The books are based on the fanfiction notion that Yennefer was kidnapped from Avallach and Geralt went after her.
Small correction: I believe you meant the games are based on that notion
The books are based on the fanfiction notion that Yennefer was kidnapped from Avallach and Geralt went after her.
I have just finished the game, got an ending where Ciri becomes a witcher, Emhyr wins and Geralt stays alone. Now I am doing my second play-through to get a canon (in my view) ending: Geralt with Yen, Ciri is Emperess. Let me share my thoughts why "Witcher" ending is not the best, not for Ciri, nor for Geralt.
1. Ciri is not a true witcher. Don't recall where (book or game), but Geralt once said she was never to be as good as him. No matter how much he was teaching her, shes only half-witcher, missing on a physical part. Remember the book scene where Geralt's life was saved only cause he had ability to slow-down body functions being mortally wounded? Ciri does not have that. She cant use elixirs. This is bound to end bad, with just a single wound, which witchers usually get plenty.
2. I was really surprised how unfinished was ending "Ciri witcher - Emhyr lives". Emhyr was searching relentlessly for her for 20 years. No way he would trust Geralt on his word that Ciri was dead. And that phrase about Ciri becoming famous? She would draw Emhyr attention at once, becoming a hunted prey once again. And Geralt would never rest easy with Yen/Triss as Emhyr would never forgive him his lie until Geralt is dead.
3. Even if Emhyr leaves Ciri alone (which is very unlikely) or Emhyr dies, lets not forget that Ciri is a rightful heir to the throne. From the book we know how exiled Emhyr reclaimed the throne from usurper. Those planning to take over after Emhyr wont let Ciri live cause of that. Like in a book when kings of the North decided that Ciri has to die, just in case.
So looks like "Ciri witcher" will lead to Ciri's death in any case, from assassins or monsters, and Geralt's as well in case Emhyr lives. Even if they somehow manage to avoid it, this means a life of constant running and hiding, far from that idyllic life we are being shown in the ending. Ofc it is much better then ME3 ending, but still far from well-thought.
So you never once herad someone say something sarcastically yet it be the truth?
What about something like: "The American people have said sarcatically that Obama is the best president ever."
Doesn't mean he wasn't a president.
Now if what you claim is true that Geralt and Yen are both dead and never come back then that means everything in the games is bogus. No one could ever claim anything from the games mean squat. Ther is no basis for Triss vs. Yen. No basis for a new Nilfgaard war. No basis for Ciri being empress. No basis for the witch hunts. Nothing. Everything is fictitious.
And that then means you can NEVER ever reference the books to say this or that is legit in the games because they have zero relationship in what happens from the start of the games. You can only say int he past thing A happened. But it has zero impact about any decision, event, occurrence that happens int he game. Triss is NOT manipulative because Geralt is dead and there is no Geralt. You can't link in any of her past characteristics so support or deny any motive. Same for Yen and all the other characters.
I think I'll just use this quote from here out:
"Witcher games are fanfictions it shouldn't be mixed with the books story"
The game - with all due respect to it, but let's finally say it openly - is not an 'alternative version', nor a sequel. The game is a free adaptation containing elements of my work; an adaptation created by different authors. Adaptations - although they can in a way relate to the story told in the books - can never aspire to the role of a follow-up. They can never add prologues nor prequels, let alone epilogues and sequels. Maybe it's time to set the matters straight. The Witcher is a well made video game, its success is well deserved and the creators deserve all the splendour and honour due. But in no way can it be considered to be an 'alternative version', nor a 'sequel' to the witcher Geralt stories. Because this can only be told by Geralt's creator. A certain Andrzej Sapkowski.
For the love of God people, let those who enjoy happy endings get happy endings. There was literally nothing wrong with Ciri Witcher ending. You're trying to make something wrong with it for God-knows what reason. But it's a reason I will not comprehend regardless. You have the happy ending, the bitter sweet ending, and the ending which is the anti-thesis to uplifting. You people are looking at Gold but second-guessing it by assuming it's really just shiny, expired butter.
How about not assuming every thing has an ulterior motive or looking at the glass half empty for ONCE. PLEASE. I am imploring you. I am prostrating myself on the ground and begging you to stop looking a gift horse in the mouth. Would you rather had all the endings be like those found in Mass Effect 3? God there is no pleasing you people. .
As for Sapkowski, I don't agree with how he said it, but he is right regardless. That is, until he perhaps shows some consideration for others and proclaims something is canon outside of his work. Authors CAN do that. I seriously doubt he ever will though. Some people cling so tightly so their creations they can't help it. And honestly, I don't fault him for that.
Well, I hate to break it to ya, but Ciri ending up doing Witcher's work isn't just an option for the game, it's what she ends up doing at the end of the book series. So, it's entirely consistent with her book character.
However, I dislike the fact that Emhyr doesn't get to see his daughter if Ciri is to become a witcheress.
Emhyr not getting to see Ciri was a part of the ending that I felt really ok with - simply because Emhyr is not the most caring father and wants to use Ciri. He wants her to follow in his footsteps and can't respect her right to make her own decisions. Plus I never liked the guy, be it in the books or in the games. So no sympathy there as far as I am concerned.
I agree that Ciri might not make a good empress, being very freespirited, stubborn and emotional. However, had I gotten this ending (Ciri being empress), I could have lived with that as well. The only ending I couldn't have lived with would be the bad ending because I want neither Ciri nor Geralt dead.
I know, Book-Emhyr was better but Game-Emhyr was such an annoying dude that I was glad he never got to see Ciri.Emhyr from the books does care for her happiness and actually lets her stay with Geralt & Yen when he could force her to live with him. In the game he is more hardcore, for story reasons or the fact that he needs Ciri not to loose his empire.
Totally agree. When in the epilogue Dandelion told me that Ciri went on to become a famous Witcher I was like "Hang on - but Emhyr will notice, right? What will he do then?" Second reaction was "Ah, never mind, it's the best ending for Geralt and an ending I can live with" - probably not the most logical ending because Ciri shouldn't become that famous if she wants to keep Emhyr at bay but that's the only thing about that ending that I questioned.The ending is not logical tho, Ciri becoming famous witcher etc when she should become anon. but I don't care simply because its the best ending for Geralt, it's too good an ending in fact after all these years apart in the books & game finally she'll be with him for good. It doesn't go along with sapkowski's bittersweet conclusions but this is the game, this is an RPG and possibility of it is welcome.
That would be awesome. Dandelion is still there, you can visit him in Novigrad, but I think he doesn't talk much - I must admit that I didn't try because every time before, he would just tell me how he came by this tavern. I would have liked to see what Zoltan was up to, though.My main problem with the ending tho that it was too short and too few characters in it compared to empress ending. Tho unlike some other fan requests this could be fixed rather easily I think. Add the love interest and zoltan & dandi to the fold with couple lines of dialogue maybe a quick witcher contract quest with ciri = fixed.
Watched the bad ending on YT and am glad that I didn't get that one because it's very depressing... poor Geralt :/ Haven't seen the empress ending yet but I guess I'll find that on YT as well. Right now, I just don't have the nerve to replay the whole gameCouple hours ago I finished the game with bad ending intentionally and it was satisfying, it was so good as bad endings go, really shown Geralt's state of mind after what happened: "Maybe, once in a different time, I'd have helped" , "You lie, I don't feel a thing anymore". Empress ending was also satisfying but not the witcher ending...
Watched the bad ending on YT and am glad that I didn't get that one because it's very depressing... poor Geralt :/ Haven't seen the empress ending yet but I guess I'll find that on YT as well. Right now, I just don't have the nerve to replay the whole game
Thats actually not true, at least not 100 %. She ends up in the world of King Arthur, but it is never said she started to kill monsters there. Its all about personal interpretation of both books and games, which are two different quantities. Two out of three endings of Wild Hunt can be consider to be good conclusions of the story, because both major characters are still alive. Is empress ending better that witcher one ? No. Is Ciri becoming a witcher a better ending that the empress one ? No. People have their own opinions and it needs to be respected. If someone likes one ending better that the other, thats completely fine.
I personally will always choose empress one, not because i like it more, but the choices i made as Geralt will always lead to that conclusion. Ill always take Ciri to Emphyr, because i truly feel that he deserved that and i think Ciri needs to surpass her fears, like meeting with her true father. Ill always kill Radowid, because my Geralt is not a neutral monster slayer, who only thinks about closest friends, but wants to change the world by removing a maniac who loves killing innocent people. Ill always side with Roche, Ves and Talar over Dijkstra, because they actually helped Geralt in his journey (specialy Roche and Ves who were fighting at Kaer Morhen to protect the most important person in Geralts life), and i consider them as friends. Still, my biggest problem with "witcher ending" is that i dont believe in it. Cheers.
At the end of the book series, Ciri chooses to not be an Empress. She's leading a life of adventure, exploring other worlds. Being a witcher at the end of Witcher 3 is the same thing. She doesn't end up an empress and she chooses a life as an adventurer.
You can choose whatever ending you want, of course. But in the books, she'd already decided to defy whatever the Emperor wanted for her. So, it's consistent.