The Witcher 3 Alchemy System

[Jack Bauer 24]

Complaints about looting and repetitive gameplay in RPGs is a very hilarious joke Next steps: press X to kill all mobs in 10 m radius, press Y to transform their stuff into money

Alchemy and crafting is a big part of gameplay, yes. Collecting of ingredients is a base of these mechanics and a reason to take a step aside from the roads and find adventures for your ass. Is this really requiring an explanation?

Thank you.

 

[BlackWolf500.298]

Many failed to see the flaw of potions preparation. There are times when there are long fights that do not allow you to stop and meditate to drink potions. Hence this change is good as a tactical combat approach but it's bad on immersion for certain people. Honestly people, do you prefer immersion or a fun gameplay that allows you flexibility in combat?

If you prefer the immersion, then they will have to scrap the meditation and allow drinking of potions during combat. Just like you cant choose both Yenn or Triss. Either one.

Not the point.
I do not at all mind the "support potions" and "mutagenic potions" system nor do I mind the "upgradable potions" system.
The only idea I hate is the auto-refilling and the fact that we do not have to have any ingredients for it.

Of course if the "mutagenic potions" are the equal to the mutagens from TW2 and TW1 I don't like that either since mutagens have a clear (different) role in The games lore. If the "mutagenic potions" are however just strong long-lasting potions and are only CALLED mutagenic because that sounds more powerful, if they are supposed to be potions only temporarily changing biochemical processes in a powerful way, then I am okay with that.

Main problems:
- Auto-Refill
- No incredients needed
- Mutagenic Potions = Mutagens (please not)

 

[Lukas77PL]

Ok. I send a message to guy who posted alchemy thread on our polish forum and I mentioned about our poll and I asked for making the same poll on polish forum. Majority of polish fans does not support "auto-refilling potions" too. Some of them just voted in national poll.

 

[BlackWolf500.298]

Ok. I send a message to guy who posted alchemy thread on our polish forum and I mentioned about our poll and I asked for making the same poll on polish forum. Majority of polish fans does not support "auto-refilling potions" too. Some of them just voted in national poll.

Great Job.

 

[Mohasz]

I like how we pick up pitchforks and torches even if we know nothing of the balance of the game and stuff. I mean, it could turn out to be a wonky mechanic, but I assume that the guys at CDPR did approve the idea for a reason.
Well, a little poll shouldn't hurt anyone, I guess.

 

[Username.]

Ok. but auto-refilling for free ? Any time ? It went too far. I know that they want to bring some fresh feeling to alchemy system but this is too much. I hope the'll fix it.

For me, it should happen occasionally, for example when you meet friendly alchemist or herbalist from time to time ( in the books, when Geralt was in the Melitele's temple, Nenneke refilled his potion supplies). In other situations it can be done this way, that you need to pay proper person to quickly refill your potions and that would be ok, but doing it whenever you want, for free, seems too casual and weird.

When I saw that interview and Konrad Tomaszkiewicz said - "I woke up with an idea" - and explained what it is, I was oooh maan. First fucked up thing since Feb 5 2013 - when the game was announced and all that time I was just amazed by every info about W3. I'm very glad that there is plenty of time to fix it and we have chance to vote. The poll and reactions clearly sums up our approach to that system and I think REDs, as professionals will do the right move.

I'm not saying this is a perfect solution or anything, but I still think it's better than what we had before. Ideally it'd be like some other people mentioned where the stuff you use to make potions are rare and you have to be smart about it, if the previous games were like that I'd be upset at the change.

Complaints about looting and repetitive gameplay in RPGs is a very hilarious joke Next steps: press X to kill all mobs in 10 m radius, press Y to transform their stuff into money

Alchemy and crafting are a big parts of gameplay, yes. Collecting of ingredients is a base of these mechanics and a reason to take a step aside from the roads and find adventures for your ass. Is this really requiring an explanation?

Just because a "mechanic" is prevalent on a particular genre it doesn't mean that it's a good mechanic, gathering stuff to make potions was a chore before and it didn't add anything to the game.

Edit: I gotta say that it's somewhat disappointing that the best solution they came up with for hoarding was making potions automatically fill-up, it feels kinda(and I hate saying that) lazy.

 

[BlackWolf500.298]

I'm not saying this is a perfect solution or anything, but I still think it's better than what we had before. Ideally it'd be like some other people mentioned where the stuff you use to make potions are rare and you have to be smart about it, if the previous games were like that I'd be upset at the change.



Just because a "mechanic" is prevalent on a particular genre it doesn't mean that it's a good mechanic, gathering stuff to make potions was a chore before and it didn't add anything to the game.

Edit: I gotta say that it's somewhat disappointing that the best solution they came up with for hoarding was making potions automatically fill-up, it feels kinda(and I hate saying that) lazy.

1. I never found collecting incredients a CHORE. If done right this is absolutely fine in an RPG, especially in one where the alchemy is so important the previous games. I loved being on the lookout for plants and herbs. But not only that, alchemy could be used with almost everything including parts of monsters, a fact that is now part of the lore, especially after TW2 mentioned that multiple times in the main storyline.

2. I have to agree on your "EDIT" message, it seems lazy. But I think it is not thought that way. I am also surprised however that they didn't come up with a more interesting or reasonable solution that does NOT include removing a big part of what alchemy was about in the previous games.

 

[Shleppel]

Poor developers... they probably made alot of cool locations and quests for the rare ingredients just to hear everybody whining about it.
Personally I like this changes. System seems more interesting and tactical this way. And not being able to collect flowers to craft every single potion totally will not break immersion. Because, you know, it's game adaptation of the books, not reproduction (well, Geralt didnt brew potions in the books, but you get the idea, everything does not have to be realistic). Alot of changes were made to make game more interesting and its great.

 

[Scholdarr]

Poor developers... they probably made alot of cool locations and quests for the rare ingredients just to hear everybody whining about it.

Nobody is whining about rare ingredients. People don't like the auto-refill system. That's not the same...

And actually we don't know who made Geralt's potions in the books. So that's up to interpretation and "open".

 

[StaGiors]

Poor developers... they probably made alot of cool locations and quests for the rare ingredients just to hear everybody whining about it.
Personally I like this changes. System seems more interesting and tactical this way. And not being able to collect flowers to craft every single potion totally will not break immersion. Because, you know, it's game adaptation of the books, not reproduction (well, Geralt didnt brew potions in the books, but you get the idea, everything does not have to be realistic). Alot of changes were made to make game more interesting and its great.

Isn't it immersion breaking not having to get silver or steel, to craft a sword that you have already crafted once before? Regardless of the books. Same thing with the potions.

 

[Wild_Fishing]

They'd better leave red potions to Diablo.

 

[Scholdarr]

They'd better leave red potions to Diablo.

Don't worry. Witcher games never had traditional health potions.

 

[Shleppel]

Nobody is whining about rare ingredients. People don't like the auto-refill system. That's not the same...

Its all part of the same system. All tied up.

Isn't it immersion breaking not having to get silver or steel, to craft a sword that you have already crafted once before? Regardless of the books. Same thing with the potions.

To be fair, its not the same because swords are not consumables. With potions I'll gladly accept it as part of the game system.

 

[StaGiors]

To be fair, its not the same because swords are not consumables. With potions I'll gladly accept it as part of the game system.

To be fair, potions in the witcher are not exactly "consumables" either. They have a quite different goal, than the generic potions in other games. To a witcher, his potions are almost as important as his sword.

 

[Scholdarr]

Its all part of the same system. All tied up.

Ahem no, imo actually not. These are two different mechanics both connected with potions but they don't depend on each other.

 

[Shleppel]

To be fair, potions in the witcher are not exactly "consumables" either. They have a quite different goal, than the generic potions in other games. To a witcher, his potions are almost as important as his sword.

Different goal, yes. but still consumables.

Ahem no, imo actually not. These are two different mechanics both connected with potions but they don't depend on each other.

Potions autorefill - player need to craft it once - developers need to make every ingredient count with memorable location and/or quest. I think, its tied up.

 

[StaGiors]

Different goal, yes. but still consumables.

Well, under that definition everything is a consumable. But anyway, this is not a semantics lesson. Automatically refilling potions, are immersion-breaking. For me. And for others. The reasons are quite obvious to me, but might not be so to you, because we are different. And we want different things from the game. It's natural. Have fun.

 

[Shleppel]

Well, under that definition everything is a consumable. But anyway, this is not a semantics lesson. Automatically refilling potions, are immersion-breaking. For me. And for others. The reasons are quite obvious to me, but might not be so to you, because we are different. And we want different things from the game. It's natural. Have fun.

Ok, I tried explain my reasoning, nobody understands it. Not a big deal.

 

[Scholdarr]

Potions autorefill - player need to craft it once - developers need to make every ingredient count with memorable location and/or quest. I think, its tied up.

I guess you have a mistake in thinking here. For most potions there won't be "rare" ingredients. You should be able to use most potions from the very start, they are "standard" witcher stuff. You would have to find every rare ingredient in the first 2 hours of the game which is highly unlikely.

Honestly, some ingredients should be rare and hard to find or just grow at distinctive places with certain environmental requirements but mostly ingredients for crafting weapons, runes and armour and not potions. That's not what potions are made for. They are no rare collectibles but conventional combat support stuff and I see no reason to change that.

The rare ingredients you kept in Witcher 2 were crafting ingredients and not potion ingredients.

 

[StaGiors]

Ok, I tried explain my reasoning, nobody understands it. Not a big deal.

We understand. Just having a conversation, hoping that you will understand our reasoning too. Doesn't seem like you did not. So let's agree to disagree. No hard feelings whatsoever.