Road map for the missables for a One Playthrough Platinum

[Sicho]

Hello,

in the PS4 forum for this game there was a discussion about a guide focusing on the missables. I thus tried to come up with a rough road map of how to play through the game without missing any missables, enabling readers to get the platinum in one playthrough, if they are fine with playing on the highest difficulty right away.
Since most people probably play the new update on PS5 however, I reckon it would be a good idea to have a similar thread here in the PS5 forum.

The idea is to have a relatively short list that doesn't go to far into details (the trophy guides already do this). It should simply serve as a quick checklist/reminder of what to pay attention to.

Here is what I came up with:

? Start the game on Death March difficulty. Play the tutorial or not, doesn't matter.

? In White Orchard, play Gwent with the scholar and win the game to get a card. You can theoretically retry this as much as you want without saving/reloading, as long as you don't leave White Orchard. But try to get this done right away.

? Try doing two contracts without using signs, bombs etc. for the Even Odds trophy. Save and reload if necessary. Try to do this with very early contracts, however not the very first one in White Orchard, as you need to use a sign on that one to make the creature vulnerable. Important: don't have mutagens equipped! Many people forget about those.

? When you arrive in Velen, you can find a fistfight at the "Inn at the Crossroads" fast travel point. (after the "Bloody Baron" main quest) Participate in the fight and try to win it without being hit (blocking is allowed, just don't take damage) for the Fist of the South Star trophy. Save and reload if necessary. Can also be done with the very first fight in White Orchard. This one is against three opponents, but you only need to KO the first one without getting hit.

? Over the course of the game, win all the horse races and fist fights. Fist fights unlock after the "Bloody Baron" main quest in Velen. Since the last ones are missable, always save before each right/race and save after winning. Also, you will need to let the wraith defeat you in combat in the subquest to unlock the last fistfight.

? In Act 1, Novigrad, the following quests give you missable GWENT cards: "A Matter of Life and Death", "A dangerous game" and "High stakes". During these quests, be on the lookout for GWENT opponents and don't forget to play against them, you can't do it again when the quest is over! Try not to lose a match, therefore always save before each match and reload if you lose.

? Over the course of the game, do all the contracts. Two are missable/screw-up-able: Doppler Effect (don't let the Doppler run away) and Woodland Spirit (accept Sven's offer, not Haralds!) Make a save before those so you can reload and retry if you make a mistake.

? Finish Keira Metz's subplot and let her live, don't kill her! She is needed for the crew. Send her to Kaer Morhen.

? Finish the "King's Gambit" quest in Skellige to choose a ruler to make Hjalmar available for your crew.

? Then complete the following BEFORE going to the Isle of Mists (a cutoff point for many quests):
Do every available subquest to ensure nothing leading to the quest "Blindingly Obvious" in Act III is missed. Especially all of Triss' subquests and, subsequently, "Redania's Most Wanted", "A Deadly Plot", and "An Eye for an Eye". This also means do all the "Brothers in Arms" subquests, don't forget to talk to Ves, Roche, Cerys and Hjalmar. Doing this will ensure you have the crew you need for a trophy.
 

? After Isle of Mists, Act III starts, and "Blindingly Obvious" should become available with the "Final Preparations" main quest. Always choose the first dialogue choice in the "Blindingly Obvious" quest when talking to Dijkstra and Philippa and then go on to the "Reason of State" quest. Finishing that quest will net you the Assassin of Kings trophy.

If you do this, you should not miss a trophy for the main game.

But I'm pretty sure that this list can be improved, that's why this thread exists and why I'm hoping for input from you all. As far as I heard, some cards aren't missable anymore since some patches were released and alternative ways to acquire them have been introduced. But I don't know about this, so any new information is welcome. I also want to be sure that I did not miss anything.

Edited December 18, 2022 by Sicho

[Voland44]

i wonder, what if you starting predefined DLC save, and then going to NG+ with this - will this void any trophies?

[Sicho]

15 minutes ago, Voland44 said:

i wonder, what if you starting predefined DLC save, and then going to NG+ with this - will this void any trophies?

 

I don't think so.

[Malachen]

1 hour ago, Voland44 said:

i wonder, what if you starting predefined DLC save, and then going to NG+ with this - will this void any trophies?

It does not but enemy levels scale. It does give you some good gear and potions to get you started though.

[Schnoogemetzger]

Thank you @Sicho, this helps ?

[mati11120]

3 hours ago, Malachen said:

It does not but enemy levels scale. It does give you some good gear and potions to get you started though.

You can turn off enemy scaling in options

[monkeyDwiktor]

Great summary, although could you pin which trophies are associated with these "points of no return" so that it's easier to follow them?
This will be the first play through for me and I'd really like to not fu** anything up so that it will be the first and last play through  

Edited December 16, 2022 by monkeyDwiktor

[Malachen]

1 hour ago, mati11120 said:

You can turn off enemy scaling in options

Even with the scaling off, the enemies still go up in level. The NG+ enemies will be level 35ish for example when you start.

[Sicho]

2 hours ago, monkeyDwiktor said:

Great summary, although could you pin which trophies are associated with these "points of no return" so that it's easier to follow them?
This will be the first play through for me and I'd really like to not fu** anything up so that it will be the first and last play through  

 

a more detailed description is here

and then of course the trophy guides themselves provide even more detail

[Fozzyabear]

The is hands down the best guide ever written to platinum the game with record time, not missing a single goe trophy, it cover EVERYTHING!!! The guy who wrote it out countless hours unto it and deserves a reward as far as I'm concerned. It takes aby stress out of getting all of the trophy in our OCD minds lol. You won't need anything else, just enjoy the ride and follow the simple step by step guide!

 

https://www.playstationtrophies.org/forum/topic/275435-the-witcher-3-~-platinum-speedrun-guide/#comment-5601409

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sicho]

36 minutes ago, Fozzyabear said:

The is hands down the best guide ever written to platinum the game with record time, not missing a single goe trophy, it cover EVERYTHING!!! The guy who wrote it out countless hours unto it and deserves a reward as far as I'm concerned. It takes aby stress out of getting all of the trophy in our OCD minds lol. You won't need anything else, just enjoy the ride and follow the simple step by step guide!

 

https://www.playstationtrophies.org/forum/topic/275435-the-witcher-3-~-platinum-speedrun-guide/#comment-5601409

 

 

this is all well for people who want to look at a guide all the time. But for people who just want to enjoy the game and just want to know beforehand what to pay attention to, a checklist for the missables might be nicer.

[Mr_Marty84]

2 hours ago, Fozzyabear said:

The is hands down the best guide ever written to platinum the game with record time, not missing a single goe trophy, it cover EVERYTHING!!! The guy who wrote it out countless hours unto it and deserves a reward as far as I'm concerned. It takes aby stress out of getting all of the trophy in our OCD minds lol. You won't need anything else, just enjoy the ride and follow the simple step by step guide!

 

https://www.playstationtrophies.org/forum/topic/275435-the-witcher-3-~-platinum-speedrun-guide/#comment-5601409

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Innkeeper

Before leaving, purchase this Card again:

 

- DECOY

 

This is in the guide but this card isnt purchasable again in White Orchard. This is not even 30 minutes into the game. 

[Mr-Copyright]

6 hours ago, Mr_Marty84 said:

Innkeeper

Before leaving, purchase this Card again:

 

- DECOY

 

This is in the guide but this card isnt purchasable again in White Orchard. This is not even 30 minutes into the game. 

Strange. I was able to purchase that Decoy card.

[Optinooby]

8 hours ago, Fozzyabear said:

The is hands down the best guide ever written to platinum the game with record time, not missing a single goe trophy, it cover EVERYTHING!!! The guy who wrote it out countless hours unto it and deserves a reward as far as I'm concerned. It takes aby stress out of getting all of the trophy in our OCD minds lol. You won't need anything else, just enjoy the ride and follow the simple step by step guide!

 

https://www.playstationtrophies.org/forum/topic/275435-the-witcher-3-~-platinum-speedrun-guide/#comment-5601409

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Im actually redoing this over here in the coming months, with maps and such and will fix the typos and clean up some methods!!

 

6 hours ago, Mr_Marty84 said:

Innkeeper

Before leaving, purchase this Card again:

 

- DECOY

 

This is in the guide but this card isnt purchasable again in White Orchard. This is not even 30 minutes into the game. 

 

It does, but iirc, you must save and reload for it to appear. I know its weird, I dont actually mention that being the method in the guide to spawn it, but i think i have u save and reloading for something else and this is a byproduct.

 

Go back to it, buy the Decoy card so none are reamining, then save and reload and the 2nd should appear.

 

Something hardly no players know on this game and its not even 30 minutes in!!

 

Thats if im remembering right, which i think i am. 

 

7 hours ago, Sicho said:

 

this is all well for people who want to look at a guide all the time. But for people who just want to enjoy the game and just want to know beforehand what to pay attention to, a checklist for the missables might be nicer.

 

I will be adding a missables section in the new guide once done, mainly for this reason. I believe guides should be as accessible to readers as games with lots of accessibility settings are to players so that it reaches as many players as possible!! Each of us has our own playstyles 

 

 

 

And no, Ive not started it yet, busy planning Biomutant. Hoped to have it done sooner, but guide likely wont be ready until February or March at the latest. Apologies for the delay.

 

I want to try and make this special and look like a proper Official Guide, so will take time, this game deserves it, so does MGSV!

Edited December 17, 2022 by Optinooby

[OTPYG]

21 hours ago, Sicho said:

Then complete the following BEFORE going to the Isle of Mists:
1) murder the King for the trophy by always choosing the first dialogue choice in the "Blindingly Obvious" quest when talking to Dijkstra and Philippa and then go on to the "Reason of State" quest
 

Those missions unlock after you’ve been to the Isle of Mists. 

[falsaai]

17 hours ago, mati11120 said:

You can turn off enemy scaling in options

Does that effect the Death March trophy? I’m really not sure what to do to make the experience easier for this trophy, shall I start over or go in NG+?  
 

Thanks for the guide. This will definitely be my reminder for the playthrough!

[sephirothdude]

Not so worried about death march, more worried that I never grasped Gwent and will have a hard time at the tournaments etc.

[Mr_Marty84]

I went back to White Orchard and the Card was available. Thnx for the mention to save and reload the game.

[Vitallani]

Thank you for this guide. I've been hesitant to play this game because of all the missable trophies and length of the game. This gives me more confidence for when I do start. Learning about the difficulty related trophy, I still think that I will do two playthroughs though. I want to enjoy the game and I don't think that will happen if I try Death March first. If You do Death March on NG+, I assume that will still count to for the trophy...? What carries over to NG+?

[Mr_Marty84]

MQ: BEAST OF WHITE ORCHARD

 

Select 'Ask the Herbalist about Buckthorn' as a QM then head there.

 

As you enter the Gaarison, you will encounter a cutscene, during which you will receive the SAWMILL SP. Warp to this Signpost and head to the QM.

 

Before you enter the Hut at the QM, make a Manual Save and then head to the nearest NE ?. You will find a POP guarded by a Wraith. Kill this Wraith. They will always teleport then attack twice so when it does, just dodge twice, attack a few times and repeat, keeping QUEN active. Loot its body afterwards. If you do not receive Emerald Dust, then reload the previous save and repeat until the Wraith drops Emerald Dust. Once done, draw the POP then head to the QM, loot the plants around the Hut, then enter and talk to the Herbalist.

 

 

Or I am missing something but I did not get a cutscene when entering the garrison, so I did not get the sawmill SP. Had to find it myself.

 

And what is: head to the nearest NE.?

I couldnt find an explanation for NE. 

[archangeltw_]

52 minutes ago, falsaai said:

Does that effect the Death March trophy? I’m really not sure what to do to make the experience easier for this trophy, shall I start over or go in NG+?  
 

Thanks for the guide. This will definitely be my reminder for the playthrough!

Enemy scaling is off by default therefore it won’t invalidate death march trophy as long as you don’t change over the course

[Sicho]

8 hours ago, OTPYG said:

Those missions unlock after you’ve been to the Isle of Mists. 

 

only the last two. If you miss one of the required side quests before going to the Isle of Mists you cannot trigger "Reason of State" anymore. 
Here is the complete Questline:

https://witcher.fandom.com/wiki/Assassin_of_Kings

And here is a list of all the quests that fail when you haven't finished them before going to the Isle of Mists.

https://witcher.fandom.com/wiki/The_Isle_of_Mists_(quest)#Cutoff_Point

Only after "An Eye for an Eye" is finished can you progress to Act III.There, "Blindingly Obvious" will start, followed by "Reason of State".

Therefore the recommendation is to do EVERY available subquest possible before going to the Isle of Mists.

But you are right, my wording is misleading/unclear in the roadmap. I guess I wanted to keep it too short. I will edit it.

It will change from:

"murder the King for the trophy by always choosing the first dialogue choice in the "Blindingly Obvious" quest when talking to Dijkstra and Philippa and then go on to the "Reason of State" quest"
 

to

"do every available subquest to ensure nothing leading to the quest "Blindingly Obvious" in Act III is missed. Especially all of Triss' subquests and, subsequently, "Redania's Most Wanted", "A Deadly Plot", and "An Eye for an Eye". Always choose the first dialogue choice in the "Blindingly Obvious" quest when talking to Dijkstra and Philippa and then go on to the "Reason of State" quest. Finishing that quest will net you the Assassin of Kings trophy."

 

 

5 minutes ago, Sicho said:

 

only the last two. If you miss one of the required side quests before going to the Isle of Mists you cannot trigger "Reason of State" anymore. 
Here is the complete Questline:

https://witcher.fandom.com/wiki/Assassin_of_Kings

And here is a list of all the quests that fail when you haven't finished them before going to the Isle of Mists.

https://witcher.fandom.com/wiki/The_Isle_of_Mists_(quest)#Cutoff_Point

Only after "An Eye for an Eye" is finished can you progress to Act III.There, "Blindingly Obvious" will start, followed by "Reason of State".

Therefore the recommendation is to do EVERY available subquest possible before going to the Isle of Mists.

But you are right, my wording is misleading/unclear in the roadmap. I guess I wanted to keep it too short. I will edit it.

It will change from:

"murder the King for the trophy by always choosing the first dialogue choice in the "Blindingly Obvious" quest when talking to Dijkstra and Philippa and then go on to the "Reason of State" quest"
 

to

"do every available subquest to ensure nothing leading to the quest "Blindingly Obvious" in Act III is missed. Especially all of Triss' subquests and, subsequently, "Redania's Most Wanted", "A Deadly Plot", and "An Eye for an Eye". Always choose the first dialogue choice in the "Blindingly Obvious" quest when talking to Dijkstra and Philippa and then go on to the "Reason of State" quest. Finishing that quest will net you the Assassin of Kings trophy."

 

 

 

Ok I rewrote it even more and split it into two points

[TJ_Solo]

Thanks. Stuff like this really makes me wish that I took notes back when I first play the game.

So many of the tip videos now are fluff and basic tutorial things. "I wish I knew about getting skill points from Place of Power" kinda fluff.

 

 

[Avalin1]

17 hours ago, Mr_Marty84 said:

MQ: BEAST OF WHITE ORCHARD

 

Select 'Ask the Herbalist about Buckthorn' as a QM then head there.

 

As you enter the Gaarison, you will encounter a cutscene, during which you will receive the SAWMILL SP. Warp to this Signpost and head to the QM.

 

Before you enter the Hut at the QM, make a Manual Save and then head to the nearest NE ?. You will find a POP guarded by a Wraith. Kill this Wraith. They will always teleport then attack twice so when it does, just dodge twice, attack a few times and repeat, keeping QUEN active. Loot its body afterwards. If you do not receive Emerald Dust, then reload the previous save and repeat until the Wraith drops Emerald Dust. Once done, draw the POP then head to the QM, loot the plants around the Hut, then enter and talk to the Herbalist.

 

 

Or I am missing something but I did not get a cutscene when entering the garrison, so I did not get the sawmill SP. Had to find it myself.

 

And what is: head to the nearest NE.?

I couldnt find an explanation for NE. 

 

NE = north east, on the map your looking upper right, from where you are standing,  for the nearest "?" That's there.  If you have explored already it might be a Place of Power already.

[archangeltw_]

Some trophies can be salvaged in the “blood and wine only” playmode if you own the dlc or the complete version. If you miss them you won’t need to start a new playthrough from white orchard. You are allowed to free roam immediately. I used this playmode to get all dlc trophies and a lot of base game trophies. Then move onto NG+ on death march difficulty to collect story and other trophies and gwent.

 

Only tested on the GOTY and NA complete edition on PS4 but I think it’s the same in the next gen version, since a few glitches I know carry over too.

 

Trophies you can earn in B&WO

- Geralt: the professional

All of the base game contracts are available in B&WO but “swamp things”. If you finish all available contracts the trophy will pop. Yes swamp things is not needed here.

 

- Individual contract trophies

There are 5 trophies tie to 5 contracts like the Shrieker contract. If you miss even odds trophy you can do it here too. B&WO gives you a level 34 Geralt who is overpowered over all contract enemies.

 

- Armed and Dangerous

B&WO gives you all diagrams. No treasure hunt.

 

- Brawl master & Brawler

All fist fights are available and it’s super easy to win because you are overpowered.

 

 

Trophy you can’t earn in B&WO

- Fast and Fourious

Race in crow’s perch is not available. Even if you win all the available races, the trophy won’t pop.

 

- Collect ‘em all

You will be able to buy the gwentdex in a store near Marquise Serenity. But you won’t be able to collect all gwent cards since a lot of them are missing.

 

- all other story-based trophies