OFFICIAL The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (Discussion)

[64K]

Is it really 100h+ gametime if u play all side quests?

Depends on how rushed you play. According to this statistics site below for the average it's 185 hours for a completionist but a leisurely player could put in 1,000 hours. I guess completionist in this case means the main story, all side quests and explore the entire map because you could continue roaming around killing things forever I guess.

http://howlongtobeat.com/game.php?id=10270

What amazes me is that the next game to come from CD Projekt Red (Cyberpunk 2077 scheduled to be released in 2017, a total of 5 years in development) will be "far, far larger" according to CDPR. I don't know how the hell they put all of this content in and charge the same $60 that other publishers charge that put out a 10-20 hour game with some exceptions of course.

 

[rtwjunkie]

Well one way is they don't need a publisher. They will probably sell over 50% of the PC sales on GOG like they did TW3, which means it's all in-house.

In any case, even selling on all platforms and consoles, they don't get a bone tossed to them from a publisher after the sale, they get the whole meal.

 

[Jborg]

Really don't need any mods. It's the first moddable game that I have found to be totally worthy of playing without any mods!

I agree with this, however, just to save myself some time, I have an unlimited inventory space. Is just more convenient for me while playing. \

Have been enjoying my latest play through, making sure to get to all the side quests this time around.

 

[the54thvoid]

Playing new expansion. Ah, joy is in my heart once more. Will make sure to avoid the main quest until absolutely necessary. Contrary to reports, I'm in an unexplored area - perhaps i never got to it but it's certainly not in the middle of Velen.

 

[rtwjunkie]

Its supposed to be a new area, to the northeast of Velen, in an area away from the city beyond what the most curious among us could explore before.

 

[okidna]

I like the new startup screen

Spoiler: asd

 

[the54thvoid]

Not a spoiler as such but my first impressions of the length and difficulty:

Spoiler

The main quest I have no idea but the side quests and area unlocks are plentiful. I can see potentially dozens of hours alone for exploring. And the monsters are high level starting at 32 upwards. Not died yet but I'm level 36 with stupid sign intensity but I imagine the 'bigger' bad ass monsters will be a pain in the ass.

 

[rtwjunkie]

@the54thvoid I hadread the same thing in reviews about it being meant for higher levels and would seriously challenge those that haven't arrived at a suitable level yet, especially with a couple of the new monsters.

 

[okidna]

Not a spoiler as such but my first impressions of the length and difficulty:

Spoiler

The main quest I have no idea but the side quests and area unlocks are plentiful. I can see potentially dozens of hours alone for exploring. And the monsters are high level starting at 32 upwards. Not died yet but I'm level 36 with stupid sign intensity but I imagine the 'bigger' bad ass monsters will be a pain in the ass.

Spoiler

Very true, I looked at my Steam friends and saw one of them playing straight for more than 12 hours. I asked him did he finished the expansion, his answer is "no, probably 50-60% complete". Wow.

Just played a little bit to make sure the new achievement works. Eight kind of potions straight down Geralt's stomach My Alchemy build can handle more than 8 apparently hehe.
Love the new potion slot, now I can spam Petri's Philter, Blizzard, Tawny Owl, and Maribor Forest without entering inventory screen.

Seriously, I can't wait to play more this weekend. Never been this excited about game DLCs or expansions.

 

[rtwjunkie]

Which means the Expansion DLC they list as 30 hours coming in February might be more like 50 to 60!

 

[okidna]

Which means the Expansion DLC they list as 30 hours coming in February might be more like 50 to 60!

Haha hopefully.
If this is an EA game then they will release the expansion pass as "The Witcher 4 : King of Frog" and charge full $59.99 from our wallet

 

[Jborg]

I can only assume the new expansion works with New Game + mode?

I started a New Game + and really like how most of the monsters in the starting area are similar level to you, its not like the origina playthrough where it seems you need to go back to kill higher level mobs. At least so far it seems like you can go to each ? in each zone and at least have a chance in New Game +

 

[okidna]

I can only assume the new expansion works with New Game + mode?

I started a New Game + and really like how most of the monsters in the starting area are similar level to you, its not like the origina playthrough where it seems you need to go back to kill higher level mobs. At least so far it seems like you can go to each ? in each zone and at least have a chance in New Game +

This might help you : http://steamcommunity.com/app/292030/discussions/0/481115363877503777/#c481115363877590207

If you are in New Game +, then Hearts of Stone is for level 60+ characters. So for your current New Game + game you have to wait till you are level 60, a little lower if you want more challenge.

You cannot use a New Game + save to start another New Game +.

Here are your options:

1- Use your current New Game + game and just wait till you are level 60
2- Load up the non new game + save that has the game completed and do the HoS expansion there, since that version will be for level 30+.
3- Create a new Game for HoS only, which is an option, which puts you at level 32 have have a prebuilt Geralt.

 

[the54thvoid]

Well, I'm stuck. Need advice on how to dispatch a big bad thing.

Spoiler

I can't kill this big fucking toad. I can kill anything else (including a 30 minute fight with an arch griffin in Skellige that was about 10 levels above me) but this just takes the fucking biscuit. It's a pointless slog of a fight with just pointless rolling and dodging and inflicting almost no damage. I love this game but this type of 'boss bad guy' is so fucking lame.

FTR, I've left the mission gone off and got every decoction under the sun and Superior Raffards and Enhanced Cursed Oil. All useless. This is frankly everything that is piss poor in a game. Destroy all the great creativity with a needlessly powerful foe with NO weaknesses...

This is fail.

FU CDPR

 

[okidna]

Well, I'm stuck. Need advice on how to dispatch a big bad thing.

Spoiler

I can't kill this big fucking toad. I can kill anything else (including a 30 minute fight with an arch griffin in Skellige that was about 10 levels above me) but this just takes the fucking biscuit. It's a pointless slog of a fight with just pointless rolling and dodging and inflicting almost no damage. I love this game but this type of 'boss bad guy' is so fucking lame.

FTR, I've left the mission gone off and got every decoction under the sun and Superior Raffards and Enhanced Cursed Oil. All useless. This is frankly everything that is piss poor in a game. Destroy all the great creativity with a needlessly powerful foe with NO weaknesses...

This is fail.

FU CDPR

Managed to kill the beast on Death March. Here's my take :

Spoiler

Preparation :
-We fight at night so use Tawny Owl (Superior if you have) for stamina regen, or use any decoction that improves stamina or stamina regen.
-My potion lineup is : Sup. Swallow, Sup. Golden Oriole, Sup. Thunderbolt, Sup. White Raffard's. I drink Sup. Tawny Owl before the fight, it last forever as long as it's nighttime so no need to put it on my quick potion.
-I use one runeword to my silver sword : Replenishment.
-Get your Northern Wind bomb ready.
-Bleeding effect on your sword or crossbow would be nice.
-I forgot to use my Sup. Cursed Oil hahaha but it would be very helpful if you use it.

Now, about the Giant Toad :
-Hard to get close by, when you got close he'll jump+turn & knock you back with a medium to high damage shock.
-Northern Wind will freeze him in place.
-Spit venom so Golden Oriole is a must.
-Tongue attack, this is nasty, very nasty. One of the highest damage attack from a monster in this game as far as I remember.
-He's VERY weak to Yrden. Cast Yrden and he'll be almost stuck in one place looking dazed and confused.

The fight :
-Drink Golden Oriole or you'll die quickly.
-Use Quen all the time.
-Move around while circling him, avoid his venom missile. While move around try to throw Northern Wind or apply bleeding effect with Broadhead bolt. If you manage to freeze him, get close and hit him hard AND before the freezing effect runs out cast Yrden.
-Move around and try to get close to him, not very close though, just close enough to lure him to move (not jump). Cast Yrden and watch the Toad wriggle in agony , don't just watch, hit him as hard as you can (Whirl or a couple of strong attacks).
-Why I use Replenishment runewords? Because the effect. After you cast a sign with Replenishment in you sword with at least 1 adrenaline point, that sign effect will be applied to your sword. For example : after I cast Igni, my sword will turn into flaming sword, after I cast Quen my sword will turn into vampiric sword (attack recovers health), AND after I cast Yrden my sword will turn into slowing sword, which will help making sure the Toad stay in place.

I have to admit that the fight was hard and fun, I died 3 times before I can understand the Toad movement and mechanic.
Good luck.

 

[rtwjunkie]

@okidna Very good advice!! Youre a thinking man's player!

 

[okidna]

@okidna Very good advice!! Youre a thinking man's player!

Hehe thanks, this one particular boss is fun and that's why I'm eager to put everything I know about this monster. Other additions, suggestions, or corrections are more than welcome.

Have you played the expansion, @rtwjunkie ?

 

[rtwjunkie]

Hehe thanks, this one particular boss is fun and that's why I'm eager to put everything I know about this monster. Other additions, suggestions, or corrections are more than welcome.

Have you played the expansion, @rtwjunkie ?

I have not yet. I'm on a short break playing my backlog. It's installed and ready to go though!!

 

[the54thvoid]

Managed to kill the beast on Death March. Here's my take :

Spoiler

Preparation :
-We fight at night so use Tawny Owl (Superior if you have) for stamina regen, or use any decoction that improves stamina or stamina regen.
-My potion lineup is : Sup. Swallow, Sup. Golden Oriole, Sup. Thunderbolt, Sup. White Raffard's. I drink Sup. Tawny Owl before the fight, it last forever as long as it's nighttime so no need to put it on my quick potion.
-I use one runeword to my silver sword : Replenishment.
-Get your Northern Wind bomb ready.
-Bleeding effect on your sword or crossbow would be nice.
-I forgot to use my Sup. Cursed Oil hahaha but it would be very helpful if you use it.

Now, about the Giant Toad :
-Hard to get close by, when you got close he'll jump+turn & knock you back with a medium to high damage shock.
-Northern Wind will freeze him in place.
-Spit venom so Golden Oriole is a must.
-Tongue attack, this is nasty, very nasty. One of the highest damage attack from a monster in this game as far as I remember.
-He's VERY weak to Yrden. Cast Yrden and he'll be almost stuck in one place looking dazed and confused.

The fight :
-Drink Golden Oriole or you'll die quickly.
-Use Quen all the time.
-Move around while circling him, avoid his venom missile. While move around try to throw Northern Wind or apply bleeding effect with Broadhead bolt. If you manage to freeze him, get close and hit him hard AND before the freezing effect runs out cast Yrden.
-Move around and try to get close to him, not very close though, just close enough to lure him to move (not jump). Cast Yrden and watch the Toad wriggle in agony , don't just watch, hit him as hard as you can (Whirl or a couple of strong attacks).
-Why I use Replenishment runewords? Because the effect. After you cast a sign with Replenishment in you sword with at least 1 adrenaline point, that sign effect will be applied to your sword. For example : after I cast Igni, my sword will turn into flaming sword, after I cast Quen my sword will turn into vampiric sword (attack recovers health), AND after I cast Yrden my sword will turn into slowing sword, which will help making sure the Toad stay in place.

I have to admit that the fight was hard and fun, I died 3 times before I can understand the Toad movement and mechanic.
Good luck.

Have used Northern Wind but it had minimal effect? I know Yrden works but its almost like he glitches and the circles or charge have a much limited range.
I'll persevere but its still unnecessarily hard.

 

[okidna]

Have used Northern Wind but it had minimal effect? I know Yrden works but its almost like he glitches and the circles or charge have a much limited range.
I'll persevere but its still unnecessarily hard.

Spoiler

Yes, the freezing effect only lasted about 2 seconds and sometimes it doesn't even freeze the bastard. You have to be lucky and fast.

In addition, some users at Steam pointed out that the Toad is vulnerable to fire (Igni and fire-based bombs), might be worth to try out.
I didn't tried any fire based damage because Shani said that the Toad didn't respond to torch so I assume he doesn't fear fire.

As for Yrden, CDPR nerfed the hell out of Yrden with patch 1.10. Don't know about the range, but sure they reduce the slowing effect drastically : http://forums.cdprojektred.com/threads/59075-Yrden-Scaling-Nerf-(Bug-)

 

[the54thvoid]

Spoiler

Yes, the freezing effect only lasted about 2 seconds and sometimes it doesn't even freeze the bastard. You have to be lucky and fast.

In addition, some users at Steam pointed out that the Toad is vulnerable to fire (Igni and fire-based bombs), might be worth to try out.
I didn't tried any fire based damage because Shani said that the Toad didn't respond to torch so I assume he doesn't fear fire.

As for Yrden, CDPR nerfed the hell out of Yrden with patch 1.10. Don't know about the range, but sure they reduce the slowing effect drastically : http://forums.cdprojektred.com/threads/59075-Yrden-Scaling-Nerf-(Bug-)

Ahem... Easy killing after all

Spoiler

Okay... In the run up to the episode you learn that 'it's not afraid of fire', or so says Geralt. Unless i heard that dialogue entirely wrong? Anyhow, went in with Igni and demolished it in about 3 minutes. Can't believe it. Walkover. That and Superior Raffards. Really, did I hear wrong when Shani talks about the guards and they threw torches and it didn't care or did it run away from fire? Because that misled me seriously. My character is sign tastic with about 250% sign power and several at top spec. Feel like a fool.

 

[RCoon]

What saddens me most is not being able to play these games anymore. I get showered with review keys, and my Steam library grows, yet I haven't played a lick of Witcher 3 since release.

 

[the54thvoid]

What saddens me most is not being able to play these games anymore. I get showered with review keys, and my Steam library grows, yet I haven't played a lick of Witcher 3 since release.

Resign. Or make time for yourself. Life has to be more than work. Stress is a killer.

 

[okidna]

My new two favorite characters :

Spoiler

 

[64K]

What saddens me most is not being able to play these games anymore. I get showered with review keys, and my Steam library grows, yet I haven't played a lick of Witcher 3 since release.

That's not right. You're playing games that you might not want to play for the sake of reviews and not having time to play games that you do want to play. I would back off of some reviews and have some fun with the games you do want to play. Tell the developers that you're not getting paid to do reviews and you may not have time to play or review the game before they send you a key unless your goal is to become a paid reviewer in time for a game site and quit your present job.