The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

[theshadowcult]

I hated The Witcher 1 (mainly due to the awkward combat), never played the sequel, but I'm loving this new installment! What a game!

So my question is, is W2 anywhere near as good as W3?

Yeah, its like a smaller version of w2, bit more challenging, and not open world, but its still goode.

[SoCalMX70]

I hated The Witcher 1 (mainly due to the awkward combat), never played the sequel, but I'm loving this new installment! What a game!

So my question is, is W2 anywhere near as good as W3?

When people ask me about this series I always tell them to play 2 and 3. 2 gives you the whole story to 1 at the start along with some important choices, so it is not necessary to play 1. I personally DID play W1 all the way through, but like you said it has awkward combat and its just overall outdated at this point. Great story though.

Anyway, 2 is good. It is much smaller in scale and not as open world as 3, but it is a great story and plays well. The combat is pretty close to 3, especially after they did the whole 2.0/enhanced edition update. Regardless, I'd recommend 2 just for the story alone. You can beat the game in 30-35 hours pretty easily. I just checked Steam last night while discussing this with a friend and I have 74 hours into it with 2 COMPLETE play throughs.

[Exposed]

I personally liked Witcher 1 over Witcher 2.

Witcher 2 felt much too short and limited, and far too linear. Witcher 1 had several open sandbox areas for each chapter with lots to do inside each one.

Witcher 2, if never played before, will probably feel like one really long main mission in Witcher 3.

[Meteor_of_War]

I hated The Witcher 1 (mainly due to the awkward combat), never played the sequel, but I'm loving this new installment! What a game!

So my question is, is W2 anywhere near as good as W3?

W2 is much more like W3, and much less like W1.

I would suggest stop playing W3 right now and go play W2 first. I think it would be a little hard to go back to 2 after playing 3 which is vastly superior in every regard.

[Higgy10]

I personally liked Witcher 1 over Witcher 2.

Witcher 2 felt much too short and limited, and far too linear. Witcher 1 had several open sandbox areas for each chapter with lots to do inside each one.

Witcher 2, if never played before, will probably feel like one really long main mission in Witcher 3.

I feel the same. I thought 1 was much better than 2

[globalist]

Thanks!

One more thing. The performance ain't all that smooth for me - getting 30FPS on average with the hardware in my sig. Now I know I'm long overdue for an upgrade, but do you think it is mostly the CPU holding me back?

Reason I ask is I started playing a week ago on my old 1920x1200 monitor and now that I've gone 2560x1440 I'm not noticing a significant performance hit from that.

SSAO, no AA, no V-Sync, no Motion Blur, other settings at High.

Edit: although here I see the game is performing only slightly better even on top-noth hardware at my resolution??

http://www.techspot.com/review/1006-the-witcher-3-benchmarks/page3.html

[globalist]

Anyone see this working in the 1.12 patch?

"Introduces UI enhancement whereby herb name is now displayed above available interaction."

I don't...

[Tyr-Sog]

I've got 40 hours in to 3. I'm contemplating on stopping and playing part 2 but I feel I'm to far in to 3 now?

[Eisberg]

I've got 40 hours in to 3. I'm contemplating on stopping and playing part 2 but I feel I'm to far in to 3 now?

Where you at in the storyline?

[Tyr-Sog]

Where you at in the storyline?

I'm looking for Dandelion.

[Meteor_of_War]

I'm looking for Dandelion.

If you just focus on main questing you've got about 20-30 hours or so to the endgame.

[Tyr-Sog]

If you just focus on main questing you've got about 20-30 hours or so to the endgame.

Yeah, I'm going to stay the coarse..

[Meteor_of_War]

Yeah, I'm going to stay the coarse..

The only other thing I'd do personally is just make sure I've got the most upgraded Witcher gear for my current level.

[Tyr-Sog]

The only other thing I'd do personally is just make sure I've got the most upgraded Witcher gear for my current level.

I mean just playing 3 in general, not just the MQL. I enjoy the side quests.

It's not to say I can't go back and play part 2. I guess it would be like watching starwars.

[globalist]

Thanks!

One more thing. The performance ain't all that smooth for me - getting 30FPS on average with the hardware in my sig. Now I know I'm long overdue for an upgrade, but do you think it is mostly the CPU holding me back?

Reason I ask is I started playing a week ago on my old 1920x1200 monitor and now that I've gone 2560x1440 I'm not noticing a significant performance hit from that.

SSAO, no AA, no V-Sync, no Motion Blur, other settings at High.

Edit: although here I see the game is performing only slightly better even on top-noth hardware at my resolution??

http://www.techspot.com/review/1006-...rks/page3.html

Anyone?

[globalist]

Anyone see this working in the 1.12 patch?

"Introduces UI enhancement whereby herb name is now displayed above available interaction."

I don't...

Anyone?

[Tyr-Sog]

Anyone?

maybe try turning down or off nvidia hairworks?

[Eisberg]

I'm looking for Dandelion.

Even after finding Danilion there is still a ton left to do. You are about 1/3 the way through the main storyline.

[Tyr-Sog]

Even after finding Danilion there is still a ton left to do. You are about 1/3 the way through the main storyline.

hmm, and 2 can be pretty short, 20-30 hours right?

Maybe I'll give it a go. With it being winter I seem to be able to game a little more than normal. I can follow the mainline in 2, pound it out then jump back to 3.

I was surprised to see 40 hours played on 3 already.

[SD-[Inc]]

hmm, and 2 can be pretty short, 20-30 hours right?

Maybe I'll give it a go. With it being winter I seem to be able to game a little more than normal. I can follow the mainline in 2, pound it out then jump back to 3.

I was surprised to see 40 hours played on 3 already.

You need to realize that with W2 there are 2 branching storylines. So, to play the whole game you really need to play it twice. These branches are like 2/3 of the game is different depending on a choice you make early in the game.

[globalist]

maybe try turning down or off nvidia hairworks?

I already did, didn't help much. But my point is this indeed seems to be the new Crysis - I mean can anyone run this game decently (<40FPS on average) even on latest hardware? Not according to those bennchmarks I quoted it seems...

[Mangler]

You must have looked at some hairworks enabled benches.

[Tyr-Sog]

I already did, didn't help much. But my point is this indeed seems to be the new Crysis - I mean can anyone run this game decently (<40FPS on average) even on latest hardware? Not according to those bennchmarks I quoted it seems...

I am with the laptop in my sig.

vsync - on
Res - 1920x1200
hairworks - on
hairworks aa - 4
hairworks preset- low
BG char - ultra
shadows - high
terrain - ultra
water - high
grass - ultra
texture - ultra
foliage - high
detail - ultra

m blur - on
blur - on
aa - on
bloom - on
sharpening - low
ambient - ssao
dof - on
ca - on
vig - on
light shapes - on

[Meteor_of_War]

Thanks!

One more thing. The performance ain't all that smooth for me - getting 30FPS on average with the hardware in my sig. Now I know I'm long overdue for an upgrade, but do you think it is mostly the CPU holding me back?

Reason I ask is I started playing a week ago on my old 1920x1200 monitor and now that I've gone 2560x1440 I'm not noticing a significant performance hit from that.

SSAO, no AA, no V-Sync, no Motion Blur, other settings at High.

Edit: although here I see the game is performing only slightly better even on top-noth hardware at my resolution??

http://www.techspot.com/review/1006-...rks/page3.html

I'm running a 2600k one gen up from yours and I run the game fine at 1440 with hairworks off. 60 fps most places. I've got a 980 Ti though.

I think you're system is right where it should be as far as performance. The 7970 is getting a bit long in the tooth.

[Dungeoncrawler]

taking a break from sli. sold my titans and replaced it with a 980ti ftw upgrade. decided to drop a 660ti in for good measure to take care of any physx work needing to be done. so far i'm very happy with the performance upgrade. back on topic, the new card combo works great with witcher 3.

[Tyr-Sog]

Just finished the Kings Gambit in Skellige. Awesome quest line!

[Meteor_of_War]

Skellige is the best area of the game. Just loved the Viking setting for the Witcher world, it works so perfectly.

[Tyr-Sog]

Skellige is the best area of the game. Just loved the Viking setting for the Witcher world, it works so perfectly.

Yeah, I jumped back on the main quest line but I think there's a lot more on Skellige to do. I'm going to go back.

[GanjaStar]

mean can anyone run this game decently (<40FPS on average) even on latest hardware?

foliage and shadows on ultra require a 980ti even on 1080p to maintain 60 fps minimum 99&#37; of time.

Just two two settings lowered though, and you can get a ton of fps back. talking 20+fps and higher gains in forests.

So with any other card, just lower those two down a notch if you need more fps.

[Mangler]

A 980 with an overclock can handle 1080p close enough to the 99% requirement.

IMO, the 980 is good enough for 1080p and the TI is what you need at 1440p.

[Danny Nissan]

A 980 with an overclock can handle 1080p close enough to the 99% requirement.

IMO, the 980 is good enough for 1080p and the TI is what you need at 1440p.

I played the game maxed out at 1200p, incl hairworks, sharpening on low though - doesn't affect performance afaik but i dont like how the game looks on high. I'd say you're right, at 1080p maybe 99%, at 1200p around 90%.

You do need the OC for the 980 though, e.g. in 'heavy' forrest stock got 52fps while OC netted 62fps (huge boost from OC).

In any way, I would not consider this a "new crysis", far from. I bet with a 980 Ti I could cap it at 60fps 99-100% at 1080/1200p. There was no single card that could max out crysis on release.

[globalist]

Man, I'm really not willing to shell out upwards of 600EUR (980TI or god forbid the Titan that's even more) just to play this game at 60FPS.

Will a GTX970 be an acceptable upgrade over my current card? I can get it for 350EUR.

Or what about a R9 390X that costs 100EUR more? Is that pretty much on par with a GTX980?

Thanks!

[GanjaStar]

just lower shadows and foliage distance one notch (and forget hairworks, of course), and cards in the 970/390 range will play it at constant 60fps at 1080p, maybe slight drops in the square of novigrad during some times of day, depending on your CPU.

a 390x and a 980, imo are not great buys atm unless you find some great discount. either go 970/390, or 980ti.

[globalist]

just lower shadows and foliage distance one notch (and forget hairworks, of course), and cards in the 970/390 range will play it at constant 60fps at 1080p, maybe slight drops in the square of novigrad during some times of day, depending on your CPU.

a 390x and a 980, imo are not great buys atm unless you find some great discount. either go 970/390, or 980ti.

Thing is I'm playing at 1440p.

[Seyiji]

just lower shadows and foliage distance one notch (and forget hairworks, of course), and cards in the 970/390 range will play it at constant 60fps at 1080p, maybe slight drops in the square of novigrad during some times of day, depending on your CPU.

a 390x and a 980, imo are not great buys atm unless you find some great discount. either go 970/390, or 980ti.

Ganja plz give 1440p settings

[GanjaStar]

Thing is I'm playing at 1440p.

yeah, you will need a 980ti for eye candy and constant 60 fps at that res, and forget about maxed even with a 980ti, if you want constant 60 fps at 1440p.

a 970/390 should do around 45+ on average with the above mentioned settings at 1440p

Ganja plz give 1440p settings

this is a save file I have, that can be used to setup a 60 fps (or whatever you are aiming for)

the fps you get here, is the lowest you will see in the game.

http://www.mediafire.com/download/8l31bb1g76j7k2a/witcher3_bench_save.7z

so tinker with the settings, starting with shadows and foliage distance one notch down, and go from there until you are happy.

[globalist]

I'm not aiming for constant 60FPS as that's out of my price range, apparently. Only asking if it's worth it to upgrade from a 7970 to a 970, or a 390X maybe, if I want to have something better than my current 30FPS at 1440p.

[GanjaStar]

check the various benches online. 7970ghz edition=280x pretty much. most benches online will have the 280x included, so you can see if the fps gain is worth it to you.

[theshadowcult]

Ganja, where is that save located in game?

[GanjaStar]

Ganja, where is that save located in game?

it's in a forest south east of white orchard, close to a small bandit camp around a fireplace.

this is what it looks like on a friend's 980ti (heavily oc'ed one.), ultra preset+AA(meaning hairworks off) 1440p