I've just started a 3rd playthrough, and I've realized something.

This game *needs* a New Game + option. Hear me out on this one.

While Chapter 3 is a bit of a letdown Story Wise (Expansion Pack bait), I find it to be more of a letdown gameplay wise. Mainly because when Chapter 3 rolls around, you finally get the opportunity to get the best Swords and Armour in the game, and finally max out Geralt. For what? A few fights, the final boss, and bam, credits. As soon as you get the ability to flex your "Max Level" Muscle, the game ends.

Now, Thinking about this one of the obvious answers would be to give Chapter 3 the same amount of area / sidequests as flotsam, but I think a better idea would be a New Game + mode, Where you get to bring over all of your skills and gear into a new game.
"Oh no, that would unbalance the game and make it boring!"
Yes, normally. However, why not make it so when doing a New Game + playthrough, you face enemies all through the story that are scaled up to be a *challenge* to a level 35 Geralt. Where wandering around the woods in Flotsam, If you maxed out your Alchemy tree, you'd better be under the influence of potions to make it through in one piece. Where a Swordsman will need that extra damage and the Group Finishers, where a mage *will* need to exploit rainy weather and utilize Aard to quickly fling people off cliffs.

Getting into impossible territory here, but why not add extra story scenes? Maybe some more powerful gear midway through?

I think this would be a great addition to the game, which wouldn't require as much effort in doing as adding new areas to Chapter 3 (but maybe a bit more playtesting?)

Let me know what you think, because The more I think about this, the more appealing it is.

I am not against it persay although i would probably not do it myself i can see the idea of playing with out the necessity to worry about levels and assigning points etc.

I really responded to this post because as you described Arding people off cliffs is way to freeking awesome. In the prologue as i was runnning the castle walls every time i got an opportunity to test the flight capabilities of a soldier i did, "can you fly? Oh apparenlty not." i just loved that, but it is limited application unfortunately.

Asai

Doesn't fill me with excitement to be honest.

For me the story and the atmosphere were the main thing.with this game.

The combat was just good enough to complement the rest of the game during my first 2 playthroughs (one each for Roche / Iorveth path). Defo not strong enough to make me want to replay the game in an endless loop of tougher me vs tougher monsters.

I think I'd prefer developer effort to go into (1) new plot content or (2) a proper difficulty re-balance for the whole game.

Even with a decent difficulty rebalance I think I'd struggle to build up the enthusiasm to play again without a good chunk of extra plot content.

I enjoyed the game but I'm all Witchered-out.

I'll be Witchered-out after I complete my third playthrough, but I still think the "payoff" for finally maxing everything and getting some extra powerful gear is pretty much nonexistent.

... as in every game.

Let's turn this around: If you had a big chunk of game left when maxed out, don't you think people would be here, asking why they can't level up anymore although they're still killing monsters and still doing quests and still have plenty of skills to learn?

I'm with Gregster on this one. For me, The Witcher games are about telling a story and gameplay really just complements that (in a very entertaining way, I must add).
That doesn't mean I'm against the idea of New Game +. I probably wouldn't play it, since showing up in the beginning with the endgame-gear would destroy immersion for me. But just because I wouldn't use that feature - why not give it to those who want it?

BUT when it comes to "What should we do with all our time?" at CDPR-headquarters, I'm in favor of additional quality content. That might be additional side quests to prolong the game, a full-size expansion pack, mod tools or adjusting balance to provide a challenge throughout the entire game. So, there's plenty of things CDPR could do, a New Game + feature probably being one of my least favorite.

I'd rather they add an expansion, even just a little DLC thing, that either expanded chapter 3 or added another chapter with enough content to actually let you use the chapter 3 stuff.

Maybe an additional chapter about some small adventures as Geralt travels south. It could take a break from the over-plot, and simply involve witcher/mercanery jobs where he can use his chapter 3 stuff and maybe some character development.