(SPOILERS) Which Choices Are You Planning To Use For Your First Witcher 3 Playthrough?

[goopit]

And if he doesn't clear his name: where can he go? As I just said, anywhere in the North is unsafe. Heck, if Kaer Morhen isn't safe, nowhere in the North is. The northern, neutral monarchs won't have him, that's for sure. Dijkstra probably still limps thanks to him by the way, so Geralt had best stay faaaaar away from the North.

Nilfgaard then? Emhyr may have spared him last time, but as I see it, he did so more out of concern for Ciri, who saw Geralt and Yen as her surrogate parents, but I don't see him asylum and welcoming him with open arms either. Don't forget: Geralt is one of the only people who know Emhyr's deepest, darkest secrets. He is the very definition of a loose end, and Emhyr won't want that within a thousand miles if he can help it (and he most certainly help it).

Okay, every competent person that's capable of killing Geralt doesn't believe he's the kingslayer. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense that Geralt protected him in W1 outro just to kill him. The kings wouldn't actively hunt him down and Roche knows the truth by now, he might not be welcome in Temeria,he might not be able to find work anymore and there will probably lots of shitty assassins after him but so what, Triss is in danger.

Maybe Geralt thinks he'll find Triss then teleport back to Roche? the situation became a little more complicated than that after a while.

First off, Sile dies. I used to spare her, mainly because I do think that, despite his rough approach in general, Geralt is somethign of a gentleman in his own way, and watching a woman writhe in pain and die isn't his style. But then, it hit me that this one was, not one minute ago, actively trying to have me eaten by a bloody dragon. Lady, not cool. Not only is that bint trying to kill me, but even as she fails to do so, she jumps into a portal promising to kill me as soon as she can. If that portal backfires and tears her to shreds, don't expect me to lift my little finger. Karma is one hell of a bitch, ain't it?

I don't think she tried to kill you specifically it's only when you start chasing her that she makes the dragon target you specifically (she doesn't try to call it off though after you save her life, the bitch) She was just trying to escape, she would probably kill Triss if you saved her though.

1) The dragon has a fucking tree trunk sticking through its chest. I know it takes a lot to kill a dragon, but just walking away is stone-cold cruel. That thing is not likely going to walk away alive, or at the very least is going to be crippled and maimed for the rest of its life. Finishing it off is the humane thing to do.
2) The bloody thing is mind-controlled. Geralt doesn't kill sentient beings unless it can't be helped. This dragon isn't thinking for itself, and is unquestionably a threat to other people. Either you can break the mind-control spell, either you put an end to the threat in another way... the only one left. Stabby stabby.

Dragons are powerful Saskia just shrugs off that she got impaled once you cure her, she isn't even in any pain. The mind control I'm not sure about, the city is probably empty by the time the dragon wakes up. Sile would probably let the dragon hide out somewhere as it is a useful asset, if it attacks a nearby town it might die if it's hit by an arbalist or whatever.

She could even use it to save other Lodge members.

 

[Belzebutinov]

Okay, every competent person that's capable of killing Geralt doesn't believe he's the kingslayer. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense that Geralt protected him in W1 outro just to kill him. The kings wouldn't actively hunt him down and Roche knows the truth by now, he might not be welcome in Temeria,he might not be able to find work anymore and there will probably lots of shitty assassins after him but so what, Triss is in danger.

.

Politics my friend, politics. Just because people know he's not the actual threat doesn't mean they won't go after him for other reasons. Geralt himself has been known to slaughter drunkards at inns just because the attention worked in his favour. Do you think someone like Henselt or Dijkstra would pass the opportunity? Not to mention the average peasant still thinks the evil witcher should die - and I'd be remiss if I didn't remind everyone that only two people have ever managed to actually beat Geralt in a fight: Vilgefortz, an exceptionally powerful mage, and.... a peasant with a pitchfork. Unless I'm off my count, that makes the score 2-0 for pitchforks against witchers (cf. Ciri's prophecy in Kaer Morhen).

As for Roche: I'm the first one to say Roche is a straight-up, decent, honest man. Do you think for one instant he'll take it well if you ally with Iorveth? Iorveth is, at the very least, guilty of slaughtering countless humans, of ambushing you, and of helping Letho murder Foltest. Forget the fact Roche knows you didn't do it: if you rally to Iorveth, Roche will not, ever, ever, ever forgive you. Roche helps you in the first place because he's a decent guy, but mostly because he trusts you'll help avenge Foltest, his liege and near-surrogate father. Unlike Geralt, Roche is a hardcore patriot. If you abandon him to side with a person who helped murder his king, Roche will come down on you like a ton of bricks.

You don't turn your back on Vernon Roche, side with the man who helped kill his king, and just teleport back to him and say "chasing the gf, lol". Roche will rip your guts out and offer them as garters to Ves.


P.S.: still new here, but really happy to discuss these matters! Don't take my bickering personally, I just think it's a testament to the game's awesomeness that we're able to validly disagree to such an extent and have a conversation about it

 

[vivaxardas2015]

Also, Geralt owes Roche big time. When Triss in the elven baths tells that Geralt does not owe Roche anything, it is just plain b.s. Without Roche trusting Geralt would help to find a killer and giving him a key Geralt would have been executed. So Roche saves Geralt's arse, while Iorveth wants to nail it to the tree on the beach. Even if to forget my very negative attitude to terrorists murdering peasants in the forest, why would I ever want to join Iorveth? He got screwed by Letho? Serves him right. I really regret I can't kill him in TW2, but at least I have an option not to go and save him in Vergen. I played Iorveth's path several times but, honestly, I always felt like a piece of shit for abandoning Roche.

Funny enough, in LM evrry damn soldier from every damn camp attacks Geralt. So even if Geralt is cleared in Foltest's murder, now he is a known scoia'tael associate, and will be hunted alongside with Iorveth. Why a hell Geralt would ever agree to such association if all he wants is his life back, and be left alone?

 

[goopit]

Geralt himself has been known to slaughter drunkards at inns just because the attention worked in his favour. Do you think someone like Henselt or Dijkstra would pass the opportunity? Not to mention the average peasant still thinks the evil witcher should die - and I'd be remiss if I didn't remind everyone that only two people have ever managed to actually beat Geralt in a fight: Vilgefortz, an exceptionally powerful mage, and.... a peasant with a pitchfork. Unless I'm off my count, that makes the score 2-0 for pitchforks against witchers (cf. Ciri's prophecy in Kaer Morhen).

Dijkstra doesn't kill outlaws, he escaped with a Scoiatel commando damnit. What's Henselt going to do with Geralt's corpse? parade it and call himself a hero? How many men does he need to send to find Geralt? Is he going to risk his adviser Dethmolds life to for that that petty victory? I don't think so.

Maybe someone like Leo Bonhart might be able to kill Geralt but there are only a few people like him around, also Geralt is a lot better at fighting than before.

Do you think for one instant he'll take it well if you ally with Iorveth? Iorveth is, at the very least, guilty of slaughtering countless humans, of ambushing you, and of helping Letho murder Foltest. Forget the fact Roche knows you didn't do it: if you rally to Iorveth, Roche will not, ever, ever, ever forgive you. Roche helps you in the first place because he's a decent guy, but mostly because he trusts you'll help avenge Foltest, his liege and near-surrogate father. Unlike Geralt, Roche is a hardcore patriot. If you abandon him to side with a person who helped murder his king, Roche will come down on you like a ton of bricks.

You don't turn your back on Vernon Roche, side with the man who helped kill his king, and just teleport back to him and say "chasing the gf, lol". Roche will rip your guts out and offer them as garters to Ves.

You're forgetting that Roche saves Geralt from the Nilfgaardians in Iorveth path so he's understands you decision. You're forgetting that Roche fucked up by not trusting you in the elven baths and he knows it. Iorveth spent months with Letho so he would be a valuable source of info. Roche probably thinks it's makes sense for you two to split up even if there's a chance you'll run away, he knows you're innocent.

This is one of the reasons why I killed Letho because I owed Roche, the other reason is that I think witchers shouldn't be turned into assassins and should die out with dignity.

P.S.: still new here, but really happy to discuss these matters! Don't take my bickering personally, I just think it's a testament to the game's awesomeness that we're able to validly disagree to such an extent and have a conversation about it

It's cool I like discussing this and I thinking about Geralts motivations this indepth if fun.

 

[vivaxardas2015]

You're forgetting that Roche saves Geralt from the Nilfgaardians in Iorveth path so he's understands you decision. You're forgetting that Roche fucked up by not trusting you in the elven baths and he knows it. Iorveth spent months with Letho so he would be a valuable source of info. Roche probably thinks it's makes sense for you two to split up even if there's a chance you'll run away, he knows you're innocent.

Actually, it is one of quite a few things on Roche's path that do not make sense. Given that Roche did not know Geralt before they met at La Valette, and thus Roche does not have any reason to trust Geralt based on what he knows about him. Geralt allied with a known and admitted Foltest's killer as soon as he got a chance, abandoning Roche without second though. Geralt knew Letho from before, and Letho is a witcher, the same as Geralt. Any normal reflective person would conclude that Geralt simply used him to get out of prison and promised something he was not going to deliver.

In this case, again, like with Cedric helping Triss (with complete lack of motivation given his character) a character behaves simply to move a plot forward. In good storytelling actions of characters stem from their characters and motivations, and these motivations determine a plot. In case of Roche his actions are just for some envisioned plot progression.

 

[goopit]

Actually, it is one of quite a few things on Roche's path that do not make sense. Given that Roche did not know Geralt before they met at La Valette, and thus Roche does not have any reason to trust Geralt based on what he knows about him. Geralt allied with a known and admitted Foltest's killer as soon as he got a chance, abandoning Roche without second though. Geralt knew Letho from before, and Letho is a witcher, the same as Geralt. Any normal reflective person would conclude that Geralt simply used him to get out of prison and promised something he was not going to deliver.

In this case, again, like with Cedric helping Triss (with complete lack of motivation given his character) a character behaves simply to move a plot forward. In good storytelling actions of characters stem from their characters and motivations, and these motivations determine a plot. In case of Roche his actions are just for some envisioned plot progression.

Geralt could run away true, he could join the assassins in their cause as well maybe. Roche might be desperate at this point and is grasping at straws to find Letho sitting in his camp all day. He saved Geralt because there was a slim chance he'd catch the kingslayer that's pretty much it.

Roche understood that finding Triss and going the separate way made sense especially after his fuck up at the elven baths.

about Ceadric

"Why Ceadric, Why did you get involved?"

"Why did you.. sometimes we must"

"Have I told you about my visions? That's why I drink. It helps. I'm safe in a mist of vodka... see nothing, feel nothing..

then he goes on to talk about how Geralt will regain his memory through the battle of spectres, probably Triss promised to give some dimeretium to help with the visions. It's not hard to figure out. He was dying and didn't have a lot of time.

 

[vivaxardas2015]

This bit of a dialogue simply does no make sense. To explain something senseless by some prophetic vision is bad writing.

Cedric, a former scoia'tael who spends his time protecting the village from monsters and teaching young elves, suddenly agrees to help Triss to break into Sile's room and kills a human bodyguard in the process. Why a hell did he do it?

1. Triss had no right to get into Sile's room, and it had nothing to do with non-humans. These are just squabbles among sorceresses. Cedric had no personal stake in it, and he met Triss just recently. Why to help her with b&e+ murder? To what end?
2. Every non-human knows that Loredo just waits for a provocation to start a massacre. A former scoia'tael to commiting a crime and killing a human in the process is a good excuse. Why would Cedric knowingly jeopardize the lives of the non-humans? To what end? For Triss to use Sile's megascope (akin hacking to someone's comp or using someone's cell-phone)?
3. Sile was actually helping non-humans in Flotsam, with donations, and at least attempting to talk to Loredo. Why would Cedric knowingly commit a crime against a known benefactor? Because Triss asked him to?

Seriously, would you help me, if I ask you to break into my competitor's office, and kill a security guard in the process? Just imagine a situation when someone you barely know asks you to do this crap in RL.

When people do something, they act for certain reasons. They want to achieve something by their actions. There is always some goal, and it be better be reasonable. What would Cedric achieve by helping Triss? All he said was "Why did you? Because sometimes we must." This kind of sounds profound, but essentially it is simply meaningless, and does not explain anything. Geralt has a clear goal - to clear his name. But why it was necessary for Cedric to behave against his beliefs and better judgement, to do something that does not benefit him in any way, but offends a known benefactor, and puts in jeopardy all non-humans in Flotsam? Because he had visions, and they made him to do it? Honestly, it is such a bad example of character motivation that I prefer to add to conspiracy theory about Triss and to think that she enthralled him exactly as Philipa enthralled Saskia. Under Philipa's spell Saskia started doing crap like burning people of Loc Muinne, completely out of character. The same, it seems happens with Cedric. He just goes with Triss, and against any reason, offs a bodyguard, while Triss was hacking Sile's megascope. I'll stick to this theory because it simply offends my literary esthetic sense otherwise.

A bit of addition: Cedric's behavior is what is called "deus ex machina" (#2)
"deus ex machina" definition:
1. In Greek and Roman drama, a god lowered by stage machinery to resolve a plot or extricate the protagonist from a difficult situation.
2. An unexpected, artificial, or improbable character, device, or event introduced suddenly in a work of fiction or drama to resolve a situation or untangle a plot.
3. A person or event that provides a sudden and unexpected solution to a difficulty.

Usually it is an example of a very contrived writing.

 

[goopit]

What would Cedric achieve by helping Triss? All he said was "Why did you? Because sometimes we must." This kind of sounds profound, but essentially it is simply meaningless, and does not explain anything. Geralt has a clear goal - to clear his name. But why it was necessary for Cedric to behave against his beliefs and better judgement, to do something that does not benefit him in any way, but offends a known benefactor, and puts in jeopardy all non-humans in Flotsam? Because he had visions, and they made him to do it? Honestly, it is such a bad example of character motivation that I prefer to add to conspiracy theory about Triss and to think that she enthralled him exactly as Philipa enthralled Saskia. Under Philipa's spell Saskia started doing crap like burning people of Loc Muinne, completely out of character. The same, it seems happens with Cedric. He just goes with Triss, and against any reason, offs a bodyguard, while Triss was hacking Sile's megascope. I'll stick to this theory because it simply offends my literary esthetic sense otherwise.

haha, maybe because the visions are painful? The way he describes them it seems like he desperately wants to get rid of them. If Triss only wanted to get in then why'd she have to mind control Cedric? Why not one of the thugs outside? Is it because the former Scoiatel was skilled in fighting?

Triss was trying to find evidence to a fucking REGICIDE! Cedric might've been convinced that killing one human wasn't so bad and he could be hailed a hero? plus he would get rid of his painful erection inducing visions. We know Triss has been spending a bit of time with Ceadric through a dialog getting the rose of remembrance.

 

[goopit]

Heroism sometimes exacts the highest price. When Triss' life was in danger, the elf did not hesitate to defend her and was wounded - mortally, as it turned out. Thus Cedric died, though his sacrifice was not in vain.

-Geralt's Journal

I'm thinking they became friends and Triss was helping him with the visions, she then asked him to help with breaking in to Sile's quarters to prove Geralt innocent and find proof on who killed Foltest. Cedric being a citizen of Temeria, maybe he knew about Loredo's deal with Kaedwen and you know how Henselt loves non-humans? They didn't expect a guard to be there and Cedric had to kill him.

 

[vivaxardas2015]

Triss was trying to find evidence to a fucking REGICIDE! Cedric might've been convinced that killing one human wasn't so bad and he could be hailed a hero? plus he would get rid of his painful erection inducing visions. We know Triss has been spending a bit of time with Ceadric through a dialog getting the rose of remembrance.

So, she told about Sile's involvement to Cedric, but not to Geralt? Why? Geralt would have been more than happy to help. That was exactly one of the problems with Triss' behavior - she did not tell Geralt about it. Why to involve the elf at all, and not just charm the guard? What was a point of killing a guy who was simply doing his job? For a self-righteous sorceress who was burning to punish Sile for a murder she sure is a bit too easy to commit or commission her own.

In any case I simply fail to understand why Cedric was ever needed. What exactly did he do Triss was incapable of doing? To deal with a peasant guarding the door? Is it something she really need help with? Cedric seems to be just a story device to advance a plot - someone has to tell Geralt about his visions, and then to die in the forest to make some deep emotional point. Unfortunately, it did not impress me because the whole situation was extremely contrived.

I know, Triss enthralling him does not make too much sense, but for him doing it on his own makes no sense at all. As well as Geralt's just going with the program and not questioning why a hell any of it happened.

May be it is nit-picky but TW series aspires to be a mature and sophisticated RPG, with a complex story. It is not some damn ME thing, where I stopped to be surprised by stupid behavior soon after I arrived at Citadel in ME1, and never ever took ME trilogy seriously afterwards. In TW2 such things are extremely noticeable exactly because they are so out of place. A lot of stuff in TW2 is absolutely awesome, even from psychological perspective, and certain things are simply brilliant. I sure hope we won't have any strange events and behavior in TW3.

 

[Belzebutinov]

Triss was trying to find evidence to a fucking REGICIDE! Cedric might've been convinced that killing one human wasn't so bad and he could be hailed a hero?

I somehow can't imagine Cedric giving a single, solitary fuck about tracking down some human who killed some other human, be he a king even. He's not a Temerian citizen, and Temeria isn't known for being particularly friendly to elves. If you ask me, he probably threw back an extra bottle of vodka when he heard about the murder.


On the other hand, you suggestion that Triss enticed him by promising to end his visions might be true. Let's not forget the man (err, elf) is drunk as hell. You don't necessarily make smart calls when you're blind drunk. And since the very reason he's drunk is because he's trying to drown the visions, I wouldn't put it past Triss to promise to relieve him (whether she actually can or intends to is another matter entirely). I also wouldn't put it past her to romance him a bit just to seal the deal if the promise of relieving him of his visions wasn't enough.

 

[goopit]

So, she told about Sile's involvement to Cedric, but not to Geralt? Why? Geralt would have been more than happy to help. That was exactly one of the problems with Triss' behavior - she did not tell Geralt about it. Why to involve the elf at all, and not just charm the guard? What was a point of killing a guy who was simply doing his job? For a self-righteous sorceress who was burning to punish Sile for a murder she sure is a bit too easy to commit or commission her own.

In any case I simply fail to understand why Cedric was ever needed. What exactly did he do Triss was incapable of doing? To deal with a peasant guarding the door? Is it something she really need help with? Cedric seems to be just a story device to advance a plot - someone has to tell Geralt about his visions, and then to die in the forest to make some deep emotional point. Unfortunately, it did not impress me because the whole situation was extremely contrived.

I know, Triss enthralling him does not make too much sense, but for him doing it on his own makes no sense at all. As well as Geralt's just going with the program and not questioning why a hell any of it happened.

May be it is nit-picky but TW series aspires to be a mature and sophisticated RPG, with a complex story. It is not some damn ME thing, where I stopped to be surprised by stupid behavior soon after I arrived at Citadel in ME1, and never ever took ME trilogy seriously afterwards. In TW2 such things are extremely noticeable exactly because they are so out of place. A lot of stuff in TW2 is absolutely awesome, even from psychological perspective, and certain things are simply brilliant. I sure hope we won't have any strange events and behavior in TW3.

We should ask a dev about this shit. Why're we only noticing this stuff now!?

 

[vivaxardas2015]

We should ask a dev about this shit. Why're we only noticing this stuff now!?

It came up once before, but I simply prefer not to dwell on it. Setting aside some problematic things, TW2 is a marvel. I consider the Roche's path being the single deepest, most thought-out, psychologically rich and extremely interesting from perspective of moral philosophy, story-line in the history of video-games. It is such a great thing that I simply prefer to look the other way even when I find characters and situations that are lacking.
I believe it happened because the entire Dol Blathana was cut out of the game, and Cedric's story-line lost its grounding. CDPR probably should have changed things a bit anyway, but given lack of time and money in the end of TW2 development, it is understandable they let it slide. But we got a new bit for our conspiracy theory about Triss.

 

[Jobbert.907]

I'm quite sure that Cedric is at the very least enamored with Triss. Geralt says himself that Cedric was "a drunkard and a fool in love". Triss only had to ask him to help her break into Sile's room, she didn't have to tell Cedric about Sile's involvement with the kingslayers. And I'm sure that it wouldn't have been a problem for Triss to get rid of the body. Killing the bodyguard does seem a bit extreme, but I like to imagine that they weren't expecting him, things got out of hand, and Cedric disposed of him quickly Scoia'tael style.

 

[goopit]

I'm quite sure that Cedric is at the very least enamored with Triss. Geralt says himself that Cedric was "a drunkard and a fool in love". Triss only had to ask him to help her break into Sile's room, she didn't have to tell Cedric about Sile's involvement with the kingslayers. And I'm sure that it wouldn't have been a problem for Triss to get rid of the body. Killing the bodyguard does seem a bit extreme, but I like to imagine that they weren't expecting him, things got out of hand, and Cedric disposed of him quickly Scoia'tael style.

nah Cedric broke the guards neck so yeah...

Cedric could be in love with Triss but to kill another person!? Holy shit Triss has some powerful magic.

 

[BogusJuan]

I'll be using a neutral play through for my W3 import

W1 > neutral/Adda alive
W2>Spare Aryan
Help Roche(prevents pogrom)
Choose Iorveth
Kill Loredo
Stennis lynched
Save Triss
Let Sile die
Spare Saskia
Spare Letho

 

[Lanfear]

these are the choices that I want to import:
TW1
- Fight the Frightener with Vesemir
- Save Abigail
- Choose Triss
- Cure Vincent
- Save Thaler
- Reached a compromise in Murky Waters
- Side with Scoia'tael
- Save Adda
- Kill the King of Wild Hunt

TW2
- Spare Aryan
- Give sword to Iorveth
- Side with Iorveth (save the elven women)
- Spare Stennis
- Help Philippa/The Spellbreaker
- Spare Sile
- Disenchant Saskia
- Spare Letho

 

[Cipher-Six]

TW1 :
- Save Abigail
- Choose Triss
- Cure Vince
- Save Thaler
- Side with squirrels
- Save Adda
- Kill the King of the Wild Hunt

TW2 :
- Spare Aryan
- Give Sword to Iorveth
- Side with Squirrels
- Let Stennis die
- Save Triss/Stop Nilfgaard conspiracy
- Spare Sile
- Spare Saskia
- Kill Letho

 

[RandyButternubs]

Going to have to go with my first playthrough. All the decisions I made in that were genuinely what I felt was right, with no idea of the consequences. I feel this is my most genuine Geralt. He detest politics and tries to remain neutral in conflicts, and cares the most about his friends and loved ones.
Save Aryan
Give Sword
Help Roache
Spare Henselt
Save Triss
Let Sile Die
Kill the Dragon
Let Letho go

This is also an import of a Witcher 1 Geralt who Romanced Shani and stayed neutral

 

[Zyzzx]

I see the time frame between the end of TW2 and start of TW3 something like this:
After the failed Peace conferance at Loc Muine; Flotsum becomes a Kedwianian military outpost through bribery or by force of arms.
Vergan descends into a chaos of unchecked democracy led by mob rule. Saskia is either killed or forced to leave because of what she is.
Aedirn descends to civil war brought on by the death of Stennis who was lynched by the mob in Vergan or assassinated by jealous nobles months after his coronation.
Kedwain falls under military rule due to the untimely death of Henselt (killed at Vergan or dies from too much victorious celebration). Deathmold meets a much deserved violent death at the hands of Roache or the headsman’s axe for war crimes or corruption.
The Conclave never takes hold because after the Lodge's actions nobody trusts them anymore with or without a royal charter. The only functioning royal court left is in Redainia and King Radovid has no tolerance for mages. The Flaming Rose leads the purge.
John Natalis returns to Temaria and begins organizing a resistance movement. Anaias disappears and rumors fly.
Letho dies by Geralt's hands or on the journey south. The Nilfgaardian delegation meets the same fate; the Emperor wants no loose ends.
The Nilfgaardian invasion sweeps north. The Coalition of Northern forces agree on the only strategy available to them; scorched earth. The advance stalls a few days march from the Yaruga.
Entering the next phase I think it would be best to have spared Aryan; he is probably dead by now but many in this no mans land liked him and their help will be needed. Sparing Sile follows the same logic; she is probably burned at the stake but she had friends. Saving Triss is the only logical choice; otherwise Geralt will be faced with a pissed off red head always remindinding him how he picked that other female over her.
Witchers don't kill Dragons or Trolls. I spared Letho in the hope he would re-build the school of the viper.
That brings us to Roche or Iroveth. I picked Roche but made sure I saved Iroveth during the battle at Vergan.
Hopefully I will retain my swords and armour because 'despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage'.