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The Witcher |OT| Damn all dissonances

I enjoyed the game a lot but I never got all the hub-bub about the story and 'choices' until finally the Scoia Tael vs. Order dilemma came into play (Non-Humans vs. Humans). Only then do you realize just how far-reaching the consequences can be. After that I liked the game even more.

Hyped like crazy for Witcher 2. (I sided with non-humans by the way)
 

Desi

Member
for some reason when i boot the game the sound drops in and out of the intro movie and no cursor shows up at the "new game, load, etc" menu. Also the game is in this strange windowed mode. anyone know what I should do? This is the first time this has happened to me by the way.

edit: nevermind finally got it working. the intro movie still acting weird though.
 

n0n44m

Member
Desi said:
for some reason when i boot the game the sound drops in and out of the intro movie and no cursor shows up at the "new game, load, etc" menu. Also the game is in this strange windowed mode. anyone know what I should do? This is the first time this has happened to me by the way.

edit: nevermind finally got it working. the intro movie still acting weird though.

use the shift key in the main menu

just started playing this after getting it during the last Steam sales ... really like it a lot, and this is the first rpg I play since ... Oblivion? Gonna pre-order Witcher 2 asap :D

it absolutely loves my 4.5 ghz Sandy Bridge cpu by the way, my GTX480 is on constant 100% usage now compared to ~50% with my previous 3.5ghz AthlonIIx4 cpu, which makes sense as it only uses 1 core lol (1080p max settings, ~100 fps)
 
Finished this over the weekend, really enjoyed it.

The choices really make you think cause their is no straight up right or wrong which I really enjoyed. I ended up siding with
The Order but by the end kinda wished I hadn't haha

Already thinking about replaying it and making all the different choices to see how things play out.
 

djtiesto

is beloved, despite what anyone might say
Minsc said:
Maturity comes mostly from having to make plot decisions that aren't easily coined to right or wrong. The cards and proportions of nearly all the women are laughable, but it does go beyond that, sometimes.

The cards won't be back for The Witcher 2, but Geralt will be Geralt, and romances are going to play their part like in the first.

I don't know about the proportions being laughable, the dev team is Polish, they are just going based on what they know :p
 

Fox318

Member
Finally got to chapter IV
olp0L.jpg
 

Ermac

Proudly debt free. If you need a couple bucks, just ask.
Does this game get better? I'm currently in Vinizia (sp?) doing quests for the three dudes who I need to win over in order to get the town to like me. I'm not really a fan of the dark atmosphere of the game, but Geralt is a badass, and the voice acting is good.

It feels like I'm such running (a lot) from place to place in the rain.
 
Ermac said:
Does this game get better? I'm currently in Vinizia (sp?) doing quests for the three dudes who I need to win over in order to get the town to like me. I'm not really a fan of the dark atmosphere of the game, but Geralt is a badass, and the voice acting is good.

It feels like I'm such running (a lot) from place to place in the rain.

That is exactly my main gripe with the game - there are a lot of "fetch" quests. Everything else is excellent though.
 

Snuggles

erotic butter maelstrom
Just started playing this recently, I really like it so far. I mostly like the presentation, Geralt, the setting, and the music are great but the combat is pretty cool too. It's a nice mix between standard command based WRPG combat and real time combat. The movement, dodging and switching up of styles keep it interesting. The graphics are nice, too. Running it on max at 1080p and it's staying between 60-80fps. EDIT - actually I'm pushing near 100fps in some parts. It's weird because it goes down 10fps in cutscenes when an NPC is talking and back up 10fps when Geralt is talking.

Can't wait to see where it goes, I'm gonna plow all the ladies I can. <3
 

koji

Member
So OTS cam guys, really?

Looks like I'll just have to get over it and adjust... I constantly feel like I need to change the cam while I'm playing...

Anyway, picked it up where I left last night, was smart enough this time to quit right before the end of chapter 1 so I just had to start chapter 2. Which is kinda nice so I know what to do and start with a semi clean slate.

Oh, on the technical side, I forced Vsync on in my nvidia control panel. Tears like a mofo on my rig and 26" screen otherwise... (@ Minsc; I'm playing in a 16:10 res, 1920x1200, scaling looks OK from what I've seen so far, not seen that many in game movies yet though, the intro when you fire up the game seems fine.)
 
SpacePirate Ridley said:
Theres a texture pack?
I use it. Recommended.

Actually there's a few. I wonder if I'm thinking of the right one.

Thought I'd give this question another shot." Does anyone have a save file from midway chapter 3? Or is it 4?
access to trade district etc
especially on near or after the bank robbery in the trade district
 

koji

Member
INDIGO_CYCLOPS said:
I use it. Recommended.

Actually there's a few. I wonder if I'm thinking of the right one.

The one I've got comes with an installer, I used to use it but I can't remember if it really changed a lot.
 

Minsc

Gold Member
INDIGO_CYCLOPS said:
I use it. Recommended.

Actually there's a few. I wonder if I'm thinking of the right one.

Thought I'd give this question another shot." Does anyone have a save file from midway chapter 3? Or is it 4?
access to trade district etc
especially on near or after the bank robbery in the trade district

I posted a few thoughts on the texture pack here a few pages back. If that's the same one as I was talking about, it's apparently buggy going by user posts.

I really didn't feel a texture pack was necessary myself, but you'd think it can't hurt!


koji said:
So OTS cam guys, really?

Looks like I'll just have to get over it and adjust... I constantly feel like I need to change the cam while I'm playing...

Oh, on the technical side, I forced Vsync on in my nvidia control panel. Tears like a mofo on my rig and 26" screen otherwise... (@ Minsc; I'm playing in a 16:10 res, 1920x1200, scaling looks OK from what I've seen so far, not seen that many in game movies yet though, the intro when you fire up the game seems fine.)

Yea, give OTS a good 4+ hour experience if you can, I think the game really presents itself much nicer that way, and the sequel will have more that look anyway going by the screenshots. I think camera control is disabled, so there may not be an isometric view in it.

16:10 res thing, see the link in my response to INDIGO_CYCLOPS above, I also address the common issue of pixelation/blurryness during dialog, it's a common problem, but if you don't have it, great! It only pops up during dialog, everything looks very pixelated. You may have to try 16:9 then 16:10 to notice it, if you don't.

Snuggler said:
The graphics are nice, too. Running it on max at 1080p and it's staying between 60-80fps. EDIT - actually I'm pushing near 100fps in some parts. It's weird because it goes down 10fps in cutscenes when an NPC is talking and back up 10fps when Geralt is talking.

Can't wait to see where it goes, I'm gonna plow all the ladies I can. <3

That's unusual, framerate never fluctuated like that at all through the entire game between dialog/normal play.
 
Meh, saw the texture video, looks very similar to the original.

Worst of all, not having comparison shots is horrible, I want to see how it has changed because at the moment I remember it very near to the video.

And lots of people having problems...
 

mrpeabody

Member
Only a few hours in, but I am in love with the atmosphere of this game. In most RPGs, the world is basically a functional place, even if it's under attack from evil or whatever. Here, it really feels like civilization is barely hanging on. The only other game that's similar in tone is Demon's Souls.

Has anybody read the novels?
 

Ermac

Proudly debt free. If you need a couple bucks, just ask.
mrpeabody said:
Only a few hours in, but I am in love with the atmosphere of this game. In most RPGs, the world is basically a functional place, even if it's under attack from evil or whatever. Here, it really feels like civilization is barely hanging on. The only other game that's similar in tone is Demon's Souls.

Has anybody read the novels?
There was some discussion in the Witcher 2 thread, check it out. I think for the most part a lot of people liked them.
 

Binabik15

Member
Bought it earlier, going to install it in a bit.

The store had lots of copies of the EE displayed, looks like a few more people chose to buy the original in anticipation of part 2.
 

Micius

Member
mrpeabody said:
Only a few hours in, but I am in love with the atmosphere of this game. In most RPGs, the world is basically a functional place, even if it's under attack from evil or whatever. Here, it really feels like civilization is barely hanging on. The only other game that's similar in tone is Demon's Souls.

Has anybody read the novels?

Read both The Last Wish and Blood of Elves. The problem with the novels is that the translators haven't been keeping up, so we are missing The Sword of Destiny as well as all the books in the series that came after Blood of Elves. What's available is quite a nice read though. It's basically the same world as the game, with the racial tension, political power struggle between nations and factions, and complex characters. The short stories in The Last Wish are also quite delightful, several stories contain fragments that are strongly reminiscent of well known fairy tales such as Beauty and the Beast and Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, but obviously each with their own twists.
 

Menelaus

Banned
Hey dudes. I picked up the game during the holiday sale, but am just now getting into it. I am so lost with alchemy...is it really necessary to beating the game? I haven't had too many issues with combat yet, but I'm worried that the hammer is going to drop soon.

Maybe there's a good website with recipes or just a general primer on alchemy that you might know of? Any help is greatly appreciated.
 

erpg

GAF parliamentarian
You'll learn recipes from scrolls, and then you just have to match the colours, really. And no, it isn't necessary. Other than Cat's Eye to see in the dark, I really didn't use any alchemy other than for bossdrop potions.
 

Sinatar

Official GAF Bottom Feeder
Menelaus said:
Hey dudes. I picked up the game during the holiday sale, but am just now getting into it. I am so lost with alchemy...is it really necessary to beating the game? I haven't had too many issues with combat yet, but I'm worried that the hammer is going to drop soon.

Maybe there's a good website with recipes or just a general primer on alchemy that you might know of? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Alchemy's important really depends on what difficulty you are playing on. On normal you'll need to bust out some blizzard potions on occasion for harder fights but you can largely ignore it. On hard you need to use it far more frequently.
 

Snuggles

erotic butter maelstrom
Minsc said:
That's unusual, framerate never fluctuated like that at all through the entire game between dialog/normal play.

I should have noted that I'm basing that off of my FRAPS-o-meter, so it could be unreliable but it seems to work fine in other games. Witcher is fluctuating heavily for me, but it's usually 60+ so I can't complain.

I really like this game, though. I'm still in the village by the castle early in the game, I'm trying to do all the sidequests. I just escorted the bar wench home, someones gonna get laid~~~
 

Binabik15

Member
Sinatar said:
Alchemy's important really depends on what difficulty you are playing on. On normal you'll need to bust out some blizzard potions on occasion for harder fights but you can largely ignore it. On hard you need to use it far more frequently.


What difficulty is recommended? Is hard making the game better/different like Delta on Crysis or just harder?
 

Snuggles

erotic butter maelstrom
Binabik15 said:
What difficulty is recommended? Is hard making the game better/different like Delta on Crysis or just harder?

I hate to admit it, but I chose the easy difficulty so I could play through the game without any frustration, but I regret it now since the game is too easy to far. I hardly take any damage so the fights are just a matter of waiting for the enemy to die. I would bump it up but it seems you can't change it after starting.

Oh well, maybe it'll get a little more challenging later in the game.
 

epmode

Member
The game's pretty easy on Normal too. Aside from a boss fight or two, it was smooth sailing and it gets easier as it goes.
 

Tacitus_

Member
Hard wasn't that challenging either, apart from the boss of act 1 which almost made me want to gouge my eyes out (since you don't know the potion recipie for anti stun/knockdown) and the trophy monsters in act 2.

Just have at least a couple of Swallows with you and maybe some sort of weapon buff.
Having a good spec also makes a nice difference.

Menelaus said:
Hey dudes. I picked up the game during the holiday sale, but am just now getting into it. I am so lost with alchemy...is it really necessary to beating the game? I haven't had too many issues with combat yet, but I'm worried that the hammer is going to drop soon.

Maybe there's a good website with recipes or just a general primer on alchemy that you might know of? Any help is greatly appreciated.

In short: buy the recipe books if you can afford them and gather your heart out of the herbs and monsters you slay.

The witcher wikia has all the recipies if you want to save money, since when you make a potion you don't know and drink it, you learn the recipie.
 

Minsc

Gold Member
I found hard to be enjoyable, not mind-numbingly easy like normal/easy sounds, but it never approached a difficulty I'd consider hard on a regular basis. Boss fight of chapter 1 and the occasional escort mission and the swamp trophy worm thing early on. But I did feel compelled to use some potions, so I think if I picked normal it'd be slightly less fun to gather the ingredients.
 

Binabik15

Member
I enjoyed fucking with tough monsters at lvl1 in Risen and drinking potions is a large part of Geralt´s job in the short story collection I read, so hard it is.

I just, uhm, stupid question, need someone to link me to the 1.5 patch. I clicked on upgrade in the game menu, it linked me to the website, which links to a polish website where I downloaded the EE patch apparently, not 1.5. Took me over an hour, because it´d stop all the time, argh. Me no speak Polish.

Oh, and can I link my store bought copy to Steam? If yes, how? I haven´t used Steam a lot.
 

Scipius

Member
Finished it yesterday. Excellent game.

I feel that they kind of succeeded in what they were going for with the combat (a mid-way point between turn-based tactics and direct action), but I'm not surprised it will be receiving an overhaul for the sequel. I played on normal and combat was not a challenge at all by the end of the game.

The meat of the game is in the story and setting though; you can really tell the game benefitted tremendously from having an already well-developed world to fall back on. Sapkowski's world felt like an attempt at creating a native Polish version of an altered mythological Europe, with a mix of Slavic and Germanic influences (and a touch of French). Coupling this with Polish developers produces a very convincing game world. Pity there were still entities called elves and dwarves in it though.

In terms of stability the game is pretty solid. I had a few freezes in Chapter IV, otherwise nothing at all. All patched up the game has far less "jank" than e.g. Fallout 3.

Finally, I did play all the way through with Polish VOs. I can highly recommend it to everyone; it really adds to the experience and you won't miss a thing story-wise. Of course, it does mean I will have to hold off on the sequel until I can play it the same way...
 
Binabik15 said:
I enjoyed fucking with tough monsters at lvl1 in Risen and drinking potions is a large part of Geralt´s job in the short story collection I read, so hard it is.

I just, uhm, stupid question, need someone to link me to the 1.5 patch. I clicked on upgrade in the game menu, it linked me to the website, which links to a polish website where I downloaded the EE patch apparently, not 1.5. Took me over an hour, because it´d stop all the time, argh. Me no speak Polish.

Oh, and can I link my store bought copy to Steam? If yes, how? I haven´t used Steam a lot.

Google is your friend :)
http://www.fileshack.com/file.x/14743/The+Witcher+1.5+Patch


As for linking it to steam, I don't think you can, I tried early and it didn't work for me. But then again, after you install this patch, it takes away the CD check. There's also the director's cut patch if you want uncensored cards

http://www.fileshack.com/file.x/14874/The+Witcher:+Enhanced+Edition+Director/'s+Cut+Patch
 

Binabik15

Member
razgriz417 said:
Google is your friend :)
http://www.fileshack.com/file.x/14743/The+Witcher+1.5+Patch


As for linking it to steam, I don't think you can, I tried early and it didn't work for me. But then again, after you install this patch, it takes away the CD check. There's also the director's cut patch if you want uncensored cards

http://www.fileshack.com/file.x/14874/The+Witcher:+Enhanced+Edition+Director/'s+Cut+Patch

Thanks. I´m on my gaming/online transaction pc, I don´t randomly google things with it to be 1000% spyware+virus free.

I don´t think I need the DC patch, I´ve got a German Version.
 

jett

D-Member
Witcher 2 hype got to me! I just witched for about an hour, seems like I'm still in the tutorial area. Controls are janky as hell, presentation is kinda bad and has all kinds of technical issues...but I guess I'm not saying anything new there. :p I'm starting to get a feel on the combat. I imagine everything gets a lot better later on.

Witcher 2 looks like such an insane improvement over the first game it's pretty ridiculous.
 

antonz

Member
jett said:
Witcher 2 hype got to me! I just witched for about an hour, seems like I'm still in the tutorial area. Controls are janky as hell, presentation is kinda bad and has all kinds of technical issues...but I guess I'm not saying anything new there. :p I'm starting to get a feel on the combat. I imagine everything gets a lot better later on.

Witcher 2 looks like such an insane improvement over the first game it's pretty ridiculous.
The initial zone can be a bit slow especially with the running back and forth but it really picks up once you get beyond chapter 1. The issues with the engine are a key reason why they decided to make their own for 2.
 

bloodydrake

Cool Smoke Luke
anyone know how to customize controls so right click is walk forward?
I'm enjoying the game overall but mother of god i hate games that force an attack to right mouse button.

Every game I've played since wolf3d i've used right mouse to move forward and left to attack.

Secondary attacks and stuff always assigned to middle or mouse button 4/5.

Besides that game is fun tho i find Geralt to be the most boringly bland protagonist ever when it comes to voice work.
 

Minsc

Gold Member
jett said:
Witcher 2 hype got to me! I just witched for about an hour, seems like I'm still in the tutorial area. Controls are janky as hell, presentation is kinda bad and has all kinds of technical issues...but I guess I'm not saying anything new there. :p I'm starting to get a feel on the combat. I imagine everything gets a lot better later on.

Witcher 2 looks like such an insane improvement over the first game it's pretty ridiculous.

Yea, it doesn't disappoint if you stick with it.


bloodydrake said:
anyone know how to customize controls so right click is walk forward?
I'm enjoying the game overall but mother of god i hate games that force an attack to right mouse button.

Every game I've played since wolf3d i've used right mouse to move forward and left to attack.

Secondary attacks and stuff always assigned to middle or mouse button 4/5.

Besides that game is fun tho i find Geralt to be the most boringly bland protagonist ever when it comes to voice work.

wasd + OTS > *

sorry, no suggestions for you though.
 

Asparagus

Member
Those Witcher 2 screenshots made me finally start the game. Enjoying it so far, playing with Polish audio. Just got into the village in chapter one with the hounds so not too far yet.
 

bloodydrake

Cool Smoke Luke
Minsc said:
wasd + OTS > *

sorry, no suggestions for you though.

I am using OTS but i'm just use to using w for jump and rightclick for walk forward. just messes me up due to muscle memory when i start shooting spells off by mistake when i intend to walkforward.
 

elseanio

Member
Couple hours into it. The camera/controls seem a bit awkward. I like whatever view F2 is, but I get in situations where I need to look up and it isn't possible. Also, Middle Mouse to walk* is annoying. I think I'd be fine if A/D were turn, rather than strafe.

Definitely gonna stick with it, though.

*To clarify, I walk forward with W and use the middle-button to turn left and right with the mouse
 

poisonelf

Member
So, I think this is a more appropriate thread for my woes with this game. I'm re-posting what I just posted in a Steam thread, in the hope that someone can identify the issue and offer some help:

poisonelf said:
I have bought this game twice. The first time I got the Collector's edition from normal retail, but by they time the EE was released I had lost my CD key. So I bought again from Steam. The game crushed, that was a year ago.

I have a new PC now, so I re-download from Steam, re-install, and play for 2 days. Today I see a message "hey, Director's Cut DLC finished download, cool bro?". And now the game crashes each time I try to load a save. Thanks Steam ! I'm now trying to post on their forums but I'm not "activated" yet. I'm starting to believe truly higher powers do not want me to play this game.
 
poisonelf said:
So, I think this is a more appropriate thread for my woes with this game. I'm re-posting what I just posted in a Steam thread, in the hope that someone can identify the issue and offer some help:

Did you verify integrity of game cache?
 
poisonelf said:
No, and I admit to having no idea on how to do that... So far I only logged out and in again (steam), and rebooted my PC.

Go to you game library on Steam, right click on The Witcher entry and go Properties -> Local Files -> Verify Integrity of game Cache.

See if that fixes the problem.
 
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