Pathfinder Kingmaker – Stretch Goals fit for a King
Now that Pathfinder Kingmaker is funded –here’s a look at what else the team at Owlcat is cooking up.
For those of you who haven’t been following the Kickstarter campaign, Pathfinder Kingmaker just hit its funding goal. And, if you haven’t been following the campaign, odds are good you don’t even know what the heck I’m talking about. Let me break it down for you. Kingmaker was one of the most renowned adventure paths in the history of Pathfinder. It stepped away from the “murderhobos murderhoboing it up for some grand narrative reason,” track and allowed players to explore the Stolen Lands (lands that once belonged to powerful Fey, etc.) as they forged their own kingdom out of the wilderness.
It introduced the idea of dominion rules to Pathfinder, codifying the process of running your own kingdom. Events could happen to it that would change the way your kingdom worked in the game. It was fairly innovative. Definitely one of my favorites because it introduced a new set of problems for adventurers to deal with, often ones that they couldn’t deal with in the traditional way.
The land rush is on! Sent south by Brevoy, the heroes have the unenviable task of venturing into the infamous Stolen Lands and annexing the territory, facing down monsters, bandits, and worse. It’s hard enough to conquer territory—but does a ragtag band of adventures have what it takes to found and defend a burgeoning kingdom from the terrors of the wild?
The Kingmaker Adventure Path takes the heroes from encounters with mysterious bandit lords and barbaric raiders through the trials and tribulations of developing and defending their new settlement in the notoriously lawless River Kingdoms. Yet when war comes to the Stolen Lands in earnest, it’s up the heroes to take up a mystical blade and stand tall against the horrors of man, beast, and strange creatures more dangerous than either…
So that’s Kingmaker. But presently, Owlcat Studios has partnered with Paizo to bring you Pathfinder: Kingmaker, a computer RPG that encompasses and expands the adventure path into a full-blown single-player campaign, complete with companions, new NPCs, and an intricate story, all wrapped around the core of the Kingmaker Adventure Path. This is phenomenal because it marks the first time that Pathfinder has gotten the video game treatment. And to be worked on by people who care about the game–and legend Chris Avellone (seriously, is there anything he can’t write?)–makes it a strong first showing.
And now that they’re funded, we’re seeing the first few stretch goals trickle in, includig a new class (some kind of gish, it seems like), and a camp scenario where you can interact with your party and see a little more about the impacts of your choices in the world. With a little more than two weeks to go on their campaign, now’s the time to hop in.
There are a number of levels to back at–you can pick up the game for as little as $28, or the fancy premium edition for $40, which includes backer-only content like a new spell and magical items. Start backing at $55 and you get a physical (premium) copy, and then it just starts going bananas from there. At $75, you get an exclusive RPG adventure for use in your home campaigns, written by Chris Avellone. At$95 you get early access and a hand in the shaping of the game’s future–there’s a lot of different ways to get involved. So head on over and check it out.
via Owlcat Studios
Whether you’re new to the Pathfinder® universe or you’re a seasoned veteran, Pathfinder: Kingmaker® is the CRPG you’ve been waiting for.
AdvertisementHere at Owlcat Games, we love and are inspired by classic isometric computer RPGs like Baldur’s Gate, Fallout and Arcanum. Our dream is to rekindle the thrill of playing those games for the first time. Building your hero, exploring the unknown, getting to know your companions, experiencing the adrenaline rush of your first battle (and your last), delving into mysterious dungeons, and—most importantly—seeing your protagonist and your world change through your actions.
Pathfinder: Kingmaker is the first single-player computer RPG based on the acclaimed Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. The game invites players to Golarion, a world rich with history, mystery, and conflict, and gives players the chance to claim part of this world as their own.
Pathfinder has considerable depth, not only in its lore, but also in its game mechanics, and in the freedom it offers you to develop your own unique character. You can customize your character with a wide range of classes and powers including specialized archetypes, powerful arcane and divine spells, choosing from a multitude of class abilities, skills and feats. Pathfinder allows players to create heroes (or villains) that fit both their individual gameplay styles and their personalities.
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We chose to adapt the Kingmaker adventure path because it features a host of open-world mechanics, allowing players to experience the story at their own pace as they explore the Stolen Lands, which will challenge you as both an adventurer and a ruler.
Most importantly, the game allows you to claim these lands as your own, letting you carve your own kingdom from the wilderness. While classic dungeon crawling and exploration lie at the heart of this adventure, diplomacy, politics, and the ability to lead troops in the field are also part of the challenge. Choose your allies well, and keep them close while exploring ancient tombs and ruins—and while dealing with politics in your own court.
As you’ll discover, building a kingdom goes beyond simply building a stronghold: Your kingdom is a reflection of your character and your choices throughout the game. It is a living thing shaped by your alignment, your allies, and your ability to lead your people. Not only can your kingdom expand, opening up new territories and allowing you to build new towns and communities, but your capital city will physically change based on your decisions, your policies, and even whom you choose to ally with. As your kingdom grows, a number of factions and neighboring countries will come to you to seek favor—and to test your strength.
If you fail, your kingdom will be destroyed, but if you succeed, you’ll have made a nation where countless others have failed.
Your kingdom awaits! Do you have the strength to rule it?
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https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/owlcatgames/pathfinder-kingmaker/description
Kingmaker sounds like a symphonic metal band, and The Stolen Lands sounds like their second album.
