

I damn well hope we don't have too much handholding and explanations, I was able to understand both games before I read the books, @knightofphoenix still hasn't read the books as far as I know and his series on the Politics of the Witcher are fucking great and detailed. All you need was in the game, just pay fucking attention, maybe look at the game map, put two and two together and you should be golden. If a thick bastard like me can do it anybody can.

I'm thinking Aegis hasn't played TW1. CDPR admitted that TW2 might have been a bit rough, both to understand and to play, for people totally new to the world. So there's that.

 

[Blothulfur]

WHAT! Stop posting here and get thee gone to GOG OP!

 

[Bellator Pius Gratus]

I damn well hope we don't have too much handholding and explanations, I was able to understand both games before I read the books, @knightofphoenix still hasn't read the books as far as I know and his series on the Politics of the Witcher are fucking great and detailed. All you need was in the game, just pay fucking attention, maybe look at the game map, put two and two together and you should be golden. If a thick bastard like me can do it anybody can.

Damn, your reasoning is golden, Bloth. :lol:

I had barely even heard of the game, let alone Sapkoski's books when I bought Witcher 1. But I think the devs handled the amnesia angle perfectly to those that are new to the Witcher universe, like I once was. The journal(from Glossary entries to alchemical Formulas) did a great job of updating itself whenever a reference was made by a npc, or when you read a book. If you didn't read books however, no worries. No one forced you unless you really wanted to have the upper edge(and having knowledge of the world and how it works usually equals having an edge).

Me? I wanted to know everything, and how I read books I tell you! There was no Formula or knowledge of recent history or plant I didn't learn. Not only did this knowledge enhance my immersion, but the journal complemented whatever Geralt had heard or read. No matter where you were in the game it kept adding useful info. I liked it so much that I hope they make it more like the journal of the original game, and not like the one in Witcher 2. I'm probably the only one not liking how Dandelion is writing it. To be honest I don't think Geralt would have let him either. :ermm: Especially not important notes like Formulas and Monster fighting strategies. We're talking about Dandelion, who wrote about Henselt the Hog, and not doing a very good job at staying incognito either. But that's my interpretation. :

 

[StaGiors]

"You typical common folk do not appreciate the arts. I am very offended and I will not perform my famous ballad about the miller's daughter tonight. That is all. I wish you a wonderful evening."

 

[andersonblue]

Check out the Stickies in The Witcher 2 subforum. They are incredibly helpful and I use them a lot.

 

[Aegis_Kleais]

I damn well hope we don't have too much handholding and explanations, I was able to understand both games before I read the books, @knightofphoenix still hasn't read the books as far as I know and his series on the Politics of the Witcher are fucking great and detailed. All you need was in the game, just pay fucking attention, maybe look at the game map, put two and two together and you should be golden. If a thick bastard like me can do it anybody can.

Well, I definitely don't want them to handhold either. If they provide the information in the game, at the beginning, I can then, under my own steam and ambition, read up on it all and get myself familiar, whereas someone who is already up to speed (or simply doesn't want to know about it) can choose to just play the game and never has to worry about this being forced in their way.

 

[hardom]

I think that the jornal/diary has a great potential of summarizing everything (in TW1 it worked pretty well)
Also I explored by the lands of the wiki as well and I learned A LOT, I have a decent vision of how this world of geralt of rivianis built
I'm still planning to buy the books, dammit

 

[Pedrolago]

Though this is as much my fault as anyone one else in the same boat, one of the major shortcomings of TW2 was how much of the political, geographical, social and historical lore the player was supposed to be aware of. Much of the game dialogue was focused around this so deeply, that once I could not make a connection to what was being said, the entirety of the remainder of the discussion was moot.

When I hear them talk about some king who borders the Aedernian land wanting to side with his NIlfaardian enemies despite the pact of Oompa Loompa, then one-off talking about character names without expressly reiterating who they are in relation to that king or myself. Well, it doesn't take much of this to pretty much derail me in comprehending what the heck anyone is talking about. Sure Geralt has responses that are intelligently based on his complete understanding, but I'd like to make that same connect myself.

To that end, I'm hoping to see either in-game or online, a reference to the history of the game, major persons, events, factions, etc, so that I can read up on this before I play the game. TW3 promises to be 100+ hours of play, and I want to get every last $ worth, but not if I'm just clicking through the dialogue because I'm not connected into the game world like I want to be. I know that task in and of itself is daunting. And I know a good story is supposed to have lots of twists (which always made it harder for me to comprehend). But maybe some kind of precursor compendium would be beneficial to those like myself who'd want to take the time to understand things more integrally.

All of those problems go poof if you read the books, its so much better to play the game when you have full understanding of the lore, I read the series in 2 months, mainly because the books are so damn addicting(seriously its like crack) , TW3 will obviously introduce new-comers to characters and such, but if you really want to have total understanding of the geo political situation of the series then you should read the books, plus you get understand all the in game references.

PS: I wouldn't recommend the wiki, its just like reading the books but without the all the feels
PPS:All the books except Season of Storms(which was released last year) have english translations(some official some fan made(very well made) and all are available online for free(though buying them is encouraged)

 

[BL4CKFL4G]

All of those problems go poof if you read the books, its so much better to play the game when you have full understanding of the lore, I read the series in 2 months, mainly because the books are so damn addicting(seriously its like crack) , TW3 will obviously introduce new-comers to characters and such, but if you really want to have total understanding of the geo political situation of the series then you should read the books, plus you get understand all the in game references.

You are so right brother !!Books are Damn Addictive , you wouldn't believe I finished the saga in 20 days except sword of destiny. Now I am planning to give it a second go haha !! This time I would go slow , just so that I'll be having something to keep myself busy till feb.

:hatsoff:

PS : I have whole english collection (including fan mads)

 

[Garrison72]

I would argue the journal, if one stops to read entries as they appear, does an admirable job. What gets confusing in both games is how quests interweave and the sheer complexity of it all. So be it. I don't think there's any way to 'fix' that. I just play more than once to understand the game better. They could plant subtle reminders and use flashback cut scenes to help, but I hope they do this with discretion, or it's not going to feel much like a Witcher game.

 

[Jack_in_the-Green]

Well, I definitely don't want them to handhold either. If they provide the information in the game, at the beginning, I can then, under my own steam and ambition, read up on it all and get myself familiar, whereas someone who is already up to speed (or simply doesn't want to know about it) can choose to just play the game and never has to worry about this being forced in their way.

Theres been numerous interviews were CDP RED stated there will be a story-tutorial (1 to 2 hours maybe) in the introductory part of the game. That will ease the newcomers to the game into everything they need to know.
ALSO, with the physical standard edition, CDP RED will include a "Compendium", with details of everything vital to know in the Witcher world.

So, I dont think anybody needs to worry.