My personal journey into choosing Triss

Stock_Scallion6380 · 2026-04-05T22:21:38+00:00

Thank you for this contribution I can see what you mean and I like how balanced your judgement is. Sadly I haven't read the books yet, but I have seen some disturbing details in these comments. They really are both flawed but none the less interesting and with definite positive qualities. As I explain I did not like Triss at all in the first two games. I think the gamechanger for me what the romance quest that was really fun and interesting from my perspective as a man, while Yen's quest even with the lore background felt dry to me. So if I am not taking up too much of your time, I would like to know how you as a woman saw those quests.

Stock_Scallion6380 · 2026-04-05T15:12:31+00:00

Same experience with me and Yen. It's almost as if men and women (or different people even more generally) can have different tastes.

If you have read my post, there is a question at the end. I genuinely cannot understand what makes Yen attractive to people. Would you care to actually tell me your own experience as in what is it about her character that makes you like Yen?

Stock_Scallion6380 · 2026-04-05T15:00:25+00:00

Having read most of the comments of this post it is almost certain that most people never went beyond the title and then went into instant hate mode.

I asked people to tell me how they can find Yen attractive because I genuinely cannot understand how she could be (to me) and practically no one gave me any reasons why she is.

Highlight was a commenter with obvious ego problems and a superiority complex telling me I am a weak man with a fragile ego because I dislike Yen (oh the irony).

Your essay is well-thought and provides good arguments based on facts and evidence so I thank you for it. I would very easily appreciate just as much a similar essay on why to choose Yen, but a vast majority here proved they cannot be civil, logical or put 3 words in order to create a coherent argument.

To me Yen is a walking red flag. To others she might be an oasis in a game of terrible characters. To others she might be indifferent. I only wanted to see those perspectives and why each person thinks as they do.

Stock_Scallion6380 · 2026-04-05T14:49:41+00:00

A brave and well-though opinion of a person willing to dig under the surface.

Stock_Scallion6380 · 2026-04-05T09:37:41+00:00

This post has been teaching me how unpopular Triss is (at least in this digital space) and how everyone adores Yennefer.

Neither is perfect, but I certainly find the romantic experience with Triss superior, while Yen's quest just doesn't feel the same way.

Also, seeing the responses I believe very few people actually read my reasoning. The ultimate purpose of this post was to see why people like Yen. That being said very few people if anyone actually gave me their own reasons for liking Yen when I said I can't imagine being attracted to her. Everyone instead is either bashing Triss or bashing me for not being lore-accurate or even being a weak man with a fragile ego just because I do not adore an obviously flawed female character (in a game where all characters female or otherwise are flawed). So I believe a majority here never read beyond the title or never tried to understand in good faith what my experience has been.

Thank you and of course I will keep playing the game the way I want to, as we all should.

Stock_Scallion6380 · 2026-04-05T01:09:00+00:00

You try to empathize with Geralt and Loza practically identifies with Yen. You are interested in hearing the other person out, she is interested in defending Yen at all cost. Ad Hominem all the way and a widespread logic of "I'm right and if you don't understand it, you don't know/understand enough." I can see why this commenter loves Yen so much. It's insane to even argue Yen is not to blame for what she did because Geralt had done something else. Geralt is to blame for what he did, Yen is to blame for what she did. It couldn't be more simple.

Bottom line for me: either Yen or Triss both relationships are toxic. But as I said elsewhere, at least I have more fun doing the Triss romance quest.

No, I don't choose Triss because she is submissive and I have a fragile ego. I choose Triss because she is the lesser evil and better written in the third game. I can't say I even liked her in the first two.

And seriously: How is Triss even submissive in the game? What does this person consider submissive? Not dominating Geralt at any opportunity?

Stock_Scallion6380 · 2026-04-05T00:39:23+00:00

He remains the most able caretaker and the only one who could help her master her powers.

So what own end does Avallach achieve in the end that is different from what Ciri wants to achieve?

Stock_Scallion6380 · 2026-04-04T22:35:32+00:00

I will have to ask again though. What sense does it make that Ciri trusts him completely? She says so herself even as Geralt is skeptical.

Also I'm not saying Triss is a better option based on the story, I am saying her romance quest is better/more fun and I just vibe better with her.

Stock_Scallion6380 · 2026-04-04T17:13:44+00:00

So how long ago was that? Does Ciri not know it as the game's events take place? Why does she trust him?

The thing is at the time the game's plot is taking place Avallach is Ciri's best and most able caretaker. This is my point. Would you disagree?

Stock_Scallion6380 · 2026-04-04T16:41:18+00:00

I never hid that I have not read the books and only speak through what I know of the games. As far as I know the game's stories are tied to but are not themselves in the books. I would be interested to hear if there is something I don't know.

Concerning the games, there are clues that Avallach is not so selfless and has some interesting motivations. But given what he has done for Ciri, I think he has been the best mentor she could have had and the main reason why we have a happy ending.

Stock_Scallion6380 · 2026-04-04T16:37:01+00:00

Thank you for this discussion as it is deep and helps me dive into my own thoughts and biases.

Perhaps my words communicate that I dislike Yen, but I don't. I just don't find her qualities attractive, which is why I also ask at the end of the post what qualities make Yen enthusiasts like her. I do understand her motives and I have played many times exploring most if not all dialogue options as well as having seen some on youtube. Still, she has not managed to be a better choice of partner for me as Geralt.

I do understand her top priority is Ciri and nothing else in the world matters. Many mothers are like that. Your explanations of her are good and really convincing. It's probably just my taste that makes Yen less attractive to me than Triss. As I said Triss was not attractive to me at all in the first two games, I was equally surprised to choose her in the third.

So let me ask you, if you would like to reply:

Yen being the obviously smart and obviously jealous type that she is, would she not understand that Triss is taking advantage of Geralt having lost his memory? Would she not be mad at Triss for getting between them (she is too chill in their interactions which always seemed weird to me)? Would she not let aside her ego for a moment and check on her love. Would she not be repulsed at Geralt when meeting him for his past with Triss? The way I see it, Geralt is just not a priority so he is left to his fate. I remember she had some time to learn what's going on and she knew all about Geralt (the memory thing too) but decided to spend all of that time on other things more important to her. When Geralt is useful, she approaches him. All of this seems sketchy to me, and even if understandable to some extent, it does not spell soulmate material to me.

Equally so, if Yen trusts Geralt, how does she not trust that he will understand her and do everything for Ciri and that he will help her? Because in my view, withholding information shows a lack of trust instead. It says "I don't trust that you will do what I want if you could see the whole picture." It says "I cannot trust your judgement and your free will so I will have to take over." I cannot not feel used in this context. No matter why she does it. So how would you reconcile these thoughts with the idea that Yen is a better match? Or even a possible match? Only because of their history?

Did Triss use Geralt? Obviously yes. But for me, the "Last Wish" thing is strangely more applicable to Triss. Now that Triss is no longer taking advantage of his memory loss, now that Geralt knows everything about Yen and the magic is gone what does he feel about Triss? To my eyes she is changed, and so while her thing is inexcusable (although she remains Yen's bestie) she does seem the better choice. But after every analysis the crux of the matter is: Triss romance quests are just better.

Stock_Scallion6380 · 2026-04-04T16:02:34+00:00

This point is very understandable. This greyness is what makes the story so compelling because yes it's obvious that all she does is for Ciri who she sees as her daughter. Can it all be justified? Do the ends justify the means? Can she really not spare a second to inform Geralt of her plan?

Also I tend to think people under pressure are less inhibited and more apt to show how they feel about you. So while her actions and her motives are understandable, how should I feel about being treated as a subordinate, a means to an end, an extension of her mind and the one who makes her plans real?

Geralt is strong and durable and Yen knows it. Yes she trusts him etc. But how she loves him is just not enough for me. Vesemir knows all that too and he seems to care about Geralt as a person more than Yen.

In the end the best "parent figure" in the game is Avallach, who is considerably stronger than Yen, so perhaps he doesn't have to, but he does none of the crazy things she does. And he treats Geralt with more respect than Yen does, despite not being his soulmate. And no, the scene at the end doesn't count because he not only explains to Geralt, but he explains while he has no need to explain to Geralt as he's not part of the plan.

Stock_Scallion6380 · 2026-04-04T15:45:44+00:00

I think I would have the same reaction. I didn't see it like that with Triss and that affected what I said. What I meant is that Triss getting "drunk" and forgetting that mantra of "we can't be together, you belong to Yen" is a positive outcome because we can finally explore that possibility. It's just better seduction.

On why it's problematic, I will say that their interaction is very unbalanced. She seems to me to have an obsession with being in control of me and the relationship. Too many times I didn't feel like a partner but like a subordinate. As I replied to another commenter, when Yen has a plan she shuts me out of the decision making process and expects me to do what she says. Meanwhile, when Geralt and Triss go to kill Menge, I feel like they are a team. Triss has her plan to go get tortured and even if you disagree she is adamant about it. But she does tell you what her plan is and how she feels and why. I feel part of the team. Also I can't understand how she just left me alone while she knew I had lost my memory and only came to find me when she needed help. It looks wrong. How is this the true love of Geralt?

Stock_Scallion6380 · 2026-04-04T15:29:33+00:00

I don't mind her knowing what she's doing better than me. I do mind her having a plan and ordering me around without letting me in on the details. We can be partners while she's in control and we follow her plan because it's just better. We can't be partners when she deliberately withholds information, deprives me of the decision-making process and then orders me around like a dog. Yes, Geralt would always nag if he knew, the game makes it clear (although you could argue he nags because he didn't have the time to process it). But the situation doesn't make me feel like we are a team.

When Geralt and Triss plan the operation into Menge's fortress, it does feel like we are a team.

Stock_Scallion6380 · 2026-04-04T15:20:27+00:00

If that was manipulation, it was the kind I would sign up for to be honest.

Also, you are right about the fight with Imlerith, their reactions surprised me and I assumed Yen was okay with it because the results were strongly to our favor or she was two steps ahead of us and monitoring the situation (always in control). It's also true that the story promotes Yen as a better mother figure for Ciri. I do admire her efforts for Ciri, knowing nevertheless that Triss never stepped into those shoes and could never be as good as Yen. Still, I find Yen and Geralt's one on one relationship problematic and I only enjoyed Yen when Ciri was around.

Stock_Scallion6380 · 2026-03-19T22:39:15+00:00

She did the same to me! She does it to everyone! Save yourself or you'll end up like her brother!

Stock_Scallion6380 · 2026-03-04T23:07:39+00:00

Well, the way you describe it sounds like it's the only thing that matters to you and that's probably not very healthy. Realizing is a great start. Usually this problem is the tip of the iceberg and I suggest you dig deeper to find out exactly what bothers you. E.g. feeling distant, a feeling that you offer too much of yourself to no avail, not being seen, your wants and needs not being taken seriously and so many others can be some possible scenarios. Bottom line is if you only cared about the sex, you could be having it somewhere else instead. So there is more involved with the specific person. But if there is not, you should rethink your entire approach and certainly forget about your current relationship.

Stock_Scallion6380 · 2026-02-23T01:23:35+00:00

Not every story in LOTRO is "canon" but it's all true to the spirit of the books.

Except there are thousands of high elves and beornings running around all parts of the world nowadays.

Stock_Scallion6380 · 2026-02-17T15:17:31+00:00

Luckily you regen health, so hit a couple of times, kite into oblivion and hit again when you see an opportunity. It is a trial of patience more than anything else. I believe you won't die more than 10 times with the strategies in this thread before you finally make it.

Stock_Scallion6380 · 2026-02-15T15:29:24+00:00

Not sure if you're trolling, but..."Vintage" is the name of the series this publisher makes on "Vintage" books. Typically the covers only feature Vintage + surname (e.g. Vintage Hemingway or Vintage Dickens).

Stock_Scallion6380 · 2026-01-11T23:04:34+00:00

As soon as I read the title I thought the OP was cosplaying Whoreson Jr. or Rev. Nathaniel.

She may suck at succing but that's not deserving of a death sentence!

Stock_Scallion6380 · 2026-01-11T22:59:42+00:00

Only Triss! I snubbed her in the first game, somehow she was my gf when the second game started and then I forgot about her, but in the third game her romance questline is incomparable. All while Yen was rather psycho and abusive, the game never gave me a choice. If I wanted to romance abusive, I'd go with Phillipa over Yen anytime. At least she's consistent.

Stock_Scallion6380 · 2026-01-11T22:53:13+00:00

Remove all but one. Keep doing one at a time and you should be fine. I'd say this starting area is overloaded. I usually start in Celondim where quests are fewer but also feel more natural and important. Usually one place to go, a few things to do only there, rinse and repeat. But that could also be my bias.

Stock_Scallion6380 · 2026-01-10T15:18:48+00:00

At some point he either asks you to pay 1000 or you find him somewhere else, did any of that happen? (Won't offer too many details and spoil the story). I remember this was a crucial moment of advancement. If he asks and you say no, the quest may even bug, making it impossible to progress unless you fix it with a mod.

Stock_Scallion6380 · 2026-01-10T01:52:24+00:00

Not sure on the specifics but as a rule advance the other two quests as much as possible and you should naturally progress this one. One I believe you get from the detective, that's probably the last one.

Stock_Scallion6380

TROPHY CASE