So what path do you guys prefer to take? Also, which path do you think a new player should take on their first run through the game?

IMO, I think the Roche path is much more exciting. You get to kill Loredo's mother and find out about the pregnant elf. You get to decide the fate of Henselt and you even work with Dethmold. Not to mention you actually get to meet all 3 witcher assassins.

I felt like the Roche path was overall more actions packed. However, I do feel taking Iorveth's side the first time through the game compliments the Roche path quite well on your second run through.

BTW, anyone mind telling me the difference in CH3 if you let Henselt live?

To be honest, if I were to recommend a path to a new player... I would just tell them to play the game and make their own choices. Yes, the two paths are very different, but that first experience is a huge part of the game and you should learn to accept your choices as they are.

I chose Iorveth's side first - oddly enough, I planned to side with Roche because he freed me from the prison, he's been there all along. But then there was that spur-of-a-moment thing, I felt ~rebellious and just sided with the Elves. Also, Roche was in the god damn town and I was in this forest and walking is boring.

Now, Roche's side... I didn't enjoy it very much. It had some brilliant moments, yes, but overall it felt very disconnected and I didn't do half of the side-quests because they bored me. I didn't like almost any characters either, since I knew they were twisted and evil from my first play-through.

If you let Henselt live he is doing a lot of the talking at the meeting, but I chose to save Triss so I don't know the differences if you go to the Kaedweni camp with Roche.

I am on my 4th play through at the moment, trying it on insane. I prefer the Iorveth path because I like the feeling of helping the oppressed instead of aiding a douche king. I also like having the choice of freeing Saskia from her mental entrapment. On a side not finding out she was the dragon after a first play through choosing Roche was really cool.

I also like Vergen a lot more than the military camp as an area of operations.

roche, because i just cant actively enjoy fighting for terrorists.

i might do it for a laugh, or just to get the different other half of the game experience, but if i was playing for keeps (a save to take over to the next game), or was just playing the game NATURALLY, and making choices on personal ethics and actively roleplaying, it would definately be the roche path.

A tough call but I guess Iorveth's would be my favorite. It has a more classic fantasy adventure feel to it: A paladin-like heroine leading the people to victory against impossible odds, the mountain fortress/city, cool elves. fairly clear dividing lines between good & evil. And it has more dwarves, who get all the best lines and are real stand up guys.

However Roche's path was also enjoyable. It had a very film noir atmosphere: Plots and hidden agendas, deceptions, murder. You're never sure who to trust or believe (if anyone) and the lines between good and evil are much more blurred. Geralt is Philip Marlowe with a sword, a flawed knight trying to to what's right in a morass of venality. Granted Iorveth's path has a fair amount of the same but it didn't feel as all pervasive.

Won't recommend one or the other for a new player-just follow your instincts and have fun...and be prepared for the consequences :-)

Tough & close call indeed.
Gonna go with seerkerpats answer. That and I'm an Elf-fan.

I find both extremely enjoyable though.

I prefer Iorveth's path, but for first time player I would say go Roche which is what I did. I really liked the revelation that Saskia was the Dragon on my 2nd play through.

Roche is great. His path has the best Ch1 and at least as good Ch3.

Iorveth is also great, and I prefer that path because of Saskia and the best overall Ch2. I don't see it as siding with the terrorists as much as siding with the rebels (and your non-human friends).

I chose Iorveth i just felt that fighting for freedom was a worthy goal. Not to mention i got tired of walking :-)

I found out that he was more complex than he appeared to be as a person to him it seems that loyalty and respect has to be earned (kind of like me)

Besides when you take Iorveths path you get to know lot more about Saskia and other ppl in that town. Iorveth and Roche are pretty much similar in fact more than they actually realize shame that they are in opposite sides they would make a great team.

I wonder if that is why Iorveth let Roche live in that duel because he actually respects him as a soldier both are doing what they need to do to attain there goals.

Has any one read any of the witcher books? I found this one online Blood of Elves

"Watch for the signs! What signs these shall be, I say unto you: first the earth will flow with the blood of Aen Seidhe, the Blood of Elves..."
"For over a century, humans, dwarves, gnomes, and elves have lived together in relative peace. But times have changed, the uneasy peace is over, and now the races are fighting once again. The only good elf, it seems, is a dead elf.
Geralt de Rivia, the cunning assassin known as The Witcher, has been waiting for the birth of a prophesied child. This child has the power to change the world - for good, or for evil.
As the threat of war hangs over the land and the child is hunted for her extraordinary powers, it will become Geralt's responsibility to protect them all - and the Witcher never accepts defeat.
Following "The Last Wish, "BLOOD OF ELVES is the new novel starring Geralt de Rivia, the inspiration for the critically-acclaimed videogame "The Witcher

Maybe in the Witcher 3 we see something like that...

I would of loved to know more about Iorveths and Roches backgrounds...

Because when Geralt says to Iorveth i take back what i said you're not grandiose you're mad he says my mother claimed like wise :-D What i understood from watching the YouTube videos is that if you go and save the little girl (Anaiswith Roche you see Roche taking revenge on Dethmold

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_ya8hjy8zA

My first playthrough was on Iorveth's path, saved Triss and let Letho go. Now on my 2nd playthrough and I just started Act 3 on Roche's path.

The Iorveth path seems more personal, while Roche's path seems more political. I thought Act 1 was very good on each path. .Although Iorveth's path gives you an interesting choice at the end of Act 1 you do not get on Roche's path.

Act 2 seems longer on Iorveth's path, certainly more side-quests, and Vergen is more interesting that the military camp. However, on Roche's path you find out more about the political situation and events surrounding the battle from 3 years ago.. Sabrina's curse on Henselt was interesting. Working with Dethmold is quite distasteful, but you get a choice regarding what to do with Henselt near the end of the Act 2 (I turned him over to Roche...).

We will see how Act 3 turns out...

That's exactly how I see it (and probably the way it's meant to be :))

Have you tried reloading and saving Philippa instead? That path is the best, imo.

I agree that Iorveth's is more personal, while Roche's is more political, and closer tied-in with the hunt for the kingslayer. I, myself, am a big fan of Iorveth's path - it feels very right to me, since I get to involve Geralt in a cause I care about personally. For my main playthrough, however, I strive for neutrality and a continuing dedication to Triss (either as a friend or a lover), and then I feel Roche's path is more suitable, for some reason. I see him as a friend of mine, even if I sympathise with Iorveth, of course, and it also makes more sense to simply not suddenly ally myself with terrorists, when I didn't really want to get involved in the first place. Then I also leave the political squabbles alone in Loc Muinne, and focus on saving Triss instead, and I still get a chance to meet up with Roche and secure the safety of Anais (one of my favourite characters), and we part friends, even if my choice made Roche a wanted man. As it stands now, this is my default path through the game (my canon path, if you will), but like I said, on a personal level, I definitely enjoy the Vergen storyline more.

I like both path's for very different reasons. I do prefer Iorveth's path. As other posters have stated it feels more personal. But completing both halves really seems to complete my understanding of the game and what is happening from different perspectives.

How come that Iorveth's more personal?

Zoltan and the boys are, really, a little feature and nothing more. One drink doesn't make it more personal for Pete's sake, in Roche's you can drink with notorious drunkard.

Iorweth's more personal is an empty argument.