While not a direct sequel to Pathfinder: Kingmaker, Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous will expand and elaborate on the core elements that made Owlcat’s previous installment successful. New features include the mythic progression system, a new corner of the award-winning Age of Lost Omens setting to explore, and more classes and character customizations drawn from Pathfinder's extensive history. Owlcat will be releasing more details as development progresses so that fans can stay caught up on how the process evolves over time.
Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous is based on the Wrath of the Righteous Adventure Path from the tabletop game but includes new characters, plots, and elements to entertain even players already familiar with the adventure. It tells the story of a large-scale conflict between mortals and demons where players are invited to immerse themselves in a world under siege from demonic forces. As a vicious invasion threatens the world, the consequences of one’s decisions will forge a unique narrative of their personal battle between good and evil.
Kingmaker’s Creative Director Alexander Mishulin and Lead Writer Alexander Komzolov return to their respective roles, and Owlcat is happy to confirm that Chris Avellone is back on board lending a hand and supporting the narrative team as he did with Pathfinder: Kingmaker.
Owlcat Games has announced that the first alpha test for its classic isometric CRPG, Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous, is now available for all the backers who contributed to the title’s Kickstarter campaign and got the appropriate access. All the fans of Pathfinder who missed the Kickstarter can also purchase access for $15 after selecting a tier to contribute to the crowdfunding campaign via the game’s official website. The studio has launched a Slacker Backer campaign in an effort to add a new Hunter class and Dinosaur companions and mounts to the game.
“These are rough times we are living in right now, but we are doing our best to keep up with our development schedule and deliver the game as promised,” says Oleg Shpilchevskiy, Owlcat Games’s Head of Studio. “Now that the alpha version is available to our backers, we are thrilled to receive feedback from our core fans.”
From now until May 21, testers are able to play through the first two chapters of Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous, thereby experiencing the beginning of their epic adventure. The alpha allows fans to try out six new classes (each with a plethora of archetypes) and two prestige classes alongside the full roster featured in Pathfinder: Kingmaker. This version also includes 10 new companions and gives players the opportunity to take their first steps toward one of six Mythic Paths (eight will be available once the full game launches next year).
Features that were backed as Kickstarter stretch goals have also made their way into the alpha build, including mounted combat, increased reactivity for companions and a meeting with a new companion named Woljif Jefto. Fans should note that these features have not been completed and will be improved upon in the future. Additionally, some content may be missing or replaced in later builds. For instance, romances, Crusade Commander features, and the Locust Swarm and Golden Dragon Mythic Paths are absent, and the alpha’s UI has not been updated. Owlcat Games encourages testers to report the bugs and glitches they encounter via a survey.
“This is a significant moment for us – it will show us if we are on the right track,” adds Mr. Shpilchevskiy. “Moreover, a lot of the new features we’ve included were funded as stretch goals during our Kickstarter campaign. It’s time to show our progress on some of them, and I hope the backers will be happy with what they see.”
Kickstarter backers are now able to access a personal account to manage and upgrade their pledges, select specific add-ons, receive digital rewards, and edit personal information such as their shipping address. Fans may also pre-order the title and purchase packs similar to the tiers offered during the game’s Kickstarter campaign if they wish to continue supporting Owlcat Games.
Curious CRPG aficionados who missed out on Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous’s crowdfunding campaign can support development via a Slacker Backer program. The funds collected through this initiative will help Owlcat Games finance its last active Kickstarter stretch goal: the addition of both a new Hunter class called Hunter and ferocious Dinosaur companions and mounts. The warrior of the wilds will be able to command these giant reptiles as pets and ride them into battle. Of course, Hunters will be able to form bonds with other animal allies, too.
To stand against the demonic invasion, the player character and their companions will receive additional powers from the player’s chosen mythic path. These paths vary widely in nature and profoundly impact the storyline of the game, permanently changing the characters and the world around them. Players may choose the path of the immortal lich, wielding powerful spells and commanding an army of undead; the path of the trickster, causing mischief and finding fun even in the middle of the demon-filled abyss; the path of the angel, summoning celestial allies into battle and meting bolts of divine judgment upon foes; or something else entirely.
Some Pathfinder RPG character classes that didn’t make it into Kingmaker will make their CRPG debut in Wrath of the Righteous alongside the returning roster, including — but not limited to — the fan-favorite witch and oracle. More classes and character options will be revealed in the near future.
Boasting an improved visual style, Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous will offer a look and feel distinct from that of Pathfinder: Kingmaker. Set in locations including a demon-infested wasteland, besieged crusader cities, and the foul, twisted Abyss itself, Wrath of the Righteous’s art will capture the epic fight of the world’s defenders as they struggle to hold the line against the corrupting force of otherworldly entities.
Key Features:
- Embark on a journey to a realm overrun by demons and rise to power by choosing one of six available Mythic Paths. Master their abilities and change the world around you as an Angel, a Lich, a Trickster, an Aeon, a Demon, or an Azata. Each Mythic Path leads to unique skills and appearance, and greatly impacts the game’s story.
- Challenge the mighty Demon Lords and close the portal to the demonic plane of existence known as the Abyss.
- Enjoy the flexibility, richness, and depth of the Pathfinder first edition ruleset. Create any character imaginable by choosing one of ten races, picking a particular class out of the 21 available, each with five archetypes for even greater customization. Gain access to more than a thousand spells, feats, and abilities, and select those that suit your playstyle. Take control of your party formation, help set up a camp, and find a way to victory by combining the strengths of your companions.
- Lead the armies of the Fifth Crusade to victory in a new strategic layer of gameplay. In addition to the classic CRPG experience, step into the role of the Commander, gather troops, reinforce your stronghold, and send your armies to battle the demonic invasion across the map of the region. Send your crusaders to explore ancient ruins and recover powerful artifacts.
- Experience a non-linear story about the cost of tremendous power that adventurers often seek, with tales of corruption caused by the demonic influence and redemption for those who have stepped on the wrong path.
- Meet a new diverse cast of characters, including ten companions to recruit to your party and featuring multiple romance options to choose from.
- Take control of five new classes (Arcanist, Bloodrager, Shaman, Oracle, and Witch) and meet a new race–the half-undead dhampir–in addition to the previous roster from Pathfinder: Kingmaker. The number of archetypes per class has increased to five as well.
- Dive into the game even if you’re not familiar with the intricacies of the Pathfinder ruleset. Use an enhanced tutorial for newcomers to help you with character creation and get up to speed with the rules of the system.
- Explore the world with updated visuals and a 360-degree rotating camera added for better playability and immersion.
Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous is coming to PC (Steam and GOG) in June 2021, with more platforms to be revealed in the future.
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