The Witcher 3’s allies are going to be really intelligent

If things hadn’t changed a few months ago, the Witcher 3 would be just days away from launch. Sadly though, that’s not the case anymore. CD Projekt RED needs more time to iron out all the bugs in their massive open-world, leaving us to wait until May to get our hands on Geralt’s last adventure. Good thing there’s still a lot to learn about the game then isn’t it?

One dedicated user on the CD Projekt RED forums has gathered a ton of new information from various Polish interviews, revealing some previously ambiguous (and otherwise unknown) information. Everything from weapon durability to AI intelligence, and a rather interesting insight into how the ability system will demand more preparation from you before playing. Check out the full, compiled list of details below.

• There are many different types of additional weapons that you can pick up. What’s interesting, you need a higher level in order to be able to use it
• Weapons (including swords) will not last forever and can be destroyed if used too much. You need to regularly pay a visit to a craftsman to maintain it
• HUD is very customizable. There are several options available, including turning off minimap and all sorts of notifications if you so desire
• All graphical settings are present in in-game menu
• Enemies will parry crossbow’s bolts with a shields
• Skill tree is really massive. There are 5 trees (according to witchersite there was 4, so I’m not sure who is closer to the truth), each has 5 tiers and each tier contains 5 skills. Every skill has 3 or 4 levels to unlock. Even though later Geralt will gain more skill points per level it’s still will be impossible to unlock all of it
• After unlocking the skill it needs to be activated. You do that by putting it into separate tree, which contains a limited number of slots (it will increase with character’s progress). Activated skills affects Geralt’s fighting style. Activating set of skills from the same category will increase its effects. It adds another layer to preparations and tactical planning, as you have to choose an appropriate set of active skills depending on what kind of opponent you going to face (for example, if you going to fight with heavily armoured knights, you can activate Igni upgrade that allows you to melt armours)
• There are also four slots for mutagens, which also affects your abilities
• Temporary companions are quite helpful and even use different fighting styles. For example, one woman that accompany them waited for a right moment while enemies were focused on Geralt to backstab them for massive damage
• Game is pretty difficult, as you can die even on easy if you’re not careful
• Some details about dynamic weather: there will be snow, different phases of day/night, different stages of cloudiness, storms, a few types of rain and even a morning mist
• Enemy AI is really good. Wolves and bandits spread to cut off all of Geralt’s escape routes. If you kill their respective leaders, they end up completely disorganized. One enemy can use himself as a living bait to give the rest of his squad a chance to put Geralt in a corner. If you set up a trap or Yrden sign in front of the enemy, he will avoid it
• NPC’s models are very diverse and interior of every hut looks different, so there will be no feeling of déjà vu

Weapon durability can sometime be a bother in games, but at least a quick visit to the nearest blacksmith should set you straight. Even more interesting is the way abilities have to be activated after unlock – which seemingly can’t be done during battle. This will probably force you to plan accordingly before engagements, just like taking potions in The Witcher 2.

The most eye opening detail, however, is about the temporary NPCs you’ll come across. I’ll have to see it in person, but the idea that the AI knows its strengths and then waits for an opportune time to use them in battle sounds fantastic. If it truly works like it’s described above, I’m going to make a habit of making friends while chasing down the Wild Hunt.

The Witcher 3 is out on PS4, Xbox One and PC this May.

Last Updated: February 16, 2015