Alright, guys, let’s talk about my recent playthrough of The Witcher 3, specifically how I managed to keep my hands off Triss without ruining other parts of the game. It was quite a ride, and I’ve got some interesting bits to share.
So, first off, I dove into the game knowing I wanted to avoid romancing Triss. I started off by just playing through the game normally, doing all the Triss-related quests, like “A Favor for a Friend” and “A Matter of Life and Death.” I even flirted a bit and got that kiss scene, you know, for the full experience.
The real challenge came with the “Now or Never” quest. This is where things get tricky. I went through all the motions, helped the mages escape Novigrad, and finally, it was time for that big, dramatic moment with Triss at the docks.
- I had to make sure I didn’t choose the “I love you” option when she was about to leave. I just want to highlight this: this is the make-or-break moment. You need to choose the dialogue options carefully, like “Let’s try again.” after, she will ask “What about us?” so, i need to choose “Farewell, Triss.” and “Stay out of this.” She will be hurt and leave me.
- During the quest, there’s this bit where you meet with some hunters. I accepted a drink with a simple “Why not.” Then, I steered the conversation toward getting paid by saying, “Your hunters are torturing Triss, but I haven’t been paid.” Doing this helped me avoid a nasty fight and kept things smooth.
After Triss left, I thought I was in the clear, but I remembered reading something about needing to see her again if I didn’t complete “The Nobleman Statuette” and “The Soldier Statuette” quests. Turns out, I didn’t need to, I could just give these to Yen or even keep them to myself. But, if you haven’t done those quests, you gotta wait until after “Blindingly Obvious” to meet Triss again at the Chameleon, which could be a pain.
Someone mentioned you could remove the romance variables by using some console commands like removefact(q309_triss_lover), removefact(q309_triss_stayed), and removefact(sq202_yen_girlfriend). I didn’t do this myself since I’m not into messing with game files, but it’s an option if you’re really stuck.
Wrapping Up
In the end, not romancing Triss didn’t really change much in the core game. She still played her part, and I got to enjoy the story without any awkward love triangles. Even in the Blood and Wine expansion, it was pretty much the same, except for that one visit from your chosen romance option. So, it’s totally doable to have a Triss-free playthrough without missing out on much. If you like, you can just ask everyone for help to get an achievement, they don’t have to agree.
Hope this helps anyone trying to navigate the tricky waters of Witcher 3 romances. It’s all about making the right choices at the right time! Good luck, and have fun!
