[SPOILERS] Guides are wrong (?) about Ciri's fate
**** WARNING: heavy spoilers about the ending coming through****
Acknowledgment - There are already many threads regarding the game's endings, but this specific thread points out a specific subject. I ask the mods, if need to, to move it to another appropriate thread. Thank you.
So, after 320 hours I finished my first playthrough, and although I enjoyed the outcome, it was not what I was expecting - Ciri becomes empress.
Because I didn't want any spoilers, I never looked out for what endings I might get, but after I ended it, I looked for them.
From the three possible endings I prefered the one that Ciri becomes a witcher. Now here comes the thing. ALL the guides I've seen after, mention that for that ending to trigger, is mandatory that Geralt CAN'T go to with Ciri to Vizima to see the Emperor during the "Blood on the Battlefield" main quest and go straight to Velen. I did go see Emperor and also did all the side quests, including Reason of state and siding with Roche. So all fits in and Ciri becomes empress.
But something was bugging me. I went with Ciri to see lodge, and now I know that it counts as not being a positive reaction towards Ciri. And also, I gave a thought about the result of Reason of State and I made the decision to go back, load the beginning of Final Preparations (chapter III) and made some changes.
Before I put my huge tin foil hat, I would like you to know all my decisions (at least, regarding to the guides, the ones that are important to Ciri's fate):
1- Blood on the Battlefield - played snowball with Ciri (she's happy)
2- Blood on the Battlefield - Went to see the emperor (more on this latter)
3 - While at the emperor - I didn't accept his money (Ciri's happy)
** This is where I reloaded a previous save ***
4- Reason of State side quest - (Dijkstra takes command and Roche dies)
5- Final preparations - Ciri goes alone to see the Lodge (Ciri's happy)
6- Child of Elder Blood - Where we wrecked Avalac'h's laboratory (Ciri's happy)
7- Went with Ciri to see Skjall's grave (Ciri's happy)
Other pertinent Side Quests previously done:
8- An Eye for an Eye
9- A Deadly Plot
10- Redania's Most Wanted
Boom, Ciri is alive, white frost is gone and she has a brand new Witcher sword.
To be clear only the points that differ from my two endings of Ciri the Empress and Ciri the Witcher are points 4 and 5.
I could have done everything the same again, but this time going again with Ciri to the lodge, but being honest, I don't really want to do all that again.
*** TIN FOIL HAT ON ***
One thing I think it might be pertinent, is how you choose to go (or not) to see the emperor in Blood on the Battlefied. If you remember, it goes like this:
You face two options first (the wording is not exact):
1- Visit the Emperor
2- Go to Velen
If you choose to visit the emperor, Ciri will ask Geralt if he thinks she could go. Here are the choices:
1- Yes, she should go
2- No, she shouldn't
3- Geralt says she should make her own decision.
If you choose the 3rd option, Ciri really wants Geralt's opinion and you are left with the final decision:
1- Go see the emperor
2- Go to Velen
The fact that Geralt demonstrates that he does not want to impose his decision to Ciri by choosing: "Gotta make your own decision" (even if it's Geralt that makes the last call) might be important in how the game sees the confidence Geralt gives to Ciri.
I also conclude that not going with Ciri to the lodge is only important depending on how many positive "points" you already have. Unless this action adds/removes more "points" to her happiness/confidence than we expect to.
Finally, Reason of State - or the lack of it. Although it might seem awkward, I think this is the most game changing decision regarding wheter Ciri becames an empress or a witcher and not the trip to see the emperor. If Nilfgardian wins the war, Ciri becomes Empress. Of course you still require to have a certain amount of happiness "points" regarding Ciri.
Got to mention that if you don't do the side quests that leads to Nilfgardian win the war, Radovid will take charge of the north, and so, Ciri won't be an empress - Can someone confirm this please?
*** TIN FOIL HAT OFF ***
Need to mention, that when Ciri is going to face the White Frost and we see her memories, the one that she is with Geralt in Vizima holding hands with him and she smiles after he declines the reward it's also present.
TLDR
1- Although many guides says it's mandatory to NOT visit the Emperor during "Blood on the Battlefield" main quest for Ciri to become a witcher. I went to see the emperor and Ciri is now a witcher. Also I think the Nilfgaardian winning the war is the prime decision for Ciri become an empress.
2- That, or not going with Ciri to see the lodge has a bigger impact then we might think.
3- Or, it's just a bug introduced in patch 1.0? and it was supposed to happen like the guides state.
As anyone experienced the same thing?
Thank you for reading and sorry for my bad english!
**** WARNING: heavy spoilers about the ending coming through****
Acknowledgment - There are already many threads regarding the game's endings, but this specific thread points out a specific subject. I ask the mods, if need to, to move it to another appropriate thread. Thank you.
So, after 320 hours I finished my first playthrough, and although I enjoyed the outcome, it was not what I was expecting - Ciri becomes empress.
Because I didn't want any spoilers, I never looked out for what endings I might get, but after I ended it, I looked for them.
From the three possible endings I prefered the one that Ciri becomes a witcher. Now here comes the thing. ALL the guides I've seen after, mention that for that ending to trigger, is mandatory that Geralt CAN'T go to with Ciri to Vizima to see the Emperor during the "Blood on the Battlefield" main quest and go straight to Velen. I did go see Emperor and also did all the side quests, including Reason of state and siding with Roche. So all fits in and Ciri becomes empress.
But something was bugging me. I went with Ciri to see lodge, and now I know that it counts as not being a positive reaction towards Ciri. And also, I gave a thought about the result of Reason of State and I made the decision to go back, load the beginning of Final Preparations (chapter III) and made some changes.
Before I put my huge tin foil hat, I would like you to know all my decisions (at least, regarding to the guides, the ones that are important to Ciri's fate):
1- Blood on the Battlefield - played snowball with Ciri (she's happy)
2- Blood on the Battlefield - Went to see the emperor (more on this latter)
3 - While at the emperor - I didn't accept his money (Ciri's happy)
** This is where I reloaded a previous save ***
4- Reason of State side quest - (Dijkstra takes command and Roche dies)
5- Final preparations - Ciri goes alone to see the Lodge (Ciri's happy)
6- Child of Elder Blood - Where we wrecked Avalac'h's laboratory (Ciri's happy)
7- Went with Ciri to see Skjall's grave (Ciri's happy)
Other pertinent Side Quests previously done:
8- An Eye for an Eye
9- A Deadly Plot
10- Redania's Most Wanted
Boom, Ciri is alive, white frost is gone and she has a brand new Witcher sword.
To be clear only the points that differ from my two endings of Ciri the Empress and Ciri the Witcher are points 4 and 5.
I could have done everything the same again, but this time going again with Ciri to the lodge, but being honest, I don't really want to do all that again.
*** TIN FOIL HAT ON ***
One thing I think it might be pertinent, is how you choose to go (or not) to see the emperor in Blood on the Battlefied. If you remember, it goes like this:
You face two options first (the wording is not exact):
1- Visit the Emperor
2- Go to Velen
If you choose to visit the emperor, Ciri will ask Geralt if he thinks she could go. Here are the choices:
1- Yes, she should go
2- No, she shouldn't
3- Geralt says she should make her own decision.
If you choose the 3rd option, Ciri really wants Geralt's opinion and you are left with the final decision:
1- Go see the emperor
2- Go to Velen
The fact that Geralt demonstrates that he does not want to impose his decision to Ciri by choosing: "Gotta make your own decision" (even if it's Geralt that makes the last call) might be important in how the game sees the confidence Geralt gives to Ciri.
I also conclude that not going with Ciri to the lodge is only important depending on how many positive "points" you already have. Unless this action adds/removes more "points" to her happiness/confidence than we expect to.
Finally, Reason of State - or the lack of it. Although it might seem awkward, I think this is the most game changing decision regarding wheter Ciri becames an empress or a witcher and not the trip to see the emperor. If Nilfgardian wins the war, Ciri becomes Empress. Of course you still require to have a certain amount of happiness "points" regarding Ciri.
Got to mention that if you don't do the side quests that leads to Nilfgardian win the war, Radovid will take charge of the north, and so, Ciri won't be an empress - Can someone confirm this please?
*** TIN FOIL HAT OFF ***
Need to mention, that when Ciri is going to face the White Frost and we see her memories, the one that she is with Geralt in Vizima holding hands with him and she smiles after he declines the reward it's also present.
TLDR
1- Although many guides says it's mandatory to NOT visit the Emperor during "Blood on the Battlefield" main quest for Ciri to become a witcher. I went to see the emperor and Ciri is now a witcher. Also I think the Nilfgaardian winning the war is the prime decision for Ciri become an empress.
2- That, or not going with Ciri to see the lodge has a bigger impact then we might think.
3- Or, it's just a bug introduced in patch 1.0? and it was supposed to happen like the guides state.
As anyone experienced the same thing?
Thank you for reading and sorry for my bad english!