Do choices matter?

[Majima Gaming]

I already finished this game like 2 months ago. And I got the ending where ciri dies. So my question is do choices matter? Like do the characters behave differently depending on what choice u pick in the situation ur in. Cuz i was trying to be a nice geralt in my 1st time playing this. Now im gonna try to be cruel and evil geralt in my 2nd time playing this.

[Majima Gaming]

i see. And my ending was that geralt went back to find the last crone. Also does it change the story or no?

[v0]

in tw3 most choices dont matter at all it may take lots of pondering to make them but as soon as quest's over there's no later impact. which ending you get depends on like five specific choices you make and cruelty or benevolence wont factor into those at all. for 'best' ending it helps to think real hero here isnt G instead he has role of coach in tw3 story.

[FearlessJDK]

Thanks for asking this. I was wondering about it myself.

[v0]

Originally posted by BuzzardBee:

Even decisions regarding whether or not to kill certain monster can come back to bite Geralt later in during a quest where some monsters have gathered to hold him and other witchers accountable for their actions. If Geralt has spared some of their kind in the past, they will look kindly towards him. If not, they will be openly hostile.

by far this's exception and not norm in tw3 though :)

[deidian]

Originally posted by v0:

Originally posted by BuzzardBee:

Even decisions regarding whether or not to kill certain monster can come back to bite Geralt later in during a quest where some monsters have gathered to hold him and other witchers accountable for their actions. If Geralt has spared some of their kind in the past, they will look kindly towards him. If not, they will be openly hostile.

by far this's exception and not norm in tw3 though.

Not a exception. There is many instances in which your choices define the outcome...another thing is these outcomes being unimportant or of low importance(from witcher 3 world perspective or/and from player perspective),,,but hell, one doesn't expect to be changing the world in every decision he takes....

Enough influnce can already make Geralt in the world for being someone who lives according to a code that demands neutrality.

[v0]

what i miss mostly's all these changes're only in text (ok voices ;) or unexplorable future. kings may live or die etc but you dont get to experience what change they really brought. ending of tw2 otoh...

btw does ciri's fate factor into blood and wine or it's just ignored once you start it?

[deidian]

Originally posted by v0:

what i miss mostly's all these changes're only in text (ok voices ;) or unexplorable future. kings may live or die etc but you dont get to experience what change they really brought. ending of tw2 otoh...

btw does ciri's fate factor into blood and wine or it's just ignored once you start it?

Words can make the difference sometimes between starting a brawl in a random tabern with some thugs that ends with the owner of the tabern asking you to leave and not come again(despite you may think you did him a favor by killing the thugs). Another of these brawls ends with Geralt assasinating two locals then getting accussed and jailed for it.

Both brawls skippable if you stay on your toes.

As I said, there are many choices, but really only few of them are choices the world or you as player may regret xD.

[cald123]

I think the confusion here is where choices in the main quest impact the ending vs choices made in contracts and persons in distress only effect the specific area . White Orchird comes to mind as one where you do the quest to locate the brother . The effects of choosing the choice that makes the brother take in the Nilfgardian desterter that saved his brother is not immediatly apparent . The effect is noticed though if you go to a farnstead outside the main village . The Nilfgardian is in farmers clothes working the field with the brothers . Not all choices provide earth shattering change some times you pick up the change overhearing npc conversation . To answer your question choices do matter if you pay attention not all is earth shattering some changes are small and can be overlooked .

[Simple Man]

Originally posted by cald123:

White Orchird comes to mind as one where you do the quest to locate the brother . The effects of choosing the choice that makes the brother take in the Nilfgardian desterter that saved his brother is not immediatly apparent . The effect is noticed though if you go to a farnstead outside the main village . The Nilfgardian is in farmers clothes working the field with the brothers . Not all choices provide earth shattering change

Nor do they need to. And i was quite pleased when i passed by their house, and there was this guy with farmhand clothes leaning against a trunk, just snoring.

Its rather satisfying to see simple side "events" turn into something able to shape the world, changing your experience. Like that one, there are dozens of others, and non ceases to impress. Still in white orchard, theres the girl dying from a griffin attack. Small things, big impact. Or a dogs life, shame i couldn't somehow bring the dog to say, Gretka, the little girl at crows perch. Or even with me to Kaer Morhen, like you do Uma. Would have used him to pester Yen.

On actual sidequests, you have keira that can live or die, pretty gruesomely at that, or little sarah who can, well, live or live, but in rather different circumstances and with an interesting new friend, and you only find out about it several hours later into the playthrough.

Non of it needs to somehow change games end to be good (how would it, anyway?), nor does it have any less value from not doing so. Almost all choices matter, and can leave you locked out of dialogue options, turn certain folk hostile to you, plenty change can differentiate one TW3 experience from the next. So ya, choices matter.

[Simple Man]

Jorund, not the inn keeper. At least for Arinbjorn, Jorunds incident can be avoided even if contract has been started by talking to him, finished, just not delivered. First part of the altercation with the two locals will also happen.

If before going to Jorund for the reward, kings gambit has been done, Lugos sons die to the berzerkers at the feast, and naturally no longer show up a second time at the inn to bother anyone. A couple quests then wont show up because you don't end up in prison in the first place. Phantom contract can be completed regardless, and many drinks will be had with Jorund, son of Sigvald.

[deidian]

Originally posted by BuzzardBee:

Originally posted by Damián:

Words can make the difference sometimes between starting a brawl in a random tabern with some thugs that ends with the owner of the tabern asking you to leave and not come again(despite you may think you did him a favor by killing the thugs). Another of these brawls ends with Geralt assasinating two locals then getting accussed and jailed for it.

Both brawls skippable if you stay on your toes.

As I said, there are many choices, but really only few of them are choices the world or you as player may regret xD.

Both brawls are skippable? Not from what I recall. If you mean the White Orchard tavern and later the one in Arinbjorn, neither can be skipped. The second perhaps if you miss the contract completely but that will not trigger the altercation and murder of the innkeeper, nor your fight in which you kill the two miscreants who killed him. It simply does not happen but neither does The Phantom of Eldberg contract nor the following quests:

Stranger in a Strange Land
Cave of Dreams
An Unpaid Debt

Once you trigger the quest, you cannot avoid the fight. Same goes for White Orchard. Once you've killed the griffin and returned to the tavern to speak with Vesemir, it triggers a cutscene that begins the brawl. It cannot be skipped.

In 1st case I'm not talking about White Orchard brawl, that one is unavoidable. I'm talking about the one that can happen the 1st time you go to a inn in Velen, part of the main quest. You''ll meet some Bloody Baron thugs there that will mock Geralt, options are: A)Mock back them. B)Intimidating them by making clear you are a witcher. C)Try befriending them.

Can end in peace or in a killing spree in which you kill them'all plus 4 or 5 more as bonus that are outside the inn and they heard the brawl, so they'll attack you as soon as you go out. Also the inn owner will tell you to go out and don't come again so there's no more troubles with Baron's thugs.

The 2nd one, well, you have the option to brawl or calm down the guy that gave you the contract. If you calm down the guy maybe(did not tested still) you can avoid the fight.

[v0]

interesting. thanks BB that actually passes my threshold for substantial effect. btw does tomira lynching still happen if radovid's dead?

[georgesett]

what a prick, not everyone has finished the game. Thanks for the spoiler you ♥♥♥♥

[xiievilz]

you ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ bastard cencor that ♥♥♥♥ you stupid i didnt finish the game bastard

[v0]

Originally posted by BuzzardBee:

Originally posted by v0:

interesting. thanks BB that actually passes my threshold for substantial effect. btw does tomira lynching still happen if radovid's dead?

No, it does not. If Radovid is dead and Nilfgaard wins the war, non-humans and other mage users are never targeted. If Dijkstra wins the war and rules, same thing. Tomira is only targeted if Radovid wins.

now THAT's what i'd call well done consequence. comes much later and with impact on you by altered world and chance to react to it. if my rad'd been left alive i wouldve immediately thought i shouldve killed that bastard. extra bonus to devs if they offer just walking away as option at that scene (ofc you wouldnt except maybe op's evil playthrough ;) kinda bummer though.. wanted to check it out but dont've any playthrough with him alive :/