To showcase the flora and fauna embedded deeply in the expansive world of RPGs, The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt has to be at the very top. Having been developed by CD Projekt Red, this unraveled complex plot draws players into a vast open world filled to the brim with quests, characters, and lore. For new and old players, navigating through the sprawling adventure can be quite demanding. Through this full walk-through, you will be taken through all the main story quests and side quests; tips given that will enable The Witcher 3 to be experienced the most.
1. Getting Started: Basics and Preparation
1.1. Understanding the Game
Before finally going through the main storyline, it is important to sit back and have a good look at what The Witcher 3 is all about. The game involves a narrative that is interesting and simultaneously has a complex system for combat, crafting, and exploration. As Geralt of Rivia, a Witcher with some dare I say, fairly super, magical powers, your main aim is to find Ciri, who is Geralt’s adopted daughter, in a world that is already on the verge of war.
1.2. Character Creation and Customization:
A conventional character creation system does not exist in The Witcher 3. You will be playing Geralt, who has a set of attributes and always comes with a fixed set of abilities. However, Geralt’s equipment and skills can be customized:
Skills: Spend skill points that you get from leveling up to improve Geralt’s combat skills in alchemy and signs (magical powers).
Gear: Change swords, armor, and accessories. Each item has a different bonus that can aid you in battle or keep you alive.
1.3. Difficulty Settings
Determining which level of difficulty to set is important for the best possible experience. The Witcher 3 offers four levels of difficulty:
Story and Sword: Designed for players who just want the story with very few combat challenges.
Blood and Broken Bones: A little harsher than Story and Sword; it demands some mixing of combat strategies.
Death March: Considered by many to be the hardest difficulty for this particular game. This is where a learning experience and a mixture of art and science really come into play to carry you through each combat scenario.
1.4. Important Tips for Beginners
Save Throughout: Save your game file on a regular basis, to not lose out on progress, especially just before difficult encounters.
Explore Thoroughly: Give it time to explore the world; it is rich with small treasures, side quests, and lore.
Manage Inventory: Keep your inventory clean, discount, or dismantle unnecessary items for free space.
2. Main Story Walkthrough
2.1. Prologue: The Beginning-The Beast of White Orchard
The game begins in White Orchard, where you are taught the basics of fighting, exploring, and interacting with NPCs. Now, follow these steps:
Meet the Nilfgaardian Officer: Proceed to the Nilfgaardian outpost and talk to the officer about the situation in that area.
Search for Yennefer: Follow the quest marker in search of Yennefer, Geralt’s love interest-a series of clues to follow and a bit of early combat.
2.2. Act 1: Velen and Novigrad
“The Nilfgaardian Connection”
Once you leave White Orchard behind, your travels lead you to Velen and Novigrad. The key quests here are:
“Bloody Baron”: Investigate the Bloody Baron’s estate in Velen. This questline dwells into the Baron’s family history and various local matters. It is one of the major quests of the game because of its depth in narrative.
“Family Matters”: Proceed to work on the Baron’s past and solve his family problems. The quest has several endings based on your choices.
“The Last Wish”: Go to Novigrad and meet a bunch of characters involved in the search for Ciri, introducing several important people and fleshing out the main storyline.
Exploring Novigrad
Novigrad is a busy city with plenty of side quests, Gwent matches, and memorable characters. Some side quests include:
“A Dangerous Game”: Fight your way through a tournament.
“The Secret of the Eternal Fire”: Investigate the cult’s activities and influence in the city.
2.3. Act 2: Skellige and Beyond
“The Skellige Isles”
The adventure now leads you to the Skellige Isles with rugged terrain and fierce warriors. Some important quests include:
“The King is Dead-Long Live the King!”: Assist the political skullduggery surrounding Skellige’s king’s death. This involves interaction with the various factions and characters residing in Skellige.
“The Cave of Dreams”: Investigate the magic cave in search of secrets and some leads as to Ciri’s whereabouts.
Exploring Skellige
There are definitely side quests and exploration options in Skellige:
Fists of Fury: Travel about the Isles holding fistfighting tournaments.
A Brother’s Keeper: Assist another Witcher with a personal issue.
2.4. Act 3: The Final Act
The Isle of Mists
As the game draws near its final parts, the focus shifts to locating Ciri and dealing with the impending calamity of the Wild Hunt. Other important quests include:
Battle of Kaer Morhen: Prepare for a big battle at Kaer Morhen, the ancestral home of Geralt. This quest involves gathering of allies and planning the strategy for the Wedding.
Last Wish: Confront the Wild Hunt and face off against the main antagonist. This quest will test your combat skills and decision-making abilities.
7. Endgame Quests
The final quests are drawn to an end by resolving remaining loose ends and setting up the game’s ultimate conclusion:
“A Matter of Life and Death”: Attend a masquerade ball and make some key choices that influence the ending of the game.
“Something More”: Finish the main storyline and work out the ramification of your choices.
3. Side Quests and Activities
3.1. Treasure Hunts
“Witcher Gear”
Treasure hunts demand that you locate and procure special Witcher gear. Some famous treasure hunts are:
“Scavenger Hunt: Cat School Gear”: Locate and collect Cat School gear scattered across the world.
“Scavenger Hunt: Wolf School Gear”: Finish the quest to procure Wolf School gear, with each piece conferring a different bonus.
3.2. Gwent
“Gwent Card Game”
Gwent is a card game that one can enjoy playing with different NPCs. To master Gwent:
Build a Strong Deck-Collect and enhance Gwent cards through merchants and quests.
Challenge Opponents-Play against several opponents throughout the game world to receive unique cards and rewards.
3.3. Monster Contracts
“Hunting Contracts”
Tracking and destroying certain monsters is the premise of monster contracts. Some of the better-known contracts are:
“Contract: The Devil by the Well”: Investigate and slay the devil who is haunting a well in Velen.
“Contract: The Merry Widow”: A hostile ghostly widow is terrorizing a nearby village.
3.4. Exploration and Collectibles
“Hidden Treasures”
Exploring the world of The Witcher 3 is an experience in itself, with hidden treasures, scenic vistas, and lore to explore:
Discover Hidden Locations: Go on a treasure hunt for caves, ruined structures, and abandoned buildings.
Monster Trophies Completion: Kill powerful monsters to collect trophies and place them in your house.
4. Combat and Strategy
4.1. Combat Mechanics
The combat in The Witcher 3 is dynamic and requires a mix of mental and manual skills:
Signs: Cast various magic signs like Aard, Igni, Quen, Yrden, and Axii to secure the upper hand during battle.
Weapons: Use different swords and crossbows, depending on your opponent. Each weapon type has its effects.
4.2. Crafting and Potions
“Crafting and Alchemy”
Crafting and alchemy are extremely useful in enhancing the abilities of Geralt:
Make Potions: With potions you create combat bombs and elixirs useful for exploration.
Improve Gear: Crafting materials also go to the enhancement and upgrading of your gear.
5. Tips and Tricks
5.1. Efficient Exploration
Fast Travel: Use signpost fast travel to quickly transport yourself between the locations and areas already discovered.
Map-Mark: Place a marker on your map of any important place such as for this quest there is an objective.
5.2. Managing Inventory
Organize Inventory: Keep in check the order and management of your inventory so that they always place important things first.
Sell Unwanted Items: Be it by selling or dismantling, getting rid of whatever you do not need best secures extra space.
5.3. Engaging With NPCs
Dialogue Choices: Pay attention to the choices you make when engaged in dialogue, as some have an effect on the storyline and quest outcomes.
Build Relationships: Form relationships with important NPCs that will allow you to open up more quest lines and storylines.
6. Conclusion
The Witcher: Wild Hunt is an RPG masterpiece, mashing up interesting characters and scenarios in a richly detailed setting. Hopefully, the walkthrough imparts enough skill and knowledge for you to navigate its intricately weaved storyline, side quests, and activities. Following it, you are able to gain more insight into your gameplay experience and put judgment on your own, thus engaging yourself more fully in Geralt’s great adventure.
Whether this is your journey through The Witcher 3 for the first time or yet another replay of this world, this guide will surely help you on your way. Enjoy The Witcher Universe, and may your trails be filled with awesome quests, memorable encounters, and triumphant victories.