porcozaur has spotted a special offer from Owlcat Games. This weekend, everyone can play Pathfinder: Kingmaker for free. The game also benefits from a 50% discount until the end of the month.

Play Pathfinder: Kingmaker for free

Hello Pathfinders!

You all have played Pathfinder: Kingmaker by now, we presume. But some of you may have friends who haven’t played it: either haven’t had the opportunity, or maybe don’t even know whether they will like that kind of a game or not. We have great news — this weekend, from 10:00 AM August 27th and till 10 A.M. August 29th (PDT), everyone will be able to play Pathfinder: Kingmaker for free! And purchase the game with a 50% discount until 10 A.M. August the 31st. So tell your hesitating friends, and let’s spend a weekend on Golarion together!

Don’t forget to join our discord if you need advice or help with your barony. And add Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous to your wishlist if you like the adventure and want more!

See you in the Stolen Lands!

Thanks porcozaur!

MandaloreGaming checked out Pathfinder: Kingmaker:

Pathfinder: Kingmaker Review

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Owlcat have posted a retrospective on their character sheet interface design in Pathfinder: Kingmaker.

The Search for a Layout

Breaking down information into logical sections provides a good starting point for design, but it does not go far enough. It’s difficult to create something without limitations. Our brains rely on systems that help us categorize and understand our surrounding environment. Without a system, things become more difficult. In addition to the difficulty of presenting information in a logical manner, we were also limited by the three-column system from the pre-existing inventory interface. Now, our next step was to combine information from different sections into a cohesive visual presentation. From our perspective, my colleagues and I felt that some of these sections worked well together in the layouts, and some of them were less successful. The rejected versions have all been archived, so I had to go pull them specifically for this article.

Below are some of the early screen layout experiments. All of them try to squeeze the entire character sheet onto the screen at one time. Some sections, such as attack, defense, and skills, do not change much, but others, such as abilities and effects, vary significantly in their placement and presentation.

Moreover, I also greatly underestimated the number of ability options, and often tried to fit them into very small sections. At the same time, by the way, we were trying to find a way to place effects in the left third of the screen, so they would be visible on the inventory screen as well. One interesting moment occurred when discussing the effects section. Some of our colleagues with extensive knowledge of the rules, differentiated between when a character’s state is caused by spell effects (either positive or negative), and when it is caused by a condition (fatigued, blinded, etc.). This is written in the rules, and integrates well into the mechanics of the game. These were all viewable in the interface as icons, with text that changed the values of other stats. This can be seen directly within the game code, where the interface code leads to a common denominator of a mechanical nature.

Portraits from Baldur's Gate are used in the layouts.

[...]

Thanks purpleblob!

Pathfinder: Kingmaker update 2.1.5c is out now - here's the list of enhancements.

The definitive edition update for Pathfinder: Kingmaker has arrived which brings with it turn-based mode and gamepad support. 

Please be aware of plot spoilers in the description below!

Highlights
• You can now play Pathfinder: Kingmaker with your gamepad.
• Turn-based mode is now available.

[...]

Techraptor explains the character generation in Pathfinder: Kingmaker:

Chargen - Character Generation for Pathfinder: Kingmaker

A Beginners Guide to Building your First Character

The Definitive Edition of Pathfinder: Kingmaker is finally coming to consoles with an all new turn-based mode, and with that, it is a chance to introduce Pathfinder to a whole new audience. Kingmaker is a long, classic computer RPG that adapts the crunchiness—the complexity of the mechanics—of the tabletop quite well, but it also serves as a major barrier of entry for those looking to get into the title with relative ease.

Simply put, every aspect of Pathfinder: Kingmaker is an exercise of the player's knowledge of the game's mechanics, from dealing with random-rolled attacks to manipulating numbers based on resistances, saving throws, and abilities. Character creation is a hallmark of many great RPGs, and for Kingmaker this is taken to another level by being incredibly detailed. The Definitive Edition alone offers 16 different classes, nine races, and a multitude of options to fully customize your character.

With Kingmaker coming to consoles, perhaps it’s time to give a general explanation for character generation, so everyone can at least understand the intricate mechanics at play here. So this guide will do just that: walk through the basic character-creation process and provide some insight for players to help guide them through character creation.

Please note: This guide is intended for newer players who are curious about crunchy computer-role playing games, but have little to no experience with them. Pathfinder as a tabletop game is notoriously (and arguably needlessly) complex, and many guides over-rely on the jargon without ever explaining what most of that terminology means. 

[...]

Gabrielarantest spotted the beta test annoucement for Pathfinder: Kingmaker 2.1:

Beta Test for Pathfinder: Kingmaker Update 2.1 is now Live!

Pathfinders,

It is less than a month until the release of Pathfinder: Kingmaker Definitive Edition for PC and consoles. With this update comes turn-based mode and a number of fixes. In preparation for this, we are launching a beta for 2.1! In this test, you will be able to play in the turn-based mode. We have put a lot of work into it and now we are ready to present it to you. We hope that you will love it and share your thoughts about it.

If you find any bugs you can report them using the in-game bug report feature by pressing F11. You can use the same tool to provide feedback to us - just choose the “Suggestion” option under the text window.

You can find how to join the beta-test here.

Patch notes are here.

IGN takes a look at the new turn-based mode for Pathfinder: Kingmaker that has been introduced for the console ports. The turn-based mode will be coming to PC also.

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In its official implementation, you can simply click in the right thumbstick to turn it on or off at any time – and yes, you can play with a gamepad on PC too, if you like. For instance, Mishulin brought his party to an encounter with a pack of three Greater Worgs. (If you’re unfamiliar with Pathfinder: Kingmaker when diving in, it will remind you a lot of Star Wars: Knight of the Old Republic, but with an old-school Baldur’s Gate-style isometric camera perspective.) You cannot queue attacks with turn-based combat, but it seems to flow pretty quickly if you want it to; you attack with the next party member up, then it cycles immediately to the next character’s turn. If the battle ends up obviously decided at any point, you can simply click in on the right thumbstick again to switch back to real-time combat so that the fight will end sooner and you can move on. You can also pause anytime in real-time combat, give orders, then unpause and your orders will be executed by your party.

[...]

Owlcat is an independent studio now:

Big news for the Owlcat Games studio

Dear Pathfinders!

The recent anniversary of Pathfinder: Kingmaker made us think more about the future of Owlcat Games as well. Together with our parent company, we decided to change the format of cooperation with MY.GAMES and go for an independent studio. Both parties have agreed to this mutually beneficial step, which will allow continuing to explore new business opportunities while maintaining focus on core competencies. The parent company remains our strategic partner and investor. We want to thank our colleagues at MY.GAMES for all these years we have spent on the path together.

As a newly independent studio, we have already moved to the new headquarters, where we are actively making ourselves a new home right now. The move was not easy for us — we needed to carefully pack and transfer the countless boxes with small assets, shaman tambourines, all the dialogues, the bestiary and all the miniatures from the personal desks. Amiri's sword alone required an individual van!
But we made it! Here is a small photo report, so you can see the process with your own eyes.

Thanks purpleblob:

A turn-based combat mod for Pathfinder: Kingmaker is now available on Nexus:

Turn-Based Combat Beta - Pathfinder Kingmaker

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• It's recommended to turn off AI for better experience when using the turn-based combat feature.
• This mod is experimental, but close to release. I have tested a ton of things, but not every things, so be cautious, please.
• All mod features only take effect in turn-based combat, and should be auto muted when in real time.
• There is a to-do list on the bottom that listed what I'm working on.

Playtesting of Chris Avelone's PnP module will start shortly.

Many of you have asked us for a status update on Chris Avellone’s digital RPG adventure module, and we’re happy that we finally have some news for you! 

We’ve reached a new important milestone. After multiple drafts and much back-and-forth between Chris, Paizo and us Owlcats, we’ve all decided that the manuscript is of high enough quality to begin closed playtesting! We’ve recruited a number of playgroups from you, our audience, and we’ve sent out copies of the adventure module. We believe that testing early is very important, and getting feedback before everything is set in stone can drastically improve the end result. For those of you who are participating, we’d like to stress that this is an early draft, and the module is still far from its final state – we just collectively decided that we want to hear your thoughts on this. 

We are sorry that it took us so long to reach this stage. The task has proven to be more difficult than initially expected, and we want to make sure that this adventure lives up to the fame of the original “Kingmaker” AP. However, we promise things will pick up from now on. Stay tuned for more news in the near future!

Pathfinder: Kingmaker is getting an Enhanced Edition and Beneath the Stolen Lands DLC on June 6th.

Pathfinder: Kingmaker Enhanced Edition and Beneath the Stolen Lands DLC arriving June 6

24 May @ 4:04am - Mortheim

Dear Pathfinders,

From day one, we’ve set it as our goal to tirelessly improve our game based on your feedback and insight. We’ve pored over comments, scoured the forums and scrutinized your survey answers – and then rushed back to start fixing, polishing and expanding. Today, we are happy to announce the fruits of our labors: an Enhanced Edition of “Pathfinder: Kingmaker”, free to everyone who already owns a copy of the game! Not only is it a culmination of all the previous patches and fixes. Featuring all-new classes, items and abilities, numerous quality-of-life features and multiple balance adjustments, this is the ultimate way to play the game!

The Enhanced Edition will launch on June 6. In the meantime, to let you know of all the exciting new features, we’ve prepared a slew of content, including teasers, dev diaries and even dev streams – the first of which will go live today! Join us on https://www.twitch.tv/owlcatgames at 7:30 PM CEST/1:30 PM EDT (US) for an in-depth look at a new prestige class!

“Pathfinder: Kingmaker – Enhanced Edition” Key Features

• Free Upgrade for all existing players
• Numerous gameplay-enriching content additions and dozens of quality-of-life features
• New abilities and ways to build your character
• A Brand-new class: Slayer
• New items and weaponry
• Improved balance, especially in the beginning and last two chapters of the game
• Enhanced kingdom management system, both in terms of balance as well as usability and player comfort
• Increased variety of random encounters on the global map
• Thousands of fixes and improvements made since the game’s initial release

Beneath the Stolen Lands

Some of our shrewder fans have already figured out that we like to release things near the end of the month. Such was our plan for “Beneath The Stolen Lands”, our 3rd DLC, as well. However, after postponing it for a month from late April to late May, we’ve realized we now had 2 releases lined up one after the other in the space of a week. For this reason, we’ve decided that it would make more sense to release both the DLC and Enhanced Edition on the same day, June 6.
Just to remind you what it's going to be like:

“Beneath The Stolen Lands” Key Features

• Enter a massive dungeon with a party made from scratch. Begin your adventure to the Tenebrous Depths with a party of newly created characters. Start the game from the main menu and experience the descent into an endless rogue-like dungeon
• Explore the near-infinite possibilities of building a Pathfinder character. Try out different builds to perfect your tactics at your leisure. Create a band of adventurers able to overcome any danger!
• Defeat is but a new beginning! Dying in an encounter enables additional benefits for your next playthrough
• Unlock new items to buy across multiple playthroughs. The number of item slots traders have depends on how far you have been able to descend during all of your previous forays combined
• Enter the dungeon as your main character, alternatively you can wait for an invitation from a mysterious protector of Golarion as you play through the Main Story. The pre-set version of the dungeon is included into the main campaign, allowing you to use your character and companions to conquer the Tenebrous Depths

Pathfinder: Kingmaker's last DLC Beneath the Stolen Lands has been delayed by a month.

"Beneath the Stolen Lands" DLC Delayed

Dear Pathfinders,

Not every day brings good news, and, unfortunately, today is one of those other days. We regret to inform you that, after much consideration, we’ve decided to postpone the release of our 3rd DLC, “Beneath The Stolen Lands”, by around a month.

Multiple factors have influenced this decision. We don’t have much experience with procedurally generated dungeons, and the game’s engine wasn’t originally built to support such content. Our goal – to make the DLC endlessly repeatable –demands that we hit a high standard of replayability, and that puts additional pressure on our game designers. Last but not least, we feel that we need to make more time for testing and quality assurance.

All in all, this is a rather ambitious project for us, and we want to make sure we deliver an experience that is worthy of our players’ attention. We sincerely apologize for this delay, and we hope that you understand our reasons.

To soften the blow and share our progress with you, here’s a little sneak peek inside the mysterious underground dungeon we’ve been building all this time. We hope you like what you see!

Sincerely,

Owlcats.

You can see the revealed screenshots by the link: https://steamcommunity.com/gid/10358...46286024220422

Thanks purpleblob!

A player survey for Pathfinder: Kingmaker.

Player Survey - Let Us Know What You Think!

Dear pathfinders,

As you all know, we're constantly at work, trying to make our game better, easier to understand and more comfortable to play. Apart from this, right now we're busy developing a console version of Pathfinder: Kingmaker. We love getting feedback from our players. In order to better understand your needs and to make a few important decisions about future development, we've decided to conduct this survey. It turned out to be pretty substantial in size, and still, we would like to ask you to spend a little time and help us out. Your insight and experience as the kings and queens of the Stolen Lands would be invaluable to us!

Click to Take Part in Survey[ru.surveymonkey.com]

Thanks Farflame!

Patch 1.3 for Pathfinder: Kingmaker has been released.

Patch 1.3 – April 1st, 2019 – Part 1

Please, be aware of possible spoilers below!

Patch Highlights

• New feature: you can now enter the Global Map straight from your throne room. No need to run through the capital every time you're leaving the castle anymore!
• Added new icons for items, books, letters and notes.
• Added new visual effects for spells such as Boneshaker, Telekinetic Fist, Thorn Body, Molten Orb, Dominate Animal and others, as well as improved some of the existing ones.
• Added ASUS Aura integration.
• Several interface improvements:
  
  • resources on the global map will now show which region they’re located in and whether the player can already claim them,
  • the tooltips for kingdom stats will reflect which advisor governs which stat,
  • pets' stats will always be shown in the inventory and the character sheet, to the right of the pet's owner,
  • character sheet will now show the damage dealt by additional attacks with equipped weapons, such as those gained through high BAB and special abilities,
  • a weapon's description will display the damage that the chosen character is going to deal with it,
  • the articles inside main sections of the encyclopedia will be sorted alphabetically,
  • multiple improvements to the spell book interface, including metamagic, opposing schools, specialization and domain slots, etc.
• Fixed around 500 typos.
• Numerous improvements to visuals, animations, audio, and localizations.

[...]

@Worthplaying Pathfinder: Kingmaker is set to get new free DLC called 'Arcane Unleashed'.

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Because there is no such thing as Too Much Magic, Owlcat Games and Deep Silver today released its latest free DLC “Arcane Unleashed” for their critically acclaimed RPG  Pathfinder: Kingmaker

Wrapped up within this free DLC is something for everyone!

Explorers of The Stolen Lands can ramp-up their magical arsenal with the following new spells:

1. Create Pit
2. Spiked Pit
3. Acid Pit
4. Hungry Pit
5. Rift of Ruin
6. Battering Blast

An arcane scroll merchant will appear in your capital. The quantity and caster level of available scrolls depends on how high your "Arcane" kingdom stat is.

But wait, that’s not all! If you like turning into giant dragons as much as we believe, you'll definitely enjoy the fresh, improved models for chromatic and metallic types of these formidable creatures.

Finally, the last part of this DLC is a new pet. Oleg Shpilchevsky, Head Of Owlcat Games says “One of our players, long term community contributor,  and our friend lost his beloved cat “Tiger” just weeks before the launch of our game. As a token of our eternal gratitude for everything he contributed to the creation of Pathfinder: Kingmaker, we've recreated. "Tiger" in the game so that he may roam with his human friend(s) once more – if only in the Stolen Lands,” he added.

Thanks Farflame!

@Gamasutra Pathfinder: Kingmaker will have new DLC arriving February 28th called Varnhold's Lot.

25 February 2019: Owlcat Games and Deep Silver today announce the second DLC Varnhold's Lot for their critically acclaimed RPG Pathfinder: Kingmaker will launch on February 28.

You join Varn - as his general - and experience Varnhold's valorous history first-hand; the whole of it, not just the outcome!

Just as you were claiming your first title, another hero of the Stolen Lands became a baron too: Maegar Varn, captain of the Varnling Host mercenary band and rightful ruler of Varnhold

If you've played the main campaign, you already know what happened to him... or do you?

Key Features

•  Play a complete and challenging self-contained side story
•  Create a new character and fight for the future of Varnhold while your main campaign's hero establishes their barony in the Shrike Hills
•  Experience the adventure from a companion's point of view
•  Explore a huge new dungeon. What secrets lie in the forbidden depths?
•  Import your achievements into the main campaign! After you finish the DLC, a new event will unlock in the main story: Maegar Varn will invite you to visit the dungeon once again — to witness the consequences of your decisions...
•  Lead your commander to victory in combat and to prosperity in peace

[...]

Patch 1.2 – January 24th, 2019 - Part 1

Pathfinder: Kingmaker - TheZeisonSha

Dear pathfinders,

As the new year takes its course, we are happy to announce that we're ready to share Version 1.2!

This new pack of fixes and improvements is based on your suggestions we keep receiving both from forums and the in-game reporting system (available by pressing F11). Thank you so much for your contribution - your feedback lets us make the game better every day!

We know that a lot of our players are complaining about the long load times. It's a serious technical issue and, unfortunately, we cannot fix it in one fell swoop. However, we're doing our best to mitigate this pain. We have been able to greatly decrease initial loading time in previous patches. And there is a major improvement in Kingdom management interface we implemented in this patch that will eliminate loading time between different Kingdom UI windows. We keep looking for other things we could do to fix this problem, so stay tuned for further improvements!

Be aware that the update is really huge - you will have to download around 18 Gb! The reason the update is so big is that we are working on the loading time issue, so we had to repack almost all game data.

We would like to thank all of you who are sending us the bug reports with the typos. We are doing our best to correct them as soon as they are discovered. Thanks to you all, the Version 1.2 holds a large number of such fixes!

Finally, let us assure you once more that work on the Pathfinder: Kingmaker will not stop for a single day. Right now, the development team keeps working on the next patch which should fix - as we hope - all known issues that remain on our task list.

Sincerely yours,
Owlcats.

Patch Highlights:

• System: Loading times have been significantly reduced.
• New setting: you can now choose to significantly decrease loading times in kingdom management screens at the cost of higher RAM and VRAM consumption.
• Multiple difficulty improvements in Chapters 6 and 7.
• New feature: you can now enable camera following. Just double-click a character's portrait or hit F to enable it and disable it by manually controlling the camera (WASD, arrow keys or pressing on the mouse wheel). Camera-following is also automatically disabled on battle start.
• New feature: to save yourself a loading screen, you can now hover your mouse cursor over the table in the throne room, and you'll see an exclamation mark if anything new has happened in kingdom management while you were gone.
• The Storyteller now provides the total number of artifact shards needed to assemble an artifact.
• Numerous visual and user interface improvements.

Please, be aware of the plot spoilers in the description below (in the Quest, Areas and Kingdom sections)!

[...]

Here are ten useful mods for Pathfinder: Kingmaker from Twinfinite.

2. Respecialization Mod — Respec Your Character

Have you ever spent hours and hours creating a character only to realize that shortly after you start using the character that you aren't satisfied with them? We've all been there and sadly, in most games, you're stuck without that character unless you're okay with starting over. This Respecialization mod allows Pathfinder: Kingmaker players to completely respec their characters without having to restart the game. You can change everything you'd ever want: gender, race, portrait, appearance, alignment, voice and of course, the name.

Thanks Farflame!

Purpleblob send us her review of Pathfinder: Kingmaker, a game she spent quite some time with.

Pathfinder: Kingmaker is a cRPG inspired by classic RPGs like Baldur's Gate, Fallout and Arcanum. Based on Pathfinder P&P adventure path modules, the game features a unique kingdom management system which forms a crucial part of gameplay, allowing the players to experience the role of both adventurer and ruler of the land. Will you become a benevolent ruler of the land as Sarenith or reign as an evil overlord?

Kingmaker was first announced via Kickstarter in June 2017 by a new developer, Owlcat Games, based in Russia. My initial reaction to this Kickstarter campaign was sceptical to say at least, especially following the severe disappointments I had experienced with previous games that claimed to be the "spiritual successor of Baldur's Gate". However, Owlcat Games provided solid updates throughout the kickstart campaign, which eventually led me to pre-purchasing the game at an early access tier.

To my surprise, Kingmaker far exceeded my expectations, and provided me with more than 100 hours of immensely fun gameplay. I was given a plethora of options to create a character of my desire to explore the vivid and rich world filled with colourful and mysterious characters, and was captivated by the amazing story-telling. However, the game is not without its flaws - Owlcat Games appeared to have bitten off more than they could chew with their ambitious first project - a buggy release, mediocre kingdom management system and atrocious end game design marring an engaging and deep game. A furious post-release patching schedule has seen the most glaring technical issues resolved, allowing players to experience the full scope of Owlcat Games vision. For me, Kingmaker is the true spiritual successor of Baldur's Gate, a feat no other games have achieved up until now.

The Wildcards DLC is now available on Steam and GOG for Pathfinder: Kingmaker.

Fiend blood runs through their veins, whispering cruel truths and evil ideas. Who are they? Tieflings, the outcasts of the civilized world.

Living channels of elemental energy, tamers of wild power - who are they? Kineticists, masters of occult elemental skills.

A mysterious stranger crosses the threshold of your barony - marked with the blood of devils, gifted with the power of the elements. Who is she? Discover for yourself!

This new DLC for Pathfinder:Kingmaker includes:

• A new playable race. During the poll to decide which bonus race we were going to add to the game, one particular option was requested a lot (besides the winner - Aasimars): Tieflings, the people with a drop of demonic blood in their veins. They didn't make it into the base game, but became the natural choice for the first piece of post-release content.

• A new playable class. They master the raw power of the elements, channeling it into their wild talents to manipulate the world around them. Kineticists are living conduits of primal energy, deadly both in close and ranged combat.

• A new companion. If you combine a race with a class, you get a character. Welcome your new companion, the Tiefling Kineticist who comes, just like every other companion, with her own storyline. She could also be a romance option and may hold one of the positions in the Kingdom.

The new companion will join your party in the beginning of Chapter 2. Those who would like to add the companion to their current playthrough can do so at any point before the end of Chapter 5 ("War of the River Kings"): the companion will ask for an audience at your throne room. However, we would advise to begin your acquaintance with the character as soon as possible.

The Wildcards DLC for Pathfinder: Kingmaker has been pushed back to next week.

Update - "Wildcards" DLC

6 DECEMBER - THEZEISONSHA
Dear Pathfinders,

we have an important update for you today: we have made the decision to move the release date of "The Wildcards" DLC to next week. The last two months have taught us a good lesson - it is always better to take some extra time to make sure everything is ready, and we feel like we should not rush our first major DLC. To ensure we deliver the experience and quality you deserve, we will dedicate additional time and effort to "The Wildcards". We hope you can understand our decision - it was not one that was made easily, however, we believe it was the right one.

Thank you for bearing with us, and thank you for your patience!

The Pathfinder: Kingmaker season pass details three upcoming DLCs.

The Season Pass includes:
DLC 1
The Wildcards - December, 2018

• A new playable race. During the poll to decide which bonus race we were going to add to the game, one particular option was requested a lot (besides the winner - Aasimars): Tieflings, the people with a drop of demonic blood in their veins. They didn't make it into the base game, but became the natural choice for the first piece of post-release content.

• A new playable class. They master the raw power of the elements, channeling it into their wild talents to manipulate the world around them. Kineticists are living conduits of primal energy, deadly both in close and ranged combat.

• A new companion. If you combine a race with a class, you get a character. Welcome your new companion, the Tiefling Kineticist who comes, just like every other companion, with her own storyline. She could also be a romance option and may hold one of the positions in the Kingdom.
(post-launch content, a $7,99 value).


DLC 2
Varnhold's Lot - February , 2019*

A new bonus campaign. While celebrating your victory at Jamandi Aldori's mansion, you've met another hero of the Stolen Lands: the mercenary captain Maegar Varn. While you're building your barony in the Shrike Hills and Narlmarshes, Varn and his people are establishing their own nation of Varnhold in the rocky foothills of Dunsward. What did they have to go against? Play this new story, and export the consequences of the choices you've made there into the main campaign!

This exciting new side story is about the size of one chapter of our main campaign and will take 6-12 hours to complete, depending on your playstyle.
(post-launch content, a $11,99 value).


DLC 3
Beneath The Stolen Lands - April, 2019*

A new game mode. Sometimes you want to play a story with memorable characters, rich lore, and a complicated set of choices and consequences. But then there are days when you just want to grab a sword, cast some spells, and destroy a horde of monsters! This DLC will introduce a rogue-like randomly generated endless dungeon, complete with a new unique boss. You can explore it in a separate game, or as a part of your main campaign. How deep can you go?
(post-launch content, a $9,99 value).

*Expansion pack launch dates are estimates and are subject to change.

Thanks Farflame!

A new hotfix 1.1.1c for Pathfinder: Kingmaker is out:

Hello everyone!

A new hot-fix for this week.

Please, be aware of the plot spoilers in the description below (in the Quest, Areas and Kingdom sections)!

[...]

A new DLC has been announced for Pathfinder: Kingmaker called The Wildcards which introduces a new race, class and companion.

Fiend blood runs through their veins, whispering cruel truths and evil ideas. Who are they? Tieflings, the outcasts of the civilized world.

Living channels of elemental energy, tamers of wild power - who are they? Kineticists, masters of occult elemental skills.

A mysterious stranger crosses the threshold of your barony - marked with the blood of devils, gifted with the power of the elements. Who is she? Discover for yourself!

This new DLC for Pathfinder:Kingmaker includes:

• A new playable race. During the poll to decide which bonus race we were going to add to the game, one particular option was requested a lot (besides the winner - Aasimars): Tieflings, the people with a drop of demonic blood in their veins. They didn't make it into the base game, but became the natural choice for the first piece of post-release content.

• A new playable class. They master the raw power of the elements, channeling it into their wild talents to manipulate the world around them. Kineticists are living conduits of primal energy, deadly both in close and ranged combat.

• A new companion. If you combine a race with a class, you get a character. Welcome your new companion, the Tiefling Kineticist who comes, just like every other companion, with her own storyline. She could also be a romance option and may hold one of the positions in the Kingdom.

The new companion will join your party in the beginning of Chapter 2. Those who would like to add the companion to their current playthrough can do so at any point before the end of Chapter 5 ("War of the River Kings"): the companion will ask for an audience at your throne room. However, we would advise to begin your acquaintance with the character as soon as possible.

Patch 1.1 for Pathfinder: Kingmaker is now available:

Patch 1.1

The latest update, patch 1.1, is live. It is massive, so check out the links below for everything!

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

Gamebanshee likes Pathfinder: Kingmaker:

Pathfinder: Kingmaker

Introduction
Originally designed as an alternative to the 4th edition of Dungeons & Dragons, Paizo Publishing's pen-and-paper Pathfinder Roleplaying Game was released back in 2009. With its robust fantasy world of Golarion and a rich ruleset based on the modified 3.5 edition of D&D, it's quite surprising that we're getting our first Pathfinder cRPG just now.

Released on September 25, 2018 after a successful Kickstarter campaign, Pathfinder: Kingmaker is that game. It was developed by Owlcat Games, a Russian studio that consists of numerous industry veterans and Pathfinder enthusiasts, with the help of such notable individuals like Chris Avellone and Inon Zur.

During the campaign, Kingmaker was said to be inspired by Baldur's Gate, Fallout, and Arcanum, and after spending roughly 100 hours with the game, I can safely say that those weren't just marketing buzzwords, even though Arcanum's legacy is mostly represented by an abundance of bugs of all sorts. Still, out of all the games released in the past decade or so, in my opinion Kingmaker comes closest to recapturing the magic of those classic cRPGs.

Quite an endorsement, I know, so if you're interested in a detailed breakdown of what makes Kingmaker worthy of such praise, you should read on.

 [...]

Conclusion
Even today, games like Baldur's Gate, Fallout, and Jagged Alliance 2 stand proudly as benchmarks of their respective genres, since for whatever reason, video game developers spent the past 20 years not building upon the foundation of those games, but instead streamlining and simplifying their mechanics.

No more, says Owlcat Games with Pathfinder: Kingmaker. It's time to move forward, to take the old classics as the baseline and expand them, add more features instead of taking them away. Massive, complex, and immensely fun, even a heap of bugs was not enough to diminish my enjoyment of this game.

If you like isometric RPGs, you simply owe it to yourself to play Pathfinder: Kingmaker.

Gamesxtreme reviewed Pathfinder: Kingmaker:

Pathfinder: Kingmaker Review

Starting in with Pathfinder: Kingmaker, you have to examine its serious and deep digging roots. Let me just take a side note here and say, because this is going to be important to my views of the game, that I've never heard of Pathfinder in its original form, nor do I (unfortunately) play tabletop or pen and paper roleplaying games. The surprise of Pathfinder having a roleplay system that's been developed for ten years was a pleasant one indeed. Suddenly the core of Kingmaker made perfect sense and aside from already enjoying the gameplay, enriched it with a bit of gaming history. From what I understand, the player and fan base of Pathfinder is quite a large and loyal following as well, so it should come to no surprise that when Kingmaker was announced on Kickstarter. It blew the goal out of the water totaling to $909,057 out of it's $500,000 goal.

[...]

Pathfinder: Kingmaker is certainly the king of kings when it comes to roleplaying games brought to a digital platform. You can really feel like this is a title made FOR the fans BY fans. Every bit of it is lovingly handcrafted and it shows. I have to put this down as a highly recommend for all: if you're new to the genre, this is a fantastic place to start. If you're not--boy, are you in for a pleasant surprise. And on native Linux too! A great time for all to be had.

Pathfinder: Kingmaker has a new free DLC called 'Bloody Mess'.

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Right before the spookiest night of the year Owlcat Games and Deep Silver would like to say thank you to all the fans who played the game so far and take this opportunity to announce a free DLC for Pathfinder: Kingmaker. The “blood on characters” will add more realism to the game as the faces of your trusted companions and awful enemies are stained with red and their clothes will be soaked in blood during the fight.

A Q&A about Pathfinder: Kingmaker at GOG. A companions guide at Twinfinite.

...

Q: Will the game have multiple solutions to problems (I mean like actual multiple solutions) or will the quests be more linear?

[Owl Cat Games] The direct answer is yes, almost every event has several ways to solve it. The main storyline also has a lot of different options for progression and the game has several major different endings, not counting the dozens of different minor outcomes.

Q: Is there an editor, or chance of one, so people can make their own adventures a la NWN?

[Owl Cat Games] No editor mode support right now, sorry. This is quite a huge feature. We definitely considered this during the development but we decided that we’d better focus on the game itself rather than postpone the release for several months.

Q: Would I have to know the pen and paper version of Pathfinder to really enjoy this game?

[Owl Cat Games] No, you don’t have to. All the story elements are reproduced with the addition of all new stories elements and narratives!

[...]

Tanks: Harrim

He may continuously sermon about the futility of life, but Groetus’s chosen makes for an excellent beginning tank. The dwarf’s perhaps the best support tank in the game, adding the heavy armor proficiency feat complements his role as a supportive cleric.

Leveling Harrim along as a pure support tank allows him to take the brunt of an enemy onslaught, healing your party at critical moments. Because of his array of faith-based spells available late into the game, he should be a go-to party member throughout Pathfinder: Kingmaker.

Tips:

• Pure Cleric leveling allows Harrim to heal your party and become a decent tank.
• Make sure to take Coordinated Defense along with the Heavy Armor Proficiency feat. Those two will provide decent defensive buffs throughout the game.
• Remember his buffs! Prayer, Bless, and Bane each provide great bonuses throughout the game.

Tomsguide checked out Pathfinder: Kingmaker:

Is Pathfinder: Kingmaker 2018's Next Great RPG?

The isometric PC role-playing game has had something of a miraculous comeback recently.

Games like Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition, Divinity: Original Sin and Torment: Tides of Numenera remind us of why we fell in love with their endless customizability and engrossing stories. Just a few months ago, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire demonstrated that the genre still has new ground to cover, whether the new approaches are as big as traversing the high seas in a pirate ship or as small as giving characters entertaining idle animations.

Pathfinder: Kingmaker ($40) is the latest contender in the world of retro isometric RPGs, and right off the bat, it has a lot going for it. It's the first major adaptation of the massively popular Pathfinder tabletop RPG rules; it's both a role-playing game and a city-management sim;  it's got an enormous map that encourages actual exploration. If you yearn for the days of Icewind Dale and Fallout, this title should be an easy sell, especially since you get about 80 hours of gameplay for $20 less than the price of a new big-budget title. Right?
[...]

Bottom Line

There are some aspects of the game that I haven't touched on — the city-building, the bugs, the dialogue, the semiopen world — but the first few hours of Pathfinder: Kingmaker are ambitious, unpolished, satisfying, complicated, engrossing and tedious. I like the game, but I'm not sure I'm ready to commit 80 hours of my time to it.

In the meantime, the staff at Owlcat Games is working overtime to iron out a lot of the game's issues, coming out with patches to that effect almost every day. They're taking their creation very seriously — as they should, because it's a game with a lot of heart and an impressive scope. The game won't make you feel like a king just yet, but it's good enough to merit minor nobility, at least.

Invision Community reports on the sharing of the original score for Pathfinder: Kingmaker.

Owlcat Games and Deep Silver offer you an aural delight from the original score of the critically acclaimed cRPG Pathfinder: Kingmaker

Written and performed by the multi-talented Dryante, who says:

“I play everything. The composition involves instruments drawn from the most diverse cultures – medieval France, Russia and even West Africa, but the backbone consists of two Irish instruments – bouzouki and tin whistle.”

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[...]

Thanks Farflame!

NeverKnowsBest checked out Pathfinder: Kingmaker:

Pathfinder Kingmaker Review - the most interesting rpg of the year

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A review of pathfinder kingmaker. Who would win in a fight, 100 normal size spiders or one bear-treant?

Invisioncommunity checked out Pathfinder: Kingmaker:

Pathfinder: Kingmaker Review

Pathfinder (PF), a highly argued improvement over Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) 3.5 edition, praised by the community and ran by groups ever since it was conceived back in 2009 while others may have jumped to 4th and 5th editions of D&D. I myself am an avid role-player, starting my journey with D&D over 10 years ago, shifting to PF when I first found it around 5 years ago.
As a fan of the pen and paper (PnP) version of PF, I was excited to hear that a video game version was making its way to the Steam store, while still reserved about how well it would translate. With the final release of this Kickstarter success, gaining $909,057 out of the required $500,000, Owlcat has brought us a lovely packaged adventure path to delve into. But did it deliver on a video game adaptation of a PnP game, or did it instead release a poorly written homebrew?

[...]

Overall, Pathfinder: Kingmaker gets an 8/10, it is a wonderful experience, full of tactical choices, political decisions, and splitting paths. However, the countless bugs, off-putting design choices and nit-picks all add up to dampen the otherwise amazing adventure. Mechanics are changed for somewhat random reasons, whereas others are deleted entirely. Balancing has taken a strange turn, with “normal” difficulty increasing enemy stats above normal PF versions. Hopefully, the dedication of the team continues on past the initial week of release as they continue to fix the game and improve on its countless flaws.

If you are a fan of Pathfinder, then Kingmaker may scratch your itch while you look for a PnP group to join. Though, due to the number of characters you need to control, reading text, character optimisation and player-input it may feel off-putting to players who don’t normally play D&D or PF.

RockPaperShotgun reviewed Pathfinder: Kingmaker while GamesIndustry interviewed the team.

RockPaperShotgun

In a tabletop campaign, DMs use their storytelling skills as much as their rulebooks. They are able to assess in real time whether throwing another casual encounter, or killing that limping party member, would be a fun challenge or just an act of cruelty. But the spirit that governs Pathfinder: Kingmaker is incapable of showing such mercy.

Unless we count the options menu as part of the DM’s duties, in which case they are a generous being. They let me tweak various rules, such as deciding how strong the enemies will be (anything over “normal” is an exercise in masochism), choosing how often the game will auto-pause, and even allowing me to disable death. Even the more technical parts of the game, like levelling up the characters, can be fully automated.

[...]

GamesIndustry.biz

"Pathfinder, like a number of tabletop role-playing games, is a turn-based system, and there are times where adapting turn-based mechanics to real-time mechanics can be a challenge," said Avellone. "It's something designers have wrestled with all the way back to Baldur's Gate 1, in which BioWare had to do a real-time system that simulated the turn-based rules.

"The other challenge is that Pathfinder is a rule-rich system, and there are a lot of classes, spells, and abilities to choose from. We implemented many of them for the game, but we weren't able to include every race, class, and skill - even though I think we did an impressive number, there's simply too many to do them all for this first Pathfinder game anyway. If we do more, we'd be able to expand on the ones we made for this game. It was one of the reasons we had the scaling Kickstarter goals we did - we wanted to make sure we were budgeting realistically for what we could accomplish, and it made the reasons transparent to the backers as well.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Fextralife outline some beginner tips for Pathfinder: Kingmaker.

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The first thing you need to know is that Pathfinder Kingmaker is based on Pathfinder Pen and Paper rules. There is a lot of depth and complexity in these rules, which can put off many players immediately. The most important thing to know here is that it is a Dice based system, meaning RNG is an important factor because of Dice Rolls. If you fail badly in a certain encounter, that does not mean you will fail a second time, but building characters properly increases better overall score thanks to added bonuses. The same system applies to, let’s say, disarming a trap. Trickery + Dice roll determines if the trap will be disarmed. A low roll can lead to activating the trap instead, damaging everyone around it, even with an significant investment into Trickery.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

NeverKnowsBest reviewed Pathfinder: Kingmaker and called it the most interesting RPG of the year.

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A review of pathfinder kingmaker. Who would win in a fight, 100 normal size spiders or one bear-treant? I hope to make a longer, more detailed video on this game in the future, but for now I hope some people may find this short review helpful.

Pathfinder: Kingmaker has been released on Steam and GOG.

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Explore, Conquer, Rule

Journey to the Stolen Lands

Welcome to the Stolen Lands, contested territory for centuries. Defend yourself against the threats of wilderness and rival kingdoms as you explore a world rich with history, magic, and conflict.

Companion Focused Story

Experience the adventure alongside living and breathing companions, each with deep stories and decisions of their own. Love them, adore them or hate them for who they are.

Character development

Customize your character and companions with a multitude of options available in Pathfinder to make the perfect party capable of overcoming insurmountable challenges.

Kingdom

Establish your kingdom in Stolen Lands, claim new territories, and build towns and cities. Be a wise ruler or a heavy-handed tyrant.

Chris Avellone was interviewed by Gamespot on why he is involved with Pathfinder: Kingmaker.

You've worked with established IPs, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II and Fallout: New Vegas for example. What exactly drew you to Pathfinder, and how different is it working on this game compared to others?

Chris Avellone: So, with Pathfinder, we used to run pen-and-paper sessions back at Obsidian, and what we did was actually have a campaign in an Ocean's Eleven-style. It was really cool! We just made an assortment of characters like a con-man illusionist and we try to pull off heists. That was the most recent Pathfinder game I played. I also played the card game, which I also loved. Just the idea of being able to do this really interested me because there hadn't really been a Pathfinder RPG in the computer space at all.

The other aspect was one thing I've always liked about Pathfinder. I feel that when they do their modules and adventure paths, they make a very conscious effort to create an other-world experience. When I read one of their adventures, rather than just seeing what they're giving me, I'm seeing all the possibilities they present the GM [Game Master], too. So, reading those adventures is sometimes a lot more fun than reading some older modules or other adventures for other systems, because it's giving you room to breathe.

[...]

Some new videos for Pathfinder: Kingmaker show off character creation and there is a Q&A video series also.

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A new update for Pathfinder: Kingmaker looks at companion romances.

Love in the Stolen Lands - Companion Romances

A life of adventure and the burden of rulership are no obstacle for deep feelings and devotion. The romances of "Pathfinder: Kingmaker" are here to enhance your roleplaying experience. On top of having their own stories, personalities and motivations, we've added additional depth to some of our companions by allowing players to romance them. Four of our brave party members are available as potential love interests: Valerie (romanceable by male PCs), Tristian (female PCs), Octavia, and Regongar (both romanceable by male and female PCs).

  Valerie

Valerie appears rational and reserved. And yet, hidden behind all the self-control, her emotions yearn to break free. To win her heart you must first win her trust - and help her to come to peace with herself.

  Tristian

Young and naïve, Tristian has yet to experience love. Afraid of the pain of heartbreak, he is hesitant to open himself to others. But when he does, you won't find a partner more tender and devoted than him.

  Octavia

Octavia, the optimistic, bright-spirited wizard, is a true friend and confidant. But don't let her cheerfulness fool you – she sought freedom so desperately that the thought of losing it is something she cannot bear. For her, is love a source of happiness - or something to fear?

  Regongar

Regongar is like an active volcano. Fierce and dashing, he can't live without danger and challenges. Is there a limit to his recklessness? Will he be able to stop before destroying everything he holds dear? At the game's start Octavia and Regongar are a couple on the verge of breaking up. It's up to you to help one of them find their new love (you!) or rekindle their old flame - and even become a part of it.  

For the purpose of building a complete experience and adding more depth to the whole story, we tied the romances to the main storyline. To gain the attention of your love interest you will have to travel together and participate in the story events together. This will prompt additional cues and dialogue options with a character, allowing you to learn more about them and get them to know a little better.  

Actions speak louder than words. Striking down a deadly monster at great risk to yourself, swaying an enemy to your side, or taking responsibility for a particularly tough decision can impress your love interest... or disappoint them.  

There are no alignment restrictions on romances in the game. An evil character can fall in love with a good one, although keeping such a relationship alive may be harder than maintaining a romance between characters with similar alignment and values in life.

Romance in Pathfinder: Kingmaker is a journey, both intricate and exciting. At the end of it, you may be able to marry your beloved, or decide to skip the formalities and live together without titles and simply enjoy the relationship for what it is. In the end, this is your love story.  

  

One more thing - Bard's Tale IV: Barrows Deep is coming!

If you love oldschool RPGs as much as we do, then you may want to check out Bard's Tale IV: Barrows Deep by our friends over at inXile Entertainment. Their game goes live on Tuesday, September 18th at 9am PST across Steam, GOG and Humble. Did you play the classic trilogy back in the day? Why not combine your vacation in the Stolen Lands with a little trip to Skara Brae?

Hail to the Kings!

Owlcats

Thanks purpleblob!

A new trailer for Pathfinder: Kingmaker.

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On the closing day of PAX West, Owlcat Games and Deep Silver would like to say thank you to all the fans and take this opportunity to share the latest trailer “Tavern Party” for Pathfinder: Kingmaker the critically acclaimed and highly anticipated cRPG!

Join our intrepid adventurers as they kick-back a little and discuss their next exciting risk filled quest!

Thanks Couchpotato!

PC Gamer checked out Pathfinder: Kingmaker.

Character alignment plays a big role in the dialogue options you’ll have. As a lawful neutral person, I mostly only had access to neutral options, with some that skewed good or evil. Repeatedly making those choices will slowly move the needle on my alignment over time. It’s neat to see such a faithful representation of alignment that doesn’t feel black and white. There’s a level of nuance and opportunity for neutrality that isn’t often represented in RPGs. I don’t have to be a grand hero or a villain, just someone trying to make it in the world. It’s also appropriate for the premise of building your own kingdom, where a certain level of neutrality could be what your people need to survive.

Combat is a familiar combination of real-time with the ability to pause and issue commands. By default, your party will fight controlled by an AI, but you can seize control and tell them what to do. They seem smart enough to handle low level threats without my input, but when a more significant threat comes around, combat starts to feel more obtuse. Since enemies are constantly attacking just as quickly as you are, pausing the fight doesn’t provide as much insight into how the fight is going as I'd like. Mousing over party members does reveal who they’re currently targeting, but trying to establish the overall narrative of a battle takes more work than it should. This creates some awkward situations: In one fight, my wizard was channeling spells while also being gutted by a sword.

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

The backers of Pathfinder: Kingmaker are receiving some neat loot which you can see in the latest update. You may also want to check out the retrospective UI updates here.

Dear Pathfinders!

Digital distribution is great. When you want a new game in this day and age, it's usually just one click away, then you're instantly downloading it. No need to go to the shop, hope it's still in stock, queue up to pay, it's all nice and hassle-free. After all, if you want a glass of water, you don't get your jug and walk down to the village well. You turn on the tap. 

With that in mind, some gamers do miss the physical side of the experience. Getting something you can touch and feel, something to remind you of and connect you to a game you care about, to bring back memories of adventures in a virtual realm. Some of us just like to have something in the real world that we can touch and that we associate with the games we love. Makes them feel a little more real. 

This is why we offered physical rewards and add-ons to you, our backers. Those among you, who pledged for tiers, which include physical rewards may be wondering how these goodies are coming along. So today's update is dedicated to some of these sweet, sweet items you'll be getting. Let's have a look, shall we?

The Artbook  

Pathfinder: Kingmaker is full of weird and wonderful creatures and characters, magical weapons and armors, class outfits, spells and, perhaps most importantly, the landscapes of the harsh and unforgiving Stolen Lands. And if you've pledged for the physical version of our artbook, then you can look forward to enjoying hundreds of lovingly-crafted concept images, sketches and drawings of all that and so much more on 175 pages in a beautiful hardcover book. 

The Dice  

Check out these bad boys! When playing at the table, the dice rule over everything - disarm or spring a trap, hit or miss a monster, barely scratch a foe or cleave them asunder with a mighty critical hit. Life or death. We can't guarantee you'll crit any harder or more often with this becautiful dice-set made of brass. But even if you screw up your difficulty checks, you'll be doing so in style. Here is a 3D-model of the dice.  

Time to retire those shoddy plastic dice. Get classy! Bring on the brass! 

The cloth map of the Stolen Lands 

You asked for a cloth map, we give you a cloth map - 42 x 88 centimeters, made of grey flax. You will never get lost in the Stolen Lands again with this beauty! You may get murdered by bandits, eaten by wyverns or flayed alive by a bunch of crazy cultists, but not once will you feel lost!

Show it off to your friends when you play the Kingmaker Adventure Path in tabletop. Decorate your personal gaming space with it. Wear it as a cape and confuse people at the local shopping mall. We're not telling you how to live your life. We're not even your real mother!

The miniatures

  Nyrissa prototype, 250mm

When we had our community poll for the companion miniature, our backers decided they want Octavia. While her 30mm minature is still in production, you can preview the 3D model of her here. 

  Nyrissa progress

And if you have pledged for a tier, which includes the 120mm miniature, you'll be receiving this Jabberwock. Behold:

[...]  

Please be aware that these miniatures are early prototypes and still work in progress. 

And this concludes our preview of some of the physical rewards our community has pledged for. Do you like how they turned out? Let us know in the comments section. And if you want to see a few more images of these fine items, we've prepared a little collection for you online. Some of the pictures in there show additional miniatures on our cloth map. We added them for flavor, they're not part of the pledge rewards.

 

One more thing - The Localization Beta

If you're one of our beta testers, we'd like to remind you that we've just uploaded a new build on Steam. It contains the prologue and the first chapter of the game with a work in progress version of our localization in German, French, Chinese and Russian. If you're in the beta and you're a native speaker in one of these languages, we'd appreciate your feedback on our translation efforts. You can find more information in the beta testing section of our official forums.

Hail to the Kings!

Owlcats

Thanks Farflame!

A new update for Pathfinder: Kingmaker addreses the season pass and post-release content concerns.

Season Pass & Post-Release Content

Dear Pathfinders!

As many of you have noticed, the Imperial Edition in our new pre-orders on Steam and GoG contains a season pass. We have received many questions and comments about this from you, so let us address the most urgent ones, starting with the nature of the DLC contained in the season pass.

After the end of our crowdfunding campaign, many of you have sent us requests for additional races, classes and other content and features to be added as DLC after release. So we are going to work on some additional content post-release to make the game even bigger and better and to add even more to the experience! This is going to be funded, you guessed it, with the help of the season pass. No content is cut from the base game for this! Pathfinder: Kingmaker will release with all the content, all the races, classes, story chapters, absolutely everything we promised during our Kickstarter campaign. You get the full game, as promised.

Over the coming months after release, we are going to release several DLC packs. The first three of these DLC packs will be in the first season pass. You will also be able to buy each DLC on its own when it releases. We will release more information about the contents and estimated release dates of each DLC at a later date. Don't worry, all will be revealed before the release of Pathfinder: Kingmaker!

As for the pricing, our Imperial Edition has everything contained in the Royal Edition, as well as the season pass. Because of that, it costs $15 more than the Royal Edition. The season pass is going to contain about $40 worth of DLC. Those of you not interested in the Imperial Edition will be able to purchase a standalone season pass when we get a little closer to release. As mentioned before, each DLC will also be available for purchase on its own.

One more thing: we are giving the first season pass to every backer, who pledged $95 or more for our beta tiers on Kickstarter or $110 on our crowdfunding-preorders for free as a thank you for helping us beta-test our early builds! So if you're one of our beta supporters, there's no need for you to buy the season pass - you'll be getting it from us, free of charge! 

Hail to the Kings!

Owlcats

A new update and a release date for Pathfinder: Kingmaker of September 25th.

Dear Pathfinders!   

We have an official release date: September 25! The game is now up for pre-order on Steam and GoG and will be sold as a physical version by selected retail outlets.

We're sorry it's not the August release many of you had hoped for, but we'd like to use the extra time to apply an additional layer of love and polish for the release version. It'll be worth the wait - we promise! 

We're almost here, everyone! Thank you all so much for getting us there!

There's also a little teaser trailer to celebrate our release date. Behold:

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A new Steam update for Pathfinder: Kingmaker introduces the companions.

Dear Pathfinders,

Pathfinder: Kingmaker was made possible thanks to the help and support of our community and our backers on Kickstarter. Over the past year, we have shared stories and updates about the game's characters, as well as a closer look at the core mechanics, visual effects and many other behind the scenes details about our game and the people working on it.

Our community has grown considerably since our Kickstarter days. Not everyone who knows about Pathfinder: Kingmaker today was around during our crowdfunding stage. We are happy to welcome a lot of new members in our community, who have missed our early updates. And that's why we'll be posting retrospective updates over the coming days, which will give everyone a chance to catch up on what has been revealed about the game thus far.

In our first retrospective update we're giving you the opportunity to get a closer look at ten of the companions, who will join you on your quest to conquer the Stolen Lands. They are:
Valerie, the Brevic fighter
Ekundayo, the grim ranger
Jubilost Narthropple, a humble servant to no one
Octavia, the gleeful half-elf with a talent for magic and sleight of hand
Regongar, the meanest magus on this side of the Inner Sea
Amiri, the iconic barbarian
Harrim, the brooding cleric of Groetus
Tristian, favorite of the Everlight
Linzi, your personal chronicler
Nok-Nok, the goblin companion, who started out as a stretchgoal

Keep your eyes peeled for more retrospective updates in the coming days!

Hail to the Kings!
Owlcats

Pathfinder: Kingmaker has a Steam page and lists an August release date.

We're on Steam now! Release planned for August

Pathfinders! Our Steam community is now live! We're targeting August for release. Pre-orders are still coming to the Steam store, but will take a little while longer. Sorry for the delay.

Thanks purpleblob!

@PC Gamer Owlcat Games has announced that Deep Silver will be the publisher for Pathfinder: Kingmaker.

Today Owlcat announced another big-name partnership, this time with Deep Silver, which has signed up to publish and distribute the game. "We have ambitious plans for Pathfinder: Kingmaker. We want to reach out to the maximum number of players across the globe, making our brand easily accessible, maintaining quality and doing right by the fanbase," Owlcat boss Oleg Shpilchevsky said. "Working with Deep Silver ensures we can step up our retail marketing and benefit from the unique experience offered with Koch." (Deep Silver is a division of Koch Media.)

[...]

Thanks henriquejr!

Owlcat has launched a voice over contest where you can send them your interpretation of a line of text for a character in the game. The contest page holds a list of characters and a line of text.

How would you like to win a Royal Edition of Pathfinder: Kingmaker? Sure, you may have already backed our project on here or pre-ordered your version, but you know what's always better than one copy of Kingmaker? Two copies! Share it with a loved one. Share it with your cat, teach Mr. Whiskers how to play videogames and make a viral video! Share it with an enemy who hates classic CRPGs, just to rub it in! The possibilities are endless! Also, all winners will be getting a free Syrinscape subscription for a year! The award-winning Syrinscape app brings tabletop games to life with epic sounds that have been custom-created for epic games, including the official sounds of Pathfinder, Starfinder, Call of Cthulhu, Shadows of Esteren and many more, with an extensive library to accompany any fantasy or sci-fi game.

For your chance to get your hands on that sweet, sweet swag of ours, please read the following rules carefully:

1. Use one of the pre-written lines of text for your character of choice (provided at the end of this update) and record it. If you're feeling brave, you may also improvise something.

2. No more than 2 submissions per participant, please.

3. The absolute maximum length per submission is 20 seconds.

4. You may enhance your submission by adding background music or sound effects.

5. Send your submission to team@owlcatgames.com

6. We will accept submissions until July 1st. Please be sure to submit your contribution in time!

Voting process

We are going to publish all submissions on the forums. Every member of the community is invited to vote in the polls in order to determine the most popular submissions. The Owlcats reserve the right to pick personal favourites and hand out additional rewards for them. The voting process starts after we stop accepting submissions and lasts for one week.

RPGamer took a look at Pathfinder: Kingmaker at E3.

...

My demo took me to a dungeon filled with trolls that had become immune to fire damage. Given that is one of the troll’s primary weaknesses, this is a problem. Maneuvering around the dungeon was easy enough, a ring formed around the party that served as its line of sight. It felt like I was only able to move the party within this range, which did prevent me from allowing my party to travel long distances after I had cleared most of the dungeon out. The characters I was given were more powerful than they would have been otherwise so combat was no problem. That is until I made a rookie mistake and spent all my resources fighting a troll and not taking care of the mage backing it up. Yes, I wiped with an overpowered party. My only defense is I’m no good at real-time with pause.

[...]

Thanks Purpleblob!

MMORPG interviewed creative director Alexander Mishulin about Pathfinder: Kingmaker.

...

MMORPG: That is a lot of lore. How big is the world of Kingmaker?

AM: It is a little difficult to measure but we provide an experience for the whole adventure path, from level one up to level twenty. It covers the land that exists within the adventure path. Because it is tied to one geographical location, the Stolen Lands, it does not cover a huge amount of physical ground. Still, it could take you as many as 50 hours to complete the main story. If you investigate every area of the game it might be more like 80 hours to get through.

MMORPG: It seems that lots of this time is spent in narrative dialogue. How do you know where to just stop, and draw the line?

AM: Basically, when Oleg comes to us and says “stop doing this!”.  To be honest, it is an iterative process. We are trying to take the core story and expand upon it. For example, our first playable slice of the game was given a great deal of polish. We worked on it for some time and included a ton of dialogue choices in it. When we took this demo and showed it to Paizo, to our friends, and to a few select fans of Pathfinder, we realized that this amount of variety and content was just about right.

We used that initial demo as a reference point for the amount of content that worked. Sometimes you get a bit carried away and other times time constraints mean you have to put in less. Generally, we tended to use that first iteration as a point of reference, however.

MMORPG: When you were creating those early demos, how influential was Chris Avelone’s input?

AM: Chris is absolutely great. We started working with him, initially on the main story arc and he gave us a lot of really interesting ideas on how to expand the game. He helped us to really sharpen the overall dialogue and gave great input on the choices that players have in the game.

[...]

Thanks Purpleblob!

Pathfinder: Kingmaker has a new update which announces the end of crowdfunding.

Dear Pathfinders,

We are very happy to bring you a brand new video today! Learn more about Golarion and the Stolen Lands from Paizo's very own Creative Director James Jacobs below!

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Perhaps you have friends, who have voiced interest in Pathfinder: Kingmaker, but they're unfamiliar with the lore? Feel free to share this video and help them learn what the setting is all about!

Crowdfunding ends this Friday!

As previously announced, we are about to stop collecting money towards the unlocking of additional stretchgoals. As you all know, we are aiming to release the full version of Pathfinder: Kingmaker in late summer 2018. And that means there has to be a cutoff point, where we stop promising and adding new features in order to give ourselves enough time to complete the game. As of this moment, we're at a crowdfunding sum of about 1,080,000 USD. Unfortunately, this means that Hellknights didn't quite make it in time. Sorry!

Many of you have asked whether Hellknights could be added later via post-release DLC. While we can't promise it at this point, it's a possibility. We really enjoy working on this title and since many of you keep asking for post-release content, we need to consider it. The nature and amount of such content, however, remains to be determined at a later date. Please bear with us!

As our crowdfunding is coming to an end, so is our current offer of pre-order packages. They will be replaced by different pre-order packs, which can be purchased over on owlcatgames.com. Pathfinder: Kingmaker is also getting its very own Steam page in the coming days! A little while later, sometime around early June, pre-orders for Pathfinder: Kingmaker will also come to the Steam Store, followed by pre-orders on GoG within the first half of June.

[...]

Keen Gamer previewed Pathfinder: Kingmaker and found themselves absorbed.

...

Conclusion

Pathfinder: Kingmaker has some great ideas. Although, the most ambitious and intriguing ones are falling just shy of proper functionality at the moment. Some work yet needs to be done in the area of difficulty balancing. I love the concept of the camping mechanic but with little to explain how its systems work, only to later get punished for soldiering through the system, this is one big area that needs attention. Regardless, Pathfinder: Kingmaker is absolutely going in the right direction and I know this as, despite its current misgivings, I was absorbed. I wanted to continue the grind and level up my characters and most importantly, I wanted to know what would happen next. Stick around at KeenGamer as we learn more throughout the game’s development.

Thanks Farflame!

The extra race for Pathfinder: Kingmaker will be Aasimar.

Aasimar

849
42.47%

Dhampir

346
17.31%

Elemental

804
40.22%

Thanks apscp2008!

Pathfinder: Kingmaker will soon be at beta 2 stage.

Beta 2 Incoming!

Dear Pathfinders,

As promised, we are releasing our second beta build this month. In fact, we're expecting to push it out on Steam at the end of this week, if we don't encounter any unexpected last minute bugs. Fingers crossed!

The new build will contain chapters two and three of the story for all beta backers to enjoy. This also means you will get to experience the latest iteration of our Kingdom feature! It's going to be a bit more fleshed out and complex than its alpha counterpart, so we'll be releasing some basic instructions in the coming days to help you get started.

If you're already in beta 1, you'll receive the updated build via Steam as soon as it goes live. Beta 1 savegames will be compatible, so there's no need to start over. As with the previous build, there is no NDA, so feel free to stream, share footage on YouTube and show your gameplay with your friends. Are you ready to continue your conquest of the Stolen Lands?

Hail to the Kings!

Owlcats

Pathfinder: Kingmaker has a new update which announces a new race has been unlocked. A forum poll will determine which race is added.

New Race Unlocked - Join The Forum Poll!

Dear Pathfinders,

When our Kickstarter campaign ended, we promised that all funds generated by pre-orders and pledge upgrades on https://owlcatgames.com/preorder would go towards unlocking new stretchgoals. And we are happy to announce that the next milestone, a crowdfunding sum of over $1 million, has been reached thanks to your generous help and support! Thank you so much for believing in us!

Our exact crowdfunding sum is now at $1.026.681

This means that we now have the resources to add one more playable race to Pathfinder: Kingmaker. And you get to help us decide which race it's going to be! We have opened a poll on our forums, where all backers get to vote for one of three possible new races. The three options are as follows:

1. Aasimar
2. Dhampir
3. Elemental*

*Humans, whose family trees include elemental beings. If elementals win the vote, we will add playable Sylphs, Undines, Ifrits and Oreads.

You can vote right now by visiting this thread on our dev forums:

https://owlcatgames.com/forums/showthread.php?4221-The-Extra-Race-Poll

Please note - you can only see this thread if you have transferred your Kickstarter pledge to our backer portal or if you are a preorder backer. If you need help transferring your pledge, send a message to team@owlcatgames.com

Thank you once again for making this possible! And who knows - perhaps we can even reach the next milestone of $1.1 million and unlock a new playable class - Hellknights.  

They are intimidation, relentlessness, and unwavering conviction. They are the black-gauntleted fist of absolute order. They are the Hellknights! Provide your character with even more options to choose from, including unique abilities and items for the Hellknights, as well as the quest line dedicated to the their presence in the Stolen Lands. Face them on the field of battle or fight by their side - the choice is yours to make. 

The Mac Beta is here!

Our first beta build went live a few days ago for everyone who pledged at the $95 level or higher and everyone who pre-ordered the $110 Early Access tier. Unfortunately, there was a technical issue, which delayed the start of the beta version for Mac users. We are happy to announce that the issue has been found and is now fixed. The Mac beta is now live! Sorry for the extra wait, dear Mac users.

Hail to the Kings!

Owlcats

Pathfinder: Kingmaker has a new update which announces the start of Beta One will arrive 5th April. In addition Owlcat has teamed up with Paizo writers and share some spoilery details.

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Teaming up with legendary Paizo writers

As you all know, we really want Pathfinder: Kingmaker to feel like the real thing. We want our game to be as faithful to the source material as possible. We could just give you our interpretation of how adventuring in the Stolen Lands should feel. But how much cooler would it be, if we asked the good folks at Paizo to lend a hand, to contribute and to write for our game? 

So that's exactly what we did! Paizo's own Creative Director James L. Sutter and Organized Play Lead Developer John Compton teamed up with our authors to work on Pathfinder: Kingmaker. Here is what they have to say about their experience:
(WARNING: Some spoilers ahead!)

[...]

Beta One is coming!

We have been a little quiet these past few weeks. That's because we've been working very hard on the first beta build. Unfortunately, we are probably not quite making 1st quarter of the year now. Things got delayed a little bit and we're currently looking at the 5th of April for the start of our beta. Sorry for making you wait! We will notify all of you via email, Kickstarter and social media once it starts. Instructions and a list of content of features will be provided, as well. Not much longer now - hang tight!

Also, those among you, who have pledged for physical editions and rewards, can now enter their shipping information on the backer portal. 

End of Physical Pre-Orders

Finally, please be aware that our physical pre-orders are coming to an end. We need time to produce all the boxed editions ordered so far to have them ready for launch, so we are going to remove all physical versions from the pre-order store. If you haven't already pledged via Kickstarter or pre-order and still want to support us, you will only be able to do so via orders for a digital version. Thank you very much for your support!

Hail to the Kings!

Owlcats

Owlcat introduce us to Linzi, who is your own personal chronicler in Pathfinder: Kingmaker.

Introducing Linzi: Your Own Personal Chronicler

Before we begin - please check out our companion miniature poll

Dear Pathfinders! As you may recall, one possible add-on for backers of the boxed edition of Pathfinder: Kingmaker is a companion miniature. But which companion should be granted this honor? 11 characters will join you on your adventure in the Stolen Lands, but only one of them can be immortalized as a miniature. Which one is it going to be? That decision is up to you - our community! If you would like to vote in the companion miniature poll, hop on over to our official forums here: https://owlcatgames.com/forums/forum.php

You can find the poll at the very top of the ‘Dev Forum’ section. Please note: you can only access the Dev forums if you have transferred your Kickstarter pledge to our backer portal. If you still need to do this and require like help and instructions, please send us an email to Team@Owlcatgames.com and we'll lend a hand!

Introducing Linzi  

It's time to meet a very special member of your party: Linzi the halfling bard. Linzi used to be a student at the Pitax Academy of Grand Arts, but was expelled for "impudence towards persons of the highest esteem" — that is, for writing a raunchy limerick about Castruccio Irovetti, ruler of Pitax. Unabashed, she moved on with a bold plan: to find the next great hero in the making, join their party, and document their road to victory in the greatest book Golarion has ever seen. She has chosen you as her main character, and she's not leaving your side before she sees the end of your great adventure! Sure, she never got her degree, so her turn of phrase might be a bit awkward sometimes, and she might use her artistic license to exaggerate things a bit... But only to deliver the best account possible of your noble (or ignoble) deeds! What she lacks in bardic education, she makes up for in devotion to her vocation.

Don’t let Linzi’s cheerful personality fool you – when it matters, she has a fierce spirit, loyal to her friends, and determined to follow them to glory, no matter what stands in their way. There is history to be made, a story to be told, and she is adamant to be there from the prologue to the last page. However, don't expect her to flatter you: Linzi is a free spirit who holds little reverence towards noble titles. She truthfully records your deeds, good or evil, and leaves it to the future generations to judge what kind of person you were.

Like all bards, Linzi can handle regular blades and bows, and protect herself with light armor and a shield. She is also quite competent with magic, but her true power lies in her music — she can compose enchanting songs that inspire heroism in her allies, and makes her enemies tremble.

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Linzi is eager to help you rule your realm. Charismatic and well-meaning, she makes for a great diplomat who always tries to find a mutually-beneficial solution for all parties. She is also willing to lend a hand to support your young kingdom's cultural life, and let the artistic talents of the people flourish.

Hail to the Kings!

Owlcats

Shaneplays shared his impressions of Pathfinder: Kingmaker Alpha 2.

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Game options and character creation in the Closed Alpha version of Pathfinder: Kingmaker. (Alpha means incomplete. Not all content and features are fully implemented, not all in-game copy is perfect, there will be bugs - this game is still a work in progress.)

For more information on Pathfinder: Kingmaker please visit https://goo.gl/SwTxgo Thanks to Owlcat Games for the invitation to the Closed Alpha.

Pathfinder: Kingmaker has a new update that explains in detail its graphics rendering technology and announces Alpha 2.

Dear Pathfinders,

It's time for another peek behind the curtains. Today's update is all about lighting, shaders, floral dispersion and all those fun details and effects, which add a bit more life to our game world. Before we get all technical and start revealing our tricks, though, we have two announcements. First of all: the stage 2 alpha test is nearly here!

Our next big alpha build is almost ready and will be distributed as an update through Steam to all alpha testers today. What does this mean for you? If you're one of our alpha testers, you'll be getting more content, more gameplay features, more companions and more Pathfinder: Kingmaker to play. If you aren't part of the alpha, you'll be happy to hear that we're well on schedule, development is steadily progressing and there should be streams and videos of the new build popping up for your viewing pleasure in the near future. Keep your eyes peeled!

[...]

Now, let's talk more about graphics in Kingmaker. We've already told you about our water rendering techniques. Today we'll review a few other graphics features of our project.

Strange as it may sound, graphics development starts with market research. At an early development stage, we researched the stats of video cards on the market and chose our target hardware in order to let as many players as possible experience all graphical content we produce. Then we selected rendering technologies that would be perfect for this hardware. A lighting system is the basis of game rendering, unless the game is match3 with abstract graphics. The lighting system determines the graphics pipeline architecture of a frame, so we'll start with that.

Forward rendering

There are 2 basic approaches to real-time lighting calculations:

• Forward rendering
• Deferred shading

And of course, there are a lot of variations and combinations of these.

Forward rendering is the most widely-used (and probably the first) technique for calculating lighting in real time in games. A model consisting of vertices is fed to the vertex shader, where its vertices are transformed to screen space, and all this data is passed down the video card pipeline to the pixel shader, where lighting happens. This is called forward rendering with per-pixel lighting. 

Of course, lighting can be calculated in the vertex shader as well, then it will be forward rendering with vertex lighting. Vertex lighting is less GPU intensive, because there are much fewer vertices than there are pixels, but its visual quality is also lower. 

Usually shaders that perform calculations only work with one light source. But objects may be lit by multiple sources at the same time. This means the object must be rendered as many times as there are sources that light it. This is the most significant flaw of forward rendering.

[...]

Farflame spotted a new Kickstarter update for Pathfinder: Kingmaker - some tabletop stories are told:

Owlcat Tabletop Adventures

Dear Pathfinders,  

For today's update, let's take a small break from the Pathfinder computer game. As you know, we play a lot of pen-and-paper Pathfinder here at Owlcat Games. And today, we want to share some stories from our tabletop adventures - stories that excite us and inspire us so much, they may well turn up in the videogame. As anybody who ever played a tabletop RPG knows, the urge to tell everyone about your character is sometimes irresistible!  

Beware: this update contains some spoilers!

[..]

Tristian is a cleric who embodies the virtues of his divine lady, the ever radiant Sarenrae. He is a gentle and kind person, always willing to help someone in distress. If things like this appeal to you:

According to the dogma of the Everlight, no being, no matter what heinous acts it committed, should be denied a chance of redemption. It is the way Tristian follows determinedly – even given the unpleasant experiences and disappointments he found during his travels across Golarion, Tristian still believes in redemption for all.

Or this:

Tristian never preaches, and shares the teachings of Sarenrae only with those who ask to hear them. His faithfulness mixes well with his good-natured curiosity, inexhaustible kindness, and unfailing belief in the inherent good  inside every living person - although you cannot help but notice a trace of sorrow in the young cleric's words.

Tristian always seeks to help those in need, but his most recent expedition to the Stolen Lands is one of the greatest tests of his spirit. Something wicked has taken root in the swamps and plains of this region – something that makes curses of all kinds much more potent and deadly. In search of answers Tristian unites with a bold adventurer who seeks to bring peace and order to the Stolen Lands. Should you rely on the cleric and invite him into your party, Tristian will look for the most practical way to help – he never preaches his beliefs if not asked to enlighten others about the teachings of Sarenrae.

Then he might be a good fit for your party.

As the video shows, Tristian also can put up a fight when needed. Don't forget to also check out the additional information in the Kickstarter update.

The latest from Pathfinder: Kingmaker tells us about resting and the camp UI.

...
As many of you have certainly noticed, almost all our interfaces are full-screen and use elaborate artwork to help sustain the atmosphere. The resting process is special, because it focuses on the party's actions. To preserve the flow of the game, we made our resting interface in the form of a panel. Functionally and practically, the timeline didn't change much. The only thing we added was a watch order. As for current role adjustments, we decided to place them on the panel to the left, which is a mirror image of the main game log. On the same panel, you can see the results of hunting and other skill-checks, and at the same time dialogues between companions will take place on the main screen. Initially we intended to make this stage unskippable, but many of our alpha testers told us they'd like to make the resting process a bit shorter. So, for those among you, who are not interested in camp conversations, we give the possibility to skip this part and instantly turn to further adventure-seeking instead. Our camp interface allows you to focus on the main game screen and logically separates the camping log from the general log.

Interface mockup and camp objects sketch.

And since a video says more than a thousand screenshots, here's one for your viewing pleasure. It's alive!

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[...]

Pathfinder: Kingmaker is getting ready for some focus testing of its UIX elements.

UIX and Focus Testing: How user feedback lets us make a better game

Dear Pathfinders,  

The first alpha test is almost here!

Our first testing stage for Pathfinder: Kingmaker begins this week! Everyone who selected alpha access add-ons in the pledge manager will be sent a Steam key for alpha testing, so keep your eyes peeled for an email from us. As a quick reminder: anyone who backed at least $95 for the beta tier can buy the alpha add-on through the pledge manager. Before you take the plunge, please be aware that our alpha build is just that - an early, unfinished version of the game, which contains bugs, typos, and placeholder assets. It will give you an impression of our work in progress, as well as a chance to help us find bugs and test certain game systems. If you’d rather see the game closer to launch, it's probably a good idea to wait until beta testing and release.

[...]

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Gamebanshee interviewed Owlcat Games about Pathfinder: Kingmaker.

...

GB: The pursuit of a more grim, dark, and realistic fantasy world seems to be more prevalent in recent years. Game of Thrones and The Witcher come to mind immediately, but there are countless other pieces of media. Does Kingmaker follow the trend, or is it, perhaps, more light-hearted in tone?

OG: First of all, we try to catch the true spirit of Pathfinder’s art style, which is renowned for its attention to detail. Let’s take character art as an example. Every piece of equipment, including backpacks full of camping gear and potions, are visibly displayed on the character and make us believe that these are true adventurers rather than generic fantasy ones.

We would call this approach "realistic high fantasy." The art style is still "high" - compared to what you would call grimdark fantasy - but the unprecedented level of detail and the way they are functionally portrayed make us trust what we see in the art.

The story will do its best to keep this ‘realistic high fantasy’ vibe throughout the whole game. There would be an epic adventure, a story filled with heroes and villains, honor and betrayal, allowing the player to pick a side. At the same time, the characters are never flat, the shades of grey are always thrown into the mix. Even the vilest of villains has a story for a player to at least understand their motives, if not sympathize. Prepare yourselves for making tough decisions!


GB: You're using the Unity engine, which unfortunately has a reputation for lengthy loading times and other surface issues. How have you addressed any perceived shortcomings with Unity and how well should we expect Kingmaker to run in comparison to other Unity-powered titles, if that's even possible to tell at the current stage of development?

OG: Every engine has its pros and cons. We took the time to thoroughly examine our options - Unity, Unreal, Cryengine, and our own engine which we share with Skyforge. Then we debated the benefits of each approach in terms of quality, pipelines, and more. Sometimes these discussions were more like battle scenes from Highlander :) And much like Highlander, there could be only one - Unity, which we felt was the best match for the CRPG we were creating.

Well, we are more than a year in production now and we still feel Unity was the right choice. It has worked well for our small-scale team highly experienced in scripting.

[...]

Owlcat has announced that Pathfinder: Kingmaker will be beginning Alpha Testing soon in the latest update.

Dear Pathfinders,

Those among you, who have pledged to get alpha access to Pathfinder: Kingmaker will be able to get started at the end of this month! In order to get access, please be sure you have followed the instructions in our email titled 'Backer Portal is now live'. You need to transfer your Kickstarter pledge to our backer portal and pick the alpha Add-on, which you have paid for during the Kickstarter campaign. If you need assistance with your pledge transfer, please be sure to send a message to team@owlcatgames.com so we can help you.

An email with detailed instructions on how to access the alpha will be sent out next week to all qualifying backers.

Back to Rivellon

The full release of Pathfinder: Kingmaker is still a while away. But there's no need to sit around and feel bored in the meanwhile. Why not pay the good folks over at Larian a visit and grab Divinity: Original Sin 2? If you crave a role-playing experience, which feels incredibly close to pen & paper, with deep, tactical combat and the possibility for 4 player cooperative gameplay, then you absolutely cannot miss this game! Release is slated for the 14th of September.

Hail to the Kings!

Owlcats

Pathfinder: Kingmaker has a bit to say about what companion's make of companions.

Game Basics: a companion's guide to companions - Part 2

Dear Pathfinders,

Companions are one of the most important parts of any party-based RPG. Today's update is part 2 about our approach to writing and developing the companions who will accompany you on your journey across the Stolen Lands. This update is brought to you courtesy of Narrative Designer Chris Avellone. Enjoy!

COMPANION TRAJECTORY: OUTLINES AND CHARACTER ARCS

First off, if you play rogues and were taken aback at my blatant discrimination of the thief class in Part 1 - I deserve it. I even have an apology written and ready to go, but your rogue will have to find a way to steal it from my dungeon of deathtraps, since I never give away an apology easily especially to some filthy rogue. (Although at some point, I should do a blog about rogues, I have a lot of pent-up frustration there.) And by the way, while I'm at it (referencing Part 1 of this companion update), players choosing rogues and mages is one of the reasons for providing tanks and healers early as companions to act as walls/distractions for your enemies - the tanks absorb the damage and draw fire while you get schwifty with the backstab and of course, the healers are there to mop up all the blood that usually results.

Anyway, enough about that - today, let's discuss change. And companions. Companion change. Should they?

So companions don't have to change. They can be mysteries you unlock (or mysteries you can't). They can advance the plot in ways when other NPCs in the world simply won't do. They may be an emotional rock you can always rely on to act a specific way in specific situations. They can be golems, robots, undead, dogs, or dire wolves (although even dire wolves can change, as proved in a certain popular TV series about thrones and gaming).

However, it's often better if companions evolve or change in some way - even for the worse - based on your (the player) actions. Maybe you, through example or action, made their lives better. Maybe you left them in a grave - and then resurrected them as an undead. Maybe you taught them to break through some mental block, doubt, or unhealthy obsession. Maybe you caused them to doubt or develop unhealthy obsessions, but you're both fine with that because now you have a dependent addict as a sycophant that you can count on for emotional support on rainy days. Maybe you had to sacrifice them for the greater good. Whatever the change is, it heightens the role-playing experience. And it may be telling about what kind of person you and your player character are by the companion choices you make.

So what's the process? Well, we start with the system bits, as described in Part 1. Class, race, rough stats (and also where the companion is found and if their joining the party is optional), alignment, and often the deity the character worships in Pathfinder - essentially, the basics.

From the basics, a paragraph summary is drafted that gives the high-level pitch for the character - the character's background in broad strokes: what drives them, how they interact with other characters, what will players enjoy about this companion, what will they remember, and what are the big end states for the character - and yes, believe it or not, this is a lot, but we try to keep this short and to the point. The reason is because an excess of detail at this stage can waste time and potentially cause too much attachment to the details as well on all sides - either positive or negative. As a result, the first step is to paint the overall picture, see if it strikes a chord with the team and the Backers, and then move on to increasing stages of detail with the companion. It's a lot like making a narrative sculpture - chiseling away at the block bit by bit.

Next comes establishing the details of the companion's development arc. When doing a companion arc, we do it within the framework of an outline that mirrors the chapters of the game. This includes details on what do we want the player to feel toward the companion at each stage, what does the companion feel or emote at each stage (both internal and external), what significant change or evolution occurs in a chapter (if any - sometimes it's escalation of a character's trait in either a bad or good way), and what do we see the character's branching paths being - even if they leave the party, we want the player to understand why the companion left and attach significance to that event. This outline also includes what role the player assumes or can assume in each of these events - are you helpful, apologetic, sacrificial, pragmatic, or uncaring? As the descriptors indicate, this isn't always a binary choice, and it's often affected by things you've done previously with the companion in earlier chapters - or haven't done.

We coordinate with audio and the voice casting department during this stage as well - and the concept artists. We establish the adjectives of the character, provide a range of sample lines, and then do auditions to see who hits the right tone for the character (note that sometimes an actor's delivery can be so unexpected, it's possible that a voice actor can change a character's personality, and we'll write the character with the actor's voice and personality in mind - this occurred when working with James Urbaniak in Fallout: New Vegas: Old World Blues, for example).

After we establish this arc, tone, and run some auditions, we run internal critiques, kick a few iterations around until we think it's ready to be shown to Paizo and see what they think. Paizo is easy to work with, so this usually isn't a huge discussion. No chairs are thrown. (Unless we think throwing chairs would be fun to do, then all bets are off.)

After the approval stage - we take that outline "skeleton" (if you will), then add the organs to it, taking this skeleton of stats and high-level progression and breathing the personality into it. Sometimes people are surprised a designer waits until this stage to really start writing, but I believe it is the best time to find the soul of a character - after you've established the systemic foundation and have an idea of where the companion starts and ends - it informs everything about your word choice, tone, and more concerning the character.

And that's a slice of the companion design process - hope you found this interesting. On my end, I keep forgetting how much pre-production work is involved before you really start writing, so detailing it all out is a good exercise to understand just how crazy narrative designers can be. But we do our best to make great companions that you'll love and remember - or despise, for all the right reasons.

Chris Avellone

Narrative Designer, Pathfinder: Kingmaker

Stay tuned for future companion updates from Owlcat.

Here is what I learned from my session with a game I actually got to play: Pathfinder: Kingmaker.

Pathfinder: Kingmaker is a single player isometric RPG, based upon three pillars: exploration, combat and building a kingdom. It takes place in the Stolen North and you will get to encounter some of the known characters from the Pathfinder tabletop game.

The combat is real-time with pause, as an answer to my question why it wasn't turn-based it was said that they wanted to show us the animations and visual effects, but especially they want their battles to be fast. I mentioned that I found that it could be a valid reason, but it is very well possible to make a real-time game where combat is slow or feels like a drag and a turn-based game where combat does not feel slow or drags. And animations and visual effects could look great in a turn-based game as well. Anyway, as that short intermezzo wasn't going anywhere, I dropped it and we continued with the rest of the introduction.
They want the player to be able to make the best tactical choice of the abilities of the characters. There are about 500 of these abilities in different classes. You will be able to create any class you like with their archetypes and customize them, just like you can in the tabletop version of the game.

A new update for Pathfinder: Kingmaker tells us what to expect from companions.

Game Basics: a companion’s guide to companions - Part 1

Dear Pathfinders,

Companions are the meat and potatoes of every good party-based RPG. Today's update is the start of a small series of articles about our approach to writing and developing the adventurers, who will accompany you on your journey across the Stolen Lands. These updates are brought to you by Narrative Designer Chris Avellone. Enjoy!

Companions are a complicated bunch.

They can run the range: Your buddy. Your crush. Your source of exasperation. Your sibling you always wished you had. Your dependent. Your source of unease. Your pal. Your one true love. Your sibling you wished you could throttle. Your (budding) arch-enemy. Your rival. Your dark mirror. Your better you. Your mentor. Your conscience. And sometimes, yes, your annoying fire support who you don’t give a submachinegun to because he unleashes burst mode on everyone – often spraying bullets on you and your own allies at the same time (Fallout 1 true story with the companion “Ian” – although it’s worth noting that this arguably unfavorable tactic gave ol’ Ian more personality than anything else – it became his signature move).

I’ve written several companions over the years, and one key aspect to their creation I don’t often discuss is math.

Yes, math.

COMPANION ARITHMETIC

I understand math is the worst subject for any ex-English Major to discuss with any authority, I know, but “the maths” have so much to do with companion design and companion arcs that it deserves some explanation. Or, in this case, a lot of explanation. Because you know us writers, we love them words.

That said, here’s a list of system questions we ask about each companion for the sake of math – and why it’s important for narrative to take these mathematics into account when constructing a companion.

- Every piece of data on a companion is important. By this, I mean all facets of data that define a character – including alignment. Factoring in alignment may seem strange to some, but when you have a game where the companions do pay attention to your actions, you’re allowed to play the game however you wish (good, evil, neutral, lawful, chaotic), and you can build a party, then you have to make sure you have a balance of companions that are suited to each character archetype. An evil player should have the chance to build a party of evil (or evil-tolerant) companions as much as a good character can do the same with a party of good (or good-tolerant) companions.

- If you don’t have a lot of companions for the game (not a problem in Kingmaker), then it’s important you make certain choices in companion personalities or quest lines that would explain why differing alignments would work together (and they can, which can create interesting quests and moments if staged correctly). These “will work with anyone” can also be done psychology-wise and setting-wise as well – and I’ll use Firefly as an example. So every member of the crew on the ship Serenity arguably has a markedly different alignment, but they also have a dependency or psychological flaw – ex: Jayne’s not too bright, Simon has a dependent, Zoey follows orders, Wash is tied to Zoey, etc. – all of these psychological bricks are mortared together and it keeps them on board and working together. In Planescape: Torment, even though you could sacrifice and force people to leave, there was a reason your party of differing alignments were drawn to you – and they definitely still fought with each other.

- Next question – if you do have a party limited by good and evil, are the companions that split along good and evil party lines balanced? (Ex: If all the Fighters in the companion list are Lawful Good, that’s an imbalance.)

- How does the character systematically fit into this party – does the companion showcase one of the range of races the game offers, especially ones unique to the game and franchise? (Goblins in Pathfinder, for example, exemplified by the companion Nok-Nok in Kingmaker.)

- Class is important narratively as well – not only for franchise-specific classes (hey, here’s a sample of one of the unique professions in the world), but also because you can’t divorce character class from a character’s backstory or their personality – a druid is likely to have a much different upbringing outlook on the world than a rogue, for example, and you need to know what “career” the companion fell into/choose in order to backtrack through their life to build the reasons they chose it – or why the class chose them.

- Is the companion progression done in such a way where the introduction makes sense (ex: you don’t want 2 fighter companions at the outset of the game, but you might want 1, and perhaps also a cleric for healing because giving the player a tank or healer early on as a companion is a great idea – even if the player is a member of both classes). In Planescape: Torment, we introduced Morte first, not just for narrative reasons, but because he is a floating shield that can take a lot of damage, can intercept enemies for you (or lure them to you), carry your stuff (he’s a floating backpack), and inform you about the world.

- Be careful on how you build the companion’s attributes and skill set – they need to follow the exact same rules as the player, and you want to build them in such a way that you don’t make them so specific they can’t make use of certain items in the game (extreme example – but if the paladin companion isn’t built in such a way that she can make use of the best paladin sword in the game, then you’re going to have some angry players – also, it goes without saying, that if the PC is a paladin, the PC gets the best paladin sword).

- It’s an excellent idea to give companions unique traits, unique inventory items, but take care that the companion is not “built” incorrectly (ex: he has higher attributes than the player would be allowed to have) – it’s irritating for a PC to traverse a game with a companion who has the same class as they do but they happen to have an unfair rack of stats, which means the player ends up being second fiddle, math-wise. And players will calculate each point and do comparisons, it’s a given. So mind the rules, even if you’d like to move points around.

- A dash of systemic spice is always welcome. What I mean by this is that the companion may have some item, trait, ability, or twist on their skills that complement their personality. It can be a diary or a space hamster. It can be a unique weapon only they can use (just don’t make it better than any other weapon a player can get, and try to give it room to grow).

- Be careful in assigning skills and attribute points to companions so that you’re not dumping points in skills and attributes they can’t even use. Example: Some games don’t allow companions to “speak,” which often means that giving them Charisma bonuses or adding to their Charisma is useless because it doesn’t do anything – if that’s the case, you might want to expand any attribute or ability that only the player can use but the attribute is shared by both the player and companion (this can be solved in other ways depending on the game design – either never allowing Charisma to be added to, or re-designing the dialogue interface – what I call “Tony Evans style” – so everyone can participate in a conversation and each one can use their stats).

- Balance the placement of the companion so that they are introduced in an area where they systemically shine (not just narratively, but combat, exploration, and tools-wise). Make sure that when the companion is gained, he’s useful immediately and if possible, he’s awesome in the immediate environment. Example – during your adventure, you might be trapped in a field of explosive spells and deadly traps, and Nok-Nok suddenly walks up (perhaps walking across the mine field in his own special trap-detecting way). Perfect. You have your own goblin mine-detector (one way or the other).

- But don’t solely have the placement be something that is a challenge or obstacle, introduce reward with it that the companion can help you reach (you may have encountered a locked chest you couldn’t open earlier in the map, or have a chance to unlock doors and cages in a mage’s storeroom). Maybe you’re a fighter who just found a wicked dagger called The Onyx Vertebrae which happens to be a dagger +2, +4 with Backstab – it’s a good weapon, but you already have a better sword. Still, when Nok-Nok appears, you know exactly who to give it to. After you teach him not to hold it by the blade.

- It’s to your benefit not to let the player get too comfortable with their roster if you’re introducing a lot of companions or introducing companions late in the game. Some players “lock-in” their party and are resistant to change depending on when you introduce a companion (this is why Final Fantasy games often have specific intros for each companion where you are forced to journey with them long enough to get used to them, then they’d be free to be removed from your party – it’s more like forced exposure, but it’s done with the purpose of showcasing that companion).

- Even death involves math – an extreme example, but the tragedy of having decide to save one of two companions is made cheaper when one has a skill set that nobody else. And it’s worse if that same skill grants the player the ability to gain special items, access to more chests, or access to secrets and bonus areas vs. the generic “fighter”. The choice then becomes less a role-playing a choice vs. “well, if I lose him, I’d lose my ability to pick locks anywhere in the world.”

- Lastly, the companions should reinforce or interact with the key systems in the game as well – for example, the player’s Kingdom. Having companions or not having certain companions should cause (and does cause) changes in one’s kingdom in Kingmaker, sometimes for the best, sometimes for the worst – each companion needs to have that “system kingdom arc” spelled out, as when writing them, you’d need to foreshadow and explain personality-wise and dialogue-wise why certain events may occur.

So let’s take our squat little maniac goblin Nok-Nok as an example and examine his schematics. He’s franchise-specific (goblin), he fulfills a role rarely held by other party members (rogue – a class that I find not many people I know seem to take as their primary character, but every seasoned RPG’er knows they always want a rogue in the party to open stubborn locks and get to places only thieves can go as long as it’s not the player that has to waste the skill points). Furthermore, he’s evil-alignment-friendly and can round out a part of evil characters although arguably his trait of being doggedly loyal means he can bond with other alignments (though they may not appreciate this), and he has a few goblin and personality-specific skills that Owlcat and I have kicked around for him being a goblin – some examples (not set in stone) – he may have the ability to gain ugly pets (goblins have the worst “pets,” but Nok-Nok can help you gain them), or he may gain unusual “trophies” (junk) that bolster his confidence as he regards them as relics, and if possible, he may even have the ability to have a unique trap disarm that uses his body as a shield for the damage – and trap damage resistance as a result of being the victim of this ability once too often.

Furthermore, his motivations are very much intertwined with the religion of the world and the religion of the goblins – and then takes it a step farther by wanting to be part of the goblin pantheon as their fifth god. He has impacts on your Kingdom (and on this, I can’t give spoilers). So there you go!

Last word on companion math – I know maths are the unsexy stuff. Necessary, but unsexy. I say necessary because if you avoid the steps above, people are less likely to want the companion at all no matter how well you’ve written them and carefully crafted their backstory (and I didn’t say “don’t want,” I said, “less likely” – there’s certainly exceptions to the rules above).

For Kingmaker, we strive to intertwine both the mathematical and narrative aspects to create a helpful ally as well as one with a deep backstory and an agenda of their own.

Chris Avellone

Narrative Designer, Pathfinder: Kingmaker

Stay tuned for our next update, where Chris explains the narrative process of building outlines and character arcs!

Hail to the Kings!  

Owlcats

This update for Pathfinder: Kingmaker is about rendering water and comes with plenty of watery screenshots.

Today's update is all about water rendering in our game. Water is the most complicated rendering object from a technical point of view. To make the magic happen we use various subsystems of the game engine and thoroughly prepare both procedural and baked textures. Besides, we need a combination of programming skills, the abilities of our technical artists, lots of patience and a bit of luck. For our update, let's not dwell on trivial things, such as calculations of water lighting. Instead we are going to tell you about the difference between water rendering and rendering of regular geometry. Let's dive right in!  

Density  

Perfectly clear water is usually almost colorless, and only if its layer becomes thicker, it gets a bluish shade. However, there are only a few places on Earth, where you can find such clear water in a natural environment, e.g. Blue Lake in New Zealand. In most cases, water contains tiny particles of other substances, which can color it into various shades. This effect is especially noticeable in rivers and streams, where running water carries more of such particles.  

However, water color depends not only on particles of other substances, but also on some other parameters, and the most relevant for us is density. To make things easier, we'll make the assumption that the water color depends on depth (layer thickness) multiplied by density. In shallow water it becomes easier to see what's beneath, and in deeper places we can see more color of the water itself. The density is adjusted by our artists, and as for the depth, we calculate it via shader, using z-buffer.

Pathfinder: Kingmaker introduces another potential companion called Harrim who is a brooding dwarf cleric.

Harrim: The Frailty of Life

Pathfinders! Today we introduce another one of your future companions: a brooding dwarf cleric called Harrim.

In the world of Golarion, religion is not a topic for abstract philosophical discussions, but a matter of life and death. Various deities directly interfere with the lives of mortals - some change them for the better, some for worse, and some just make them... Stranger.

During his life in the Five Kings Mountains, Harrim aspired to follow Torag, the Dwarven god of craft. Unfortunately, no matter how much he studied the holy books, he failed to meet the crucial requirement for a cleric of Torag: he never learned to make anything with his hands. It was worse than just regular clumsiness: Harrim couldn't forge a single nail or carve a wooden spoon to save his life. Some dwarves ridiculed him, others suggested that Torag must have cursed him - and this was what Harrim himself eventually believed.

Betrayed and forsaken by the god he was ready to dedicate his whole life to, Harrim went into exile, searching for some other purpose in life. He found it when he met a traveling cult of one of Golarion's most obscure deities - Groetus, the god of the End Times. A colossal skull-shaped moon looming over Purgatory, Groetus is waiting for the day when Pharasma, the goddess of death, won't be able to contain him anymore, so he can go to the Material plane and put an end to it. This fateful day is nowhere near - it would take aeons for Groetus to become free - but it's inevitable, and comes closer with each passing second. Groetus is patient, and so are his worshippers - hiding in shadows, listening to their god's faint whispers, meditating over their own mortality, and frailty of life.

It is said that the worshippers of Groetus slowly sink into madness. Harrim dismisses such slanderous rumors. The way he talks and acts might seem eccentric, but it has nothing to do with so-called insanity - he just delves deeper into the fundamental truths, understanding the world's nature and the inevitability of its demise... He's happy to explain his religion's teachings - though he rarely finds anyone willing to listen.

Harrim's philosophy hasn't made him a passive observer. He's always ready to use his god's power to heal his allies or bring punishment upon their enemies - though after the battle expect him to say something about the perishable nature of all mortals. He embraces the fact that death will eventually take everyone, but he doesn't hurry to meet it - so he has trained to wear heavy armor and wield a shield. Despite Harrim's bleak philosophy, he'll save your life more than once during the many battles that await you in the Stolen Lands.

Should you rely on Harrim's help in ruling your realm, you will benefit from his wisdom and charisma. A calm, level-headed man, Harrim is surprisingly good at making well-considered decisions, as well as talking to people - that is, until he starts rambling about the End of Days.

Dev response: Magus Archetypes

You may have missed this one: our mechanics designer has created a massive forum post, where he discusses all the archetypes our community has suggested for the Magus. He talks about which of them may work well with the game, which of them might be complicated to implement, how and why certain archetypes would or wouldn't work and much more! If you'd like to learn more about the thought process that goes into our class design, come on over to the forums and have a chat with us!

Hail to the kings!

Owlcats

Thanks Purpleblob!

Pathfinder: Kingmaker will have a detailed combat log.

The Combat Log - It's how we roll!

Dear Pathfinders,

Battles are essential to the experience of Pathfinder: Kingmaker. Some of them are quite easy while others are very challenging. Many systems, such as character generation and leveling up, equipment and spells are part of the decisions you make about every character, and combat is where you feel the results of these decisions. It is the place to put your heroes to the test and understand what went right and what went wrong. For that, combat needs to have a very clear feedback about every aspect of the game mechanics. In order to solve this we are (as many other games in this genre) using a combat log. Our usual disclaimer applies to all of the pictures here, it is work in progress and does not represent the final state of the product, all specific names are used only as reference to the original Pathfinder Roleplaying Game (R) entities and could be subject to change in the Pathfinder: Kingmaker CRPG.

Every action in combat has a representation in the log: initiative rolls, to-hit, and damage rolls, saving throws or any appropriate checks. Each has its own line in the log. And for each of the lines, you will be able to see detailed information in the tooltip. For example, if you are attacking a wolf you will be able to see all of the bonuses and penalties for the to-hit roll and their sources. Starting from a simple bonus, like the strength modifier, and up to temporary effects, like being shaken. And you will be able to see your roll for this attack. Additional information will also appear in the tooltip if circumstances call for it. For example, on a critical threat roll, a confirmation roll will appear with same detailed information, or if a target has concealment there will be a mention of the miss chance.

All the information mentioned thus far is about your party's actions. But of course you will also want to know about how your enemies do. We have thought of two options here - one we will definitely have, the other one is an idea right now, and currently in discussion and development. We are not promising the latter will appear in the game, but we are very interested to hear your opinion about it. The first option is providing all the information about the enemy - AC, saving throws, the battle log will show it all. This is clear and concise and gives you all the information you need to understand what happens in battle and what changes you need to make to tip this fight into your favor.

The second option does not provide you with this information for free; it is based on the party's knowledge and lore checks. If you are successful, some information is provided, better results lead to more stats revealed. But if your fail those rolls - you will learn that information in the same way you do on the table. If you hit 34 AC and missed against 18, the creature's AC in the tooltips will be shown as ?19-34 - meaning, that your highest miss was against AC 18 and 19 could be hit, while your lowest hit was 34, so in the worst case scenario that creature's AC is 34. Same goes for other statistics, like showing that you dealt damage, but some DR was applied to it. Along with this goes showing the creature's health condition only after a successful check. This approach is a bit more hardcore and a bit more faithful to the tabletop experience.

But back to the log. Not only combat needs to have detailed information presented, but we also have dialogs and special events, kingdom and exploration. So we are expanding the log (as a lot of games before us) into those areas of the game as well. And to make it more readable, we separate information into several tabs: combat will have everything we discussed above, while a dialogue tab will have a history of all conversations as well as special events, along with choices and checks you made. Events tab will summarize everything that happens while skipping on detailed information on combat and dialogue represented in other tabs. There you will find information on the traps you encountered or items looted, orders you have made during a kingdom turn or new areas discovered on the global map. And all of these events will have additional and detailed information available via tooltips, with some information hidden if you so desire (like hiding DCs of the skill checks).

This concludes our approach to the log in Pathfinder: Kingmaker. While our solution may be similar to a lot of games in the genre, we are trying to provide even more information to you, and make it a bit more interesting and closer to the tabletop experience.
[...]

The latest update for Pathfinder: Kingmaker tells us about the vendor interface.

The Art of the Deal - Our Vendor UI

Hi Pathfinders,

Ahh yes, to be an adventurer! Exploring the Stolen Lands, battling hordes of of bandits, trolls and other baddies, fighting for the cause and never forgetting what's most important in life: fat loot! But since you have a finite amount of sword-swinging arms and you can only wear so much armor - what are you going to do with the tons upon tons of extra gear you collect on your travels? The hint is in the title of this update!

Today we're telling you all about how we're designing the interface you'll be using to interact with the merchants of Pathfinder: Kingmaker.

No cRPG is complete without a merchant. Whether you need to replenish your rations, stack up on potions or purchase a rare magical blade, this classic character is always there for you. Of course, the merchant is also more than willing to help you unburden your bags of all the unwanted loot, and will reward you handsomely for your trouble.

It should be noted that when we speak of "merchants", what we mean is not a special kind of NPC, not an honorary title and not even a separate occupation - many characters can be considered merchants simply by virtue of having goods to sell. Thus, when we talk about merchants we mean exactly them, the characters of our game, and they are much more than just a list of items to buy and sell. Whether it's a hermit mage trying to fund his arcane research by selling scrolls and wands or an actual professional merchant from the capital, you will interact with both of them through the vendor interface.

Many ways to implement a trade interface have been developed to this day, and we are no innovators in this area. Drawing on the principles of convenience and immersion, we have decided not to go down the path of invention and to steer clear of exotic solutions. We wanted to make sure that once you saw the vendor interface, you would quickly understand how it works based on your experience with other games. Apart from that we tried to preserve the immersiveness of the Pathfinder universe, which meant we had to stick to certain technical frameworks and develop a vision of the future artistic layout.

[...]

A new Pathfinder: Kingmaker update has details on Amiri, one of Pathfinders iconic characters.

Amiri: Unleash the Rage

Dear Pathfinders,

Our Kickstarter campaign may be over, but the updates keep on coming! We will continue to post news about the state of our game and our current progress. So without further ado, here's our next companion update, featuring a very special barbarian:

Far to the north lies the deep-frozen Realm of the Mammoth Lords - the homeland of primordial megafauna and equally primordial nomads. The people who live there are savages even by the standards of other barbarian tribes - life in this harsh climate leaves little place for anything beyond survival. Unlike Numeria, where women stand equal with men, here they are reduced to servants, preoccupied with raising children, making food and sewing clothes while men occupy the positions of chieftains, priests, warriors and hunters. These are the rules - but no rules can stop the fiery spirit burning in a true barbarian's heart. Amiri proved it by revolting against the miserable life her tribe has offered her, and becoming a fearsome warrior. Her triumph was rewarded with hatred, ridicule and, ultimately, an exile. She left her homeland and went to search for her destiny, never looking back.

If you have played the table-top version of Pathfinder RPG, then you are already familiar with Amiri, the iconic Barbarian. You might have met her - or maybe even played as her! - in one of the many Adventure Paths, watching her career as she went up to the top level. In the Pathfinder: Kingmaker CRPG we offer a new chapter of her journey, from the moment when she, a young Barbarian fresh from the North, joined an ambitious expedition to the Stolen Lands. What will she meet along the path? Will her past catch up to her, and how will she deal with it? You'll be there to see for yourself, and leave your mark on her destiny.

As a true barbarian, Amiri shuns heavy armor, rushing into battle armed with an enormous sword - a memento from her motherland - and her wild, unbridled rage. While her more fragile allies attack from afar with arrows and magic spells, she hurries to the frontline, with just one strategy in mind: do as much damage as possible, and beat the enemies to a pulp before they get a chance to do the same to her. "I'll survive. I always survive" is her motto, and so far it has never failed her.

If you decide to rely on Amiri's help in ruling your kingdom, don't expect any insightful advice - instead, make use of her muscle power, agility and phenomenal endurance. Moderately loyal and not too scrupulous, she'll make a great peacekeeper, or a formidable enforcer, depending on your governing style.

Hail to the Kings,

Owlcats.

In the most recent update for Pathfinder: Kingmaker some statistics are shared about the campaign, that the alpha is scheduled for this fall and there is a thank you video.

Pathfinder: Kingmaker managed to reach the Goblin companion stretch goal.

Goblin companion joins the party!

Posted by Oleg

OMG! It is almost unbelievable - you made it!

You helped Nok-Nok find new friends and make his first and very important step in becoming the Fifth Goblin Hero!

We are so...so...filled... with emotions that it almost impossible to express our thanks by mere words:

It will be our pleasure to work on the companion from the race that Pathfinder made so unique and so delightfully twisted. Their imagery became somewhat iconic to the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game and Golarion. But there is another outstanding image, or should we say, the order in the Inner Sea that also became synonymous with the Pathfinder. Yes, we are speaking of they who are the weapons of desperate times and soldiers with the force of will to do whatever must be done. They are intimidation, relentlessness, and unwavering conviction. They are the black-gauntleted fist of absolute order. They are the Hellknights!

For far too long the Stolen Lands were the den of thieves and murderers, sanctuary for those who ran from the Law, home of the chaotic and capricious fey, the embodiment of everything Hellknights abhor. They arrive in this lawless land with the important mission, and it will be up to you to decide whether they are friend or foe. Befriend them, prove that you are worthy, that your rule is the lawful one, that your country is the beacon of stability in the region and you will be welcomed into their ranks. Help them complete their mission in the Stolen Lands, and you will be taught secrets and mysteries only a few are privileged to know. Antagonize them, and you will find them to be a powerful and extremely well-organized adversary, vanquish them to seize their relics and discover the truth behind their appearance in the Stolen Lands.

This stretch goal will provide your character with even more options to choose, with unique abilities for Hellknights and Hellknight Signifers and specific items thematic to the Hellknights, as well as new quest line dedicated to the Hellknight presence in the Stolen Lands. Face them on the field of battle or fight side-by-side, it is your choice to make.

Hellknights is our next stretch goal, they will be unlocked when funding reaches $1.1M

Hail to the Kings!!!!

The Happiest Owlcats in the World!

Pathfinder: Kingmaker has moved past the Archetype goal and now has a new goal of a new playable race at 1 million.

Archetypes are funded! Moving on to Goblin companion!

WOW! It took just a little more than one day to fund the Archetypes! You are absolutely incredible!

Now, not only the narrative designers run around the office with ideas about the Extra chapter, but all system designers also rub their hands in anticipation - oh those mighty builds they would love to add to the game. Post your comments and let us know what would you prefer to play!

Our excitement goes through the roof - with your overwhelming support, we feel like there are no limits to the expansion of the game! And as we start our race towards the Goblin companion, it is time to reveal one more stretch goal for you. It is just one day left on Kickstarter, but let's see how far we can go!

We believe that a maximum character variety is paramount, and races are an aspect we haven't addressed yet in the stretch goals. We are happy to cover the basic set of playable races - human, dwarfs, half-elves, elves, half-orcs, gnomes, halflings - nevertheless, we would love to deepen the character customization even more.

So (drumroll!) the $1.0M stretch goal is... a New playable race!

And to make it even more fun, we have another surprise for you. It seems we can't make up our minds about which race to add; too many temptations... So let us turn to YOU for this decision! We will provide three options that match the Pathfinder: Kingmaker best, and let you select your favorite through a poll. The races to choose from are still in discussion with our partners from Paizo, but we will come up with the available options as soon as we start funding for that goal.

Let us know about your favorite races in the Comments section!

 

Hail to the Kings!

Owlcats.

Shane Plays geek radio interviewed Chis Avellone about Pathfinder: Kingmaker:

Chris Avellone & Pathfinder Kingmaker! - Shane Plays Radio Ep. 107

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Pathfinder: Kingmaker has reached its extra story chapter goal +mac/linux versions and now has a new stretch goal of Goblin companion at 900K.

Dear Pathfinders,

Extra story chapter is funded!

Thanks to your incredible support, we have just reached the stretch goal that will expand original Pathfinder Kingmaker AP story! O_o there was a dеmonic laughter just heard in the owlcats cave - narrative designers were celebrating the ability to weave new secrets into the game plot...

And what is more, those of you who pray Mac & Linux will not need to change your deity - Pathfinder: Kingmaker will be available on your sacred ground.

The result of the campaign so far exceeds our initial dreams, you can't imagine how excited we are that your help allows us to make our game so much bigger and better. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to each and every one of you!

With the extra story chapter funded we are happy to present our new stretch goal:

900K - Extra Companion

and here we have the special tale about our new companion from our Narrative Designer Chris Avellone.

The Goblin's Tale

The goblins of Golarion have a bad reputation, to be sure. Of course, that's usually the perspective of someone who hasn't spent much time around goblins and has never seen the positives goblins have to offer.

For example, goblins can be especially devoted. Whether to their four goblin hero-gods, or to you. Of course, their attempts to earn your favor can be much like the family cat leaving dead animals on your door step, except it might be someone's fingers. Such is the way with our goblin hero Nok-Nok, which is much like the sound his skull makes when his tribesmen beat it with clubs. (Which happened enough that he was mistaken for a drum at times.) He's not only eager to help, but he's incredibly effective in tormenting your enemies until they beg for mercy - or a swift death.

At the start of Kingmaker, however, Nok-Nok's fallen on difficult times - very difficult times, as his tribe intends to use him as a sacrifice. You're the only one who can save him... and as far as Nok-Nok is concerned, your arrival is divine proof that he's destined for greatness. He should know, because as he explains, he's the fifth goblin god, and you've earned his favor.

As it turns out, Nok-Nok aspires to be more than a warty, scabby head-drum - he is convinced that he is a deity-to-be. He's just having some difficulty making anyone else realize it. He can recite many tales of heroics and can expound at great length on how he's bravely fled from dogs, how he set fire to his own hair when he couldn't find firewood (he neglected to cut it from his head first), and how he's learned how to block kicks and punches by using his head as a shield. And that's just the beginning of his legendary journey to greatness.

Nok-Nok is a skilled thief. He excels in scuttling about, valiantly stabbing enemies in the back, and setting off every trap in the area (so much so, Nok-Nok's attempts to disarm a trap come very close to being literal - the trap usually threatens to dis-arm him). He does, however, have an incredible resistance to pain, attracts an unusual coterie of "pets," and embraces various junk and trinkets you find on your journey as if they were hard-won trophies of his heroics.

If you lend him a helping hand, Nok-Nok's quick to call you family - play your cards right, and he might even let you be among his worshippers of Nok-Nok (the Fifth, or in his words "the Fith" or sometimes, in other's words, "the Filth").

Hail to the kings!

Owlcats.

There are 3 days left for the successful Pathfinder: Kingmaker Kickstarter campaign:

The final 3 days! Fan feedback, games media impressions and Skydiving!

As we're approaching the end of our Kickstarter campaign, we're giving it everything we've got to reach those stretch goals. This means we are going to up the frequency of our updates for the last days of our campaign.  

Compilation of press feedback  

Since we had announced Pathfinder: Kingmaker almost two months ago we saw quite the interest from the game media. It is always very exciting to get feedback on your game, especially at the early stages of development. For those of you who missed the articles we made a brief compilation.

North America:  

"Almost everything I asked about in terms of story seemed to have a layer beyond what I expected--the advantage of having years of tabletop playtesting, perhaps. If these different aspects of Kingmaker can coalesce into a dramatic whole, this could be special." – IGN.com  

“these are many common elements in a CRPG title, but Pathfinder's setting and lore makes this particular outing feel otherwise distinct... If the alpha build was any indication, then there’s plenty of opportunities to shape your own identity and leave your mark on the world.” – Gamespot.com  

“Pathfinder: Kingmaker is a much-anticipated isometric RPG take on the classic pen-and-paper game.” – PCGamer.com  

"For fans of the tabletop game, this will be a great opportunity to translate their fantasy adventures to their desktops." – Game Informer  

"First impressions from in and around the bandit lord's fortress; the game looks incredible. The in-progress menus are attractive and orderly, the environments lush and vivid, the character portraits appealing and refined. What voice acting there was, was convincing and professional." – mmorpg.com 

[...]

Pathfinder: Kingmaker has a new update about skills and announces that Paypal is now available.

Luck is merely another word for skill

Dear Pathfinders,

You can now support our game through PayPal

Got any friends who want to help our project, but can't use the payment methods accepted by Kickstarter? Visit https://owlcatgames.com/preorder and support us through PayPal! Please spread the word and let your friends know. Thanks!

And now getting to the topic of this update - Skills in Pathfinder: Kingmaker

Skills are an incredibly important part of most pen and paper RPGs, including Pathfinder. What are skills? Skills represent some of the most basic and yet most fundamental abilities your character possesses, like, for example, Perception - a skill to take note of details around you, to timely notice a deadly trap or to hear the muffled breath of a hidden adversary. Be it finding your way through the unknown lands or high court intrigues, be it searching for forbidden knowledge in the academy library, in a dusty tomb or a shady tavern - all of this is what skills are for. Without them, characters would be mere murderers. It is the existence of skills that allows them to resolve challenges and conflicts without resorting to bloodshed.

While it is a daunting, perhaps impossible, task to make skills just as useful in the CRPG as when playing Pathfinder on the table, it is not our goal to replace the original Pathfinder RPG, but rather to provide you with an experience similar to the fascinating atmosphere of pen and paper gaming. To do that we need to make the application of skills at least as frequent and at least as important as it is in pen and paper, if not as varied.

For our skill list, we decided to use our own approach to what is known to Pathfinder players out there as Consolidated Skills - a system where most skills from core Pathfinder are aggregated into bigger, wider skill groups. Our approach to this also includes our idea that skills should not only be used in dialogues but also in common gameplay and that these skills should be useful and applicable to the characters that archetypically should have those skills.

For this reason we, for example, made Lore - Nature, the archetypical skill of Rangers and Druids, to be based on Wisdom, and to include the knowledge about animals and insects, survival in the wilderness, handling of animals and tending to companions who were wounded or had succumbed to sickness. For that reason, we had made Lore - Religion to include knowledge about both Gods and their servants - outsiders, and plan to make it possible to use Lore - Religion to heal afflictions of the mind.

For those, who rely more on scholarly education, there are the branches of academic knowledge. Knowledge - World studies Golarion and everything specific to it, be it races and cultures that live there, their history and current interactions, trade and politics. Knowledge - Arcana deals with research and knowledge about various unnatural phenomena, eldritch spells, enchanted items and otherworldly entities such as elementals and magical beasts.

For those who crave action, there are Athletics and Mobility, the first of which deals with the skillful application of physical strength, mostly to surpass obstacles or to remove them from your way altogether, and the second deals with avoiding those obstacles and hazards through graceful movement and acrobatic feats. And those more cunning may find for themselves skills like Stealth, which allows you to move unnoticed behind the enemy lines, and Trickery, that allows you to pass through more complex obstacles like locks and traps.

[...]

The latest update for Pathfinder: Kingmaker takes us through Owlcats UI design process.

The art of UI design

Dear Pathfinders,

In today's update, we would like to share with you our approach to User Interface (UI) development.

Interfaces are a huge part of any CRPG game. There are a lot of entities like characters, skills, abilities and spells, all of which are striving to attract the player's attention. An important factor here is that everything needs to be represented with a high level of detail and our task is to make all these sheets, formulas and endless columns of text easier to read and understand. We constantly balance between informativeness, aesthetics, and user-friendliness. Therefore, while designing every single UI element we are focused on two main principles: convenience and immersion. It should be stressed that from the very beginning, we decided to give preference to immersion.

With our focus on immersion in mind, we always start designing a new UI element by searching for real historical items, which fit the setting of Pathfinder: Kingmaker for visual reference. These can be old books, scrolls, chests, cabinets, writing utensils and chairs, maps and travel notebooks. Their visual appearance, materials and decor elements are a good starting point to inspire a UI designer's creativity.

[...]

Constantly Calibrating chatted with Chris Avellone:

#232 – Calibrating Chris Avellone II
(Pathfinder: Kingmaker)

Once, long ago, our team of hosts had an experience that nearly changed the very nature of their existence: They interviewed Chris Avellone. Without much in the way of hyperbole, our team was revitalized through a 40 minute interview that turned into a near 2-hour podcasting experience. Chris Avellone, a writing legend of modern times and Josh’s youth, has once again returned to impart wisdom and knowledge.

The whole group also makes a large amount of dick & fart jokes, and Chris helps promote the upcoming Pathfinder: Kingsmaker. It’s a Constantly Calibrating Podcast show, let’s not think too high or mighty of ourselves.

If you liked the episode, let us know in whatever comments you see fit, or with a review maybe? Same goes for if you hated the entire experience. Furthermore, only you can help us convince Chris to come back to complete the trilogy of discussions. Or perhaps to take Josh on as apprentice or DM a D&D show for us. *cough*

Thanks Farflame!

Pathfinder: Kingmaker has a new stretch goal at 800K which will unlock Archetypes.

Magus is at your service, Baron!

Dear Pathfinders,

Thanks to your help, we have just reached our second stretch goal! The Magus is in the bag! Thank you, Pathfinders! We feel truly blessed to be supported by such an amazing community. Thank you for believing in us and for giving us the opportunity to make this game bigger and better. You are the force that drives us. And now that the Magus is an addition to the game, let's have a look at a new stretch goal.

New stretch goal - 3 Archetypes or alternative features for each class

A satisfying RPG experience relies heavily on your ability to create just the character you want, to bring your character concept to life as accurately as possible. But some character concepts are not conventional and stray away from well-trodden paths. Yet classes were made with specific, more general concepts in mind, and while they allow many different builds - some less conventional approaches are left unsupported. The Pathfinder RPG has a feature that covers those wishes: Archetypes.

Archetypes are not new classes on their own, but merely modifications of an already existing class, although the extent of modification varies greatly from case to case. Archetypes remove some class features from their base class, change others, modify existing choices and numerical bonuses of the class. In some cases, they just replace one feature with a feature of another class, and in some cases, they replace significant parts of the class, with an array of completely new abilities.

Sometimes you want your character to specialize in a certain specific part of their class far more than representatives of this class usually do. For example, let's say you want to play a cleric that concentrates on summoning monsters, but find that this specialization is hard to achieve with just the conventional cleric. There is an archetype that fits this purpose perfectly. The Cleric's Herald Caller archetype concentrates on summoning allies to fight for him. While he loses his ability to wear medium armor, equip shields and only has one domain, he can convert his spells into summoning spells in the middle of combat, and the creatures he summons are far more formidable and numerous.

Sometimes you want to take a different approach to a conventional role, for example, to create a tanking fighter that relies on his swordsmanship alone - yet every time you look up your abilities your conviction wavers. You see that equipping a shield would make your character a better tank, but you never envisioned him hiding behind a shield in battle. On the other hand, not using one makes you feel that you aren't using your character to his full potential. In this case, you may look for an archetype instead - and find one that fits your idea. For example, the Aldori Defender, a fighter archetype with his roots in the fencing school of Aldori Swordlords, prefers to master his parrying techniques instead of relying on shields.

And sometimes you want to go even further. For example, create a magus, who is skilled with a bow. There is simply no way to do that with the basic magus class - his abilities work with one-handed melee weapons, and the bow is neither. Only archetypes can help you with this, and there is one designed specifically with that purpose in mind. The magus' Eldritch Archer archetype allows him to use his abilities with any ranged weapon and, instead of charging his blade with close combat spells, this archetype allows the magus to charge his attacks with long range spells, shooting fiery rays from his crossbow or launching bolts of lightning together with a javelin.

And that's not the extent of possible archetypes - there are far more of them in Pathfinder. There's the Sword Saint, a magus archetype that abandons armor and some of his spellcasting to become a master of one chosen weapon. There's the Vivisectionist - an alchemist that replaces his signature ability to throw bombs with deadly sneak attacks. Ecclesitheurge - a cleric, favoring the perfection of his divine magic abilities over his martial prowess. Armored Hulk - a heavily armored barbarian. Sacred Huntsmaster and Mad Dog - inquisitor and barbarian with animal companions. And the list goes on and on.

Some classes, like Sorcerer or Wizard, while lacking these vast amounts of archetypes, have alternative class features that can replace them - subschools and wild bloodlines. We want to add even more choices, and depth to our game, to both, improve the base gameplay and provide replayability. Archetypes are a good way to do both, for they will add more meaningful choices to character creation and development, will allow us to add personalities to some companions in the form of archetypes, and to increase the variety of enemy encounters - for enemies will have archetypes, too.

What do you think about the archetypes listed above and which Pathfinder archetypes are your favorite? Let us know in the comments section!

Hail to the kings!

Owlcats.

Pathfinder: Kingmaker introduces us to Octavia in the latest update. Notably the campaign has passed the 600K mark, meaning the second stretch goal of Magus has been achieved.

Octavia: Tough Cookie

Dear Pathfinders,

Another update, another companion! We're about to introduce you to the first half of an exciting duo that shares a lot - tragic backstory, magical aptitude, and affection for one another. Please welcome Octavia, a gleeful yet determined half-elf with a talent for magic and sleight of hand.

Whatever the situation might be, Octavia always pays close attention to details that often elude others. She is the quickest to notice a companion's change of mind and the hidden suffering of other beings - as well as fleeting moments of beauty such as a pretty hair clip in a girl's hair that deserves a compliment. Cheerful and quirky, this half-elf lives in the moment. According to her, the future is too uncertain to worry about while the past is better left behind. However, she's a bit disingenuous on that last part, and for good reasons: it's hard to forget years of bonded servitude to the sinister Technic League that keeps all of Numeria in fear. Due to her magical aptitude, Octavia has been forced to serve the League masters for all her life. The only one who helped her get through dark times was Regongar, her true half-orc friend, who shared her pain and misery.

Light shines brighter in the darkness: hardships didn't break Octavia's boisterous spirit. Despite everything, the girl has brought her optimistic and merciful nature through the whole ordeal right to the day she became the master of her destiny. While on a Technic League's assignment in the Stolen Lands, Octavia and Regongar were set free by a daring adventurer, who claimed untamed territories for the young barony. Today, the half-elf can do as she pleases - and that includes fighting for all the just reasons as well as making up for every lost opportunity to primp and preen!

In battle, Octavia makes good use not only of her magical abilities but of her nimbleness, as well. She avoids melee at all costs: lack of armor makes her extremely vulnerable to direct attack. Instead, she prefers to sneak up on her enemies and eliminate adversaries with deadly spells before they know what hit them.

Despite her seeming carelessness, Octavia is bright and resourceful. Thanks to these qualities, she is an excellent candidate for an official governing post. Whether it's other people, money or magical dealings, Octavia is ready to use her talents for the benefit of society and the barony.

Eager to learn more about Octavia's partner? We'll tell you about Regongar in our next companion update. Stay tuned!

Hail to the kings!

Owlcats

Pathfinder: Kingmaker has a new update about the music which will be composed by Inon Zur.

Dear Pathfinders,

A good soundtrack doesn't just help set the mood and transport emotion. It follows you on your journey and tells a story. Let me show you the creative process behind my work, some of the instruments I'm using for the soundtrack to Pathfinder: Kingmaker and how a tune starts as a melody in my ear and finally turns into a full track. I hope you will enjoy my video for today's update.

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Inon Zur,

Music Composer, Pathfinder: Kingmaker

Pathfinder: Kingmaker has a new stretch goal for 700K which features Mac and Linux versions of the game and an extra story chapter, that will see characters reach level 20.

Camping is in the bag!

Dear Pathfinders,

You never cease to amaze us with your enthusiasm and support for our project. You have just knocked out our first stretch goal! Thanks to your help, we can add camping to Pathfinder: Kingmaker! Thank you so much! Next stop: The Magus! But what's next? What lies beyond? Get ready as we are happy to unveil our next stretch goal!

New stretch goal - Extra story chapter and Mac & Linux version of Pathfinder: Kingmaker

We are excited to unveil the expansion of the story of the Stolen Lands. While it's difficult to describe the story of these additional adventures without major spoilers, it is safe to tell you that this additional chapter will make it easier for you to get all the way up to level 20. Threats and encounters in this chapter will be challenging for even the most powerful heroes, so be prepared to face the deadliest, meanest and scariest foes.

One request, which has been made by our community time and time again was for a Mac release. So we are excited to unveil that the second part of this stretch goal is bringing the Pathfinder experience to Mac & Linux platforms.

As we were typing this update, a gust of wind rushed in, bringing several leaves and a mysterious letter addressed to you, Pathfinders. We are presenting it below, but be warned! For those of you not familiar with the Kingmaker Adventure Path, this message may contain major spoilers!
[...]

Pathfinder: Kingmaker is near to its first stretch goal and has a new update on building and developing characters.

Pathfinder builds character: A look at our Character Sheet

Dear Pathfinders,

Creating and developing your character is one of the pillars of any RPG, be it a computer game or pen-and-paper gaming. Most beginners find this process very complicated. A lot of them make their first characters with the help of experienced friends learning the rules, tricks, and nuances on the way. The Pathfinder Role Playing Game provides a deep, rich and complex system for character generation, which allows creating characters, which are interesting to play with, follow archetypes players want and feel useful not only in battle but also in exploration or social interactions. These characters could be quite simple, consisting of just one class, skills, and feats selected from recommended lists and some class features; or characters could be a complex build from several classes, each of them modified with archetypes, complete with carefully picked skills, traits, feats, and spells from myriad of rulebooks and equipment that complements the character's strengths.
[...]

Spells and effects are highlighted in this update for Pathfinder:Kingmaker.

oday we will be talking about spells – lifeblood of more than half of the Pathfinder classes. Since the release of their signature product, Paizo published numerous rulebooks for the Pathfinder RPG, both hardcover giants, like Ultimate Magic and Advanced Player Guide, and innumerable softcover Campaign Settings, Player Companions, Modules, and Adventure Paths. And most of them do contain spells, some of them only one, and some whole packs rivaling the basic assortment provided in the core rulebook. For us, when making a Pathfinder CRPG, this provides a treasury to draw from.

And as we do draw from it, and see the ideas of all these spells come to life on our screens, they blend together to give you a myriad of tactics to solve problems, overcome obstacles and defeat enemies our game will provide you aplenty. For in Pathfinder spells are not just elemental attacks of different shapes and colors, but a diverse set of tools and instruments for enormous amounts of possible situations. And those who love their elemental attacks will also find them in abundance, as some situations require precisely tools like these.

Is one of your companions injured? Poisoned? Dead? There are spells for that. Cannot find a secret door? There is a spell for that too. Found a secret door, but cannot open it? Again, there is a spell for that. Are you feeling the strong urge to set somebody on fire? There are a lot of spells that do exactly that. While setting someone on fire, you mistakenly set your companions on fire too, and now they're dead? We’ve already discussed, spells can fix that. Cannot see your enemy? There is a spell for that. Still cannot see him, because he's behind the wall? There is a spell for that. Still cannot see him? You’ve probably been blinded. Do not worry; there is a spell for that. There is a whole school of spells that allow you to see enemies even where there aren’t any. Got too cold? There’s a spell for that. Are neighbors too loud? There’s a spell for that. Mysterious rash..? There’s probably a spell for that.

One of the companions that can join your party in Pathfinder: Kingmaker is Jubilost Nartropple.

The name of Jubilost Nartropple is known to each and every educated person in all of Avistan. Or rather Jubilost himself won't accept the idea that someone, who does not know his name, could possibly be called an educated person. A renowned adventurer, who traveled the Inner Sea region back and forth, prolific writer and tireless explorer, Jubilost likes to brag, that every good household is bound to have at least one of his books - whether it's an expensive illustrated atlas or a cheap collection of cooking recipes. He doesn't care that those envious of his many talents call him haughty and rude - after all he can insult them much worse - and in a dozen different languages at that!

Pathfinder: Kingmaker has reached its funding goal and has announced a new stretch goal at 600K.

New stretch goal - Magus

All of us were brought up among countless fantasy novels, shows, games and movies. And when we play Pathfinder at the table we want our character to be close to what inspired us in the heroes and villains from these familiar pages and scenes, to be able to do things like they did, and that's a major part of what RPGs are about. Yet while there is no shortage of traditional fantasy heroes, who fight with both sword and magic with impunity - from Elric of Melnibone to Geralt the Witcher, to even Jedi Knights, it's hard to make such a character in an RPG. Most standard sets of RPG classes either don't give you the possibility to play such a character, or worse, limitations on character development render these builds ineffective. Fret not, for we have great news! Unveiling our latest stretch goal, let us show you the ideal class for you: the Magus.

There are those who spend their lives poring over ancient tomes and texts, unlocking the power of magic, and there are those who spend their time perfecting the use of individual weapons, becoming masters without equal. The Magus is at once a student of both philosophies, blending magical ability and martial prowess into something entirely unique, a discipline in which both spell and steel are used to devastating effect.

Much like his martially adept colleagues, the Magus makes skillful use of melee weapons in combat. He wears his armor without being hindered in his spellcasting abilities like many other magic-users. The Magus prefers one-handed weapons, because of his signature ability, Spell Combat, that allows him to use his other hand to cast spells while simultaneously attacking an opponent with his weapon of choice.

From the secrets of his magical counterparts, he gets a vast array of arcane spells, which both include classics, like Fireball and Haste, and entirely new spells, like Greater Blade Dash - a spell, that allows the Magus to teleport to a designated point and attack anyone unlucky enough to stand in his path. The Magus also gets an arcane pool - a reservoir of magical energy, that can be spent to imbue his weapon with various enchantments or to restore the spells he has already cast that day.

His battle prowess allows him to dauntlessly cast spells, which other arcane casters fear to use, for these spells would require them to approach dangerous melee combat. The Magus excels particularly at using touch spells, like Shocking Grasp and Force Punch, because his Spell Strike feature allows him to discharge them not by touching an opponent, but by hitting them with his weapon of choice, inflicting upon the target both the effects of the spell and full damage from the attack, all as part of casting his spell.

As he grows in power, the Magus unlocks powerful forms of arcana that allow him to merge his talents further, and at the pinnacle of his art, the Magus becomes a blur of steel and magic, a force that few foes would dare to stand against. Available forms of arcana include, for example, new properties to enchant his blade with, getting a familiar (a magical creature that will serve Magus as a pet), acquiring new spells from the Wizard's spell list and the ability to use a wand as a second weapon in pair with his primary one.

Magus is a complex class with different paths of development to choose from. Players who are unsure whether they want to play a spellcaster or a melee combatant will find his access to both quite convenient. If you enjoy having the possibility to just quickly beat up a bunch of weaker enemies with normal attacks, whilst being able to utilize complex spell combinations in difficult fights, you will find the way of the Magus perfect. And for those of you who want the proverbial Jack of all trades, somebody with deadly skills in both melee and magic may find that the Magus fits this description, and in certain situations beats his specialized counterparts.

* All specific names are used only as a reference to original Pathfinder Roleplaying Game (R) entities and could be subject to change in the Pathfinder: Kingmaker CRPG.

 

Hail to the kings!

Owlcats.

Pathfinder: Kingmaker has a new update on the story and how Owlcat Games will expand on the original modules. Thanks Purpleblob!

Dear Pathfinders,

I've wanted to do a Pathfinder RPG for quite some time. When the opportunity came up, Owlcat explained they wanted to do something surprising - take one of Pathfinder's existing Adventure Paths (an interconnected series of six modules that act as long story) and turn it into a computer RPG.

So my first thought is - what the hell do you need me for?

...but the next thought was - I wonder how you could take a module and make it a compelling experience, especially if players may have already read it/played it. This wasn't anything new to me - it happened all the time in my early gamemastering days. Any time a new published module came out, every gamer would buy it, tear off the shrink wrap, then scour every page so they'd know how to find every secret and magic item.

Then innocently, they might prompt their idiot gamemaster to run the adventure. I know because I was one of those GMs. (And um, one of those players.)

But back to the question. So how do you implement a story that others may have already experienced?

There were a few simple answers - one is, what really makes the adventure? The players around the table. In the computer game, those players are you - and your companions. And all of you can bring stories of your own which can be interwoven into the plot and depending on who you travel with, suddenly the adventure has not one story but several, depending on your choices and which allies you've selected.

Second, when implementing a story many hold dear, be respectful to the franchise and the original content. One of the challenges is that the Kingmaker story is one a lot of Pathfinder fans have experienced and loved, so we want to be respectful of that - there are certain touchstone moments that are key to the experience and we want to preserve the moments that are heart and feel of the original story.

Third, expand the story in new ways. With Pathfinder, this is easy to do because the modules themselves are structured with an open-world feel, so the ability to add events, dungeons, and encounters is easy - the Kingmaker plot wasn't gated in the first place, so the adventure already has room for all these elements.

This is especially true of the characters in the Adventure Path. There are some in the Adventure Path that are described only as an event... and the GM is allowed to integrate them into the game as they see fit. And so have we. Veterans of the pen-and-paper adventure will find existing characters and NPCs in new areas, new ways, and sometimes, even with a new arc.

This also gives us room to introduce new allies, new foes, and a variety of side quests - some of which may grow naturally from the module's original content, and veterans may appreciate it even more because they'll understand the reason for these new elements perhaps quicker than most.

One example is the gnome explorer Jubilost, who players can encounter trying to ford a river early on in the Adventure Path... but in the computer version, you don't just encounter him, he has the potential to become a companion in your party.

Part of the reason for this addition is because Jubilost... despite his sharp tongue... is a great walking encyclopedia for any party, and a great way to introduce both the player and their character to the Stolen Lands, so having him as a companion in that role makes sense, and across the entire game as well.

But the evolution of Jubilost's role is just one example - we've taken many of the characters and expanded their roles and woven them into the plot and events in ways that Adventure Path veterans will understand - and some that will be a surprise. Expect a lot more content both from the Adventure Path itself and off the beaten path as well.

We'll have more to come in later updates, so stay tuned!

Chris Avellone

Narrative Designer, Pathfinder: Kingmaker

Pathfinder: Kingmaker continues to make progress towards its goal and has had a couple of updates. The latest is about character animation and the other about a potential companion.

Pathfinders,  

We have prepared a brand new video for today's update. As you've certainly guessed by our headline, it's all about characters and animation. Our technical director Alexey Drobyshevsky lets you have a first look at the inventory system and how putting on items works. He is also showing off some of our combat animations. Please be aware that the shown footage is still work in progress and we're still ironing out some kinks. With that in mind, we hope you will enjoy our new video and, as always, we can't wait to hear your comments and feedback.

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[...]

Dear Pathfinders,

We continue our story about those who will accompany you on your journey to the Stolen Lands. Many heroes rightfully call themselves Pathfinders - from the mighty Fighters to the cunning Rogues - but nobody is as good at literally finding paths where there seem to be none as the Rangers.

Ekundayo, or Ekun for friends, isn't too talkative. Even after earning his trust, one would need a lot of patience to learn something about his past. An experienced Ranger, a former mercenary, a devout worshipper of the dwarven god Torag... A soul on the verge of despair. When you meet him, he has nothing left to lose and only hopes to live long enough for a bloody revenge. Will you let his hatred consume him - or will you give him a new hope, a new place in life, a new home to fight for?

Ekun's family came from the South, from the hot deserts of Thuvia, but he's never seen the land of his ancestors. His true motherland is Absolom - the great city in the center of the world, where one can meet people of every known nation, every religion, and every creed. After the death of his parents, he went to seek his fortune in the northern continent of Avistan, where he traveled back and forth before ending up in the turbulent Stolen Lands.

In battle, Ekundayo relies on his trusty bow, sending death from afar, but he also can protect himself in close combat, armed with a sword. He has no need for heavy armor but handles shields well. A faithful hound accompanies him, always ready to help.

Ekun is a man of action, not a scheming diplomat. Should you decide to rely on his help in ruling the kingdom, you will benefit from his physical abilities and combat skills. He can do well protecting you and your people - or enforcing your orders, even the unpopular ones.

Pathfinder: Kingmaker had a reddit AMA recently which has been summarized over on the Paizo forums here. There is a lot of new info there so it is worth checking out.

...
Character Creation:
-The Game includes all the races and Classes from the Core Rulebook. It also includes Alchemist and Inquisitor. The Rogue is from Pathfinder Unchained, the Barbarian unchained but can choose between normal and Unchained Rage, the Monk is as yet undecided.
-There are no plans for Occult class characters right now.
-Arcane Trickster is in the game already, other Prestige classes are planned as well. Dragon Disciple seems likely. As does Aldori Swordlord.
-There are already more than 15 spells to choose from for each of the three first spell levels, with more to come. There will be over 300 spells total by the time the game is launched.
-Bardic masterpieces are in.
-There are around 10 Animal Companions in the base game.
-There are around 10 Familiars in the base game. No word either way on Red Pandas. I remain hopeful. Avellone is petitioning Owlcat to allow Owlcat familiars.
-There will be more than 300 feats.
-There will be NO Grippli, not even as a stretch goal, due to licensing issues since Grippli are WotC IP. While the information was delivered tongue in cheek, there will be no Deep One Hybrids either.
-Since there is no mounted combat, Cavaliers seem vanishingly unlikely. Similarly, Paladin Mount bonds.
-There are pregenerated builds and recommendations for all the choices and options.
-The current plan for Character Creation is point buy. The Devs have stated that they may also consider rolling characters as an optional alternative.
-Stats will be point buy by default, with an option for rolled stats due to backer demand.
-Magus is the second Stretch Goal.
-You can become a fallen Paladin.
-They want to add Aldori Swordlords.
-Multiclassing is in the game.
-Item creation feats, crafting, and Profession skills are not in the game. There will be talking skills (e.g. diplomacy, intimidate, bluff, etc), knowledge skills (e.g. Geography, History, local, nobility, etc), and movement skills (e.g. climb, swim, acrobatics, etc). The actual Skills have not been confirmed yet beyond Perception. At least one video shows a "Thievery" skill.
-You will be able to select portrait for your character, these will all be Paizo approved. the ability to use custom portraits is still in discussion.
-You will be able to select face, hair style, skin tone, hair color (and gnomes will definitely have crazy colors available for them). Owlcat is also trying to add different body types, is am not promising it right now.
-You can select a deity your character will worship. Divine classes will have to select specific deity. Paladin codes will be referenced to, but not strictly mechanically upheld.
-Because there is no mounted combat, Paladins have different versions of divine bonds, most common of them being a weapon bond.
-There will be favored class bonuses, including racial options, but probably not all of them.
-Character creation design is not finalized, but Owlcat plans to include character background in some form in it.

Multiplayer and Modding:
-Base game is Single Player only.
-While DM Tools and Multiplayer were floated as possible stretch goals early on, the Devs want to focus on making a good Single Player game first and foremost and so they don't want to promise that they will be available.
-Modding is a seperate issue that they are not focused on at this time.
-There are no plans for a DM client option. This si something to examine for Future Games.

Regarding Companions:
-There are either 10 or 11 Companions in the Base Game.
-Companion characters are a mix of New characters, iconic Pathfinder characters, and characters already existing in the AP.
-Amiri, the Iconic Barbarian, is a companion with a lot of backstory and events happening around her throughout the game. Amiri is the only Iconic Companion.
-Jubilost Narthropple is a companion. He a cantankerous gnome, is kind of a jerk, and you can fail to recruit him if you screw up your attempt to help him out with his wagon. He's also a character from the original AP.
-Valerie is a blonde haired Human Woman from Brevoy. She is also a Fighter who Worships Gorum, and a failed Paladin of Shelyn.
-A halfling that looks suspiciously like Lem is a companion.
-A bard is a companion. He decides to join you because he wants to record your story. This companion has not been seen yet and may or may not be the halfling.
-Octavia is a female Half-Elf wizard/rogue/arcane trickster.
-There is a Blonde male who looks like an Elven inquisitor of Sarenrae.
-There is a Half-Orc who definitely looks like a Magus (or maybe he's the bard)?
- There is what looks like either a Taldan or Ulfen Human male Fighter.
-There is an either Garundi or Mwangi man in light armor. He is probably from Thuvia.
-There is a Goblin Companion. This Goblin is sadly, not an Alchemist.
-Harrim is a Dwarven Cleric of Groetus. He has a Mohawk looking hairdo.
-Finally, there is what I believe looks like a Tian Woman, but others tell me looks like Jiselle the iconic Swashbuckler. Further Videos and investigation of teh Blogger kit realeased in teh music update show that she is a Player Fighter Character.
-There will be companion Romance, but it isn't the only relationship option. This Includes LGBTQ+ romance options. This kicks in as quickly as Module 1.
-Companions can disagree with you, leave you, and even turn on you if they don't like you. They do NOT need to be in your party for this to happen. Companions are living people and don't stop existing just because you leave them home.
-The story can change considerably depending on your party composition.
-Each companion has an expandable novel style bio that expands as you learn more about them and progress in the game.
-You can take 5 Companions with you in a party at one time.
-You can level up your companions based on your own preferences, even changing their classes if you wish, there is however a suggested path, and you can have them auto-level if you wish instead.
-You will also be able to choose from several AI behaviours for your party members, allowing them to use spells and abilities or spend resources on their own.
-Each companion will have one or several levels in a predetermined class when you meet them. You can level them any way you wish from there on out, but their "starting class" is preset.
-Chris Avellone really wants to write Amiri and Jubilost. But negotiations as to who gets to do what are still ongoing.
-Companions definitely have an opinion, will act on that opinion, and will act strongly on that opinion (leaving the party is only one possible ending for companions you butt heads with). Mentions have been made of Companions turning on you as well.
-There are some companions that simply are impossible to influence with your charms, only your actions.
-Some of the companions come from as far as Absalom and even Thuvia and you will be able to talk to them about those lands.
-Companions' stories carry through (heroic and tragic, though both are not set in stone for each character) throughout the game to the very end.
-Companions have their own choices of deities. (Presumably these are preselected for them).

[...]

In update number 5 of the Pathfinder: Kingmaker campaign it is explained in what way tabletop gaming inspires their game development.

You all have your favourite memorable events in the Kingmaker Adventure Path and many of you wanted to know, if and how they will make it into the computer game and how they will play out. So in today's update, let us tell you about our approach to transitioning events from tabletop to the computer game experience. Every member of our team is playing the Kingmaker campaign on the table to have a first-hand experience of the campaign, its story, NPCs, and events. We are split into several parties, who get together regularly to share their exploits. Each party is excited to share their stories and make sure that their experience will be translated into the game somehow. Let's take Candlemere tower as an example – all our GMs approached this event differently, each of them imagining old gods and faith in their own way. One party experienced it as an underground complex filled with strange devices and substances, while another had a more horror-like experience and tried to deal with a swarm of will-o'-wisps that came to feed on their fears. We discussed those experiences and decided to make Candlemere a more prominent location with ties to the… let’s call it the 'important quest' (to avoid spoilers).

Or take the encounter with a Hill Giant, who is not an ordinary aggressive monster, but a sad creature, who is searching for his mate and suffering from a severe hangover. Players in one of our groups decided they wanted to console him and even hire him to be the kingdom strongman. They brewed a barrel of strong drink just for him! Alas, due to some tragic events, they ultimately found the poor giant dead.

In Pathfinder: Kingmaker Kickstarter update #4 we get to know Valerie:

Companions: Introducing Valerie, the Brevic Fighter

Dear Pathfinders,  

The Stolen Lands are a dangerous place! Fortunately, you will meet other brave adventurers on your quest, who will fight by your side or who may ultimately choose to betray you, depending on your actions. They all have their own story, their own goals and motivations, their own reasons to join you. They are your companions, who will help you build and rule your kingdom. Some of these companions are familiar faces from the Adventure Path. Some may even be popular Pathfinder iconics. Others are completely new. We are going to introduce them to you in a series of updates. Our first companion update is dedicated to Valerie.

Due to her flawless, almost supernatural beauty, Valerie has been at the center of everyone's attention, even when she was still a child. Born into a noble Brevic family, the young girl soon became a shining star of high society. She quickly had to learn to resist the unwanted advances of her admirers, using cold arrogance and impeccable, distant manners as an impenetrable shield. Her father had chosen a great destiny for Valerie: she was supposed to become a paladin of Shelyn. However, the teachings of obedience and humbleness before the goddess of beauty and love appeared to be something that young Valerie wasn't too susceptible to - unlike the lessons of martial arts, which she mastered almost to perfection. The life of Valerie had changed dramatically when an act of blasphemy made her future path as Shelyn's paladin impossible. Having rejected the grace of the goddess, she left high society to take her fate into her own hands.

Today Valerie is not some nobleman's pampered daughter. Instead, she has become a seasoned mercenary, who has lived through dozens of battles under the banners of Swordlords. Having her gorgeous hair cut off and her silk dresses replaced by steel armor, she has broken with her past without hesitation. But is the past ready to stay behind the proud and confident mercenary? Even the kindest of gods don't take well to blasphemy, and the revenge of Shelyn may not only be harsh, but also incredibly poetic.

For those who appreciate her military talents, Valerie will become a reliable defender in every possible challenge. In battle, she uses a bastard sword and a tower shield. Valerie prefers full plate armor and defensive tactics: she waits patiently until the enemy reveals an opening, and only then she strikes with all her might.

Valerie is a natural-born leader, who can inspire and rally people. If she gets an important role in the Kingdom governance, she can show her talents not only in state defense but also in the field of diplomacy. Although she once has rejected the path of a lady in high society, Valerie still knows how to behave in aristocratic circles and how to save face in conflict situations. Though she may prefer the way of the blade, if necessary, Valerie can actively participate in diplomatic maneuvers as well as in straightforward battles.

[...]

An update for Pathfinder: Kingmaker has been made available about the character building and difficulty gameplay mechanics.

Difficulty settings will include a story mode, for those who are less interested in combat and want to focus more on the plot and dialogue. In story mode only thematic abilities of enemies will be noticeable, trolls will still regenerate and spiders will still be venomous, but overall combat will be far easier, and enemy abilities will be easier to deal with. Damage and enemy defenses will be greatly reduced in story mode, and some complex mechanical systems, such as attacks of opportunity, will be switched off for enemies. There will also be a core rules difficulty, which will adhere to tabletop Pathfinder as closely as possible - with attacks of opportunity on your archer that shoots in melee, friendly fire from area of effect spells and occasional deadly critical hits on your party. There will be adapted rules – a simplified version of core rules, fit for fans of CRPGs more than core, where drinking a potion will not provoke an attack of opportunity from an opponent and critical hits of your enemies are not as deadly, reducing the randomness of fights. There will also be several different harder difficulties, where enemies will have their stats (and, consequently DCs for saves, AC, attacks and such) and health incresed by different amounts, for those of you who seek a greater challenge. Other difficulty settings include an easy mode, set between story and adapted rules. On top of that, many combat-related settings will be customizable. Don't like attacks of opportunity? No problem, just switch them off in the options. Most difficulty settings can also be changed in the middle of a fight.

Pathfinder: Kingmaker has launched on Kickstarter and has made a good start with 93K of its 500K goal already reached and 35 days to go.

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The Story

In the north lies the Stolen Lands, a region that has been contested territory for centuries. Hundreds of kingdoms have risen and fallen in these lands, and now it is time for you to make your mark-by building your own kingdom! To do so, you'll need to survive the harsh wilderness and the threat of rival nations... as well as threats within your own court.

Pathfinder: Kingmaker is based on Paizo's award-winning Pathfinder Adventure Path of the same name. You certainly don't need to be familiar with the story, but if you are, you will encounter characters you know and love. Either way, you will experience a host of brand-new events, companions, allies, and threats that expand and enhance the original Adventure Path. With help from Paizo and their authors, the story and quests have been expanded by RPG writer Chris Avellone and the Owlcat team, allowing for even more adventure in the already rich narrative of the Stolen Lands.

While Pathfinder: Kingmaker is a single-player game, you won't be adventuring alone. Pathfinder: Kingmaker features a diverse cast of companions and NPCs, including iconic characters from the Pathfinder setting itself. You'll need to decide who to trust and who to watch carefully, as each companion has an agenda, alignment, and goals that may differ from yours. Your journey will become their journey, and you'll help shape their lives both in the moment and well into the future.

Your Kingdom

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?

Facebook has an interview with Chris Avellone about Pathfinder: Kingmaker.

We have gathered the community's most burning questions for Chris about his involvement with Pathfinder: Kingmaker and his thoughts about the Pathfinder universe. Enjoy!
What draws you to the Pathfinder universe?
A few things. The adventure path format (it feels very open-world - go out, explore, find cool things and encounters, and they embrace this in their design), the setting, and the art style, including the iconic characters... I like their character designs very much, and I think Pathfinder is one system that has done a great job in capturing the look and feel of their archetypes and classes.
Which character do you play in tabletop Pathfinder?
In the card game, I usually go with Seoni, Lini, or Lim. In the last Pathfinder game (and this is why I love the system so much), I played a gnome wizard (mostly illusions) con artist who "headed" a band of Ocean's 11-style thieves (the other players) to pull off heists. I use the term "headed" loosely. We usually got into more trouble than we succeeded, but we had a blast.
Can you tell us about your favourite iconic character?
Even though I usually play other iconic characters, I like Ezren's backstory the most because it felt unconventional for a wizard, and I liked his persistence and his willingness to shift the course of his life to follow what he believed in.

Why did you choose Kingmaker as the setting for the CRPG? Why the River Kingdoms?
It was the decision made before I came on the project (work had already begun using Kingmaker, and the companions were fleshed out as well - usually biographies and arcs). That said, I don't have any issues with the setting or the adventure path at all, I think it was a good choice (further confirmed by fan feedback).
I like the Kingmaker adventure path, it makes for an interesting computer role-playing game, the Stolen Lands are a perfect place for building a kingdom from scratch, and even better, the adventure path format gives Owlcat and I "breathing room" to add more narrative and quests without disrupting the classic adventure path itself (for players that know it and love the adventure path, they'll find plenty of the same characters, areas, and situations, but often with an added element we've been able to bring to it on the developer side).
The Kingmaker Adventure Path has its own story. How faithful will the plot of the CRPG be to the AP? Should we prepare for any surprise twists?
Players familiar with the adventure path will be pleased at seeing many of the characters and setting from the pen-and-paper version of Kingmaker, and while there are some changes, I think players will be pleasantly surprised by how these changes complement the existing material - especially the companion interactions and the ways companions interact with some of the elements of the Kingmaker plot.
Pathfinder: Kingmaker rewards exploration
Outside of the main plotline, will there be plenty of side quests?
Yes - it's one of the pillars of Pathfinder to reward exploration, and side quests are a large part of that.
Are we going to encounter iconic characters? Maybe even as companions for our party?
Yes, one of the Pathfinder iconic characters, Amiri, can join your party in Pathfinder. She has some of the best lines in the game so far, and it's no surprise - she's fun to write for.
Everybody needs a little love, right? Can we have relationships with our companions?
Yes, but not just romance (just romance is limiting). The companions are with you for a reason, and that reason may change based on your actions - for good or for ill, and they'll pay attention to your behavior and act accordingly.
Your companions will react to your actions
Being the hero may be fun, but we all know the dark side has cookies. Will there be possibilities to be really, despicably evil?
Yes. And cruel. And cunning. I generally find "smart" evil (ex: talking two enemies into killing each other) to be more fun than demanding more money as a quest reward or being a mass-murderer.
Will our decisions and actions have an impact on the world? Does the story offer replay value, offer different outcomes and endings depending on how we play?
Yes, it's one of the hallmarks of an RPG, and Kingmaker is no different. We'd like players to play it more than once and get a different experience each time. The companion arcs alone have several options that are shaped throughout the game, and that means the story can change considerably depending on your party composition.
How much creative freedom will we get with quests? Will most of our problems be solved with the sword or will there be alternate, more unorthodox solutions like in tabletop?
Speech and diplomacy (especially in your role in ruling your kingdom) are part of your arsenal, both in the court and on the battlefield. Of course, swordplay is still an option, but you may find other ways to achieve your goals with much different results.
Will companions react to our choices? Let's say one of our companions is really good, but we keep making evil decisions. Would that companion eventually leave or even betray us?
Yes, alignment clashes (and acting against the principles a companion upholds) would cause them to lose faith in you, leave, or even turn on you. They aren't simply walking backpacks and stats, they have their own personalities and things they hold dear.
This interview was made for owlcatgames.com

GeekDad did a write up of his experiences at PaizoCon 2017 which includes his impressions of Pathfinder: Kingmaker and some screenshots. GeekDad also captured a video snippet of the game.

Pathfinder: Kingmaker: We were treated to a bunch of the concept art for the computer based RPG of Pathfinder: Kingmaker. Lisa Stevens, Paizo CEO said that the game was probably a year out and currently had a couple of hours of content. I had the opportunity to demo the game during the day and it is much farther along than I expected. It was completely playable, and the developer said they had about four hours of mostly finished content, and more in various stages of development. They are planning to release with all the content and options from the Core Rulebook, and are expecting to do a Kickstarter, possibly in June, to add more classes, companions, and features. What I saw showed a game fun to play and pretty true to Pathfinder. The character sheet showed feats, and leveling choices that match what you make in the paper based version of the game. The developer said that while some feats had to be modified to fit a real-time-with-pause style video game, feats and options were included to allow you to create your characters as you'd expect from Pathfinder. What I saw left me more excited for this long awaited way to enjoy Pathfinder.

With that, back to it... there's plenty more gaming to be had! Be sure to follow GeekDad for my post-con write-up.

[...]

#Pathfinder: Kingmaker @paizo! pic.twitter.com/csoDpBUHbI

— DivingRhino (@DivingRhino) May 27, 2017

Pathfinder: Kingmaker has been revealed as the mystery game being developed by Owlcat Games with narrative design by Chris Avellone.

Explore, Conquer, Rule!

Journey to the Stolen Lands

Welcome to the Stolen Lands, contested territory for centuries. Defend yourself against the threats of wilderness and rival kingdoms as you explore a world rich with history, magic, and conflict.

Companion Focused Story

Experience the adventure alongside living and breathing companions, each with deep stories and decisions of their own. Love them, adore them or hate them for who they are.

Character development

Customize your character and companions with a multitude of options available in Pathfinder to make the perfect party capable of overcoming insurmountable challenges.

Kingdom

Establish your kingdom in Stolen Lands, claim new territories, and build towns and cities. Be a wise ruler or a heavy-handed tyrant.

[...]