The Challenges

I wanted to work on a quest for The Witcher 3 because that’s the kind of quest I enjoy designing the most. I loved trying to stay as true as possible to the game’s universe, its fantasy setting, and its lore. I wanted to design a quest that could actually be in the game. It was also an exercise in how to structure a side quest properly so that it would fit seamlessly into the game’s overall quest lineup.

As with each of my projects set in the universe of an existing game, I wanted to highlight an aspect of the game that I felt had been underestimated or overlooked. Dopplers are one such example. In Witcher games, they’re often used as a gimmick, a way to advance the narrative without delving into their true nature. There’s also very little discussion of the Witcher’s emotional side and their own free will; they have human feelings and emotions, yet they’re all too often portrayed as hardened killers.

I wanted to blend all of that with the investigative aspect found in many of The Witcher 3’s quests, particularly as supported by the Witcher Sense mechanic. In the context of fantasy investigations, it was important to me not to rely too heavily on this mechanic, which is often used to guide the player towards a resolution without actually conducting a real investigation. My goal was for the player to explore their environment to find items that would help them understand the narrative stakes of the quest. This would create a “eureka” moment when they finally grasp the full picture.