fallen witchers consumes large amounts of time and resources . The novels also reveal that some witchers follow a certain code , which dictates that they are only meant to slay non-sentient or feral monsters for money ( Sapkowski , 1993 : 50- 51 ). This is why monster contracts are the most accessible way for players to earn orens , as it reflects the main beliefs of the witcher organisation that are established in existing content .
It could be argued that kings and emperors are the most dangerous adversaries in the game , as even peaceful diplomatic negotiations can end in the player character ' s death if they overstep the boundaries of an especially tempestuous ruler like King Radovid the Stern ( The Witcher Card Game , 2016 ). In The Witcher novels and games , there are numerous wars that are fought between these rulers . Their armies devastate the landscape wherever they travel , placing little value on the belongings and lives of people they encounter . As a result , characters are forced to stay off the roads when travelling through areas affected by war , lest they encounter a large force that would be certain to overwhelm them regardless of their skill in combat ( Sapkowski , 2020 : 166 ). In A New Order , this aspect of the world is presented through the level of difficulty the player will experience in war-torn kingdoms . It is best for them to employ stealth , using geographical features like forests to hide and avoid engagements with powerful foes until they control a large number of well-equipped witchers that may be able to stand up to the might of the world ' s professional armies .
The idea to have the canonical events of the world and the player ' s in-game experience occur simultaneously was inspired by a situation that occurs during Act 4 of Thronebreaker : The Witcher Tales . Queen Meve of Rivia , the game ' s protagonist , is trapped with her forces between two large Nilfgaardian armies . One of these armies is on the other side of the Yaruga river defending the only bridge across , and Meve is left with no choice but to lead a doomed assult against them . Coincidentally , the events of Baptism of Fire bring Geralt and his company to the same location , and they join the battle on the queen ' s side . Their aid is pivotal in Meve ' s victory , and she knights Geralt , providing him with the moniker ' Geralt of Rivia ' ( The Witcher Tales , 2018 ). This is only one example of the intersecting narratives that occur in existing Witcher content . As the established world is so vast in scale , interesting , coincidental interactions between well-known characters occur regularly . A New Order reflects the content it is based on by providing the opportunity to experience similar coinciding situations , but makes them feel personal , as players have total control over how their character interacts with The Witcher world ' s established characters and events .
Henry Jenkins defines his concept of transmedia storytelling as being ' based not on individual characters or specific plots but rather complex fictional worlds which can sustain multiple interrelated characters and their stories ' ( Jenkins , 2007 ). Souvik Mukherjee asserts that this description ' fits the complex worlds of [...] storybased ( and especially sandbox-type ) games well ', suggesting that their ludic elements enhance their ability to convey narrative ( Mukherjee , 2015 : 7 ). A New Order resonates with Jenkins ' s theory , taking a complex fictional world and allowing players to become one of the interrelated characters he mentions . The Witcher has been considered one of the best fantasy franchises of all time , yet the ability to create an emergent narrative in associated games has been absent until now ( Forward , 2021 ). A New Order fills the gap in the market , allowing players to manipulate the immense canon set out in
SCHOOL OF THE ARTS 2021 / 2022
121