Ever since the video games based on his novels became hugely succesful, the autor of The Witcher novels Andrzej Sapkowski has had many, many disagreements with CD Projekt RED. Sapkowski recently did an AMA on Reddit and didn’t hesitate to point out what he considers to be yet another big difference between games and books.
In the games, the Polish studio makes frequent references to the existence of multiple Witcher schools. For example, there are the School of the Bear, Wolf, Cat, Griffin, and even the Viper. That being said, Sapkowski explains that this isn’t a thing in an his original work. He also says he doesn’t understand why CD Projekt RED’s writers went so far based on a single line from one of his stories. Sapkowski sees it as a sort of system modeled after Harry Potter.
“The issue of “witcher schools” requires—I apologise—a longer explanation. A single sentence about some “school of the Wolf” mysteriously made its way into The Last Wish [the first novel of the saga].”
I later deemed it unworthy of development and narratively incorrect, even detrimental to the plot. Therefore, later I never included or referenced any Witcher Gryffindors or Slytherins again. Never.
However, that one sentence was enough. Adaptors, particularly video game people, have clung to the idea with remarkable tenacity and have wonderfully multiplied these “witcher schools.” Completely unnecessary.”
Andrzej Sapkowski says he is even prepared to just delete the sentence referring to the School of the Wolf in future editions of The Last Wish. What’s more, he may also provide additional details about the nature of the medallions worn by witchers.
It’s interesting to hear the author’s perspective on the witcher schools in the games. The evolution of a story from books to games often brings about unique interpretations. It’s always fascinating to see how different creators envision the same world.
of the Witcher universe in the games certainly diverges from the original novels. It’s fascinating to see how adaptations can take creative liberties, sometimes leading to a broader fanbase but also sparking debate among purists. The author’s reflections really highlight the tension between storytelling and game design.
It’s true that the games take creative liberties with the source material. The idea of multiple Witcher schools adds depth to the gameplay, but it can shift the focus from Geralt’s unique journey. Balancing the lore with gameplay elements is definitely a tricky challenge for adaptations!
That’s a great point! The existence of multiple Witcher schools does shift the focus from Geralt’s unique journey. It could be interesting to see how the narrative might change if it centered more on individual characters rather than a broader network of schools.
I agree! It also changes the narrative dynamics, introducing more characters and lore that can sometimes dilute Geralt’s unique journey. Keeping the focus on one Witcher might have allowed for deeper exploration of his character and moral dilemmas.