Relationships with citizens, renown, karma and consequences

[Purple Iris]

I am a good witcher, been helping all people around white orchard, Velen, Novigrad without asking any prize. However the mariority of them hate me, they seems to not recognise who I am.
Is there any reason for that? any way to increase my renown? Maybe they know I stolen goods from homes?
I don't like stealing, if I stop doing that do I risk to lose any quest or important item? Do I'll miss to save anyone?

[Duncan]

Nah, no reason, people just dont trust witchers and think they are freaks, thats it.

[jss1138]

There will come a point where people start to recognize you and thank you for the help. But there will still always be folks who regard Geralt with animosity.

[LiquidLouE]

Yeah I've been thinking about accepting a hunt free of charge but as you've pointed out i've not had the most welcoming approach by the common folk, Skellige is a nice place when the culture admires witchers a little more. Maybe i'd do some free contracting there.

As for being a good witcher it seems the local folk are happy to strike a deal, to toss you a bag of crowns if it means youll help them rid a monster. I think you can be a good witcher but in a more realistic way. To many games make you holy jesus or a devil where the witcher allows you to be "human" a man of trade, a proffesional. It's really just being honest and accepting what you need, allows aiming to have at least 1000 crowns to cover costs and expences "gear repair, new gear, ingredients, food, mead ;)"

[Crimsomrider]

Yes, there is a reason to that.

Witchers have a reputation among the common folk that they're heartless freaks who steal children and turn them into Witchers. Also, the peasants think that they are not kind people, they're even worse than mercenaries because they won't do anything unless they're getting paid.

Thus in the game, your reputation precedes you and most of them don't like you. Of course, none of this is completely true, but peasants in such day and age, who don't read and who can only gossip around the village, come to the wrong conclusion based on rumour.

[Carnasid]

I think the tagline for the Witcher 3 marketing campaign sums up the reasoning perfectly. "The world doesn't need a hero. It needs a professional."

[Chuckers13]

It really depends where you are, most people in valen or white orchard are ignorant and hate you beacause you're a freak.. People usually start talking about you later in game.

[jss1138]

Originally posted by RB:

"The world doesn't need a hero. It needs a professional."

LOVE that!

So perfect for this game.