So I just realized that playing innkeepers gives you cards in addition to the like 10 gold. Probably should have figured that out before level 30.

And that there is a button that will jump your map to the current objective. Ffs I'm bad

I somehow knew the innkeeper thing having only played two hands of gwent. Didn't know the objectives trick lol.

50 hours in and I'm only level 12.. how common is that? :0 Sounds like you should end the game around level 30, and I have about 1/3 to 1/2 of Velen completed. I'm finding out open world games are not for me since I'm very OCD about exploring everything and picking everything up and selling all the crap, which just makes most games turn in to a really crappy inventory management game. I really miss the Inn chests. I have 130 carry with my saddle, and aside from my gear and an extra weapon, I have about 90 pounds of crafting items so I can't carry much before having to unload. I also have about 15k in gold with nothing so far to spend it on. I suppose I should be buying up patterns, but the game is pretty easy so far on Death March as long as you're not fighting way over level, and even then most enemies 20 levels higher than you are manageable if you want to take 20 minutes, so I don't really feel any need to mess around much with crafting or itemizing aside from making the best swords available and using the proper oils.

The story missions are awesome, and the only reason I'm still in it. The random encounter stuff is usually pretty boring, like the nest or treasure hunt missions, with a few interesting sidequests in each area. Managing information is also a huge chore, in the previous two games I always read up on the books, notes and Dandelion's biographical descriptions of the quests, but here it's just information overload and I've ignored it all for the most part. Also, the way quest levels and enemy levels are randomly scattered around the huge areas makes it a real chore to always be backtracking and not able to completely clear through areas in an efficient manner. I like to ride around and having to use the signpost instant traveling just to make things manageable ruins it a bit for me.

Basically I wish they had made things a bit smaller with less fluff missions and a more logical flow to things, but the main story missions are amazing and I wish I weren't so OCD about exploring stuff apart from that.

90 pounds of crafting stuff seems like a lot for that level. Are you dismantling the junk into the crafting mats? Skins can take up a decent amount of space if you aren't turning it into leather.

I spent a few k turning a bunch of junk in to mats fairly early on and just sell all the junk now. I should go through and sell off the stuff, but there're so many crafting mats and I haven't really looked at what I might eventually need that I just deal with it.

As I said earlier playing with POI off is a better way to play imo, this also seems to be the consensus on the W3 reddit.

I hardly ever use fast travel and it returns a sense of discovery. I often am just going to places on the map just for exploration, its nice if I find something, but I enjoy just riding around on roach checking the scenery.

I would not like a more "logical flow" to missions as it would make the game more linear. Wish they would tone down the huge XP rewards for story missions tho as it means I am constantly managing when to do them so as to not get over leveled for the witcher contracts which are the best side missions imo. Though some of the secondary quests have been great to.

The story missions are excellent though later on there are two many ride here just for a chat then ride here just for a chat missions.

71 hours played and I haven't even moved on from Novigrad (and won't for quite some time yet).

No idea how they put so much stuff in this and still somehow made pretty much all of it fun to play.

I finally focused on gwent, got addicted and now there's nobody left to play other than innkeeps/merchants/smiths and stuff.

That's where I'm at and I'm also pretty sure a quest bugged and didn't give me a rare I need to complete the collect em all quest.

Game is just a content nuke that leaves you feeling a bit like Mr Creosote.

Dont have the wafer thin mint.

Kinda annoying Gwent is so easy, I've lost 1 match total and that was back when I didn't have any heroes and opponent played 6. It is just so hard to lose when opponents effectively start with 7 cards vs your 10.

Fool's Gold quest was quite fun, although it fairly hard to find.

I didn't even realize the power of spy cards until I played that gap toothed dwarf in the tournament. It was smooth sailing after that. I hope they put out some DLC devoted entirely to gwent and raise the difficulty.

The simplest balance fix for spys would probably make them draw cards from opponent's deck instead of yours.

I've only glanced at the this thread. I may be taking a break from Destiny and this was on my maybe list. It looks like sort of a Dragon Age game except with more actual action. Is the combat decently smooth? Is it too overwhelming with quest type stuff or pretty easy to at least pinpoint what you are supposed to do (main quest wise that is)? Thanks

+1 to that question. How is the combat? Does it get too easy?

You'll probably get some differing opinions, but I found the combat to be the weakest part of the game. It doesn't get in the way, but it's not very interesting. Even on the hardest difficulty, Death March, there isn't much of a challenge. Combat mainly consists of spamming a single sword attack, and for a few enemies, using a parry to make them vulnerable.

Something that may be a huge issue to some is how scattered the game is. The game world is absolutely ginormous, and there are no clear "areas" in terms of level progression. The game seems to end at about level 35, and you'll find enemies and quests all along that range scattered right next to each other throughout the game. Since the combat isn't too difficult, you can generally manage most missions if you're willing to sit there and fight for 10-15min against the really high level monsters, or just come back later. It's pretty immersion breaking to kill a huge hulking level 12 Ogre on your level and then a few minutes away have level 25 Drowners that are some of the easiest fodder enemies in the game drive you away, and stuff like this happens all the time. Other than that, the main quest and a few very beefy side-quests are the real draw of the game, and offer over a hundred hours of content just by themselves. The quality remains consistently high, with great voice-acting. If you hate non-controllable cut-scenes, you might not like the game though as you'll spend a lot of time watching them.

This game is great, you should all buy it.

Less questions and wondering, more buying and playing W3 imo.

Agreed. I just bought it today and will see for myself.

I'm only about an hour and a half in and it seems like it is similar to Dragon Age so far (but potentially much better). Do I need to play that early card game or can I skip it (from the first village visit)? I don't want to waste time on a side game like that unless it is really worth it.

Buy all the cards from innkeepers so you don't have to go back to them all later when you inevitably get hooked

It doesn't affect anything or give any unique items, so you don't really have to play it. There is one actual quest that you can only unlock by first playing the the Gwent: "Region/friends xyz" quests.

Thank you. I am sure I will be spending enough time just playing the game that if there wasn't any important quest items it gives you than I probably won't play it.

Gwent is awesome. Play it.