Newbie to the Witcher games.

Its hard to say, obviously the Witcher 3 is the most polished of the three, the dialogue writing is some of the best in gaming, though it still has its warts in other areas. Each of these games are fairly standalone, so you don't need to play through all three if you don't want to. The first two games are still very good in my opinion but there gameplay does tend to push people away. Also, as Dragon mentioned, the Witcher 2 is very ambitious narratively, the limitations of game development keep it from reaching its true potential. Its great, just don't think too hard on the narrative threads. LOL.

DragonKingReborn and Blast Processor thank you for your replies. After reading overwhelmingly positive reviews last night I bought the Witcher 3 Game of the Year Edition. I normally don't do this but 8 months ago I took a chance with the Mass Effect games and before that Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines and was happy with both purchases. Once I decide on what game to play I will keep everyone posted.

Ok ok.

The Witcher 1... Is a good game. After playing the other two, you may revisit it with nostalgia and enjoy it more. I am about to embark on another trilogy run, because it is a worthy trilogy. With some ridiculously cheesy aspects that offend some people. Ahem.

The combat is rhythm. Once you understand how to combo, I actually enjoyed the combat. Use of potions and signs was a little confusing to me at first, but they aren't really necessary for all combat - swinging the correct sword will get the job done quite well.

The game is old and looks it. Mod it. Easy to mod, it is an old Bioware engine after all. Go to Nexus. Item Stacking mod is crucial imo, otherwise inventory management becomes a pita.

Witcher 2: Fantastic game. Combat is somewhat improved, mechanics a little more important to use. Lots of ways to build Geraldo. Story is compelling, and as mentioned divergent storyline half way through, offering good stuff for both paths even if IMO only one of them is clearly canon.

Witcher 3: Game starts slow. I quit playing 2 times, this is after completing 1&2 multiple times.

Once I decided to give it a final chance, I got to the Baron and the Witches. Welp, now it's top 5 gaming experience for me, the story, choices, consequences, and brutality of the world is really something. You can replay it to death I think.

You paid great prices for the series

I highly recommend giving them a chance. It may be that 1 is too janky as a starting point; depends on how much you can enjoy older graphics and what is the initial offering from what was a pretty small studio. 2 is a fine starting point, and looks pretty good still and can be modded as well. All the games can be modded, and have good mods available.

If you aren't into cheesy sex in video games, avoid the brothels except for quests. You don't miss XP from not banging prostitutes, most of "the sex" (insert Borat voice) is skipable.

My mod list for Witcher 1:

AI Upscaled Kaer Morhen
AiO AI Textures with The Witcher Overhaul
Celina Wreath Fix
Faster Movement Mod
Han gives Han
Item Stacking and Equipment Slots
Missing Kalkstein and Leuvaarden Clues
No Cemetery Drowners (optional, less cheese hordes)
Plentiful Han (easier crafting)
Plentiful Herbs (^^)
Sound and Texture Overhaul
Texture Fix
Realistic Mood HD
Tw1 - Carmen and Friends (I do visit the brothels )
TWEditorEnhanced (can't remember what this does honestly, might be a save editor or level editor)

For Witcher 2, I only am using Weight Watchers mod. Keeps me slim and trim, and damn the inventory management.

For 3, Autoloot with no accidental stealing, Over 9000 (another inventory mod FFS), and TW3 HD Reworked... Which will be replaced soon by the next gen update that should be coming out sometime this year.

So, of course, the old game needs the most help.

Anyways, sorry for blathering on, but my 2c often comes with a dollar of words.

Don't watch the show.

It isn't 100% game (or novel) accurate, but there are lots of spoilers.

If you end up playing the trilogy, then watch the show. I would be interested to hear another's critique from at least a game-informed PoV. I enjoy it, but they have taken some liberties with a particular Witcher that I found disturbing. As in, WTF were you thinking dude, you're an ignoramus and this can't happen, disturbing.

Anyways that's a whole different topic!

I hope I have avoided spoilers enough, and was vague enough with the one spoilery thing I can see.

I think you're in for a fun ride. You will yawn occasionally, and in TW1 your eyes may roll out of your head once or twice. Take it with strong drink of your choice, Geralt would.

I started off with the 3rd, and, sure there are some references you may not get, but it is sufficient enough on its own to be understood.

I have the other 2, started playing the first, but have just not bothered to get around to resuming it.

However, when I bought the 3rd one, it was for console, so I can't really make a comparison for gameplay style with that in the mix.

Hope you enjoy it!

I am playing the first Witcher game and am enjoying it so far. The game engine is based on the Aurora engine from BioWare used in Neverwinter Nights. So that means I can pause the game and switch styles. The fight through Kaer Mohren was not that difficult. Sometimes when the heavy hitters would surround me I'd have trouble. Anyway cleansed the Fort of the bandits. The leaders stole the mutagens. Triss was weakened and since she allergic to magic had to create a healing potion for her. She was cured. Oh yeah Leo died. After the funeral pyre the group separated. Geralt went to Vizima. Found a way to make easy way to make cash through the fist fights.

Anyway I need a silver sword to fight monsters? Those spectral dogs almost killed me. Vesemir said he gave me a weapon but it's not in my inventory, and I checked throughout the Fort. Oh the game has a codex which is great. It gets me into the lore of the Witcher universe.

Geralt is given a silver sword at the beginning of Chapter 2. So sadly you have to deal with those barghest's without it.

Not only barghest I had to fight a ghoul.  It took forever to kill with a steel sword.  I finally remembered I could use the Aard sign which I did to knock it down then kill it with the sword.

Yep, Aard is my go to power now.  That fight with the ghoul was rather comical after two real life minutes trying to kill it I just said screw it and tried the power.  To my surprise it knocked it down and then I just stabbed it.  But I can't imagine running into a group of them.  I assume there are a couple in the crypt?  I finally got used to the combat.  Once I leveled up the Barghests are not much of a problem anymore.

talyn82 There are also some oils you can make for the weapons. Necrophage oil is in The Book of the Swallow which I think you should have by this point and should give you a nice edge against those pesky ghouls.

I had been ready, anyways, but your thread has pushed me over and I started a new run today.

Then I abruptly stopped :/

Either my memory fails me, or I am having a setup-specific issue. I cannot bind my mouse side buttons or scroll click. I think these are usually mouse button 4,5 and 6. I can bind keyboard keys and left/right click to any command, but when I try to map those buttons the game doesn't register the input.

Digging deeper, because I'm stubborn and was busy enough tending to the ill at home that that there was no real time for gaming, I found that there is no .ini

The deeper settings, of all places, are in the registry! Egads.

Anyways, I'm looking further into it, and I have several workarounds. I am just used to basing my keybinds now, across most games with "quick key" power use, on how I set up for ME3MP. Muscle memory is there, why not use it when you can? Everything but the omni-button I keep mostly the same.

I'll stop hijacking your thread now. Have fun out there, but remember the outcast despised loner that you are, and treat the people according to your mood as a result

A Witcher always gets paid.