[SlimeDynamiteD]

Even though I love reaading the discussion on politics, which I'm quite interested in (Knight, I read your blogs and they're truly great! Well written and really interesting! Can't waut for the next one Great job on them! ) I do believe you may be going too far on the plot behind Henselt's fertility, I think, as the occam's razor theory says, that the easiest explanation for something is most likely to be the right one. In this case Henselt being infertile from birth. Not everything is plotted, even though this is convenient for the Lodge who probably support the, in their eyes, best ruler after Henselt's death so they can rule Kaedwen like a puppet government would be a huge gain to their cause.
Though I very much doubt they'd plotted to poison Henselt and thereby making him infertile.

[Guy N'wah]

SlimeDynamiteD said:

Even though I love reaading the discussion on politics, which I'm quite interested in (Knight, I read your blogs and they're truly great! Well written and really interesting! Can't waut for the next one /> Great job on them! />) I do believe you may be going too far on the plot behind Henselt's fertility, I think, as the occam's razor theory says, that the easiest explanation for something is most likely to be the right one. In this case Henselt being infertile from birth. Not everything is plotted, even though this is convenient for the Lodge who probably support the, in their eyes, best ruler after Henselt's death so they can rule Kaedwen like a puppet government would be a huge gain to their cause.
Though I very much doubt they'd plotted to poison Henselt and thereby making him infertile. ›››

In this case, Occam's razor makes the wrong cut. It's clearly stated, in game and more than once, that Henselt had a son who was killed in a hunting accident. It's also stated that Henselt had been trying to father another heir, unsuccessfully, and that is why the sorceresses are so interested in his case.

Henselt's contempt for sorceresses runs so deep that I am not sure he would tolerate one around his court after he gets his mojo back. The Lodge would have to have put a condition on their proffered cure that he would be unable to break, and we don't hear that they plan to do anything more than rely on his gratitude, which is not likely to last.

[KnightofPhoenix]

Costin Moroianu said:

Then there's Radovid building fortresses and armies except it's never stated that he does in the game. Certainly we know he's created a strong royal army but we don't hear anything about fortresses. ›››

IIRC, there is mention that the Order built a big fortress in Redania with his blessings.

[KnightofPhoenix]

Dragon said:

What you have to remember is that most people on this forum, myself included, are not as politically savvy as you. There eventually comes a time in these discussions where you start seeing things that I don't, hence "moving a mountain". It was intended to be a compliment. />/> ›››

I took it as such />

I have to add that if Saskia does not impress me that much politically or militarily, I have to say that her leadership and charisma do. It's extremely hard to manage such a diverse and opposing factions, in the military or day to day affairs. I remember being impressed by her in by Act 1. I became more so in Act 2. It's very impressive that she can manage to lead human peasants, dwarves, Scoia'Tael, nobles, and knights. It is a feat that reminds me of Hannibal himself, in terms of leading a very diverse army.

EDIT: also thanks Slimedynamite!

[Costin Moroianu]

KnightofPhoenix said:

IIRC, there is mention that the Order built a big fortress in Redania with his blessings. ›››

Actually no. Siegfried if he is Grandmaster mentions that he plans to make a castle there, the biggest in the north and name it Barienmurg, a clear reference to Marienburg the greatest castle the Teutonic Knights had.

[KnightofPhoenix]

Costin Moroianu said:

Actually no. Siegfried if he is Grandmaster mentions that he plans to make a castle there, the biggest in the north and name it Barienmurg, a clear reference to Marienburg the greatest castle the Teutonic Knights had. ›››

So yea, Radovid is planning to erect a fortress, giving the Order his blessings, land and money.

[Costin Moroianu]

Or the Order is planning to do so, anyway not consistent with what Shillard mentions considering that he says that Radovid is constructing fortresses.

[Bloth]

Just because it's not stated impicitly in the game doesn't mean it's not happening, one of the best things about these games, they don't see the need to hold our hand and explain everything. Too many folk speak of Retcons when we have too little information to deduce anything, look at all of the Shani fuss, and that was simply explained in a few sentences that were true to her and Geralts character. He's not going to stop being a witcher, and she's not going to wait forever for him to settle down.

I'd rather wait and see if there's an in game explanation for these things before deciding whether or not they're a plot hole, retcon or whatever. Perhaps we'll have a chance to find out more if the open world of the Witcher 3 revolves around Aedirn and the path south, speak with those around king Demavend and his enemies.

[Costin Moroianu]

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look at all of the Shani fuss, and that was simply explained in a few sentences that were true to her and Geralts character.

The whole Shani thing was still handled very poorly even with the journal. You're telling me that Geralt and Dandelion would talk about all manner things and not touch on this especially considering the notion that Dandelion left a week after Jacques's death while Geralt was still with Shani and then he finds Geralt together with Triss?

Then there's the notion of Zoltan and Geralt being best buds if you sided with the Order, ignoring that Zoltan was royally pissed to the point of calling Geralt a bastard for doing that.

Then with Triss there's the notion that everything that happened between Shani and Geralt is irrelevant to her considering she acts the exact same way regardless of whether or not you romanced her in TW1. You might ask: Why do you I give a shit, well that's kinda the problem. I don't give a shit for Triss because of this very issue. Now while I do doubt I would have cared much for her either I likely would have paused before making the decision between her and Roche, as it stands it was a no brainer to me, something I made without even giving a fuck for the other option ( and while I generally do make decisions rather quickly I least ask myself if the other option is worth it ) and if I do that with a major decision in an RPG as a player then yes the developer has dropped the ball, big time.

The journal did solve a part of the problem and that is why answering why Geralt is in best with Triss at the beginning of TW2, but let's be real here: They didn't give a damn about our W1 choices even when they should have mattered.



I am not asking for hand holding ( after spending WEEKS arguing for a single difficulty level in TW3 and a challenging one to boot I'd DARE anyone to accuse me of asking for hand holding ), I am asking for consistency between what is in the marketing and in game, something which they did fail to deliver on several accounts. Though on some these accounts I am actually glad they didn't because having Nilfgaard as a Third Reich would have pissed me off.

[Bloth]

I think Dandelion wouldn't be shocked at all, he knows them both, and he knows Triss. Her seizing on Geralt's weakness is what she's been doing ever since he awoke from fleeing the Wild Hunt, with the feeling that a sorceress was important to him. My closest friends don't ask me about my lasses, i'd consider it bloody rude if they did, dudes don't do that.

Any ill feelings engendered towards Geralt by Zoltan at the end of an Order run probably ended when he slew their grandmaster, if not then it was probably forgiven when saved from the gibbet in Flotsam.

Triss is an important friend even at the end of a Shani run of the first Witcher game, her ire towards Geralt will always pass, because as we all know she's hopelessly besotted by him. In my opinion to the point where she's used vague stirring memories of Yennefer to entrap him, and that's one of the reasons why I also dislike her to an extent (but also value the help she's given.)

I'm not denying that the save import was not all it could have been, that's a widely held opinion that I think is valid, hell it diminishes Aerondight to vendor trash. Just that in a lot of cases we simply have not been told anything in game, and thus cannot judge what is the reason for its exclusion.

[WrathAscending]

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Though on some these accounts I am actually glad they didn't because having Nilfgaard as a Third Reich would have pissed me off.

Erm... have you read the books? Nilfgaard draws extremely heavily on Germany of World War II for influences. The Vrihedd Brigade wears lightning bolt insignia, there's to focus on "racial purity" that makes no sense since being "racially pure" means belonging to a different group than the one supposedly being promoted as "pure", and and and and and.

[ZinuX]

WrathAscending said:

Erm... have you read the books? Nilfgaard draws extremely heavily on Germany of World War II for influences. The Vrihedd Brigade wears lightning bolt insignia, there's to focus on "racial purity" that makes no sense since being "racially pure" means belonging to a different group than the one supposedly being promoted as "pure", and and and and and. ›››

While the lightning bolt does make a case for a foundation on the Third Reich, the Nilfgaardian exceptionalism does not specifically. The Roman Empire and many others who suggest to be the former's successor employed this to encourage their expansionalism, including the Third (Roman) Reich.

Nilfgaard resembles the Roman empire the most (judging from TW2). The Nilfgaardian expansion is distinctly Roman. With their highly disciplined military and heavy use of cavalry, pit up against more barbaric nations. Caesar's 'de Bello Gallico' is clearly paraphrased, maybe even cited, by Shilard a couple of lines, with the whole civilising and bringing peace to the conquered states propaganda.

Taking pride in their alleged Elder Blood heritage (Romulus & Remus) and language are also typical. Especially with Nilfgaard being more egalitarian towards the elder races. That was something the Romans employed in it's kingdom years to attract more people. In addition the internal struggle for power of the Nilfgaardian aristocrats is very similar to Rome's history of poisonings, coups and assassinations.

[WrathAscending]

We haven't seen the Nilfgaardian Empire much in the games, but the books draw very heavily on WWII Germany for its ethos and symbolism. Short of having Emhyr grow a moustache, publish Mein Kampf and adopt the Swastika as their national emblem, I'm not really sure how much clearer Sapkowski could have made thed parallels.

"Nilfgaardian exceptionalism" in this cse was a reference to how they see those with an Elven heritage as being superior and even base their own language around the Elder Tongue, yet they treat actual Elves very poorly, in a manner similar to the mis-approprpiation of the Aryan ideal. There are many more examples, those are just two that immediately sprang to mind.

[Costin Moroianu]

If they do treat elves very poorly then how exactly did the elves fight for them during the war? I find it difficult to believe.

As for the Brigade, uhm you mean the elven Brigade during the wars? Of course they are racist they are bloody Scoia'Tael.

It's one thing to say those with elven heritage are considered superior, sorta how many nobles were considered superior because of their blood versus the peasants, but it's a completely different thing compared to the genocidal policy of The Third Reich.

But if you are right I seriously wouldn't mind if CDPR throws the portrayal of Nilgaard by Sapkowski in the trash. I do have a hard time seeing any parrels between Emhyr and Hitler besides the notion they were both leaders who wanted to conquer land ( though you could that for hundreds of leaders throughout history ).

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Just that in a lot of cases we simply have not been told anything in game, and thus cannot judge what is the reason for its exclusion.

With this I strongly disagree, the reason of their exclusion was very likely that CDPR did not give a damn to bother with your choices in TW1. I find it difficult to believe that it would have been so difficult for CDPR to include the Shani journal entry with the vanilla game, they just didn't give a damn about it.

It took months of Shani fan feedback to get them to implement just THAT.

[WrathAscending]

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If they do treat elves very poorly then how exactly did the elves fight for them during the war? I find it difficult to believe.

They were promised Dol Blathanna, and Nilfgaard had at least treated the Elves a bit better than the Northern Kingdoms. Still not well, mind you, but better. Then when the time came, Emhyr and/or Francesca threw them under the proverbial bus because they were no longer useful.

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It's one thing to say those with elven heritage are considered superior, sorta how many nobles were considered superior because of their blood versus the peasants, but it's a completely different thing compared to the genocidal policy of The Third Reich.

Not talking genocide here, merely the eugenic (technically euthenics, really, but since the Nazis couldn't even get their Aryan race notions right why be surprised about their shaky grasp on other areas of biology?) ideals of creating a version of humanity that is inherently superior.

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But if you are right I seriously wouldn't mind if CDPR throws the portrayal of Nilgaard by Sapkowski in the trash.

Why? I know that there will always be a section of an any audience who will reject any depiction of Nazis in games or other media (indeed, I believe Germany itself has laws about it that made the version of Wolfenstein they got rather different to everyone else) but while the Nilfgaardian Empire is heavily and evidently based around the idieologies and trappings of WW II-era Germany, I don't believe that is a bad thing on an intrinsic level.

The books certainly don't shy away from showing those similarities as hypocritical, stupid, or repugnant; Nilfgaard is the "bad guy" to the "good guys" of the united Northern Kingdoms. If it was unambiguously glorifying Nazism, then sure; some things are just vile and should be treated with the contempt they deserve, which in the case of Nazism is all the contempt, ever.

But that doesn't mean you can't tell a good story by exploring some of those elements, or that such depictions should be avoided purely because of their source. Terrible as Nazism was, it's still a force in the world today, and as repugnant as their ideology is in total the reason its adherents have hung around for so long is because they are able to leverage individual parts of it to their advantage in gaining new recruits. I think any kind of media that shows those ideologies in action is an opportunity to present alternative means by which they can be used, and thus for the consumer of the media to be able to spot and keep away from them and where they lead.

I think by this point CDPR has proven that they can handle the level of maturity and nuance to address the issue in a worthwhile fashion. I don't think we're going to see Nilfgaardians goose stepping everywhere and Sig Heil-ing, with Nazism (or near-Nazi ideas) played up as the best thing since self-slicing bread.