Character customization
Hi!
First of all, I'd like to mention, that I'm huge fan of Sapkowski's so called "The Witcher Saga", which Geralt is one of main characters (the story in The Witcher PC Game takes place 5 years after story from books). I have already read this saga twice (it includes 5 main books + 2 books which are short stories loosly connected with main 5-book story).
Some time ago (I don't remember well) there was... khem... "movie" made by polish crew. The movie turned out to be low-budget class B pathetic pseudomovie
. In fact this movie has nothing similliar with books except of the title and white hair of main character
. Actually, the movie is hatred by polish The Witcher Saga fans.
That's first purpose why developers decided to limit character customization. CDPR (developers) wanted to make The Witcher PC Game realm as similiar to Sapkowski's "The Witcher Saga" as possible, and as good as possible
. They also didn't want their game to share the fate of movie. But even that PC Game is going to be similiar as books, they are some differences, which alters gameplay. For example: Igni sign is not as powerful as in game - in books its more like something between welding torch and little flamethrower.
The second purpose is that The Witcher is to be story driven. So developers decided to make bold character. Geralt fits well. I prefer that kind of character rather than Oblivion-like: you can be orc, elf or human; mage, knight or assassin; intelligent, dexterious or strong -> but no matter what type of character you are: story is the same, even NPCs treats you same. Its silly. Of course, there are mages in witcher's world, so you may ask "why not playing one of them"? Beacuse story wouldn't (couldn't!) be the same!
According to books: witchers are not vampires nor werewolves or any other known kind of creature. They are something like order or brotherhood _made_ to fight creatures. This is their job, they don't fight evil monsters in the name of god or anything, but for money. Witcher kills beast, takes gold and may buy some bread and get a room to sleep. To be a witcher you have to pass tough training and so called "trial of herbs" (most of human didn't stay alive after it, beacuse those herbs are poisonous, mutation making drugs). But not everyone may be the witcher. In fact, noone wants to, so little children are taken from parents, and then trained. Witchers _are_ swordfighters. They are trained to fight with sword, not a bow, not an axe. So, in the game, they do fight sword, not a bow (rarely with axe). The signs are "lesser" magic. They are to help witchers in tough situations (when they are getting bit by more powerful monster
). But in fact, real (true) magicians laugh when witchers calls their sings "magic". Wizards would call them "circus tricks". Witchers maybe can be compared to samurais.
And one more thing about Geralt. When passing trial of herbs - human child becomes mutated. For example his eyes are catlike, alse AFAIR they become infertile. But these are not only physical mutations, but mental too. Witchers are vanished from feelings, like love or shame. It's both good and bad for them, because for witcher is nothing special or bad to get into creepy, stinky, disguisting swamp and kill slimy drowner and then cut off his liver to make a potion. But as I said they are unable to love, so sometimes they get "You don't understand me" women problems
. But Geralt is different. His feelings weren't totally vanished. It's easier for him to hide this "secret" (so he can easily put on his "feelingless mask") but sometimes it turns out that his not just killing-machine. Geralt is really fantastic character.
So you may complain about character customization and limited inventory. But you have to understand why it is like that. It's not beacuse developers are lazy or low on funds. It's beacuse Geralt and witcher's order is described pretty well in books and as the story developes we find Geralt really unique kind of (anti)hero. And developers wanted to make game with this unique kind of anithero. A hero with great story behind him and specific feautres of character. That won't be the same game if you could choose between elf, dwarf and human; mage or kngiht. If you like RPGs you should understand that, beacuse such limitation turns out to have positive influence on game plot.