Posted July 10, 2015
Keep in mind this is purely based on a Death March save, from beginning to end.
As of my current playthrough, I've used mostly Light-armor sets to make a lore-friendly Geralt of Rivia build (and because I miss those sweet TW1 leather armor sets). However, the more I played and compared several different armor sets, the more I realized Light ones are pretty underpowered compared to Medium-Heavy. I mean, what's the point? Supposedly Light sacrifices armor for Stamina regeneration, but the difference compared to Medium is almost nonexistant, while Medium gives much more armor and protection against all kinds of attacks. Light as it is forces you to spam Quen because one mistake or wrong evasion leads to your grave, so I guess Light is the "The Witcher 2 build." And then there's Heavy, which makes you a Witching tank with no need to use signs or most potions. Just go there and KILL, KILL, KILL.
Let's say you dismiss Armor values and focus more on their traits, which is when you have enough level to craft Witcher armor sets, so let's observe their traits:
- Bear build makes you an almost-invincible son of a Sorceress. Huge armor, resistance and vitality values which, combined with the bear skill trait and the right Sword skills, makes you pack a huge punch with every Hard swing while being able to resist several of the strongest attacks. Also, trade-hitting + Quen = good riddance evade.
- Griffin is the Warlock build. What it supposedly loses on Stamina regeneration, it compensates on magic intensity (i.e. Quality > Quantity). Aard almost always knocks out, Igni both applies "burning" and packs a punch, and...and, that's it. Not like it's not enough tho, it's just I don't see how Intensity applies to other signs. It has almost same armor values as Cat, but much more resistances.
- Cat is the Witcher build. It's the most Sapkowski-friendly armor set in existance, just before Default set (Trailers, promotional artwork) and probably Wolf set. Witchers do not absorb damage, they evade it at all costs and strike with clinical, clean slashes when an opening is made, killing instantly. This is what this build is supposed to accomplish, it's skill trait giving you Critical damage bonus and Fast attack buff. Unfortunately, there are two major problems with evading, and those are 1. Jumping and recovery speed and 2. Evade's range is poor. Geralt appears to be a fat slug rather than the fastest swordsman alive. Hags, trolls and gargoyles are incredibly hard to defeat without Quen because of their double attacks and throwing missiles, and I sure as hell hate spamming Quen all the time. That sign shouldn't even exist. After some time playing, I also found myself using Fast attacks only against drowners and wolves. If you learn footwork, you can throw Strong attacks all the time at your enemy's backs, rendering Cat's skill useless. As it is, there's no reason to use Light armor sets when you can just get Heavy instead. Both are sword-master builds, but Heavy does it better.
- Wolf is an all-rounder. It has better armor than Griffin, almost same resistances and has small buffs from each class.
What I think should be improved.
Give an advantage to speed and recovery to Evade depending on your choice of armor, similar to Dark Souls' encumbrance mechanics. Heavy armor should stay as it is, Medium should get slightly more response to dodge and Light should get little-to-no recovery at all, maybe even special animations like pirouettes perhaps? If the other classes rely purely on magic and tanking, then I want a class purely relying on reflexes and agility.
Have I already mentioned how much I want Light sets to be improved? Because I want to play as a Witcher, not as a Knight or Sorcerer with cat eyes.
As of my current playthrough, I've used mostly Light-armor sets to make a lore-friendly Geralt of Rivia build (and because I miss those sweet TW1 leather armor sets). However, the more I played and compared several different armor sets, the more I realized Light ones are pretty underpowered compared to Medium-Heavy. I mean, what's the point? Supposedly Light sacrifices armor for Stamina regeneration, but the difference compared to Medium is almost nonexistant, while Medium gives much more armor and protection against all kinds of attacks. Light as it is forces you to spam Quen because one mistake or wrong evasion leads to your grave, so I guess Light is the "The Witcher 2 build." And then there's Heavy, which makes you a Witching tank with no need to use signs or most potions. Just go there and KILL, KILL, KILL.
Let's say you dismiss Armor values and focus more on their traits, which is when you have enough level to craft Witcher armor sets, so let's observe their traits:
- Bear build makes you an almost-invincible son of a Sorceress. Huge armor, resistance and vitality values which, combined with the bear skill trait and the right Sword skills, makes you pack a huge punch with every Hard swing while being able to resist several of the strongest attacks. Also, trade-hitting + Quen = good riddance evade.
- Griffin is the Warlock build. What it supposedly loses on Stamina regeneration, it compensates on magic intensity (i.e. Quality > Quantity). Aard almost always knocks out, Igni both applies "burning" and packs a punch, and...and, that's it. Not like it's not enough tho, it's just I don't see how Intensity applies to other signs. It has almost same armor values as Cat, but much more resistances.
- Cat is the Witcher build. It's the most Sapkowski-friendly armor set in existance, just before Default set (Trailers, promotional artwork) and probably Wolf set. Witchers do not absorb damage, they evade it at all costs and strike with clinical, clean slashes when an opening is made, killing instantly. This is what this build is supposed to accomplish, it's skill trait giving you Critical damage bonus and Fast attack buff. Unfortunately, there are two major problems with evading, and those are 1. Jumping and recovery speed and 2. Evade's range is poor. Geralt appears to be a fat slug rather than the fastest swordsman alive. Hags, trolls and gargoyles are incredibly hard to defeat without Quen because of their double attacks and throwing missiles, and I sure as hell hate spamming Quen all the time. That sign shouldn't even exist. After some time playing, I also found myself using Fast attacks only against drowners and wolves. If you learn footwork, you can throw Strong attacks all the time at your enemy's backs, rendering Cat's skill useless. As it is, there's no reason to use Light armor sets when you can just get Heavy instead. Both are sword-master builds, but Heavy does it better.
- Wolf is an all-rounder. It has better armor than Griffin, almost same resistances and has small buffs from each class.
What I think should be improved.
Give an advantage to speed and recovery to Evade depending on your choice of armor, similar to Dark Souls' encumbrance mechanics. Heavy armor should stay as it is, Medium should get slightly more response to dodge and Light should get little-to-no recovery at all, maybe even special animations like pirouettes perhaps? If the other classes rely purely on magic and tanking, then I want a class purely relying on reflexes and agility.
Have I already mentioned how much I want Light sets to be improved? Because I want to play as a Witcher, not as a Knight or Sorcerer with cat eyes.
Post edited July 10, 2015 by DarkAkriloth