Shani or Triss...is there a better way?

[Jorgen616]

Oh this is fun. Give Alvin to Triss and Shani hates Geralt forever. Or give Alvin to Shani, where they will eventually break up amicably and Geralt falls into Triss's arms by the next game. So Triss seems like the "truest" option but I like Shani and don't want to see her shut out Geralt forever.

With that in mind, I've been probing around Steam and Nexus looking for a mod or something that will make Shani not hate on Geralt so much if I pick Triss. So I'm asking the community: does anyone know of a solution that meets my request?

[Drag]

I think its best if Alvin stays with Triss cause she can help Alvin with controlling his powers. Shani cant do crap beside taking care of Alvin since she is only a nurse. Dont worry about Shani hating on Geralt, as you will see later in the game.

[Tranquil Bardbarian]

Go with Triss. From a game story perspective she really can theoretically help Alvin control his powers. Shani is in the novel "Blood of Elves" which is the second novel in the series. She isn't in Witcher 2, and I have no idea about Witcher 3. Triss is in Witcher 2, and has more to do with the overarcing story of Geralt, Yeniffer, and Ciri. She will be in Witcher 3.

That said, there isn't any real ramification for sleeping with Shani, then sleeping with Triss, then Picking Shani, then ending up with Triss at the start of Witcher 2. All it changes in 2 is your journal entries about who your love interest was.

Part of the compaints with Witcher 1 was Geralts excessive sleeping around so it was toned down in 2.

[Jorgen616]

Originally posted by Testarossa:

Dont worry about Shani hating on Geralt, as you will see later in the game.

So things aren't as bad as I thought? That's a good to hear. I was under the impression from reading the wiki that Geralt never speaks to Shani again but if they patch things up later in the game then giving Alvin to Triss does sound like the better option.

[Drag]

Originally posted by Jorgen616:

Originally posted by Testarossa:

Dont worry about Shani hating on Geralt, as you will see later in the game.

So things aren't as bad as I thought? That's a good to hear. I was under the impression from reading the wiki that Geralt never speaks to Shani again but if they patch things up later in the game then giving Alvin to Triss does sound like the better option.

yep although i should warn you wont see shani until towards the end of the game

[Sophie]

Triss. Go with Triss.

[Ragnarök]

You can give a kid a dimeritium amulet but that don't make you a good mother. Shani is the better option imo. Unbeknownst to Geralt, Triss will fail at controlling Alvin's powers anyway. The argument in favor of Triss is basically akin to saying a child with anger issues should live with a psychologist because she's more qualified, when in fact, weekly visits would suffice.

Always thought Shani breaking up with Geralt in Witcher 2 was pretty weak. The games aren't canon, so they should have killed off the character via Catriona Plague or something. At least that would have fit the character and wouldn't yank control away from the player. Breaking up with Shani wasn't something my Geralt would have done.

[petaotec]

Triss. I prefer Triss.

[Tranquil Bardbarian]

Originally posted by Ragnarök:

You can give a kid a dimeritium amulet but that don't make you a good mother. Shani is the better option imo. Unbeknownst to Geralt, Triss will fail at controlling Alvin's powers anyway. The argument in favor of Triss is basically akin to saying a child with anger issues should live with a psychologist because she's more qualified, when in fact, weekly visits would suffice.

Always thought Shani breaking up with Geralt in Witcher 2 was pretty weak. The games aren't canon, so they should have killed off the character via Catriona Plague or something. At least that would have fit the character and wouldn't yank control away from the player. Breaking up with Shani wasn't something my Geralt would have done.

Well most of this is unbeknownst to the character at the time of the choice. What Geralt is told is that sources are dangerous to themselves due to magical instablity and they can attract things like wraiths. In my line of thinking this puts Shani out of her depth.

Triss certainly isn't the best mother choice, being a sorceress neck deep in the political game.

Ultimately it is a trivial choice that has more to do with your love interest than Alvin. Events with Alvin play out the same regardless, Shani still is not present in Witcher 2, and you are still forced into a relationship with Triss at the start of that game regardless of which you choose.

I agree that the lack of true player agency was the real problem. I wanted little to do with either on the hope that if Geralt is back then maybe Yennifer is to...but not much of an option at that point, amnesia and Tiss' mechinations and all.