Posted July 23, 2011
By now, probably the majority of us dedicated forum-goers have finished the game at least once and loved it to some degree. Personally, it has quickly shot to being my favorite RPG of all time for it's real focus on telling something straight instead of wavering about with little story or too much exposition. The tale of TW2 is truly something to behold, for it is not only weighty but makes you care about the weight being put upon the world's shoulders. So then, we all must wonder, where does it go from here?
As I've seen, more than a few of you are disappointed at Act 3's ending. Indeed, there is much to be desired there but I wouldn't rank it as entirely terrible, due to the fact that you got to have the time to view over your decisions. So let's speak on those decisions and how they could roll into future games.
Your first decision, made in the prologue, has some political ramifications over Temaria. Overall, the differences aren't that important, save for how the tale unwinds that Geralt leaves the prison. The next real choice (at least on Roche's side) is something that really interests me, as I'll go into later. Deciding what fate befalls Henselt seemed like a lot more of a moral decision at first, but it actually has widespread echos as it comes to Act 3. The choices in Act 3 depend on the two (three?) people who can live or die (again, still doing Roche side) as well as some information on where Geralt might be headed next.
Now, SPOILERS so that I may state my choices because that's what I'm going to base the rest of this off of.
I killed La Vallete, chose Roche side, left Henselt alive, did not help Roche, saved Sile, and left Saskia alive.
So, the first one to get into here is leaving Henselt alive. At the closing bit of Act 3, Henselt and Radovid decide to work together as best they can for the stability of the kingdoms. This is rather interesting consider that the Nilfgaardian army is ready to march up and conquer over everything. Will this perhaps mean that there will be a fighting chance for them to withstand in the later story? Considering that if you kill Henselt, an entire region is in disarray, I think it's rather significant to keep two of the leaders alive and will definitely be a factor of the incoming war.
It's unclear whether or not Dethmold is killed by Roche if you do not help him, but I'm going to go under the assumption that he didn't since he's not as bloody as he probably would be. Though I suppose that's not the real difference here (though I would love to encounter Dethmold later), it's Anias' claim. In my version, Roche had to go and conceal her like she was Daenerys (tehee, ASoIaF) and that will no doubt come back later when the succession is up in the air. In the other versions though, Anias becomes a protectorate and is sanctioned until she's fully able to rule. I think that would probably cause more panic than her disappearing altogether, because hatred between the kingdoms flares up immensely within this game. I would not put it past the Temarians to be completely incapacitated for fighting either way.
Sile's survival gives Geralt the opportunity to learn more of what he should do next, IE Yennefer. Whether or not this will amount to a choice in location the next game or will simply be coincidental, we don't know. I think it's significant that we learn this information, and people who were not revealed this won't just randomly meet her in the next iteration. We have no idea what Geralt is trying to do when he flees the city, so that's a guess all in itself.
Finally, we have Saskia and her plans to create a free state... Though I'm not sure how well she will with such an egregious wound. Clearly, she survives that else there would not have been the choice. I'd imagine in how I did it, she'd have to become a rebel in hiding before she could return to commanding armies again. Her assistance no doubt would contribute to the war as well.
Actually, I forgot about the final choice. Letho doesn't seem like he'll really affect a lot, because I trust his word. I think he will be out of the picture for the duration of the war unless he, like Geralt, gets unwittingly roped into it. He did what was asked of him, and whether the emperor obliges or not is yet to be seen. Regardless, he's going to get spoils out of this and not castles. I have no doubt, if you let him live, he'll be seen again.
The Witcher video game series, to me, doesn't seem like something that can be summarized in a trilogy. Even disregarding the first game (since it's connections are really tangential), this war is not one to be taken lightly. It will no doubt be the focus of the coming games, expansions, etc. since it is something that is important to all parts of the world. The choices in this game I feel are mostly related to how the factions will play out. On one side you have the various kingdoms (conjoined or split by the crisis), you have the Lodge (been expounded for their treason), and you have Saskia's cause. Those are the three major decision areas that you alter, and all things that must be taken into account. Regardless of how the series goes on, I can't wait to see more and be blown away again by the ingenuity of the development and writing staff. Kudos to you guys.
As I've seen, more than a few of you are disappointed at Act 3's ending. Indeed, there is much to be desired there but I wouldn't rank it as entirely terrible, due to the fact that you got to have the time to view over your decisions. So let's speak on those decisions and how they could roll into future games.
Your first decision, made in the prologue, has some political ramifications over Temaria. Overall, the differences aren't that important, save for how the tale unwinds that Geralt leaves the prison. The next real choice (at least on Roche's side) is something that really interests me, as I'll go into later. Deciding what fate befalls Henselt seemed like a lot more of a moral decision at first, but it actually has widespread echos as it comes to Act 3. The choices in Act 3 depend on the two (three?) people who can live or die (again, still doing Roche side) as well as some information on where Geralt might be headed next.
Now, SPOILERS so that I may state my choices because that's what I'm going to base the rest of this off of.
I killed La Vallete, chose Roche side, left Henselt alive, did not help Roche, saved Sile, and left Saskia alive.
So, the first one to get into here is leaving Henselt alive. At the closing bit of Act 3, Henselt and Radovid decide to work together as best they can for the stability of the kingdoms. This is rather interesting consider that the Nilfgaardian army is ready to march up and conquer over everything. Will this perhaps mean that there will be a fighting chance for them to withstand in the later story? Considering that if you kill Henselt, an entire region is in disarray, I think it's rather significant to keep two of the leaders alive and will definitely be a factor of the incoming war.
It's unclear whether or not Dethmold is killed by Roche if you do not help him, but I'm going to go under the assumption that he didn't since he's not as bloody as he probably would be. Though I suppose that's not the real difference here (though I would love to encounter Dethmold later), it's Anias' claim. In my version, Roche had to go and conceal her like she was Daenerys (tehee, ASoIaF) and that will no doubt come back later when the succession is up in the air. In the other versions though, Anias becomes a protectorate and is sanctioned until she's fully able to rule. I think that would probably cause more panic than her disappearing altogether, because hatred between the kingdoms flares up immensely within this game. I would not put it past the Temarians to be completely incapacitated for fighting either way.
Sile's survival gives Geralt the opportunity to learn more of what he should do next, IE Yennefer. Whether or not this will amount to a choice in location the next game or will simply be coincidental, we don't know. I think it's significant that we learn this information, and people who were not revealed this won't just randomly meet her in the next iteration. We have no idea what Geralt is trying to do when he flees the city, so that's a guess all in itself.
Finally, we have Saskia and her plans to create a free state... Though I'm not sure how well she will with such an egregious wound. Clearly, she survives that else there would not have been the choice. I'd imagine in how I did it, she'd have to become a rebel in hiding before she could return to commanding armies again. Her assistance no doubt would contribute to the war as well.
Actually, I forgot about the final choice. Letho doesn't seem like he'll really affect a lot, because I trust his word. I think he will be out of the picture for the duration of the war unless he, like Geralt, gets unwittingly roped into it. He did what was asked of him, and whether the emperor obliges or not is yet to be seen. Regardless, he's going to get spoils out of this and not castles. I have no doubt, if you let him live, he'll be seen again.
The Witcher video game series, to me, doesn't seem like something that can be summarized in a trilogy. Even disregarding the first game (since it's connections are really tangential), this war is not one to be taken lightly. It will no doubt be the focus of the coming games, expansions, etc. since it is something that is important to all parts of the world. The choices in this game I feel are mostly related to how the factions will play out. On one side you have the various kingdoms (conjoined or split by the crisis), you have the Lodge (been expounded for their treason), and you have Saskia's cause. Those are the three major decision areas that you alter, and all things that must be taken into account. Regardless of how the series goes on, I can't wait to see more and be blown away again by the ingenuity of the development and writing staff. Kudos to you guys.