The Witcher 3 and the Management of Narrative Scale - Writing on Games

HEADS UP - I try to keep spoilers to an absolute minimum here, but it does feature footage from Blood and Wine (again though, I tried to keep it to stuff that happens in the first half hour or so). Just something to keep in mind.
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Patreon: / writingongames
Podcast (iTunes) - itunes.apple.c...
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So, the show is a year old now! Holy heck! I figured what better way to celebrate than to finally start digging into my Game of the Year for 2015, that hasn't had its own video yet. Consider this a pseudo-review/analysis piece.
For me, The Witcher 3's greatest triumph is the way it manages its scale. So many RPGs fall into the trap of placing the player character at the centre of everything that is occurring within the world - this results in the scale of the narrative becoming untenable, making it substantially harder to really get players invested in the game.
The Witcher 3 eschews this, instead creating a game which focuses on the small things as much as (if not more than) the bigger picture. In reducing the scale of the narrative from some cataclysmic conflict that only you can stop to focusing on the way the conflict hangs over the lives of the citizens you encounter, they make it far easier for players to relate to characters. In this episode of Writing on Games then, I examine how the game achieves this reduction of scale through the way it handles characterisation, world design, and player choice, making it one of the most daring AAA action RPGs of recent times.
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As I say, the show is a year old and I can't quite believe it. Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who has watched, subscribed, listened, spread the word, pledged to the Patreon... every single one of you means so much to me and I'm so glad to have you on board as the channel continues to grow. If you feel like you have taken something positive from the show, if you would consider pledging at www.patreon.com/writingongames then I would be so appreciative. Every donation really makes justifying the amount of time I spend making these dumb videos a whole lot easier.
Also, I captured a bunch of footage for this episode but for some reason when it came to editing, it all decided to corrupt itself somehow. With that in mind, I would like to sincerely thank the following people for saving my ass (even though they don't know they did):
FiGhTiNCoWBoY for the majority of the Witcher footage (as well as getting me through a lot of Dark Souls 3 in the murky hell that was pre-release) - / fightincowboy713
Joe Leonard and 14Karma0 for the Skyrim footage - / maelfyn and / @karmasgaming9603 respectively.
Ahoj50, Polygon and Van Houten for the rest of the Witcher footage - / ahoj50 , / polygon and / @vanhouten6014 respectively.
You're all great, thank you very much.
Thank you so much to everyone for their continued support! Here's to another year of this big dumb thing.

[@Amaror2]

One of the things I enjoyed most about the Witcher 3 was a tiny detail in a fistfighting-questline early on. You got the usual situation that you get with Arena-combat in most RPGs. A character wants you to loose on purpose. So you can either choose to loose and risk not being able to finish the fistfighting questline (Don't know if this actually keeps you from finishing it), or you can win and screw over that other person. This happens in so many RPGs and it's nearly always a forced decision. In the case of Witcher 3 it was a poor peasant that bet against you wanting you to fail. After I won the fight I talked to the peasant again and it turned out I could compensate them for their lost bet. This is such a common-sense solution to the problem, yet every other game doesn't allow you to do this in order to arbitrarily force you to choose between roleplaying and completionism. Which is dumb, it's not a fun way to play the game. Giving the gold to the peasant did not give me any gameplay benefits, I just lost money for no reason, but I did it because this was what my Geralt would have done. And I loved that I wasn't arbitrarily kept from doing this.

[@benl2140]

Amaror2 I was just about to comment about a similar experience I had with the fist fighting sidequests. Before one of the fights, my opponent begged me to lose so that he could get the sack of flour promised to the winner. That made me consider why the hell I was beating the shit out of these poor peasants to begin with. For some coins and a measly few experience points? So I decided to let him win, and I figured I probably wouldn't be doing any more of the fist fight side quests.

[@Manas09rai]

I actually lost the first time and then went for a rematch lol

[@SeamasOS]

I played through Fallout 4 just after the The Witcher 3's Hearts of Stone, and the gulf is class was astonishing. Whereas the Witcher managed to make every interaction and decision feel fresh and organic, in Fallout 4 you could practically see the storyboarding. It really dragged me out of it when the game was so obvious about its choices.

[@meris8486]

I had the exact same feeling. In fact as a result I just gave up after only 10 hours

[@MortalCoil64]

*sigh* don't remind me -_- Fallout 4 was such a let down

[@WritingOnGames]

Yeah, the further away I get from Fallout 4 (and after having rewatched Joseph Anderson's analysis of it), the more I'm baffled as to how that game fucked up just SO badly. Could have, and probably should have, been so much better than it was.

[@SeamasOS]

Writing on Games I just hope that with TES VI or F5 or whatever Bethesda Game Studios do next in the RPG space reinvents the formula a bit. Would be a shame to see them churn out games that feel increasingly stale.

[@woekie3]

Try making your own narrative in Fallout 4, with my latest character I decided to ingore the main story completely, just walk past concord and don't visit daimond city. I decided to play on survival and add some mods that make the game feel more immersive (dark nights, green grass and settlers having names). I just walked from the vault to nordhagen beach and started building a community there, trying to expand that community as I went on, just ignored every quest and started life as a xenofobic scavenger. The world of Fallout 4 is full of little attics, garages, partly destroyed buildings all in the overworld that feel really lived in, that's where the true beauty of the game is, in the destroyed overworld, scavanging before it gets dark and cowering when you see something move, even avoiding going into buildings that have load zones. The quests of Fallout 4 ruin the great experience the world is able to give you.

[@CharcharoExplorer]

Context is key I guess. This relates to something I call ... thematic roleplaying. Basically, CD Project Red use their literary inspirations to near full effect. Using symbols as well as themes from both Sapkowski's books and the many other works they base their quests on and then framing them from the perspective of Geralt and the Witcher world, they give the player the ability to make choices and take part in a type of roleplaying that few other games have. The ability to choose (or not) and act within this context and confines is exciting. The added immersion and literary weight in effectively taking center stage in reasonably complex scenarios that often draw parallels to other works is really good. Examples abound, from the layering seen from the choice of romance paths to the secondary objectives in the game. The first expansion, Hearts of Stone is probably the best example of these techniques, but it is a topic for a different review. When it works, this technique is very interesting and can add to a game's immersion, depth and bring a lot more value to its choices. References to other media isn't even necessary, context alone can be enough. However, how well thematic roleplaying can work depends on how well players have managed to connect to both Geralt and the Witcher world, how well the context and themes are represented and whether they can be understood or appreciated. CDPR have some problems at times as it seems even they themselves struggle with the complex ideas at play (especially at the end of the game). This manner of game design itself is not for everyone, but it is a cool thing the game does despite its issues.

[@Kenspiracy664]

**Furious mashing of thumbs-up**

[@swans184]

Fantasy RPGs have a hero complex where you're constantly the chosen one who saves the world; The Witcher 3 has you searching for the chosen one, who SPOILER, doesn't need your help. Their relationship is fascinating though. Another thing I appreciated about the Witcher is how Geralt is a predefined character. It's funny how little role-playing games actually let you fill a role, instead allowing you to be a hodgepodge amalgam of wish fulfillment and whims, nothing close to a coherent character with consistent motivations.. Playing AS Geralt made it much easier to get invested in the story, and I was able to, and more importantly, WANTED to finish the main quest to see how things turned out for him and Ciri. Even routine tasks like killing monsters were enjoyable because that was Geralt's job, and they tie into the main quest because that's how he funds his search for Ciri. Skyrim's character was a blank slate, its main quest vague nonsense, and I never finished it. Funny how such a simple design choice can have such drastic effects on how you play.

[@onyxtay7246]

Well you can help the chosen one make the choice you want, and then you can go back to trudging through sewers, and killing drowners. (Incidentally, whenever someone says they'll give you enough money that you'll never have to do that again they're lying.)

[@ThomasGiles]

Awesomesauce! Sounds like Witcher is an actual _roleplaying_ game, not a game which has RPG stats like most games in this genre are.

[@bigmclargehuge8219]

I'm actually trying to use some of the concepts here in my D&D campaign I'm running with friends. Basically, I'm trying to show them two things, first off, they are not the center of the world, and the world does not revolve around them. Secondly, even if they're not there for an event to happen, it still happens.

[@WritingOnGames]

That seems like it'd be suuuuper tough to keep control of, but definitely one I'd be interested in playing!

[@bigmclargehuge8219]

+Writing on Games it's definitely a lot of work to keep track of everything that's going on, but it's definitely worth it to see how the players interact with what seems like a living world.

[@desdenova1]

Witcher 3 has tainted so many games for me, it's the reason why I didn't get past 10 hours in Dragon Age: Inquisition. Worth it though, CD PROJEKT are brilliant.

[@CosmicChris]

Exactly. The game is done so well, it makes us spoiled expectation wise for rpgs. I wanted to like Inquisition. But the forced LGBT characters and writing felt inhuman... Looking at Dorian... Witcher felt.... entirely human despite the fantasy setting, and I actually felt genuine emotion. Not many games evoke this. Dark Souls can't do this for me. Fallout 4 can't, no Elder Scrolls game. Just.... Ya know? The game I love made me start hating others I used to want to love.

[@EllieStardust]

I actually think Dorian was one of the better characters in DA:I. What really did the game in for me, besides the gameplay, was simply that its writing could never compare to the Witcher 3. I would always keep automatically comparing the two games, and DA:I fell short in every aspect.

[@Kenspiracy664]

Witcher wipes the floor with DA:I lol. In so many ways.

[@anonymousanonymous-iy6mj]

+Kenspiracy Videos Bioware fucked it up. Dragon Age used to be a Computer RPG at it's core, now it's a singleplayer mmorpg that loves to hold your hand and removes everything that made DA:O amazing.

[@hifromneptune]

Can I ask a question? What was it about DAO that made it amazing for you?

[@calonkat]

I think the end of the main game makes a critical point in support of your thesis, when Ciri points out it's HER story, and not his. The books were also a quest to find Ciri with the help of others, side quests along the way, etc. But the books are also essentially the story of Ciri. Geralt (famous as he is in books/game thanks to song and story) really is always the supporting character in the story of Ciri, the Child of Destiny/Child of the Elder Blood/Chosen One. I really love how the game maintains the same feeling as the books.

[@flibbernodgets7018]

2:26 my favorite line. Also, thanks for analyzing this. I run a Pathfinder campaign for my buddies and I want to incorporate some of these elements into that game, specifically making the conflicts and goals relatable. There was one instance where a volcano was erupting because of a clash between gods, but that isn't anything a normal person could do anything about. Instead, the players evacuated people out of burning houses as pyroclasts and ash fell around them. They told me this was one of their favorite encounters of the whole campaign. So yeah, I can attest that humanizing the conflict and goals of an RPG makes it immersive and people will like it more.

[@stoked9004]

Best part: giving the kid coin has an impact on the quests down the line. Similarly to many other small decisions you make. You really have to play the role.

[@Salamaleikum80]

Subscribed to the channel after 10 seconds. Just by hearing "Writing on Games".

[@DripTheCat12]

Right on man, the way the smaller stories are written in the Witcher 3 is what makes it my favorite game of all time. It is all just sooo good, and the fact that there are so many subtle touches of narrative that trust the player to pay attention are refreshing. No hand holding, just good writing.

[@theblackandes]

I've become somewhat obsessed with the Witcher series and have watched a majority of the Witcher 3 reviews but I have to say this is the best one by far. It helped me understand why I love this game so much and why I play it over and over again. At the beginning of every play through I tell myself I'm going to make different decisions but I usually end up making the same ones. Thanks for the awesome review.

[@WritingOnGames]

Thanks man! I'm really glad you enjoyed it. It is interesting how you develop such a clear vision of who your version of Geralt is over your playthrough that it seems almost impossible to go against that in subsequent playthroughs no matter how consciously you try to do so - I'm exactly the same.

[@DehellTube]

I could listen for smart analysis of The Witcher 3's elements all day. Please don't hesitate creating more videos about this masterpiece. There is so much to talk about, and so much the industry as a whole should take a look at. Thanks for the great work on this channel

[@meris8486]

Great video man, surprised you were able to cover this so in depth without any spoilers at all Its very true that Geralt isn't "the chosen one" in fact he's really just a guardian for Ciri In any other rpg she would quite easily be the protagonist.

[@Entreri1992]

That was a fantastic analysis thank you! As for making the player and the player character fell like a small part in a big moving world you should really try the last Dragon age game, Inquisition. It is in my opinion an amazing deconstruction of the "chosen one" cliché. The game opens up in a very standard way but later it starts to question it, often addressing directly you and what your character thinks about it. Sorry about my broken english, i'm from Italy and while I have no problem in understanding spoken and written english, I still have some issues when I write something in it. Keep up the good work and remember that all around the world there are people that enjoy what you do and as we say here in Italy "In bocca al lupo!". It's a way to say good luck!

[@Werezilla]

I've heard statements by people who are interested in seeing this IP come back with perhaps Ciri as the protagonist. But it kind of defeats the point explored in this video. Ciri IS a chosen one, a chosen one who fulfilled the prophecy she's destined to fulfill but at the same time a future game with this premise would take away something unique about the game.

[@Sanquinity]

At the very least CD Projekt RED Should keep on making rpg's in this same style. Or even in the same setting as The Witcher. I'd hate to see a company making such a good fantasy rpg series going to different things after just three games.

[@introspectah]

Yeah, even though i get why they yearn to move on to explore different regions of possibility, it would be a un unnameably grand pity to throw away the vast potential that's contained within this micrcosom so masterfully crafted. Something divinely inspired to it.

[@Drewe223]

Well their next game is a sifi RPG.

[@weeabooman2867]

Their next game is cyberpunk 2077 so we are going to get change however it's all good. Better to finish on a high note than punk out endless games like Bethesda is doing with Skyrim

[@giocommentary]

i would love another Witcher story, but not Geralt or Ciri. i'd love this style of game and CDprjkt Red create a witcher game, in which you start of as no one, a beggar, a kid on the street. being taken in by a witcher school to develop your own story and world. with the amount of immersion, rp choice based world and world building this would be amazing, there'd be to many choices and paths to choose from as you develop your own unique story of the land.

[@steelshepherd6843]

This game made me cry during the Family Matters quest. The writing, delivery of voice acting, and animation are so well done...

[@SpirallingSpiral]

Okay..in skyrim, you are a dragonborn, in fallout 3, you are the lone wanderer...but in new vegas, you are a frikkin courier, a badass courier. But yea as a game, witcher 3 is above all for me as of now. Such a masterpiece.

[@VARIOUShorses]

Still haven't played any of the Witcher games properly (started the second and stopped after minor resistance) but the way you describe the way in which you inhabit the role of the protagonist and how it differs from other games reminds me of the difference between Mass Effect 1 and the others that came afterwards. Although of course you are playing as some kind of magical space jedi, so it's not quite the same, but it's the small moments that defined who I was or wanted to be in the first game, the small side quest of recovering Nirali Bhatia's body for her husband in particular comes to mind; there's no fighting, no evil you need to defeat; just a man grieving for his wife and the politics holding back the release of her body. in 2 and 3 though the scale was only ever huge, the boy's death in the opening sequences served to represent far more than just one unnamed characters death and became a lot less affecting for his subsequent status as a metaphor for Shepard's guilt, fears etc. etc. (To be fair, narratively speaking, 3 had to deal almost exclusively with the large scale events and they did try to ground them with nice touches like the wall of dead sevicemen and women which happened to include Bhatia's name on it, but 2 in particular felt hollow without the small moments). I'm not sure if this is always the case, but I feel like in games in general the small moments are capable of holding far more weight than the large ones because we're so desensitized to them, to the point where saving the world is just the expected thing, but greasing the wheels of bureaucratic process or tipping the messenger is a great surprise.

[@introspectah]

Maffah, what are you waiting for?!

[@ChikoChonny]

Skyrim (to me) it was one of the best games I've ever played, not so much for the combat system or it's narrative, they were pretty bland, but by the awe I felt while I was exploring it's world. "Questing" on TESV were mere excuses for just roaming around the lands of Skyrim, just losing my time...losing me in the game. That feeling is something that I will always be thankful to Skyrim for that.

[@sandwich1601]

It's for this exact reason that I wish they could somehow do away with the overarching end of the world plot. While it's great that they have time to embellish the minute narratives and characters inhabiting the world, it: 1. Comes at the expense of Eredin and the Wild Hunt's character/plot development 2. Sets a precedent that the main story just never seems to live up to, most likely due to the leeway - or lack thereof - they're given

[@whennever8202]

Yeah, WH and Eredin were badly underwritten. Then again, that makes up like 6-8 hours of main plot and the entire game, so I don`t mind. The way the story arches and unfolds though, the Bloody Barons storyline, etc etc etc, are masterful, I just try and detach from the WH part.

[@dopaminedukes2292]

such a beautiful way to look at the Witcher I really am beginning to look at the world and the way the character is just a character instead of the chosen one now a days thanks to you.

[@WritingOnGames]

Dopamine Detail I'm glad! Thanks for watching.

[@TheGreatDanish]

Honestly, I didn't even think twice about the tip scene you talked about. I just tipped the kid because I'm American and thats what we do.

[@bengauthier7183]

Where has your channel been hiding, this is exactly what I've been looking for!

[@cryoshakespeare4465]

I honestly have few words for how wonderful this video is. In the sense that I can't convey just how enlightening and fascinating it is. Certainly, once I get a steadier income, you will be first on my list for patreon support! :D

[@WritingOnGames]

I appreciate this so much. Thank you for your kind words!

[@onyxtay7246]

I really like the way Geralt feels like a guy just doing his job. As I played the game I tried to charge through the main quest, but found myself having trouble with bigger beasts, so I took a few contracts, earned quite a few crowns, then spent nearly everything on getting really nice witcher gear. Throughout the game I wanted to help people for free, but I needed the money, so they had to pay up. My favorite example of this is when you get in an organized fist fight, the prize is a bag of grain, which I don't care about, but losing would mean I can't become the champion. I had to win that fight, which was easy, but I didn't like hurting the poor guy who just wants to feed his family. After the fight however I was able to give him a few crowns, he got to eat, and I was the champion. It wasn't a binary moral choice, but something that felt real. I built my own Geralt. One who was hard, he would hurt people, but didn't like it. He wanted to help everyone, but recognized he needed their money to save the people he loved. When it came to those people he did anything to keep them happy, even if it meant breaking a few things along the way, because this was a journey to the end of the world, or at least their lives, so he may as well live it up.

[@whennever8202]

The perfect example of Witcher IIIs unparalleled writing is the most roaringly noticeable in a sidequest called "Where The Cat and the Wolf Play" Gaetan had like 5 minutes of screen time and the sequence and the build-up absorbed me more than other games and RPGs can even attempt to in their full playtime. Just phenomenal.

[@Soundaholic92]

Great job focusing on the tipping scene! I love it when a game makes the player make decisions based on the story and context instead of in a "game" sense (how to get the most money, best quest reward, items, etc), which is kinda ironic. The best games are enjoyable experiences that don't constantly remind you you're playing a game.

[@ChikoChonny]

Wow, that's a great analysis. They way how The Witcher III uses this particular narratives to inmerse the player IN it's world.

[@doubt_]

Thank you for your wonderful content. You should teach Game Theory, you know. I'm sure you can find a lot of gigs with your analytical skills, maybe even influence the future of the craft.

[@JoshinoGaming]

Love your commentary style! :)

[@WritingOnGames]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoy it!

[@sellyourkingdom]

Yeah, Blood and Wine is a masterstroke.

[@luuketaylor]

I have so much to say and so much to react to, but I'll just leave my comment at this: Thank you so much for this video. I might start my 3rd playthrough shortly... You did an incredible job on this video.

[@t103Ninja]

i like witcher 3 alot but i do tend to feel the move to fully open world does detract from the overall narrative of the game and for a game that depends heavily on it's narrative that's abit of a problem, witcher 3 is a vastly superior game to witcher 2 on a technical level but i would say witcher 2 is a superior narrative anyway, watched a few of your video and they have all been great so you earned yourself a new sub from me :)

[@despacito_deux]

Yay you actually made a video about The Witcher ! Very good video as always, be sure to advertise your channel a bit more on Reddit and other social media, because you absolutely deserve more subscribers !

[@WritingOnGames]

Thanks so much for watching! Glad you enjoyed it. People posting my videos on Reddit and the like has been great for the channel, but I always feel weird about doing that myself. I don't know where to post things, I don't want to feel like I'm spamming people with shameless self-promotion, etc. That said, if people want to post my videos to different places then I'm more than happy for that to happen!

[@Roald80irs]

Your analyses of games are top notch! Thanks a lot for all your content :)

[@Novacanoo]

Awesome stuff man. You always bring a unique perspective.

[@WritingOnGames]

Thank you! I've checked out some of your videos in the past as well and really enjoyed them.

[@GlacierRain]

accent 10/10 game 999999/10

[@easterneagle5]

Heyo, a Witcher video! At long last, I've been waiting on this for a long time coming mate. Awesome stuff. Speaking of the narrative structure of using destiny and fate to frame your playable hero as a sort of chosen one, I think my favorite game to implement it was actually the third Elder Scrolls game, Morrowind. Unlike in Skyrim, where your character was and always would be the one Dragonborn, and the only possible hope of saving the world, Morrowind made it very clear that while it was totally possible that your character is the chosen hero that would save the world - in this case called the Nerevarine - it was also totally possible that you just weren't. There had been countless potential chosen heros before your character came along. If you yourself never bother getting around to finishing the main quest in a playthrough, it didn't suddenly mean the villain ended up winning; some other potential chosen one might just show up later down the line and fulfill the prophecy anyway. It's also a complete possibility that the whole prophecy that governs Morrowind's story is complete bullcrap anyway. In Skyrim your character as a dragon soul just because they have a dragon soul, no one else does and there is no way for anyone else but you to complete the prophecy because fate has decreed it so for some odd reason. In Morrowind, all of the unique traits of being the chosen one are the result of unusual but otherwise completely mundane coincidences that could happen to or be acquired by anyone from freak magic experiments or powerful artifacts. It's even possible to outright disobey the strict prophecy and still end up defeating the big bad. When you do finally meet him, the game even gives you a dialogue option where your character may flat out admit that you do not believe you are any sort of chosen hero and that you think the entire prophecy has been nonsense all along. And it works so well. It doesn't inexplicably force your character into completing the main quest and doesn't make it seem horribly out of place for players that never bother getting around to it. No matter what type of character you played, they ended up fitting in and making sense in the world that the game established. In a game that is supposed to be about role playing, that is such a crowning accomplishment that I still don't think either of the later two games in the series have managed to achieve.

[@rekv1n241]

Another thing I would add that makes The Witcher 3 so good is the potion and oil system and the bestiary. It really helps you feel like a witcher from books, and add that along already tactical combat(blood and broken bones and death march) and very immersive world filled with about 200 quests(without ?) with so many great stories and characters unlike other RPGs and you got a hell of a game. Congrats, CD Projekt Red, and thank you for this awesome game !

[@slingshotmcoy]

Witcher 3 is also the only game in the series too that reeeaaallllyyy dives into the events of the books. CD Projek does an incredible job too of capturing the book, even improving on it. If you read the books and replay the third game, just about every second of game time has reference to the books. Even when entering a town, one of the first things you see or hear is a cat hissing at you, or children being afraid. Book Geralt jokes that those are the first two signs of a Witcher in town. Honestly though, The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny are way better than the main saga. That and the books really make you sick and tired of Ciri and hate Yennefer. I'd say CD Projek actually does the Witcher better than the saga it's based off. At least Geralt doesn't spend an entire fucking book brooding and complaining in the game.

[@DatcleanMochaJo]

Killer Queen I didn't mind Ciri much in the books. She was obnoxious at times but also a learner and would be quick to do right at times. Yennefer on the other hand... sure she is smart, but her bitchy attitude made me a Team Triss guy.

[@FootprintsForTwoTravel]

A video on the DLC perhaps?

[@musamba101]

Very well though out review. Deeply insightful. Thanks mate. :-)

[@Mapmaker39]

Though I agree about your points between Skyrim and Witcher 3, I do think there is strength about how broad that the later Elder Scrolls game get at. The later Elder Scrolls game are very unapologetic players empowerment fantasy. They caters to the players than the character and the world. Even though I do think we need more Witcher 3 than Skyrim, after Extra Credits defending cut scene, we can't just abandon what Skyrim or Bethesda games set up and many copied.

[@liamarter8232]

I think its interesting how much you picked up of his character even though it sounded like you havent read the books. Much of what you picked up on in the game that wasnt openly said (in the game) are things that are established and commented on in the books. He's a well written character and that is a big part of the heart of the series as well as the game.

[@algirdassalomskas9050]

Ok, now I can shout and know how to level them with Dragon souls, what is the name of the big bad dragon from the main quest of Skyrim again? 'Alduin' hmmm? ok... ok... I understand.... yeah that sounds cool... the main quest ''I'll-do-in'' my own time, there is this talking dog from Boston that is in Skyrim for some reason, and a Khajiit wants to treat me to some 'skooma' I think it was... (never returned to the main quest)

[@AGoodGiggle]

It's about time! Haha congratulations, love the show, keep it coming!

[@WritingOnGames]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@jpteknoman]

this is what many old RPGs (like Baldur's gate) did right. there may be something bigger at work that probably has something to do with you, however you end up in it for personal reasons and not because you are some chosen person meant to save the world.

[@BLACKDISC]

I wish that Nintendo changed the way Link, from The Legend of Zelda, related to Hyrule. He's almost always the "chosen one" but it would be a nice change of pace to see him in a completely different role. Great video again, and 13:37

[@robbies9130]

I found Majora's Mask made me feel pretty powerless.

[@othmansalih5656]

but there is a cataclysmic event and Geralt is in the center of everything that happens in the game. he saves Ciri and kills the wild hunt (Eredin and his lieutenants). that's why I like hearts of stone , the story was much more interesting than generic save-the-world story of the original game and the scale was much smaller. I really like the game(in my top 5 games ever made), but I almost disagree with everything the video.

[@Soundaholic92]

To be fair though, there are people who are drawn to the Chosen One premise, and all that heroic saving the world stuff, regardless of the protagonist's personal (or lack thereof) in it. We could always use more game with high quality writing like Witcher 3 though.

[@takwin42]

Every future RPG and action-adventure and open world game has been put on notice. And to think, the greatest game ever (in my opinion), also has the greatest DLC ever is astonishing.

[@meris8486]

SPOILER ALERT i really like how in The Witcher allot of the consequences for your decisions are neither entirely positive outcomes or entirely negative. Additionally it's often not even clear what will happen as a result of your choices. The Bloody baron quest line is a great example of this your presented with a choice of whether or not to kill this possessed tree. Or set it free to take over a horse instead. I had no way of knowing that when I chose to spare the creature, which would in any other game be the stereotypical 'good' choice. That it would result in a village getting massacred the Baron's wife dying and the Baron hanging himself. But also a bunch of orphans being saved. When I realised this later it made me truly appreciate just how well this game handles moral choices

[@rjohnferner]

Great analysis as always.

[@WritingOnGames]

Thank you very much!

[@TheOnlyTaps]

Great analysis

[@SuperGodlike101]

Also there's that one moment in the Blood and Wine DLC when a certain character starts singing. Even as said character was introduced, the first time i played, it seemed familliar somehow, from the voice to the face, and that hair... And then the song starts, the scene ends and i was like what the fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck?!?!??!?!?????

[@EscanV]

MY FELLOW KINSMAN :D Your accent is liquid gold! KEEP UP THE CONTENT MY FELLOW SCOT!

[@Bookmann117]

Another great video as always. However I am interested in your opinion on how the story/narrative is handled in the witcher 1 and 2 because in my opinion the previous game had stronger writing and stories in general.

[@WritingOnGames]

Thanks for watching! I've actually yet to play through the first game, but I adored the second. The main narrative of the second game was probably more interesting to me, but the way the secondary quests are structured and revealed to the player in 3 makes them almost inherently more engaging. That opportunity just comes with a more open design I guess.

[@Bookmann117]

+Writing on Games thank you for responding to my comment. Yeah that's true, the quest in the witcher 3 were almost like mini story quests which is pretty impressive for the number of side quest there are.

[@OliversMovies]

Once again you absolutely nail what I love about a game. I couldn't stand Dragon Age Inquisition. Just because I saw some green light and lived everyone decided I would rule the inquisition, as if that was a task anyone could do. I was making important political choices and yet I was also the guy picking flowers and doing tasks for townsfolk like hunting down their sheep. It just didn't work. I loved that Geralt was an established in an established world when I came in on the thirds game. Not playing the first two games only added to the reality of it all. The fact that I never even tried alchemy and yet it was this massive system that I could study and chose not to. I'm not usually a fan of RPGs but I loved The Witcher for exactly those reasons.

[@rootonesquare2686]

Just came across your channel. The world of witcher, though created by Andrej Sarpowsky, was made appealing to everyone by cdprojekt. The story just absolutely pulls you in. Btw, what's the font you use in your title and also your channel name. Been searching for it ever since i saw it 3 days back. No luck.

[@ginge641]

If Bethesda had made the Witcher 3, there would've been an attempt to recreate the Battle of Sodden against Nilfgaard even though even the books don't cover the event itself but the consequences thereof.

[@romariogee]

Brilliant analysis m8. Subed

[@philippplein4974]

That accent.. Are u from Skellige?

[@HxH2011DRA]

How could you NOT tip the boy

[@ShadowPa1adin]

Hi Hamish. Just wondering here, have you read any of the Witcher books? Because it sounds like you'd get a kick out of them.

[@lordhelmchen3154]

"They have multiple problems when you arrive, and maybe one less when you leave" ... Ha good joke, would be glad if it was this way . More like bringing the Catriona plague back into the world and destroying whole families and ripping apart two loving ones. :D Great video though, your style/way of thinking is very unique on KZbin, keep it up!

[@cokeMONSTERps3]

Woooooo. Aniversary! Sorry, I didn't get you anything but a like.

[@WritingOnGames]

Hey, that like means a lot to me (and also puts the video up in the search rankings - SEO, baby!) In all seriousness, thanks so much for watching!

[@shahiranzaman2259]

I brought cookies 🍪🍪🍪🍪

[@donniedewitt9878]

You should do a video on fallout new Vegas,and it's dlc it's one of the best story based RPGs of all time. Also planetscape torment

[@GrimK77]

Tipping the messenger boy actually triggers consequences. And as for Geralt, he isn't the "chosen one"... and actually is at the same time: - Geralt parents were like no other witchers had. - Geralt also despised the concept of destiny, so he invoked the law of surprise for helping cursed prince. He wanted to challenge destiny to prove it is a bulls**t - and then fate and destiny bound him with Ciri. Irony in its full magic potential. - Geralt became a father figure for Ciri, who is the "chosen one". Fun facts: 1. Yennefer is older than Geralt... she is about age of his mother. 2. And Triss looks very much like Geralt's mother (redhead).

[@Gorzagorz]

You talk about how other RPGs put you in the place of power and you use Skyrim as an example but it seems like you either didn't play the game or your understanding of the media is a bit limited. In Skyrim at some point you are told that you are special and have some destiny but you have a choice to do what you want with it, even ignore it completely as you mentioned. Besides mildly impressive ability to absorb souls from dragon corpses and learning shouts(which are really just spells) there is nothing that makes your character more special than NPCs, you can still enter a bandit camp and get slaughtered like anyone. The Witcher on the other hand actually forces you into being Geralt. In every situation you are limited only to things that the writers think fits him. You can't go into the woods, kill bandits, pick up their gear and sell it for profit, you can only earn money if you engage with a specific NPC in a very specific dialogue where Geralt actually does most of the talking on his own. You could argue it would be out of character for Geralt to go killing bandits and selling their stuff, but in the context of this world and the situation in this nonlinear game when it is not really a problem to do it or there is no urgency to do something else would it be out of character? Or would it appear like part of Geralt's brain responsible for logical thinking is shutting down in these situations? There are several examples like this in the game. You say that it trusts the player to act in a certain way but it actually limits them to acting a certain way. Now I'm not a big fan of Skyrim, I thought it was alright and in some ways dumbed down in comparison to some older RPGs. However what you say about it in this video is untrue. There are multiple things happening in the background and you can choose how or if you get involved based on the character you want to play, your story can be big and epic but it can also be small and not in a hamfisted way that TW3 does it. And also if you do decide to become the saviour before you learn that you are dragonborn you have at least 2 encounters with dragons which show how dangerous they are and how they are affecting the people of this world so it's not like you have no understanding of the urgency of this task.

[@Gothamz-gy8ku]

Now i'm not sure about what you say about Skyrim, but regarding your statement on Geralt: "You can't go into the woods, kill bandits, pick up their gear and sell it for profit, you can only earn money if you engage with a specific NPC in a very specific dialogue where Geralt actually does most of the talking on his own." is not true, since you can most definitely go and kill bandits and clear monster caves for loot and common weapons to sell to vendors. In fact, it is how i make most of my money, and not through contracts, which are what you refer to as the only way to earn money. Contracts, which are their own category of quests in the game, are simply instruments for the developer to sort of have you immerse yourself in Geralt's world and the pre-established world, and are not a major part of the story nor consist of many of the truly impactful decisions. Most times, those decisions force the player to think about what they think is the "lesser evil", or what you would do in such a situation.

[@samwallaceart288]

When you spend 20 minutes reading an essay on Semiotics before realizing you still haven't finished the video that reference Barthes in the first place.

[@iron1528]

Aaaaaaaaand subscribe...

[@cameronirvine323]

Mass Effect did well to make you feel duty bound, aswell as responsible for the bigger picture.

[@Hennannice]

13:37

[@Kc40k]

The "chosen one" narrative is SO BAD in the opening of Dragon Age: Inquisition. Like I just started and this is one of the most rushed and forced intro I've seen. Freaking Origins took time to at least develop their stuff.

[@edwardoliveira1748]

after watching this video, can someone please recommend any other games like this?

[@DonatoVicenti]

Red Dead Redemption

[@edwardoliveira1748]

could you give me a quick review? i am unfamiliar wirh that title.

[@IRONDevil100]

bfy.tw/8EBH Here you go.

[@edwardoliveira1748]

Thank you

[@edwardoliveira1748]

I love that meme

[@Freyathrith]

Wonderful analysis. Background music is NOT so wonderful. Very distracting and irritating when my goal is to listen to your excellent commentary! :)

[@marconeves1979]

Great analysis! Wish I could give you 10 likes

[@WritingOnGames]

I wish I could reply ten times. Oh wait, I can!

[@WritingOnGames]

Thanks for watching!

[@WritingOnGames]

Thanks for watching!

[@WritingOnGames]

Thanks for watching!

[@WritingOnGames]

Thanks for watching!

[@hazardousjazzgasm129]

Dark Souls also falls into the cliche and trope-y Chosen Undead nonsense

[@WritingOnGames]

You could argue that, but again, it's what the game does with that that makes it effective. There is a massive cataclysmic event happening but it's kinda happening whether the player is there to experience it or not. Like with The Witcher 3, that game uses its larger conflicts as a means of framing the more grounded, relatable concerns of the citizens of the world that haven't gone hollow yet. Crucially, it leaves this to the player to interpret and intuit. The player in Dark Souls is smaller than the world they find themselves in - the world would exist whether or not the player was there to experience it.

[@hazardousjazzgasm129]

Writing on Games That is true, and I appreciate Dark Souls' universe for not being overly sympathetic to you, or not over-emphasizing your own importance. Still, that importance is kinda there, and I feel the more you look into the lore, the effect of the whole insignificance of your own existence dampens. It definitely does it better than Elder Scrolls but falls into some of the same pitfalls. Just doesn't fall into them as hard, is what I'm trying to say. Your're totally right about Witcher 3 DLC, though. I just started Blood and Wine and it is already the game at its finest.

[@tidyheidi9143]

I don’t think so. Only a fraction of players who own Dark Souls 1 actually beat the game (let’s say 1/10 or so) and the game reinforces that there are “other” undead who think they are chosen but will go hollow and abandon their quest. That’s what Solaire tells you. This suggests that you, the player, are only the chosen undead if you successfully ring the bells of awakening, but if you can’t get that far into the game, then you aren’t the chosen one.

[@wiidiwii]

The sounds in the back ground are unbearable :(

[@Romanticidio]

where are you from man? i like your accent :D

[@rationalityfirst]

everything is better in Scotland!

[@BornIn1142]

To be honest, I don't think this video had much of substance to say. You expressed a preference for low fantasy over high fantasy, which is purely a matter of genre. Decisions of generosity (asking for a reward, giving money away) are very common in games, and I'm sure The Witcher's overall quality made the choice matter more to you, but it's not unique and it's not an interesting enough to carry a serious discussion.

[@cloudbloom]

have you played this game?

[@WritingOnGames]

That's totally cool that you think that man. I don't think decisions of generosity in games are often this nuanced (ie. make the player put the mechanical pros/cons to one side and instead think about the politics of the world), and I also don't see why discussions of genre in games aren't worthy of serious consideration (even if I wasn't really focusing on the genre argument in this particular video) - if we're talking high vs. low fantasy, I don't really think there are many games that are willing to wear that distinction on their sleeve like The Witcher does. That's interesting to me (especially considering genre in games is still so often defined by mechanics rather than themes) and worthy of discussion. That said, sorry the video wasn't to your liking.

[@eqrmn3934]

Its a dark fantasy and what he stated doesnt have anything to do with genre, genre is only the setting

[@ohamatchhams]

I think he's somehow true in some ways regarding the preferences to low fantasy, Witcher 3 is very grounded, while I doubt many Witcher 3 fans (and fanboys) even played Witcher 1 for that matter of comparison The level of fantasy in Witcher universe is still very grounded and closer to Game of Thrones in terms of usage of fantasy elements and archetypes, they even treat magic phenomenon as like a real life science (within the game universe contexts and some resemblances to current tech is hilariously pretentious) if there's focused and pointed explanations compared to something like Elder Scrolls or Dragon Age universe

[@JustSomeObject]

that's why yakuza is a better game than the witcher 3

[@technomunk]

Oh man, you should have played Gothic way back when. It's even more grounded than witcher.

[@spyrochrisgaming]

Really late to this comment but Gothic 2's open world game design has to be one of my favorite of all time. Such a fantastic game.

[@whennever8202]

No, Gothic can`t compare to Witcher at all. I loved the first two Gothic games, but vs Witcher?? No comparison.

[@nn6404]

the only problem that I have with this game, is that it really doesn't feel remotely like an rpg. the game feels more like a chronicle of geralts life, than feeling like I'm making decisions for him.

[@EliteRocketBear]

Kind of the point of an RPG. You play a role, in this case Geralt's.