boasts one of the largest open-worlds in gaming, with hundreds of side quests, loads of characters, and many new mechanics to learn. It’s unsurprising first-time players find themselves overwhelmed and unsure where to start.
Every gamer with the benefit of hindsight wishes they could go back and start their favorite games again for the first time. So, with that in mind, there are certain things that, if the player learns right at the beginning of the game, will help ease them into the vast world of The Witcher.
White Orchard
Geralt is best played using a mixture of hack and slash, oils, potions, and signs, so it's worth taking the time to explore White Orchard thoroughly and become acclimatized to the mechanics. Once the player gets the hang of the best strategies to use for each enemy they encounter, this intense combat gameplay really adds to the overall feel of the game.
That's why when Geralt is introduced in this much smaller initial map, a tiny town with limited surroundings, its best to take advantage of this "beginner" stage to adapt to the world of Witcher 3 and learn how best to utilize the combat mechanics and adjust to the types of quests and side-quests this huge game has to offer.
Signs
Geralt's Witcher abilities include some short-term magic 'spells' that can be used in combat or negotiations. Axii for hypnosis and persuasion, Quen for guarding, Aard for a blast of telekinetic energy, Igni for fire, and Yrden for magical traps. They can be upgraded throughout the game - but players should choose carefully as they won't be able to fully upgrade all 5 signs.
Different enemies are more susceptible to some signs than others and cooldown times mean the player has to strategize their use carefully. Take the time at the start to learn how to fight incorporating these signs into the usual hack-and-slash combat style, and it will pay off in the long run as enemies become larger and harder to take down.
The Importance Of Geralt's Codex
First-timers to the Witcher series will find themselves meeting and talking to characters who are totally unrecognizable, and yet who know Geralt. Geralt will allude to losing his memory, to explain away events in the previous games, but he still occasionally references times and places that are unfamiliar. He clearly has past relationships and history with many of those encountered along the way, and as a new player, it's easy for someone to find themselves completely lost as to who's who and what Geralt's relationship with them is - not to mention why the overall world of Witcher 3 is in the state it's in.
This is where the codex can be instrumental in providing much-needed context. Although sometimes a bit laborious to wade through, the codex in Witcher 3 is invaluable - it will give depth, history, and understanding to Geralt's relationships and is more than worth sinking some time into as a brand new player to the series.
Oils and Potions
Sometimes oils and potions can seem like an unnecessary extra burden on the gameplay of open-world RPGs, with many players simply not bothering to utilize this extra ability, weighing up the time they take to fiddle with against their effectiveness in battle.
But this is an area in which Witcher 3 excels more than the average open-world. The oils and potions are almost integral to some fights, granting huge boosts in ability, power, or protection. It's well worth taking the time to learn how these work and how to include them in Geralt's battle strategy.
Places Of Power
Places of Power can boost players' Signs for a short period of time, but more importantly, when they are first discovered, they give Geralt an extra ability point to utilize to improve player stats. Some Places of Power are easy to find and get to, whereas others are more tricky, hidden away, or guarded by high-level creatures, meaning there is more of a fight to receive that extra point.
There are 32 Places of Power spread across the world of Witcher 3. When Geralt is near one, the game will give signals to let the player know there's something to uncover nearby. It's worth players taking time to track down a few, if not all, of the Places of Power, and if they find them all, there's a trophy in it too.
Witcher Senses
Geralt's Witcher powers give the player some extra added perks, like the aforementioned use of Signs, but another thing they grant Geralt is called Witcher Senses. Utilizing his enhanced sense of smell, sound and sight, Geralt can track the source of blood trails, identify objects of interest and examine clues at crime scenes to find those responsible.
This extra perk is useful for side quests and identifying items to forage in the forests. Although not a massive addition to the game, it's a nice extra perk that adds to Geralt's otherworldliness and magical abilities.
Contract Negotiations
Side quests are part of the fun of any open-world, even if they can get a bit cliche, and in the world of Witcher 3, these can be found either on notice boards, by talking with townspeople, or simply encountered along the way. As is usual, side quests come with some sort of reward from the person asking for help - and the player can usually squeeze a few extra pennies out of the person asking.
The ability to barter for more money is a fun addition that adds some life to the side quests, but the player needs to be careful. Push too much, and they may simply reject Geralt altogether; too little and the player risks not getting paid what the job is worth.
Gwent Cards
Although at first Gwent can seem like a mindless diversion, many players actually find the strategy card game an enjoyable and addictive addition to Witcher. If desired, Gwent can be largely avoided, except for at one point during the main storyline where Geralt is expected to play someone known as 'The Baron'; but many gamers find themselves sucked into the little side game and its popularity even resulted in a free spin-off Gwent: The Witcher Card Game.
Plus, one of the trophies available in Witcher 3 is 'Card Collector' which is received for picking up every unique card in the game - so from the very beginning players should purchase every card they come across. Most are available to buy from merchants and tavern owners, but some can only be collected by beating specific players encountered during the game's side quests.
Geralt's Appearance
Geralt is known for his rugged good looks - the silver hair, the golden cat-like eyes, and his scruffy beard (although the Geralt from the books hates his facial hair). Because the story follows a specific character, Dragon Age: Inquisition; but that doesn't mean the player can't have a little fun with Geralt's appearance.
Once the wider world of Witcher opens to the player, there are certain towns where Geralt can visit a barber to alter his head and facial hair. Different barbers offer different styles for the player to try on (for a small fee of course).
Where The DLC Fits
The Witcher DLC's Blood and Wine and Heart of Stone are big individual stories. Gamers who bought them, or the Game of the Year edition where they're included, may be wondering when it's best in the game to pause the main story and play through the DLC.
The first DLC, Heart of Stone can be played at any time, but it requires the player to be level 32 or higher, so it's not recommended to take this on until after Skellige at the very earliest. Blood and Wine, however, should not be played at all until after the main quest line has been completed. The second DLC serves as an epilogue to the overall game, and playing it earlier will result in missed opportunities, quests, and a few spoilers.
