Pathfinder: Kingmaker

[Edward64]

I am getting excited about this game but will probably wait until I read more reviews. Out on Sep 25.

https://www.trustedreviews.com/revie...gmaker-preview

At first that plays out exactly like you’d expect, a standard, not particularly imaginative isometric RPG with real time pause combat and an eccentric group of characters, including a splendidly oily, scheming little gnome who serves as an antagonist. Act One sends you on an epic quest to kill a bandit king in a place called the Stolen Lands. Then things start changing, as with the king dead you decide to set up shop in his lands and found your own kingdom.

Suddenly the game reveals a second layer, one closer to a strategy game than an RPG. There’s even a straight up city builder interface here, where you can plonk down taverns and blacksmiths in various towns around the kingdom. These towns will come to reflect your character and their moral choices, an evil kingdom might be stocked with bandits who raid their neighbours, while a lawful good one (yes we’re working with the old school D&D alignment system here) might be policed by shining paladins.

It isn’t just building though, as the kingdom will produce dynamic events that can be solved by assigning your advisors or companions, much like Dragon Age Inquisition’s War Table. One incident involved a group of villagers attempting to stone a young girl accused of Witchcraft. At first I assigned ruthless noble Landon to deal with it, as he had the highest stats. The result, he let them burn the girl and then fabricated evidence that she was guilty.

[SirFozzie]

I backed it, so I'm looking forward to it.

[SlyBelle1]

Just pre-ordered this one myself....Fanatical has a discount right now so thought, what the heck. Hope it turns out good.

Fanatical

[Edward64]

Never heard of Fanatical before. You've used it before and it's all good with Steam?

[SlyBelle1]

Originally Posted by Edward64

Never heard of Fanatical before. You've used it before and it's all good with Steam?

Yep, tons of times and it works just fine with Steam. It used to be one of those bundle sites and they changed their name. Don't believe it is considered one of those "grey key" sites, sort of like greenmangaming.

[Atocep]

Fanatical is legit. Used to be bundle stars and they're basically GMG's direct competition.

[Edward64]

Well crap. Went to buy and it said sold out. My fault.

[Marc Vaughan]

Should be available on Steam normally in a couple of days - I got it through KickStarter and am looking forward to playing it once my game is out

[SirFozzie]

I believe it's out, I saw it unpacking before I had to leave to visit family..

[Thomkal]

Watching a Let's play right now-let's just say character creation is a bit detailed:


Let's Play Pathfinder: Kingmaker (Hard Difficulty) With CohhCarnage - Episode 1 - YouTube

[BYU 14]

This game is so good! The amount of detail and the way it weaves different elements of play together (CRPG, Storybook sequences, moral choices) is really well done.

Only about 3.5 hours in, but really enjoying it so far. It reminds me of Baldurs Gate 2 on steroids.

[SirFozzie]

Just a heads up, there's a fairly early portion of the game that has enemies that are "immune" to normal weapons, you need spells or AOE to defeat them (spider swarms)

[Marc Vaughan]

The game is 'ok' - if it was turn based I'd love it, but it feels totally out of control in combat to me I'm never 'sure' if my characters are doing what I ask as there seems to be no way to tell until they undertake an action and its incredibly easy to accidentally clump them into doing something as a group or undo an action you'd selected for one of them (is there a way to view orders, can you queue orders etc?).

Basically love the story and its professionally done and presented - I just hate real-time games.

PS - The alignment choices are very interesting and seem well done

[BYU 14]

Originally Posted by Marc Vaughan

The game is 'ok' - if it was turn based I'd love it, but it feels totally out of control in combat to me I'm never 'sure' if my characters are doing what I ask as there seems to be no way to tell until they undertake an action and its incredibly easy to accidentally clump them into doing something as a group or undo an action you'd selected for one of them (is there a way to view orders, can you queue orders etc?).

Basically love the story and its professionally done and presented - I just hate real-time games.

PS - The alignment choices are very interesting and seem well done

You can't queue orders but what I did was set combat to pause at the end of each round, which is as close to turn based as I can get it. I also turn the timers on in the options so you can see when each character completes their actions.

Also remember that some of the actions are single or limited use until you rest, and those actions have a 1 or # for how many ties you can use the ability in the toolbar. You may have already picked that up, but it threw me off initially.

[Marc Vaughan]

Originally Posted by BYU 14

You can't queue orders but what I did was set combat to pause at the end of each round, which is as close to turn based as I can get it. I also turn the timers on in the options so you can see when each character completes their actions.

Also remember that some of the actions are single or limited use until you rest, and those actions have a 1 or # for how many ties you can use the ability in the toolbar. You may have already picked that up, but it threw me off initially.

I'll try and figure out how that is done - I'm at the part where you defend a trading post and its driving me nuts because my team seem totally uncontrollable ... not least because its impossible to 'decide' a position for them to recieve the attack from they just reset' to open ground far from where their opponents appear so they're easy targets (especially so as I have no mages in my group).

[BYU 14]

Originally Posted by Marc Vaughan

I'll try and figure out how that is done - I'm at the part where you defend a trading post and its driving me nuts because my team seem totally uncontrollable ... not least because its impossible to 'decide' a position for them to recieve the attack from they just reset' to open ground far from where their opponents appear so they're easy targets (especially so as I have no mages in my group).

Spoiler

You will not win that fight just setting up to defend, you have to go through the dialog options until you see an option to set up a fire trap by the gate. Send someone to get the named archer right away too

Setting that end of round pause in the main options make things much more manageable and I have only died twice at about 6 hours in so far, normal difficulty. It takes some tweaking but I am comfortable with it now and like you a much bigger fan of straight turn based, but still having a blast.

[Marc Vaughan]

[quote=BYU 14;3218499]

Spoiler

You will not win that fight just setting up to defend, you have to go through the dialog options until you see an option to set up a fire trap by the gate. Send someone to get the named archer right away too

Spoiler

Did that already - it doesn't seem to do a heck of a lot tbh ... and the party seem to spend a lot of their time watching themselves turn into pin cushions for no particular reason because of the controls - why it doesn't allow me to set them to be positioned I have no idea and I'm still confused about most of the tactical options and how to things simply because there appears little confirmation that something will happen apart from unpausing and hoping they do what you intended ... when they don't if they're still alive you try again, this is frequently hit or miss with healing potions for instance where I click it and the person stands there looking silly ...

It's got great potential and there are some lovely touches - just for me a game built around turn based combat should have a proper turn based option.

[Edward64]

How is the city building mechanics?

[BishopMVP]

If you've played Pillars of Eternity would you compare the combat system to that? (Real time, but with frequent pausing helpful)?

[BYU 14]

Originally Posted by Edward64

How is the city building mechanics?

Haven't got to that point yet, hoping not too much micromanagement is needed when it happens.

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

If you've played Pillars of Eternity would you compare the combat system to that? (Real time, but with frequent pausing helpful)?

Similar, and definitely frequent pausing. I know it is basically the same system, but the "feel" of combat feels closer to Baldur's gate 2 than it does POE if that makes sense. POE combat sometimes happens too fast, and being able to set combat to pause at the end of every round (when all players/enemies have used their action) makes it a little easier to manage for me than POE was, even though the pause options are similar.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by BYU 14

Similar, and definitely frequent pausing. I know it is basically the same system, but the "feel" of combat feels closer to Baldur's gate 2 than it does POE if that makes sense. POE combat sometimes happens too fast, and being able to set combat to pause at the end of every round (when all players/enemies have used their action) makes it a little easier to manage for me than POE was, even though the pause options are similar.

Cool. Right now I think I can hold off until a sale, but it's definitely on my list.

[Edward64]

Just checked Fanatical just now, the $31.79 sale is back.

Anyone regret making the purchase so far?

[BYU 14]

Originally Posted by Edward64

Just checked Fanatical just now, the $31.79 sale is back.

Anyone regret making the purchase so far?

Not one bit, up there with DOS-2 for me in terms of fun factor (DOS-2 is a better game but I will probably put more hours into Kingmaker)

[Edward64]

Alright, so I bought it even though I won't have a lot of time to play with it over the next 2 weeks.

[Thomkal]

Patch out

[Edward64]

Yeah, I saw that. Haven't gotten into it yet, will do so some this weekend.

Anyone gotten to the city building mechanics yet? and if so, how is it?

[GrantDawg]

I hate you all.

[SirFozzie]

There are a couple sections where I almost guarantee you'll be looking up the solution to puzzles, one of them very early in game

Spoiler

The Statues puzzle

And another one in Act 2

Spoiler

The Fey planes, turns out to be two different areas depending on if you wore a special lantern or not when you walk into mist

The 2nd one especially, I was like "How the bloody blue blazes did they expect me to figure that out??

[Atocep]

I picked this up on launch day and I'm 15 hours into it. My thoughts so far:

*This game does not hold your hand and some encounters are really fucking difficult. You have to be smart in your character builds and a little knowledgeable in D20 systems or some things will feel impossible. It feels like Baldur's Gate or other CRPGs.

*The first 10 hours were honestly kind of boring IMO. It feels like you're playing a table top D&D campaign at times, but it's slow and felt a bit tedious for long stretches.

*The last 5 hours I've played have been outstanding. Once the game opens up and allows you to start managing your barony it takes off. If I were scoring the first 10 hours would be something like a 6/10 and the last 5 would be 8.5/10 or so.

*There are some bugs. I've run into a couple so far. None particularly game breaking or anything.

[NobodyHere]

So is anyone in?

Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous Kickstarter

[bhlloy]

Yup, paid up for the tier that gets me access to the beta. Going back through an playing the original again right now as well, they really cleaned things up in the enhanced edition and although I’m getting to the point where it’s a grind, it’s been a lot more fun than the first time through. Definitely a top 10 game of the last 5 years for me.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

Yup, paid up for the tier that gets me access to the beta. Going back through an playing the original again right now as well, they really cleaned things up in the enhanced edition and although I’m getting to the point where it’s a grind, it’s been a lot more fun than the first time through. Definitely a top 10 game of the last 5 years for me.

Funny, I just installed it today. I put about 80 hours into it at release, but wanted to check out the enhanced edition and DLCs.

[Coffee Warlord]

I need to give this another shot. I got restart-itis from it originally, didn't get allll that far into it.

[Thomkal]

I finally got this game through the Humble Choice subscriber package. Loving it so far, I haven't read through this thread yet, what beginner tips do you have for me?

[bhlloy]

Assuming you aren't a hardcore D&D player that really knows their stuff, I would really recommend reading up on character builds before getting too deep into things. First time through I'd read about building the main character but had just progressed the party characters as originally built and/or what seemed to make sense in character - it's a completely different (and IMO more enjoyable) game if you are also optimizing that side of it as well.

[Coffee Warlord]

Bah. Solo all the way.

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by Thomkal

I finally got this game through the Humble Choice subscriber package. Loving it so far, I haven't read through this thread yet, what beginner tips do you have for me?

Well now I'm in trouble. I won a bunch of games yesterday through a Facebook contest (thanks eagleFan!) and just now found out I won Pillar of Eternity II in a contest I had forgotten I had entered. What do I do now?

[JPhillips]

Give it away, give it away, give it away, now.

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Give it away, give it away, give it away, now.

Heh, you'll have to pry it out of my cold dead digital hands

[Marc Vaughan]

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

So is anyone in?

Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous Kickstarter

Still not turn based as far as I can tell - I hated the first version because it was RTS based ... and as such totally non-strategic for someone who is klutz-fingered like myself.

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by Marc Vaughan

Still not turn based as far as I can tell - I hated the first version because it was RTS based ... and as such totally non-strategic for someone who is klutz-fingered like myself.

Actually Marc they have just announced this week that the game will have a turn-based option.

[Coffee Warlord]

Biggest thing that annoys me is the complete lack of party AI. Having to micro 6 characters in combat, especially if you dare to add spellcasting, it just miserable.

[Thomkal]

Just a reminder that the turn-based version of Kingmaker is due out tomorrow, as well as the Console Edition of the game. Apparently the Console Edition is very buggy, so you might want to wait for patches before getting any serious runs going.

I have seen a couple lets plays of turn-based combat for the game now and it does seem more natural and intuitive. Looking forward to giving it a try tomorrow. I /think/ you should be able to switch on and off from turn-based in any saved or new save going forward.

[BYU 14]

Originally Posted by Thomkal

Just a reminder that the turn-based version of Kingmaker is due out tomorrow, as well as the Console Edition of the game. Apparently the Console Edition is very buggy, so you might want to wait for patches before getting any serious runs going.

I have seen a couple lets plays of turn-based combat for the game now and it does seem more natural and intuitive. Looking forward to giving it a try tomorrow. I /think/ you should be able to switch on and off from turn-based in any saved or new save going forward.

I have played a beta version of the turn based on PC and at first it was horrible, much better now, but seems to just be missing "something" that I can't put my finger on. But. it is more than functional at this point and I am enjoying it overall.

[Thomkal]

The update should be live on Steam now. It was about 20 GB for me so plan accordingly

[Thomkal]

The followup to Kingmaker, Wrath of the Righteous, is now available for preorder on GoG.com and I'm guessing everywhere for $50. Comes out on Sept 2.

[Edward64]

I never really got into the game (de-installed in my Steam library).

Been in a gaming funk lately. Haven't touched FO76 or Stellaris for a while. I half heartedly start Civ6 and play the first third (which I find the most fun) before quitting.

Waiting for damn Sid Meier and Bethesda to come up with new games.

[GrantDawg]

I enjoyed the adventure parts of Kingmaker, but I hated the Kingdom system. I doubt I will picking this one up first day because the Crusade system sounds a good bit like the Kingdom system in the original. I have Solasta to hold me over until Baldur's Gate 3 goes gold.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

I enjoyed the adventure parts of Kingmaker, but I hated the Kingdom system. I doubt I will picking this one up first day because the Crusade system sounds a good bit like the Kingdom system in the original. I have Solasta to hold me over until Baldur's Gate 3 goes gold.

Solasta is great. I’ve really been enjoying it. About to start the “final chapter”.

[SirFozzie]

They've updated the Kingdom system and the Crusade system to be autodone if that's not your thing.