Radovid did nothing wrong

[Resident of Carcosa]

Change my mind.

[Jeckenn]

He basically condemned anyone who used magic and burned them alive, I'd call that something wrong....

[nudle]

He is trying to kill all the witches including yen and triss so that is one thing wrong

[Deathraven13]

Originally posted by Jeckenn:

He basically condemned anyone who used magic and burned them alive, I'd call that something wrong....

Magic is bad, it's the guns of their era.

[♠ Radovid V. ♠]

There is a lot to be said about Radovid, truly. The whole genocide of nonhumans, pellars, mages and herbalists - that's the job of the Eternal Fire and witch hunters, Radovid just doesn't do anything about it because he couldn't care less. He is allied with them so that he could rely on their support in battle and seize control over Novigrad more easily. And it worked. He captured the whole city and gained almost unlimited financial support + the navy warships. Emhyr lack the financies and he knew he is about to loose if he doesn't do anything about it. So there goes the whole deadly plot and assassination point which is just a desperate last move from his side. Furthemore, his madness → yes, he lost it. He is surrounded by his own visions of revenge and punishment of his enemies and his goal : capture and torture Philipa and create Northern Emprire under his rule. He doesn't think rationally anymore, he brutally gets rid of any opposition and rivals, he even closes the Oxenfurt University because he got mad at them and doesn't realize it will greatly harm his kingdom. He suffers from paranoia and sees enemies everywhere. He explains his horrible moves and actions as "You do not see the context".
- There is really no progress coming out under his rule. He will send the whole North several centuries back and worsen its state even more.

[bobek90]

The problem surrounding the whole Radovid-Witch Hunters-Emhyr-nonhumans affair is not explicitly explained in W3. I mean, what Radovid is doing is not right (that's why only viable solution for "North" in the long term is Dijkstra), but it is not entirely black-white. Is gray. But appreciate this detail would have to pass the game to 100% (there is a mission where for example Nilfgardians kill prisoners of war), play preferably Witcher 2, and read the books.

The thing is, most powerful sorcerers, if they were doing in the Empire what they have done in the Northern Kingdoms, would be dead long ago. Because characters like Philippa Eilhart or Sheala of Tancarville were for years manipulating, betraying their kingdoms in their own interest, they were behind some murders (father of Radovid, king of Aedrin). Is that the players who don´t know the universe well or who don´t pay much attention, may think that all the sorcerers are like sweet-innocent Triss who help others, and that is not so. Simply the Northern Kingdoms were so weak, their central power was not like the Empire, and that is why they were not able to have their sorcerers in short leash as Nilfgaard has. The sorcerers in the North for years was a powerful caste that mainly sought their own interest, even kings had to have their opinion in mind, and that is why the hatred that they won is not entirely unjustified.

What happens with Radovis is that, despite having won the war against the invader who ALSO COMMIT CRIMES OF WAR (but for know that you have to read books, play W2, or pay attention in W3) his revenge starts to be counterproductive for the North, because it begins to burn innocent people who are not even real sorcerers (like the herbalists of the towns), and because it harms the foundations of a future development (burning of books, etc.). That is why the only long-term viable option for North is Dijsktra, for it, instead of seeking revenge, modernizes these kingdoms. But one thing is clear, regardless of which ending we have, the golden age of the sorcerers of the north ends, because both Nilfgaard and United North will not allow the existence of a state within the state that exclusively watches over their interests at the expense of others.

It must also be said that it is not that Radovid invented all this, rather he is being pragmatic, and wants to use the Church of Eternal Fire and the members of the powerful Order of the Flaming Rose (converted by Radovid into Witch Hunters) for his purposes, the defense of the North against Nilfgaard. In turn, Nilfgaard since the first war is using Scoia'tael (nonhuman rebels) as a fifth column, his forces within the Northern Kingdoms. These troops over the years have gained their fame with a cruelty without precedence. The same Vernon Roche was the member of a special unit of Temeria that fought against these terrorists. I don´t justify Radovid because again, those who are killed mostly are not Scoia'tael but innocent nonhuman citizens of Novigrad in this case, but I admit that he is being pragmatic in a perverse way, he wants to have the Novigrad population happy and motivated to see him, Radovid, as the legitimate king of the Novigrad and North. And he does it. Conquer all Novigrad, without losing even a soldier. Before something similar has done with Kaedwen, He don´t conquer Kaedwen, they simply joined him to look for greater good, defense against the invader from south.

[spectre199]

he is hunting all sorceresses/mages/witches and that is wrong period and I always in every single gameplay have geralt execute him with no questions asked

[chris.boney]

Originally posted by Deathraven13:

Originally posted by Jeckenn:

He basically condemned anyone who used magic and burned them alive, I'd call that something wrong....

Magic is bad, it's the guns of their era.

the only reason why guns dont exsist in this game is purely because the devs say so.
any ancient majik ppl or alchemists that have no knowledge of how to make force/chemical driven projectile weapons are doing something wrong.

/sarc

[♠ Radovid V. ♠]

An interesting fact : There is a theory about Radovid being Falkas succesor which might explain his madness and motives. Falka is from Redanian royal bloodline and her prophecy states:"An avenger will be born of my blood,' she cried. 'From my tainted Elder Blood will be born the avenger of the nations and of the world! He will avenge my torment! Death, death and vengeance to all of you and your kin!'
→ futher details : https://forums.cdprojektred.com/index.php?threads/is-radovid-v-actually-the-child-from-falkas-curse-theory.55266/

[Exarch_Alpha]

So boring, this was done already.

Just closing the university in Oxenfurt shows how reactionary he is. Add that prejudice to non-humans and you are left with a**hole.

[Voss]

It feels like Radovid(jesuits/vatican) and eternal flame is an historic representation och Christianity/Catholicism.
Im looking forward to snuff Radovid, havent come to that part yet.

[SievertChaser]

Where Radovid went off-kilter is when he allowed ideological zeal to drive his and his subordinates' actions, whereas Emhyr is utilitarian when it comes to sorcerers - let alone the bit players like alchemists.

Somehow, he canonically can still win the war, but it's in spite of his purges rather than thanks to them. And judging by juxtaposition with Dijkstra's reforms, he'd leave the North industrially behind the South as well.

Ideology, boys and girls, not even once!

Originally posted by chris.boney:

Originally posted by Deathraven13:

Magic is bad, it's the guns of their era.

the only reason why guns dont exsist in this game is purely because the devs say so.
any ancient majik ppl or alchemists that have no knowledge of how to make force/chemical driven projectile weapons are doing something wrong.

/sarc

Oh, false. There's a throwaway quest in the first game, apparently.

Someone invented gunpowder... then die very very VERY quickly, of magical causes.

[WojciechWojski]

Originally posted by Jeckenn:

He basically condemned anyone who used magic and burned them alive, I'd call that something wrong....

Majority of magic users are bad so...

[WojciechWojski]

From what I remember originaly Radovid wasn't supposed to be like this, in previous entries he was "harsh", cruel and allready hated mages but nowhere near to what we see in W3, he was even seen as competant and rightious ruler who was to restore justice and order in the lands, on the other hand Nilfgard was always seen as the ultimate bad guys who wanted to destroy, conquer and rape (probably because they were mainly based on Roman Empire and Nazi Germany), this was expecialy obvious in books where Nilfgardians were baisically nazis, but Reds decided to lighten up the Nilfgard a bit and make Redania(baisically representing Poland) darker just so that the choice wouldn't be obvious and the ratio wouldn't look like 90% for Redania.

[SievertChaser]

Originally posted by WojciechWojski:

From what I remember originaly Radovid wasn't supposed to be like this, in previous entries he was "harsh", cruel and allready hated mages but nowhere near to what we see in W3, he was even seen as competant and rightious ruler who was to restore justice and order in the lands, on the other hand Nilfgard was always seen as the ultimate bad guys who wanted to destroy, conquer and rape (probably because they were mainly based on Roman Empire and Nazi Germany), this was expecialy obvious in books where Nilfgardians were baisically nazis, but Reds decided to lighten up the Nilfgard a bit and make Redania(baisically representing Poland) darker just so that the choice wouldn't be obvious and the ratio wouldn't look like 90% for Redania.

It's actually implied that his mind has been crumbling and that it's off-screen character development rather an inconsistency.

[WojciechWojski]

Originally posted by dennis.danilov:

Originally posted by WojciechWojski:

From what I remember originaly Radovid wasn't supposed to be like this, in previous entries he was "harsh", cruel and allready hated mages but nowhere near to what we see in W3, he was even seen as competant and rightious ruler who was to restore justice and order in the lands, on the other hand Nilfgard was always seen as the ultimate bad guys who wanted to destroy, conquer and rape (probably because they were mainly based on Roman Empire and Nazi Germany), this was expecialy obvious in books where Nilfgardians were baisically nazis, but Reds decided to lighten up the Nilfgard a bit and make Redania(baisically representing Poland) darker just so that the choice wouldn't be obvious and the ratio wouldn't look like 90% for Redania.

It's actually implied that his mind has been crumbling and that it's off-screen character development rather an inconsistency.

That's a very coincidential and drastic off-screen character development, from an actual good candidat for king to guy who wants to burn everyone and talks to chess pawns. Same with Nilfgard, from nazis to almost forced right choice.