Why does this game seem to drag so much?

[adams_apple]

I already finished the main quest line and I'm trying to finish the DLC, but it just... doesn't end. That should be a good thing but every quest I find is such a slog. I don't know if it's because they're so damn long and even a simple errand like delivering a letter is actually a multi stop cross country run-around where I have to fight several monsters. That's what contracts are for, why do they have to be in every side quest?

The only other thing I can think of that makes it boring is the dialogue. In Skyrim whenever you talk to someone, the game just focuses on that person while the world goes on until you either decide to stop talking or the conversation gets interrupted. In The Witcher 3, every dialogue starts a meandering cutscene that can potentially last several minutes and span many in-game days unprompted. Or it'll just suddenly teleport me to another part of the map when I was about to do something else. A few times it actually failed some of my quests without warning me first. You can't even easily skip the dialogue because you have to keep pressing X over and over again until you finally get to move or fight something.

I don't know why I was expecting this game to be another Skyrim, it clearly isn't. Skyrim isn't even that immersive lore-wise, but just the fact you have so much control and many ways to progress is probably what keeps people coming back to it. That, and the mods of course. But in this game I don't even know what I'm playing for. More gear? You have to be some stupid X level to use it anyway. New quests? Some quests or contracts get thrown on your lap and you can't even complete them until you're level 29 which is pretty much the end of the game anyway. Achievements? I don't even know how to do some of these, and others are missable. Story? Honestly there's so much of it that I just don't care anymore. A lot of it seems to reference past games. Combat? It's more frustrating than fun usually, and you get too few bombs and the crossbow only does like 2 damage and takes 10 seconds to reload. I dunno, I guess I just don't get this game.

[Alex_x86]

Originally posted by adams_apple:

I don't know why I was expecting this game to be another Skyrim

Well, this is your problem: Witcher 3 was never even promoted as anything like it. Unlike Skyrim Witcher games are totally storydriven. If you don't care about story, dialogues, contracts, etc. it is not the game for you and it's OK.

[Vyrtualis]

Originally posted by adams_apple:

Story? Honestly there's so much of it that I just don't care anymore. A lot of it seems to reference past games.

Yeah, no. This isn't the game for you bud. TW3 doesn't reference the first two games too much (Geralt has amnesia for most of the first two games, and so he's not fully the Geralt of the books until TW3). The Witcher game devs made TW3 out of a deep love and passion for the books, so there are LOTS of references to the books in the game. So if you don't appreciate a good story, then this isn't the game for you.

[NarkoTri1er]

Originally posted by adams_apple:

I already finished the main quest line and I'm trying to finish the DLC, but it just... doesn't end. That should be a good thing but every quest I find is such a slog. I don't know if it's because they're so damn long and even a simple errand like delivering a letter is actually a multi stop cross country run-around where I have to fight several monsters. That's what contracts are for, why do they have to be in every side quest?

The only other thing I can think of that makes it boring is the dialogue. In Skyrim whenever you talk to someone, the game just focuses on that person while the world goes on until you either decide to stop talking or the conversation gets interrupted. In The Witcher 3, every dialogue starts a meandering cutscene that can potentially last several minutes and span many in-game days unprompted. Or it'll just suddenly teleport me to another part of the map when I was about to do something else. A few times it actually failed some of my quests without warning me first. You can't even easily skip the dialogue because you have to keep pressing X over and over again until you finally get to move or fight something.

I don't know why I was expecting this game to be another Skyrim, it clearly isn't. Skyrim isn't even that immersive lore-wise, but just the fact you have so much control and many ways to progress is probably what keeps people coming back to it. That, and the mods of course. But in this game I don't even know what I'm playing for. More gear? You have to be some stupid X level to use it anyway. New quests? Some quests or contracts get thrown on your lap and you can't even complete them until you're level 29 which is pretty much the end of the game anyway. Achievements? I don't even know how to do some of these, and others are missable. Story? Honestly there's so much of it that I just don't care anymore. A lot of it seems to reference past games. Combat? It's more frustrating than fun usually, and you get too few bombs and the crossbow only does like 2 damage and takes 10 seconds to reload. I dunno, I guess I just don't get this game.

I have a solution for you:
Stop comparing this game to Skyrim, those are two completely different games.

[adams_apple]

Originally posted by Vyrtual:

Originally posted by adams_apple:

Story? Honestly there's so much of it that I just don't care anymore. A lot of it seems to reference past games.

Yeah, no. This isn't the game for you bud. TW3 doesn't reference the first two games too much (Geralt has amnesia for most of the first two games, and so he's not fully the Geralt of the books until TW3). The Witcher game devs made TW3 out of a deep love and passion for the books, so there are LOTS of references to the books in the game. So if you don't appreciate a good story, then this isn't the game for you.

That's another thing about the story, I can't even tell what kind of character he's supposed to be. Supposedly his mutation prevents him from showing emotions, except that's not even true... he gets emotional about his friends plenty of times, and clearly he has feelings for at least Yen or Triss. It sounds like an excuse for him not to have any personality. But also I'm not sure what his moral code is exactly. Sometimes he gets upset that he's killing humans in a job or a contract, but he kills people all the time and has no problem with it. Probably convenient enough that everyone just aggros on him with no conceivable reason. Then he says he doesn't work for free, except he does pro bono work all the time. I can understand him helping children, but sometimes a rando at a bar will ask him for a favor and he'll do it. I mean I guess technically you the player can refuse, but generally "not playing" certain game content doesn't seem to lend itself to a strong gaming narrative.

[juniorcyberghost]

I was facing the same issue till....... I switched off the minimap and most of my hud. I even switched off enemy level displays and health bars. Also download and install hd reworked textures mod and voila... Welcome to a brand new realistic and beautiful world. Also another tip. Explore the world first before completing story missions. Youl find more than sufficient gear and items to help you progress without a hitch.

Adding to what has already been said, Witcher 3 isnt Skyrim. Skyrim is sandbox RPG while Witcher 3 is story-driven rpg. What this means is while one essentially lets you create your own story albeit with little to no changes on npc behavior towards you, the other makes you follow a narrative, while at the same time making the world respond to your actions. While it is easy to think witcher 3 is just an updated skyrim because both allow you to choose dialogue options and actions, witcher 3 constricts your options to follow a mostly fixed narrative. At the same time, because the probabilities of actions in witcher 3 are humanly calculable compared to skyrim, npcs can be properly programmed to be responsive to the player and behave differently based on what all the player has accomplished.

In short instead of focussing on completion, focus on the journey. Focus on the conversations, on the trees rustling, npcs chattering, and stories being told through the quest dialogues.

Let me know if it helped...

[adams_apple]

Originally posted by juniorcyberghost:

I was facing the same issue till....... I switched off the minimap and most of my hud. I even switched off enemy level displays and health bars. Also download and install hd reworked textures mod and voila... Welcome to a brand new realistic and beautiful world. Also another tip. Explore the world first before completing story missions. Youl find more than sufficient gear and items to help you progress without a hitch.

Adding to what has already been said, Witcher 3 isnt Skyrim. Skyrim is sandbox RPG while Witcher 3 is story-driven rpg. What this means is while one essentially lets you create your own story albeit with little to no changes on npc behavior towards you, the other makes you follow a narrative, while at the same time making the world respond to your actions. While it is easy to think witcher 3 is just an updated skyrim because both allow you to choose dialogue options and actions, witcher 3 constricts your options to follow a mostly fixed narrative. At the same time, because the probabilities of actions in witcher 3 are humanly calculable compared to skyrim, npcs can be properly programmed to be responsive to the player and behave differently based on what all the player has accomplished.

In short instead of focussing on completion, focus on the journey. Focus on the conversations, on the trees rustling, npcs chattering, and stories being told through the quest dialogues.

Let me know if it helped...

You know, that's actually a really good point. I rely on mini maps so much I keep forgetting how much I hate them. I didn't realize there was an option to turn it off but now I'm glad I did. What's the point of giving the player a big detailed world to explore when there's a little GPS right there telling them exactly where the treasure is, where the monsters are, where the next objective is, and even which path you're "supposed" to follow. Though I wish there was at least still a compass so I can tell which way I'm going and what's nearby, but the map works well enough and the sun helps me tell east from west provided I can actually see it. From now on, no more being a slave to the mini map. It's like when I stopped fast traveling in Skyrim almost completely, it made my second playthrough feel like a totally new game. Didn't realize at the time I had no idea where I was going.

I totally get where The Witcher 3 is going with its narrative but I just find the cutscenes to be too disruptive especially when I'm not expecting a long segue into some other area I'm not ready to go to. But really though, in every game the real story is the gameplay. It's what you the player experience, not what the writers are telling you. That's what makes a game unique, and it's important that developers not lose sight of the experience they're trying to deliver with gimmicks and distractions. The more agency the player has, the more immersed they are.

[dantès]

Originally posted by juniorcyberghost:

I switched off the minimap and most of my hud.

This is something every player needs to do.. being fixated on the magic gps is criminal.

"It's like a finger pointing away to the moon. Don't concentrate on the finger or you will miss all that heavenly glory."

-Bruce Lee

[rui.silva.incp]

Originally posted by adams_apple:

Originally posted by Vyrtual:

Yeah, no. This isn't the game for you bud. TW3 doesn't reference the first two games too much (Geralt has amnesia for most of the first two games, and so he's not fully the Geralt of the books until TW3). The Witcher game devs made TW3 out of a deep love and passion for the books, so there are LOTS of references to the books in the game. So if you don't appreciate a good story, then this isn't the game for you.

That's another thing about the story, I can't even tell what kind of character he's supposed to be. Supposedly his mutation prevents him from showing emotions, except that's not even true... he gets emotional about his friends plenty of times, and clearly he has feelings for at least Yen or Triss. It sounds like an excuse for him not to have any personality. But also I'm not sure what his moral code is exactly. Sometimes he gets upset that he's killing humans in a job or a contract, but he kills people all the time and has no problem with it. Probably convenient enough that everyone just aggros on him with no conceivable reason. Then he says he doesn't work for free, except he does pro bono work all the time. I can understand him helping children, but sometimes a rando at a bar will ask him for a favor and he'll do it. I mean I guess technically you the player can refuse, but generally "not playing" certain game content doesn't seem to lend itself to a strong gaming narrative.

To help you out a bit with this, the story has nuance. Its not straightforward.

Example:
A lot of people say Witchers have no emotions but you can clearly experience it to be a lie. What is the answer? Is it inconsistent? NO!!! Its just that people are scared of Witchers and have developed strong prejudice against them. People do not understand Witchers. So they make all kinds of stuff about them. And that´s what you keep listening about. But you can experience live with Geralt that what people say is not always true. Witchers do have emotions!
If you want to compare this somewhat with real life. You can consider like a SWAT team or Marines or Delta Force (if you know who they are). These are very bad ass real people. If you see them in action, you will think they are ruthless and very cold blooded. Because on their job, they need to be bloody tough. Its their job and they are trained to be that special kind of humans who can go in places everyone else would be scared to death. So, for most normal people, they look like aliens. But they are still humans. And they will suffer PTSD, they will have families and family issues. You just do not get to see that on the news. On the news you just see that they went somewhere, killed the enemies and did their job.

As for Geralt doing stuff for free or not.
Like a lot of things in life, its not set in stone.
You need to realize Geralt does earn is life as a Witcher. So he will need to ask for money in order to buy food and stuff he needs. So....yes....he will need to often say that "he does not work for free".
Now, does that translate into Geralt is incapable of helping someone just because he feels like? NO!!!! He can absolutely help someone just because. Within the game its going to be your choice. But it makes sense that he may sometimes be willing to help just because he is a nice guy.
And yes, Geralt is indeed a nice guy. Now....obviously, even nice guys need to have food and shelter. So he has to work and he needs to earn some money. He is not church charity or whatever ;)
You can also find examples of this in real life. Quite sure you may find someone who is a professional and who may do works for free now and then. It happens! I am actually one of those ;) I still need to pay my bills but I sometimes do volunteer work. And how do I pick that volunteer work? Its a bit random.....depends what I come around and when.

Maybe you are expecting a very simplistic game.

But this world and these characters are much more grounded. They are complex, not unlike real life.

[=d1ma=]

Before I played The Witcher games I read the books. (I still think (imho) that they are far better then the show). As it was said before this game is based on a story that should be completed - you follow the story. In Skyrim which is a total different game - you create your story. In this terms, ofc there is a lot to do and replaying in Skyrim. I think you should try to consider The Witcher as a story to be read\seen.

[adams_apple]

Originally posted by rui.silva.incp:

Originally posted by adams_apple:

That's another thing about the story, I can't even tell what kind of character he's supposed to be. Supposedly his mutation prevents him from showing emotions, except that's not even true... he gets emotional about his friends plenty of times, and clearly he has feelings for at least Yen or Triss. It sounds like an excuse for him not to have any personality. But also I'm not sure what his moral code is exactly. Sometimes he gets upset that he's killing humans in a job or a contract, but he kills people all the time and has no problem with it. Probably convenient enough that everyone just aggros on him with no conceivable reason. Then he says he doesn't work for free, except he does pro bono work all the time. I can understand him helping children, but sometimes a rando at a bar will ask him for a favor and he'll do it. I mean I guess technically you the player can refuse, but generally "not playing" certain game content doesn't seem to lend itself to a strong gaming narrative.

To help you out a bit with this, the story has nuance. Its not straightforward.

Example:
A lot of people say Witchers have no emotions but you can clearly experience it to be a lie. What is the answer? Is it inconsistent? NO!!! Its just that people are scared of Witchers and have developed strong prejudice against them. People do not understand Witchers. So they make all kinds of stuff about them. And that´s what you keep listening about. But you can experience live with Geralt that what people say is not always true. Witchers do have emotions!
If you want to compare this somewhat with real life. You can consider like a SWAT team or Marines or Delta Force (if you know who they are). These are very bad ass real people. If you see them in action, you will think they are ruthless and very cold blooded. Because on their job, they need to be bloody tough. Its their job and they are trained to be that special kind of humans who can go in places everyone else would be scared to death. So, for most normal people, they look like aliens. But they are still humans. And they will suffer PTSD, they will have families and family issues. You just do not get to see that on the news. On the news you just see that they went somewhere, killed the enemies and did their job.

As for Geralt doing stuff for free or not.
Like a lot of things in life, its not set in stone.
You need to realize Geralt does earn is life as a Witcher. So he will need to ask for money in order to buy food and stuff he needs. So....yes....he will need to often say that "he does not work for free".
Now, does that translate into Geralt is incapable of helping someone just because he feels like? NO!!!! He can absolutely help someone just because. Within the game its going to be your choice. But it makes sense that he may sometimes be willing to help just because he is a nice guy.
And yes, Geralt is indeed a nice guy. Now....obviously, even nice guys need to have food and shelter. So he has to work and he needs to earn some money. He is not church charity or whatever ;)
You can also find examples of this in real life. Quite sure you may find someone who is a professional and who may do works for free now and then. It happens! I am actually one of those ;) I still need to pay my bills but I sometimes do volunteer work. And how do I pick that volunteer work? Its a bit random.....depends what I come around and when.

Maybe you are expecting a very simplistic game.

But this world and these characters are much more grounded. They are complex, not unlike real life.

You say it's not a simplistic game but you give simplistic solutions with no real basis on anything at all. Not to mention you're the second person to get it completely wrong assuming I just don't like a "good story." Are all of you this condescending?

[Valden21]

Originally posted by adams_apple:

Originally posted by Vyrtual:

Yeah, no. This isn't the game for you bud. TW3 doesn't reference the first two games too much (Geralt has amnesia for most of the first two games, and so he's not fully the Geralt of the books until TW3). The Witcher game devs made TW3 out of a deep love and passion for the books, so there are LOTS of references to the books in the game. So if you don't appreciate a good story, then this isn't the game for you.

That's another thing about the story, I can't even tell what kind of character he's supposed to be. Supposedly his mutation prevents him from showing emotions, except that's not even true... he gets emotional about his friends plenty of times, and clearly he has feelings for at least Yen or Triss. It sounds like an excuse for him not to have any personality. But also I'm not sure what his moral code is exactly. Sometimes he gets upset that he's killing humans in a job or a contract, but he kills people all the time and has no problem with it. Probably convenient enough that everyone just aggros on him with no conceivable reason. Then he says he doesn't work for free, except he does pro bono work all the time. I can understand him helping children, but sometimes a rando at a bar will ask him for a favor and he'll do it. I mean I guess technically you the player can refuse, but generally "not playing" certain game content doesn't seem to lend itself to a strong gaming narrative.

The thing about Geralt's weird grasp of emotions is common among Witchers. They do actually feel emotions, but it's just that they have really good control over how and when they display them. Geralt opens up around his friends and loved ones because around them, he can. There's a lot of hared towards witchers because of what they are, so they have to deal with a lot bigotry shoveled their way. They ask for payment because doing so is part of the Witcher Code, as they ARE a specialized kind of mercenary, but there's a lot of give in the Code. So Geralt will sometimes refuse payment if it means things will get easier for him in that community.

As for the thing about killing, in general, there seems to be five specific circumstances under which he's willing to kill: fighting bandits/slavers, self-defense/defense of the innocent, punishing corrupt priests or corrupt nobles, when someone has threatened a friend or a loved one, or when someone's actions will lead to a bunch of people dying and they've ignored his warnings. Pretty much every time he kills in the game, and he's not fighting a monster, it falls under those circumstances. Every other time, he's either holding back, or he's been framed (the "Butcher of Blaaviken" incident is a good example of that).

[=GG= Mr Moe]

Personally I am glad it wasn't another Skyrim, I wouldn't want it to be. Nothing wrong with Skyrim, I played it, but once I started playing The Witcher 3, I never went back.

[worm_master]

Originally posted by adams_apple:

Originally posted by Vyrtual:

Yeah, no. This isn't the game for you bud. TW3 doesn't reference the first two games too much (Geralt has amnesia for most of the first two games, and so he's not fully the Geralt of the books until TW3). The Witcher game devs made TW3 out of a deep love and passion for the books, so there are LOTS of references to the books in the game. So if you don't appreciate a good story, then this isn't the game for you.

That's another thing about the story, I can't even tell what kind of character he's supposed to be. Supposedly his mutation prevents him from showing emotions, except that's not even true... he gets emotional about his friends plenty of times, and clearly he has feelings for at least Yen or Triss. It sounds like an excuse for him not to have any personality. But also I'm not sure what his moral code is exactly. Sometimes he gets upset that he's killing humans in a job or a contract, but he kills people all the time and has no problem with it. Probably convenient enough that everyone just aggros on him with no conceivable reason. Then he says he doesn't work for free, except he does pro bono work all the time. I can understand him helping children, but sometimes a rando at a bar will ask him for a favor and he'll do it. I mean I guess technically you the player can refuse, but generally "not playing" certain game content doesn't seem to lend itself to a strong gaming narrative.

Geralt's not a Vulcan, taught from babyhood to suppress their emotions, Geralt grew UP with emotions, all the trial of the grass's do's is turn him "tranquil". He can still express emotions, because he remembers them, he just cant feel them.

[CrimsonJD]

Originally posted by adams_apple:

That's another thing about the story, I can't even tell what kind of character he's supposed to be. Supposedly his mutation prevents him from showing emotions, except that's not even true... he gets emotional about his friends plenty of times, and clearly he has feelings for at least Yen or Triss. It sounds like an excuse for him not to have any personality. But also I'm not sure what his moral code is exactly. Sometimes he gets upset that he's killing humans in a job or a contract, but he kills people all the time and has no problem with it. Probably convenient enough that everyone just aggros on him with no conceivable reason. Then he says he doesn't work for free, except he does pro bono work all the time. I can understand him helping children, but sometimes a rando at a bar will ask him for a favor and he'll do it. I mean I guess technically you the player can refuse, but generally "not playing" certain game content doesn't seem to lend itself to a strong gaming narrative.

Haha, free? Not hardly.

"Since you're a poor mom with 8 starving kids, I won't charge you the 10 coins you promised me", then proceeds to loot them blind, including the rotting flesh and ash they for some reason keep in their cupboard. Maybe its the bones of their dead dad? Too bad, its going in the saddle bags.

Also, if you read the notes in the quest journal... I've started to kind of see the whole game as a series of short stories told by Geralt's friend after the fact. It's not always consistent but it's an unreliable narrator. Even every short sidequest or mission has a narrative that explains the story of what happened, along with some commentary.

[rui.silva.incp]

Originally posted by CrimsonJD:

Originally posted by adams_apple:

That's another thing about the story, I can't even tell what kind of character he's supposed to be. Supposedly his mutation prevents him from showing emotions, except that's not even true... he gets emotional about his friends plenty of times, and clearly he has feelings for at least Yen or Triss. It sounds like an excuse for him not to have any personality. But also I'm not sure what his moral code is exactly. Sometimes he gets upset that he's killing humans in a job or a contract, but he kills people all the time and has no problem with it. Probably convenient enough that everyone just aggros on him with no conceivable reason. Then he says he doesn't work for free, except he does pro bono work all the time. I can understand him helping children, but sometimes a rando at a bar will ask him for a favor and he'll do it. I mean I guess technically you the player can refuse, but generally "not playing" certain game content doesn't seem to lend itself to a strong gaming narrative.

Haha, free? Not hardly.

"Since you're a poor mom with 8 starving kids, I won't charge you the 10 coins you promised me", then proceeds to loot them blind, including the rotting flesh and ash they for some reason keep in their cupboard. Maybe its the bones of their dead dad? Too bad, its going in the saddle bags.

Also, if you read the notes in the quest journal... I've started to kind of see the whole game as a series of short stories told by Geralt's friend after the fact. It's not always consistent but it's an unreliable narrator. Even every short sidequest or mission has a narrative that explains the story of what happened, along with some commentary.

Ahhh the looting :)

And the silly things people keep at home always surprises you. Agree.

Yes, there are parts which end up being game for the sake of game.

One could avoid looting if one would like to do it. Its a bit silly and its obvious its there to help players who will like to buy and craft more. I tend to loot because its there.

Some things in the game are more grounded then others obviously :) Some things are there simply because game mechanics.

I only think that in regards to Geralt´s character its not that hard to understand him. Yes, there may be silly stuff here and there. Its a game after all. For instance, book Geralt already knows potions and signs during the whole story. He is not leveling up and adding new skills :) That is going to happen because its a game and only because its a game.

Another example is that book Geralt gets seriously injured whenever he gets hit. Like....being in bed for days or weeks. Because, after all, he still is somewhat human so he can be hurt for sure. Same with Ciri by the way. In the game....well.....our game Geralt can take a few hits and just eat some miraculous bread or drink some holy water which likely comes from the holy grail given its regeneration powers :) Game Ciri....unless you mess up she is pretty much immortal :p All this, if someone wants to be really obnoxious, they could start asking how did both of them get big scars anyway.....if during the game its impossible for them to get long term injuries.

Games being games.

If we want to have fun with that stuff, we totally can.