Off-site Screenshot test poster

Dmitry V. Silantyev - Wrath Of The Righteous Main Theme

Hello and welcome to Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous. Normally I'd show you the main menu here, but it has a shot of your most recent saved game right in the middle left of the screen, and that's kind of a spoilery location. So instead, have the first thing you see when you hit New Game!

I don't own either of the DLC packs, nor am I especially inclined to grab them. Inevitable Excess is a super endgame DLC that happens concurrent with the Point of No Return approximately 120 hours in. Through the Ashes is something closer to survival horror in an isometric CRPG, and it happens during the events of Act 1. The friend who bought the game for me assures me they're both good, but I'm happy enough with just the super long base campaign.

If you can't read the text because it's too tiny, never fear! I found the localization file buried in the game's files, so I have a complete text dump of every word in this incredibly wordy game. The text says...

"Join the struggle against the Worldwound, the epic war between Golarion and the Abyss that has raged for more than a hundred years. Up to now, the crusader armies have barely managed to curb the overwhelming enemy forces, but not for much longer - the demon lords are preparing to strike a decisive blow. You will have to harness mythic powers, take command of the Fifth Crusade, and lead it against the demonic hordes."

That sounds like a pretty severe destiny, so let's not leave it waiting any longer than we have to!

The next page lets us set up the difficulty. I said it in the OP, but this is not going to be a skillful run of the game where I show off Brutal Unfair and how you have to game the system to make it work. Before March of this year, I had never played a Pathfinder game in my life. I barely knew how to make a character. And while I've somewhat mitigated that, I'm still not the gal to show all that off. Instead, this is going to be mechanics lite, and will instead focus on the game's story, which is pretty good.

So to that end, I'm making the game easier in some respects...

Enemy crits are on, but are weak
Being lowered to 0 HP just KOs a character instead of killing them outright, and dead characters revive after combat ends
Resting removes most negative effects
Most (but not all, fucking Cultist Conjurers) CC effects will end when combat does
Auto level up is off (I know it says Companions, but I will fix that)
Enemies are "moderately weaker" (I don't know what that means specifically, but it's the debuff enemies get on the Normal Difficulty)
Enemy damage to the party is cut in half
To compensate for this, I have enabled the mode that adds more of them to fight
Travel speed is not affected by carry weight. (In fact, I'm disabling carry weight entirely, but that will have to wait until we get in game and I can access the Toybox)
Weather effects on the party are minimal
Respecs are allowed!
Crusade difficulty is as low as I can put it (Crusades are a shitty HOMM clone)
Crusade automatic mode is off because I actually want a good ending
All companions receive experience instead of only ones in the active party
Experience from skill checks is given to the whole party
I can have multiple save files.
I can actually see the HUD

The next page has us selecting from a list of characters or making our own. I'll just go ahead and make a custom character. After conferring with Yapping Eevee, who I was talking to at the time, we've decided I'm gonna show off the first couple updates with...

Lisbeth, the Half-Elf Ninja. She's really good at stabbing things. I know this looks like a lot, but the important takeaways are below. If you don't care, just skip to the next picture.

STR: 8 (-1 bonus) (How hard you hit)
DEX: 19 (+4 bonus) (How often you hit)
CON: 12 (+1 bonus) (How healthy you are)
INT: 12 (+1 bonus) (Book learning)
WIS: 14 (+2 bonus) (Common sense)
CHA: 14 (+2 bonus) (Force of personality)

Going by the ability scores page on PFSRD, we can infer the following things about Lisbeth:

She is not especially strong, and has trouble moving heavy objects.
She is light on her feet and can hit small objects from a distance.
She can take a couple hits before being knocked out.
She is quick to pick up new ideas.
If a situation is wrong somehow, she will get a gut feeling about it.
She is an interesting person who always knows what to say.

From a mechanical standpoint, her stats are fairly well balanced. Low strength doesn't really matter for rogues (or ninjas) because a feat she gets by default lets her put her DEX bonus to damage rolls, instead of STR. Constitution is needed for health. You should almost never make CON your dump stat unless you know what you're doing. Intelligence doesn't really matter for non-casters outside of getting skill points to distribute. A score of 12 lets us distribute 4 or 5 each level, which is more than enough. Wisdom governs saving throws and perception, and we're gonna need a fair few of both of those across the game. Finally, as the main character, we'll be doing a lot of chattering. So CHA is important in that regard.

TeeQueue" post="524632688 posted:
Also a side note: while this is true eventually, rogues don’t get to add DEX to damage rolls until level 3. At level 1 it only replaces their STR on attack rolls—our ninja buddy will be a bit lacking on melee damage until they grow a bit.

Moving on to her skills...

Athletics: -1 (Pure strength, climbing, swimming, etc.)
Mobility: +8 (Acrobatics and movement)
Trickery: +11 (Lock picking, subterfuge)
Stealth: +12 (Remaining unseen)
Knowledge (Arcana): +1 (Knowledge about magical things. This is used to identify items.)
Knowledge (World): +1 (Knowledge about the world)
Lore (Nature): +2 (Information about the natural world)
Lore (Religion): +2 (Information about religion)
Perception: +8 (Seeing the hidden, also used in conversations to see if someone is lying)
Persuasion: +8 (Convincing other people to come around to your way of thinking)
Use Magic Device: +6 (Use wands, read scrolls)

As the main character, Persuasion is probably most important because there are some conversations you have without other party members present. Being able to use persuasion in those is handy. Otherwise, she's really good at ninja things, and okay at being perceptive. I tagged UMD because it was a skill she had access to and I had a spare skill point that needed to be spent. Seriously. Lisbeth's race bonus, background, and level 1 feat all give bonuses to stealth, because it's kind of important all throughout the game.

Finally, Lisbeth is a Chaotic Neutral atheist. I know CN is the meme alignment with good reason, but I'm choosing to interpret her look on life as "I'm here for a good time, not a long time." Owlcat, the developers, have written the game with the view that Chaotic alignments are all about freedom, which works well enough for me. If I'm gonna be honest, she's probably gonna drift Chaotic Good during the course of the game, which is also fine with me. She's not a dick, she's just looking to be entertained. (Also while there are a lot of evil prompts in the game, most of them are generic *kicks puppies* dumbassery. That makes it difficult to maintain neutrality when the good prompts are all being nice. To maintain neutrality, you'd have to be the embodiment of

)

Also atheism, in a world where the gods are Very Real, is less "the gods aren't real" and more "the gods don't care." There are a lot of smug atheist prompts in the game.

Putting this here so the people that skipped all my words about my Chaotic Neutral Elf Rogue can join the rest of you who I'm sure are already composing a list of corrections. (Please do, actually. I don't mind being corrected if it's in a nice fashion! And that sort of stuff usually spurs friendly discussion.)

The game opens up on a festival!

That's us being carried around on the stretcher. Not the most auspicious of starts to an epic tale.

Guard: "Make way! Coming through! Fetch a healer, quick!"

There are a billion characters in this game who don't have a portrait, and because it's isometric I can't see if they're a human or half-elf at a glance. So I'm not even gonna try. So just get used to seeing some weird conversations between a bold name and a portrait.

The guards place the stretcher down off to the side of the festival square.

"Hey, somebody! We got a wounded fighter! Can we get a healer over here?"

"My, my, would you look at this? But why would you drag a wounded fighter into the middle of the festival square? Couldn't she be carted off somewhere else, like... oh I don't know... an infirmary? Or an accommodating ditch?"

An armored man walks up.

Certain words come with a purple hyperlink like the image above. Also the narration is not mine, it's the game's. You can tell because it's ~~better written~~ written in second person.

Those purple links pull up encyclopedia entries for the associated words. I'll add new ones at the end of each update to keep the pace going. You can probably guess what a demon is anyway. Kenabres is the city that the festival is happening in. So this guard found us barely clinging to life after a demon attack outside the city.

"The walls, you say? The enemy doesn't usually stray so close to the city. We must fortify the defenses... And you - hold fast, don't die, we'll see you right! We'll get you patched up now. But first - you there, guard, take her weapons: bearing arms is not permitted during the festival. Wounded or not, everyone must abide by the rules. She can get her things back after the festival."

A guard comes to relieve us of our weapons.

"Oh Inheritor, leader of our troops, the sharpened edge of our blades and the unyielding strength of our armor. Iomedae, I beseech you, grant your mercy, heal her wounds." The magic envelops you, but your pain lessens only slightly.

Restoration posted:
This spell functions like lesser restoration, except that it also dispels temporary negative levels or one permanent negative level. If this spell is used to dispel a permanent negative level, it has a material component of diamond dust worth 1,000 gp. This spell cannot be used to dispel more than one permanent negative level possessed by a target in a 1-week period.

Restoration cures all temporary ability damage, and it restores all points permanently drained from a single ability score (your choice if more than one is drained). It also eliminates any fatigue or exhaustion suffered by the target.

[Grit your teeth in silence]

"My powers are not enough here. Someone call for Terendelev! You there! Yes, you - stop dithering and gawping and make yourself useful - go and get Terendelev!"

"Prelate." The lady raises her head in an affectation of surprise. "Surely there is somebody else here better suited to running errands."

"I'll get her. Terendelev! Has anyone seen Terendelev?"

The excitable woman runs straight off at top speed through the crowd.

"Be quick about it, before it's too late!" The old man leans over you. "Now, who are you? I don't remember seeing you before, and I have an excellent memory for faces."

"I'm Lisbeth."

"That's the first I've heard of that name. Who are you then? What's your business in the city?"

Seelah comes back with a woman in silver armor.

Terendelev: "My dear Prelate, please - for the sake of the festivities, stop interrogating this poor woman. She has been through enough already. Go on, I'll take care of her."

"Hmph! All right, as you wish. You are our protector, and a dragon at that, so I shall defer to your wisdom. But be on your guard: I've been informed she was wounded near Kenabres - that means the demons are prowling just outside the walls. And the city is crawling with their spies! Others may be able to relax on this holiday, but not you or I - not the defenders of the city!" Muttering discontentedly, the old man walks off."
Terendelev: A beautiful silver-haired woman leans over you. She seems ageless, her face wholly unlined, but centuries-old sadness gleams in her eyes. "Pry loose the grudging grip of pain. Cast off the veil of suffering flesh. Let light and life go forth in triumph to repel the skulking shade of death." The longer she speaks, the stronger her voice becomes. "There."

Restoration, Greater posted:
This spell functions like lesser restoration, except that it dispels all permanent and temporary negative levels afflicting the healed creature. Greater restoration also dispels all magical effects penalizing the creature’s abilities, cures all temporary ability damage, and restores all points permanently drained from all ability scores. It also eliminates fatigue and exhaustion, and removes all forms of insanity, confusion, and similar mental effects.

Yes, she used the greater version of the spell Hulrun cast on us. Restoration is a level 4 Inquisitor spell (Hulrun is an Inquisitor, and Governor of the city.) While Restoration, Greater is a level 7 spell. It does not actually heal any damage you've taken.

I saw at least one other LP do this and thought it was a smart idea. Conversations are one of the big draws for the game because it's a CRPG in the old style. And there's a lot of topics to cover. So I'm going to put line breaks between disparate topics so you can tell they're not related.

"Thank you for healing me."
Terendelev: "I accept your thanks. But my work is not yet done."

"Who are you?"
Terendelev: "My name is Terendelev. I am the protector of this city."

"Are you really a dragon?"
Terendelev: "You don't believe me? Perhaps I should retake my true form and engulf this square with my icy breath to win your trust?" The woman lets out a melodious laugh. "Pay no mind to my current guise - I appear this way when I walk among the people. I would hamper the festivities if I tried to attend in my true form."

"What happened to me?"
Terendelev: "I do not know yet - and that troubles me. I am not entirely sure what the demons did to you. This wound is no ordinary injury, and it was inflicted by no ordinary weapon. I have rid you of your pain and restored your strength, but only time will allow you to heal fully."

"Can I go?"
Terendelev: "Certainly, but be careful. I have managed to get you back on your feet - but I have not healed you fully. Alas, sooner or later your pain will return. But do not be discouraged. You will recover, I promise you that. Tomorrow, come to the cathedral and say that you are expected by Terendelev, protector of Kenabres. We will find a way to help you. But for now, put this out of your mind and enjoy the festival - they are all too rare in this time of war, and merriment is one of the best medicines."

The conversation (and cutscene) ends and we're given control for the first time!

We also get a journal update up at the top of the screen, which is what I've highlighted here. So let's take a look at it.

New quests/objectives are highlighted with a yellow exclamation mark.

Let's take a look around and get our bearings. There's a nameless guard and a masked fellow over by one of the tents. If we click on them...

One of these things is not like the others. The masked dude speaking in riddles walks off and eventually vanishes. Sure, okay.

Moving on...

"So many happy faces! Days like this keep our hope alive."

"Grubby peasants and their grubby diversions. Why did I even bother coming?"

"Yes, yes, happy city day. And now, step away, please. I do not wish for Horgus Gwerm to be seen next to... you."

Most folks are celebratory, but some are assholes like Camellia and Horgus.

Over in this corner is a young half-elf girl holding court.

"Happy city day, good people! Spare a coin for a hungry belly..."

The guy asking for a kiss is bent over, drunk as he can possibly be.

Over here on the opposite side of the square from where we started, we find the guy who called for us to be thrown into a ditch.

Everyone from the center up on the image is leaving with him. I guess they want to see what goes on in his mansion.

Hulrun and Terendelev are in the middle of the square.

"A strange wound... Cursed, perhaps?"
Terendelev: "This will ease your suffering."

Off in the upper right of the screen, past where Daeran walked off, we find another woman from the intro cutscene.

"Everybody's letting their hair down. Everybody's drinking, havin' a good time... But the demons' spies never let up, so that means no fun for me!"

She says this while drinking.

Just past her at the bar we can find the last familiar face.

"How are you? Did Terendelev help you?"
Jannah Aldori: "I've been a crusader five whole days already, and I love it! The future's going to be grand indeed..."
Curl: "They should let us off to enjoy the festivities. Instead we're digging ditches and training day in, day out..."

Right next to the trio getting drunk, we can find a hand icon. This means "use." Well, a drink does sound pretty good, so...

I love this game's pop-up text.

Now let's see about finishing the other two objectives. We need to throw a dart and smack a mannequin.

Aravashnial: "I have a feeling something terrible is going to happen... As usual..."

Ramien: "On days like this, it's as if the war doesn't even exist. Desna, grant us peace!"

Ramien is an important character in one of the game's many paths, while Aravashnial is not. He, however, was a very important character in the Adventure Path this game is based on. (Adventure Paths are the Pathfinder term for pre-written modules that tell a complete story. Like the Tomb of Horrors, of D&D fame.) So it's neat to see the game give a little nod to what came before.

Not too far away from the bar, we find another interact point. This looks like the dreaded mannequin.

However, as soon as everyone finishes clapping for us, we run into a little snag. A huge explosion rocks the city.

A very deep, very evil voice calls out over the celebrations while demons start teleporting in out of nowhere.

Up in the north of the square, Terendelev is giving the demons hell.

Flame Strike posted:
A flame strike evokes a vertical column of divine fire. The spell deals 1d6 points of damage per caster level (maximum 15d6). Half the damage is fire damage, but the other half results directly from divine power and is therefore not subject to being reduced by resistance to fire-based attacks.

Polar Ray posted:
A blue-white ray of freezing air and ice springs from your hand. You must succeed on a ranged touch attack with the ray to deal damage to a target. The ray deals 1d6 points of cold damage per caster level (maximum 25d6) and 1d4 points of Dexterity drain.

She's apparently a dragon, so I imagine those spells are rolling on the high end of that scale.

As if on cue, Deskari appears in the skies above the city.

And Terendelev reveals her full silver draconic glory!

That scythe has a spiked end.

So Terendelev is pretty badly hurt right out the gate.

Oh... Never mind. That's Terendelev's head off in the top of the image.

"Let the feast begin."

With the city in chaos, Lisbeth finds herself hiding behind a table. A familiar halfling runs up to her.

Guard: "Deskari's here! Deskari himself! Blimey! One minute we had a dragon, the next - bam! She was gone!" The halfling's armor is splashed with blood and he is armed to the teeth, with a sword, a blade, and a hatchet on his belt, and a crossbow on his back. His voice sounds familiar to you. "What're you gonna do - fight or flee? If fleeing's your plan, let me help you out, I've got a scroll here with a good protective spell!"

"I've seen you somewhere before."
Guard: "Yeah, you have - you owe me your life! I'm the one who found you outside the walls and brought you inside to be healed." He looks you over. "I see they've patched you up. Good thing they did it before the attack, or else you'd have been done for."

"Who is Deskari?"
Guard: "You must have got a good drubbin' round the head, friend! Deskari's a demon lord! The most fearsome enemy of all crusaders, and all living things, come to think of it!"

"What's the situation in the city?"
Guard: "Who knows! Everything's on fire, crashin' down around our ears, the place is crawling with demons... Looks like a whole army attacked the city. We're sitting ducks!"

"Care to lend me a weapon? I'll try to fight the demons."
Guard: "Sure thing! Here, take this." The halfling holds out the crossbow. "Best crossbow I've got! The person who made it said it could pierce the hide of a demon lord, even!"

Items received: Light Crossbow

Guard: "Good luck! Try not to get eaten now..." The halfling's words are drowned out by a terrible rumbling and the rustling of countless tiny wings."