[Dean's World] Dave Schuler: The Witcher

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Posted by Dave Schuler:
The Witcher
http://www.deanesmay.com/posts/1201965628.shtml


   The Witcher I started reading heroic fantasy nearly 50 years ago in
   the good old days before Lord of the Rings ruled the world, played
   Dungeons and Dragons more than 30 years ago, and have been an
   enthusiastic solo player of D&D rules-based computer fantasy games for
   more than a decade. I think that Baldur's Gate II is the best of that
   genre, still never equalled.

   For me there are a number of factors that make a game great. First and
   foremost is that it must be immersive. You've got to be able to
   completely lose yourself in the game. This subsumes factors like an
   interesting plot and world, the art, and the mechanics of play.

   I recently began playing [1]The Witcher and I've found it the most
   immersing PC-based fantasy roleplaying game since BGII. The Witcher is
   set in the fantasy world created by the Polish fantasy writer, Andrzej
   Sapkowski. As best as I can tell his work has yet to be published in
   the States (although I've got a copy on pre-order).

   Witchers are monster-killers for hire who rely on their skill and
   strength, toxic alchemical potions, and limited mystical powers to ply
   their trade. You follow the main quest, pursue secondary quests (I'm
   one of those players who follows every possible quest and pokes into
   every possible cranny), gather ingredients to brew alchemical potions,
   and hone your skills through practice. The Witcher uses [2]Bioware's
   Aurora gaming engine but it's there that its similarity to Neverwinter
   Nights or NWNII ends. The graphics are fascinating, apparently
   meticulously rendered and brought into the Aurora environment. There
   is no character creation: you are Geralt of Rivia, the hero of
   Sapkowski's stories, you have no memory of your past, and your
   development is guided using the skill tree method I've seen in other
   games (pioneered in Fallout?).

   Possibly the most interesting aspect of the game is the issue of moral
   choice. Most fantasy roleplaying with which I'm familiar resides
   squarely in the Good/Evil, Law/Chaos D&D/Tolkien universe. The Witcher
   isn't like that. It's a world of moral ambiguity and, I think,
   significantly more mature in dealing with choices than is the norm in
   fantasy roleplaying.

   You will be presented with choices and you must make your choices
   based on the limited knowledge you have at hand. Do you aid the witch
   or defend the villagers against her? Support the Order of the Flaming
   Rose or the dwarf and elf rebels? Your choice, your game, and it will
   influence the remainder of your game play.

   I haven't played through to the end of the game yet. Given my method
   it takes me a while. I'll report back when I do but at this point I'm
   enjoying this fascinating, unique world.

References

   1. http://www.thewitcher.com/index.php
   2. http://www.bioware.com/