Geralt is the same way in his heavy attacks, he uses techniques with such major flaws in form that it's hard to believe he's spent time ever holding a sword. In Kendo, it's taught to hold the sword above your head tilted slightly back but if you watch a beginner they'll hold the sword nearly horizontal behind their back. it makes sense in the right context.Īctually the way Geralt uses his sword is the kind of thing you see beginners do in HEMA classes. just trying to offer some rational points to help those who are bothered by the percieved 'lack of realism'ĭont let it break your immersion. Im not trying to snuff out all criticism. or as bruce lee would say ' dont block, dont be there instead' blocking is not exactly a concept longswordsmen take to heart, its dangerous and also costly on the steel. not to mention that they are trained for more than a 1 on 1 scenario, and as the game proves they engage with overwhelming odds at times, so having a style that can transfer the focus of a strike or parry in a 360 radius on a whim is a necessary adaptation.Īlso i see people criticising geralts capacity to block.you need to learn how longswords work. Its expected that a witcher could be capable of pulling off what would seem like a flourish to the uninitiated and keep it a practical part of his 100% necessary fight routine. So yeah, of course a normal non mutated human would not want to expose his back ever in a fight, they rely on technique and timing to get the job done, but most normal humans do not have to cut into a basilisk hide or whatever multiple times a year, or dodge the lightning quick vampiric strikes of a vledder. I try to rationalize the flourishes as them compensating for the enhanced reflexes and speed, so for example at close ranges the pirouete move can give more leverage and inertia to a strike that the raw strength and speed at that range could not, and when you are piercing enchanted beast hide for a living you may invent new ways to do that so you kill efficiently and dont die.

They are blinding fast with predatorial strength etc and have keener sensory systems than most animals, thats without potions to augment that. not to mention the mutagen that enhances their physical atributes in all ways. Consider that as professional mutated monster hunters they have had to adapt their sword techniques to cutting down more than an unarmored peasant, and often cases armored beasts with hides thicker than plate mail. The books will tell you that its a unique style atributed to the wolf school, part dance, part incredibly deadly and inhuman locomotion. The main criticism other than the dodge roll is the pirouetted spinning flourishes he uses mid swing or mid dodge. i wanted to clarify and help set those people at ease and try to change their mindset.

I see a number of people annoyed by the animations in the game and percieving them as unrealistic.

Witcher 3 school of the wolf