I just finished my first run, trying to keep it "canon" by making all the choices based on what "book Geralt" would do (which is basically what I would do anyway), and here are all the "slideshow" endings I got:

- Keira <3 Lambert.
- Two Godlings live together.
- Dudu assumes a clean Whoreson Junior
- Cerys rules Skellige.
- Dijkstra rules the North.
- Emhyr var Emreis dies in a coup.
- Ciri returns to become a witcher at Geralt's mentoring, after stopping the White Frost.
- Geralt and Yennefer, happily ever after.

Major deaths:

- Vesemir, during Battle of Kaer Morhen (probably scripted, but sad nonetheless).
- Radovid, killed by Phillipa.
- Blue Stripes, hinted killed by Dijkstra's men.
- Sile, honorably killed at her request
- Crach an Craite, killed by Eredin during the last battle (probably also scripted, also sad nonetheless).

Also:

- Got everyone I could to Kaer Morhen except for Dijkstra and Emhyr's support. No mention of Letho's whereabouts after battle.
- Baron and wife goes to Mahakam, not sure if it's one of the "slideshow" endings.

So how did I do? The only thing I hope could be different is Emhyr's death. I kinda like him, is there a way to keep him alive while holding other things constant? Also, is it possible to keep Crach and Vesemir alive in any way?

Also...how do I get the threesome ending? :P

I think you pretty much got the best ending.
I've finished the game 3 times & Crach & Vesimir have always died.
I think Emhyr var Emreis has to die if you want Dijkstra to rule.

Any ending where you condemn Roche and Ves to die after they've helped you out time after time, both in this game and the last, will never be the "best" ending. NEVER, YOU MONSTER.

Ahem. Yes, Vesemir and Crach's deaths are scripted and there isn't any way to stop either as far as I've seen. And by "threesome ending" I assume you mean the "it takes three to tango" quest, which I've heard happens if you try to romance both Yen and Triss. You should probably be aware that you end up very lonely and don't actually participate in a threesome, though. Also, there's no way for Dijkstra and Emhyr to come with you to Kaer Morhen (I got an achievement for bringing everyone possible despite their absence).

You can get the Ciri-Witcher ending and keep Emhyr alive, though he wins the war as a result and there's no way to avoid that. You just have to avoid going to see him with Ciri before the Sabbath part with the witches, and obviously you have to refuse to let Dijkstra MURDER YOUR FRIENDS YOU MONSTER.

Ahem again.

I don't think book Geralt would care to take part in a regicide, no matter how much of an asshole said king was.
Also don't think he would allow Sigi to kill Roche. I think he would break Sigi's other leg ;)
As for Ciri, i think she's happiest this way, but i think the best ending for her is becoming empress of Nilfgaard. She says that's where she can make the greatest good

But yeah. Pretty good ending. In my game i kinda killed my chances to kill Radovid when i freed Phillipa, so he remainded his usual self and killed mages and nonhumans alike, and that made me sad. Also the baron hanged himself, but i still think that was the better choice, even though 90% of people would disagree.

Count me in the 10%.

Though, if you go the tree before you're given the quest by the witches and set the spirit free, you save the children AND avoid the baron dying. Always feels good to wrong those stupid witches.

Let's be real, Dijkstra is the best chance the North gets, much better than some Temerian hothead soldiers, or that madman Radovid. Besides, Geralt and Dijkstra goes way back.

No, you don't.
If you set the tree spirit free before getting the quest from the crones, the crones get the kids, that's why they don't curse Anna.

There is no such thing as 'best ending', you can steer towards a finale that best suits your perception of the game universe. Some people will prefer Triss over Yen, the emperor over Dijkstra or Hjalmar over Cerys.

My reasoning was, well, he went through hell and back for Ciri, and Yennefer and Triss are right next to her on the "important person" list. It's not about politics in this case.\

As to Roche's case, Dijkstra is one glorious bastard and there has always been this somewhat grumpy liking between D and Geralt. Besides, Geralt doesn't do politics. :P

As for Ciri become Emperess...I think she knows all too well about all those people desiring her powers. And there's no way Geralt would hand her over.

I was just teasing, but the ending I got where Nilfgaard wins mentions that in becoming a "realm in liege to the empire," they got their country back. Roche and Ves live, the north stays awesome. I'll attach the pictures of the ending slides.

Dijkstra's ending mentions something like how he does things for the good of the people that they don't like, or something like that. Didn't like that one bit, personally, and it seemed a bit too bittersweet for it to be worth sacrificing two of the most loyal and awesome characters in the series.

Hjalmar died when I made him King, doesn't this always happen?

Luckily, I just tried that out, so I had a save to make screenshots from. These are from the same conversation, the first being them not yelling at her for losing the children (I can confirm both her and baron live later on, too) and the second is when I tell them that I freed the spirit.

Anyone who so adamantly wants to free the tree spirit, should find and read a little book called "She Who Knows" (at the very least it gives you some food for thought)! ;)

I just replayed that scene this morning & I never got the 2nd pic line.
It must be dependent on which dialogue you choose.
I never got to tell them I freed the tree spirit.

I did get my fav ending right away, with Ciri as a Witcher and a temerian vassal state. Although I never intended to force Ciri in a certain direction. There are advantages on each path and Ciri knows best :-).

Still... I wanted her to see the emperor at some point only the timing of that decision seemed terribly off to me - it feels like it's too important to act right and seeing the emperor would take too much time. Sadly this choice doesn't appear again after that quest...

And yes, as much as I disliked the baron, he survives in my playthrough. It's a slim chance but maybe he can be a better man. Also Skellige now has a female ruler - seemed like the only reasonable choice here, as much as I liked her brother.