Is the first Witcher game based on the stories in the book, The Last Wish: Introducing the Witcher?

[Something_Incredible]

Hi all, I need to know what the story of the first Witcher game is based off of. So, Is it based on The Last Wish, based on a diffrent Witcher book, or a totally new story created just for the game?

[ultraglorious]

The first game picks up sometime after the final book, The Lady of the Lake. Assassins of Kings is a direct sequel to the first game.

[Something_Incredible]

So, will the first game spoil the book series for me? I can't read Polish (I believe the books were orignally written in Polish, right?), and currently, only 2 Witcher books (The Last Wish, which I've read, and Blood of Elves, which I haven't read) have been translated into English, and an upcoming third book, The Time of Contempt, is up for pre-order. I really don't want to wait for all the books to be translated before playing the games, so, will the game spoil the books?

[amerika*]

I've read both of them and they didn't for me. A lot of what happens in the books can and does inspire events in the games but they are not directly related. The author doesn't even acknowledge that The Witcher game series so CD PR can do pretty much anything with the story and he won't care. IMO that's a good thing because CD PR has done an excellent job with the story where the author, IMO, has not. It may be just the translation but I found the first two books translated to English to be rather poor.

[Something_Incredible]

Originally posted by Amerika:

I've read both of them and they didn't for me. A lot of what happens in the books can and does inspire events in the games but they are not directly related. The author doesn't even acknowledge that The Witcher game series so CD PR can do pretty much anything with the story and he won't care. IMO that's a good thing because CD PR has done an excellent job with the story where the author, IMO, has not. It may be just the translation but I found the first two books translated to English to be rather poor.

So, the games won't spoil the books for me! Thanks! Also, I read the first book, The Last Wish, and found it to be really good. There were some spelling and puncuation errors here and there, likely caused by translation, but overall, the characters, the setting, and the stories were really good!

[Sharkey]

Just to say I have heard the 3rd book in the saga/4th book is coming out late this year or early next year in English
I can't confirm it sadly but it is something to note

[Something_Incredible]

Originally posted by Sharkey:

Just to say I have heard the 3rd book in the saga/4th book is coming out late this year or early next year in English
I can't confirm it sadly but it is something to note

Wait, that Time of Contempt book is coming out LATE this year? You could've pre-ordered that book in January! (I think)

[ultraglorious]

The games spoil the books, just not overtly. In Witcher 1 there is a random character who actually summarizes the entire series, although it is entirely possible you won't talk to him and if you do you won't necessarily ask him about it. Potential spoiler (?): Also, that the games take place at all somewhat retcons the series' ending. It wasn't really supposed to continue. When the amnesia is explained in Witcher 2 it reveals how they worked around it. End potential spoiler. The unreleased novels are available online as fan translations. There are 5 main series novels, and two books of short stories about Geralt (Last Wish being one of them).

[Something_Incredible]

Originally posted by ultraglorious:

The games spoil the books, just not overtly. In Witcher 1 there is a random character who actually summarizes the entire series, although it is entirely possible you won't talk to him and if you do you won't necessarily ask him about it. Potential spoiler (?): Also, that the games take place at all somewhat retcons the series' ending. It wasn't really supposed to continue. When the amnesia is explained in Witcher 2 it reveals how they worked around it. End potential spoiler. The unreleased novels are available online as fan translations. There are 5 main series novels, and two books of short stories about Geralt (Last Wish being one of them).

Where are these "fan translations"? Where could I find them? Also, are they good translations? I don't want to have to drag myself through sub-par translations. Also, what's the name of this guy who summarizes the whole series in Witcher 1, so if I do end up playing the games before I finish reading the books, the books won't be spoiled for me.

[Old Atrocity]

The games are all set after the Witcher novels.

The first Witcher game begins with Geralt having no memory of his past (amnesia).

This was very clever move by the developers, as it allowed them to create a game which didn't require knowledge of the novels.
Geralt is essentially in the same position as the player (who hasn't read the books).

During the games, Geralt has numerous opportunities to learn about his past, and this allows the writers to slip in little bits of backstory, and details, which remind fans of the novels about Geralt's earlier adventures.

So, it doesn't matter if you haven't read the books, as the games work perfectly on their own merit.

Myself, I have only read 'The Last Wish', the first collection of short stories.
Soon, I'll read 'Blood of Elves', the first novel.

I really hope they will all be translated eventually.

[ultraglorious]

The man who spoils the series is the innkeeper in the village by the lake. I think it's chapter 4. Don't ask him to tell you a story, that's what gets him going. The fan translations are alright (found here http://en.thewitcher.com/forum/index.php?/topic/20967-our-community-fan-translations/). There were some issues with them, but it doesn't really bother me. The books are taking so long to be translated that I couldn't wait. Times of Contempt has already been delayed once. I kind of wish I had read the books first, but it didn't make me not want to read them. I like being able to recognize all the characters from the books.

[Something_Incredible]

Originally posted by ultraglorious:

The man who spoils the series is the innkeeper in the village by the lake. I think it's chapter 4. Don't ask him to tell you a story, that's what gets him going. The fan translations are alright (found here http://en.thewitcher.com/forum/index.php?/topic/20967-our-community-fan-translations/). There were some issues with them, but it doesn't really bother me. The books are taking so long to be translated that I couldn't wait. Times of Contempt has already been delayed once. I kind of wish I had read the books first, but it didn't make me not want to read them. I like being able to recognize all the characters from the books.

Thanks man!