KickStarter Pathfinder: Kingmaker Pre-DLC Thread [GO TO NEW THREAD]

[Reinhardt]

I am supposed to to grind first to something like 5th level before i even start main quest ?

You FINISH first chapter on lvl 4-5.

 

[VentilatorOfDoom]

How does that work with the pay BP to level up your companions stuff?
Does that mean it's possible to play with XP sharing off and a smaller party thus getting more XP and then level up the other guys by just paying some BP?

 

[Efe]

holy shit you were not joking. I started on normal (which reading is basically easy) and pretty much everytime i attack my party gets wiped out, save scumed a lot finally got to temple of elk and that bear just mauls my party where i can't do shit to it. And AC doesn't really matter. Bassically every time bear hits it hits.

I only got past him because Barbarian made crit with her huge sword.

I am supposed to to grind first to something like 5th level before i even start main quest ?

they nerfed act 1 a lot after complaints. are you on an unpatched copy?

 

[Quillon]

it's better to wait for big patch.

Big patch is a lie, yo.

 

[Reinhardt]

When big patch comes i will make party of 6 aasimars so we all can fly.

 

[toro]

I want to start new game and make everything right this time but i think it's better to wait for big patch.
Also custom party this time.

Everyday I'm checking this thread and Steam.

 

[Kyl Von Kull]

holy shit you were not joking. I started on normal (which reading is basically easy) and pretty much everytime i attack my party gets wiped out, save scumed a lot finally got to temple of elk and that bear just mauls my party where i can't do shit to it. And AC doesn't really matter. Bassically every time bear hits it hits.

I only got past him because Barbarian made crit with her huge sword.

I am supposed to to grind first to something like 5th level before i even start main quest ?

what party are you running with? what buffs were you using?

 

[Lawntoilet]

How does that work with the pay BP to level up your companions stuff?
Does that mean it's possible to play with XP sharing off and a smaller party thus getting more XP and then level up the other guys by just paying some BP?

Wait, what? I beat the game and I never saw one of those projects, I only got the "Improve X's effectiveness as an advisor" cards. How do you get this option?

 

[panda]

I played first chapter with 3-4 companions and shared XP off. At start of second chapter Tristian/Octavia/Reg all were lvl 2, and i got this project for them. It disappeared after a while, maybe when level difference shrinked to 1, but i can't say for sure what was the exact reason.

 

[Perkel]

they nerfed act 1 a lot after complaints. are you on an unpatched copy?

It is patched.
But i am playing on normal normal aka full crits, full damage and normal enemies instead of weaker.
Either way i got past that event. That bear trent was just lucky last time. This time he hit only one character and rest of the party didn't have problem with hitting it.

edit:

I like how randomly game stopped responding to keyboard input lol had to restart.

 

[Lord Andre]

holy shit you were not joking. I started on normal (which reading is basically easy) and pretty much everytime i attack my party gets wiped out, save scumed a lot finally got to temple of elk and that bear just mauls my party where i can't do shit to it. And AC doesn't really matter. Bassically every time bear hits it hits.

I only got past him because Barbarian made crit with her huge sword.

I am supposed to to grind first to something like 5th level before i even start main quest ?

This happens at your first go of the game. Probably your whole party is un-optimized. If your main char is some kind of caster or a hybrid that needs a few levels to get going, it adds to the feeling you're outmatched.

You'll get a feeling for what you need to adjust eventually.

A few basic things would be: give the dumbfuck Valerie a normal shield, give the dumbass barbarian a normal bastard sword and keep her from drawing aggro. Use enlarge, but not on some one that will pull aggro. The undead bitch with the dry vagina is better off with longsword and shield instead of her retarded larping scythe. Linzi is shit with a crossbow, have her autofire daze or flare and singing at the same time. Have the dorf buff etc.

Also, but this is my opinion, unless you play a full caster (wizard / sorcerer), you should make a mercenary for this role. The game lacks a NPC one and you miss out or delay the moment when you can actually do proper alpha strike nuke.

Take note however that with mercenaries you need to buy one immediately after you level up or it will fall behind. Even a half level behind is annoying for me so take care.

 

[Haplo]

Why would you give Valerie a normal shield? The first few levels I was constantly struggling to squeeze every single point of AC for her. Taking shield focus, armor focus, dodge, Crane Style, casting Reduce Person on her and so on. Why would I want to consciously REDUCE her AC by 2?

Most other points are valid, but I gave 1 level of Rogue to Linzi (and Accomplished sneak attacker), so she was somewhat useful with the x-bow (really needs Precise Shot ASAP though). Also I rather like Octavia's Arcane Trickster build and don't feel the need for a custom arcane mercenary (she also needs Precise Shot ASAP).

 

[Lagole Gon]

Where's the patch...

 

[cw8]

I only got past him because Barbarian made crit with her huge sword.

Summons to distract the bear. Bull's Strength and buffs on Amiri, she will kill the bear pretty quick. Ditch the huge sword the first opportunity u get, it has a -2 penalty to hit with it.

 

[Van-d-all]

holy shit you were not joking. I started on normal (which reading is basically easy) and pretty much everytime i attack my party gets wiped out, save scumed a lot finally got to temple of elk and that bear just mauls my party where i can't do shit to it. And AC doesn't really matter. Bassically every time bear hits it hits.

I only got past him because Barbarian made crit with her huge sword.

I am supposed to to grind first to something like 5th level before i even start main quest ?

Unlike your regular RPG game, where you can roll with party of characters equipped with stuff that just looks cool, it's not about doing something terribly wrong, it's about doing lots of little things wrong at the same time. The game is uncompromising in its mechanics.

For instance, a STR 16 barbie rocking a -2 AB oversized sword ain't going to live long. Same goes for animu scythe waifu. On the other hand Val, as tower shield specialist, unlike the class name says, gets a -2 AB until lv3 while trying to use a wardrobe door as a proper shield. You need to suit them up to a given task.

Buff's don't stack but for instance luck bonus is not the same as competence bonus, so you can actually get quite high values on various stats early on. There are lots of disposable junk, like wands if you want to bother using them. AC is not everything, stuff like blur gives a flat concealment 20% miss chance for instance, and some enemies have such a skyrocketed AB that they'd hit home run with a dust speck. Positioning is essential, even despite the fact only aggroing with tank and attacking enemies 2v1 for outflank bonus are the only thing that matters.

 

[Van-d-all]

Why would you give Valerie a normal shield? The first few levels I was constantly struggling to squeeze every single point of AC for her. Taking shield focus, armor focus, dodge, Crane Style, casting Reduce Person on her and so on. Why would I want to consciously REDUCE her AC by 2?

Most other points are valid, but I gave 1 level of Rogue to Linzi (and Accomplished sneak attacker), so she was somewhat useful with the x-bow (really needs Precise Shot ASAP though). Also I rather like Octavia's Arcane Trickster build and don't feel the need for a custom arcane mercenary (she also needs Precise Shot ASAP).

It's not a rule, it depends on a fight. Smoulderburn deals shit damage, so her AB is more important than AC for instance.

 

[Brancaleone]

You look even better IRL than in your profile picture.

 

[Lawntoilet]

This happens at your first go of the game. Probably your whole party is un-optimized. If your main char is some kind of caster or a hybrid that needs a few levels to get going, it adds to the feeling you're outmatched.

You'll get a feeling for what you need to adjust eventually.

A few basic things would be: give the dumbfuck Valerie a normal shield, give the dumbass barbarian a normal bastard sword and keep her from drawing aggro. Use enlarge, but not on some one that will pull aggro. The undead bitch with the dry vagina is better off with longsword and shield instead of her retarded larping scythe. Linzi is shit with a crossbow, have her autofire daze or flare and singing at the same time. Have the dorf buff etc.

Also, but this is my opinion, unless you play a full caster (wizard / sorcerer), you should make a mercenary for this role. The game lacks a NPC one and you miss out or delay the moment when you can actually do proper alpha strike nuke.

Take note however that with mercenaries you need to buy one immediately after you level up or it will fall behind. Even a half level behind is annoying for me so take care.

Octavia is strong as an Arcane Trickster, and her casting is only 1 level behind. I find her to be the most annoying character but she was still usually in my party for most of my first playthrough.
Jaethal is a very good early game tank, yeah. Her Solo Tactics means she can use Shield Wall at level 3 to boost her AC without needing someone else to take the feat too, plus she has all those undead immunities.
Val should also pump Persuasion to get Dazzling Display as early as possible (level 3) and get Mobility to 3 for Defensive Fighting.

Why would you give Valerie a normal shield? The first few levels I was constantly struggling to squeeze every single point of AC for her. Taking shield focus, armor focus, dodge, Crane Style, casting Reduce Person on her and so on. Why would I want to consciously REDUCE her AC by 2?

Most other points are valid, but I gave 1 level of Rogue to Linzi (and Accomplished sneak attacker), so she was somewhat useful with the x-bow (really needs Precise Shot ASAP though). Also I rather like Octavia's Arcane Trickster build and don't feel the need for a custom arcane mercenary (she also needs Precise Shot ASAP).

Val's AB is reduced by her tower shield until level 5 so I can see why you might want to use a heavy shield instead before then. Pumping her AC really hard early game has its merits too though.

Val, as tower shield specialist, unlike the class name says, gets a -2 AB until lv3 while trying to use a wardrobe door as a proper shield...
.

Tower Shield Specialist doesn't get rid of the AB penalty until level 5.

 

[Haplo]

Sure, in some cases its worth it to give up a little AC for AB. But early on those cases are few and far between on your dedicated tank character.
It's not like she will have a meaningful contribution to damage anyway. Lately I'mactually having her use the Chilly Midnight sickle, so she can at least Dex debuff the enemies (she also has Dazzling Display and Shatter Defenses, might go Thug with her for the Brutal Beatdown sicken.. though am afraid a little bit of the now fixed fear effect being more trouble then worth).
But maybe she'll only have the manually activated Dazzling Display, when I'm not bothered by the fear (and want to hard CC the enemies, maybe with added web, grease or something) and Jaethal will have the auto Dreadful Carnage + DD without Thug levels for when I don't want the enemies to actually run away.

As for your example, I don't think any bonus to AB will make a level 2-3 Val hit Smoulderburn on anything other then a natural 20. Barring True Strike, that is.
IMO its retarded to even fight him when you first get there, buy hey, its your time - and your consumables you're burning.

 

[Lawntoilet]

Sure, in some cases its worth it to give up a little AC for AB. But early on those cases are few and far between on your dedicated tank character.
It's not like she will have a meaningful contribution to damage anyway. Lately I'm having her use the Chilly Midnight sickle, so she can at least Dex debuff the enemies (she also has Dazzling Display and Shatter Defenses, might go Thug with her for the Brutal Beatdown sicken.. though am afraid a little bit of the now fixed fear effect being more trouble then worth).
But maybe she'll only have the manually activated Dazzling Display, when I'm not bothered by the fear (and want to hard CC the enemies, maybe with added web, grease or something) and Jaethal will have the auto Dreadful Carnage + DD without Thug levels for when I don't want the enemies to actually run away.

As for your example, I don't think any bonus to AB will make a level 2-3 Val hit Smoulderburn on anything other then a natural 20. Barring True Strike, that is.
IMO its retarded to even fight him when you first get there, buy hey, its your time - and your consumables you're burning.

I mostly agree. I actually don't care for the mass fear resulting in the whole map aggroing you and respecced her back out of Thug in the beta playthrough I started a couple days ago. I took a level of Trad monk and got Crane Style instead, and having 30+ AC at Level 3 really is handy.

 

[Van-d-all]

Tower Shield Specialist doesn't get rid of the AB penalty until level 5.

Yeah, my bad.

As for your example, I don't think any bonus to AB will make a level 2-3 Val hit Smoulderburn on anything other then a natural 20

Nah, prolly not. Just an example from top of my head to illustrate.

 

[Thonius]

Eh my first gamestoping bug! Horay! I came to Pitax and I'm stuck after dialog with Irovety ( Near palace entrance). Everybody is like Horay for new king etc but they do not atack. Everybody just stand doing nothing. Is that common?

 

[Reinhardt]

You don't need that many characters in close and personal combat at the start. Glaives and enlarge on everyone besides Valerie.

 

[Lord Andre]

To each his own but in my mind some of y'all have been tricked by shit mmo mentality.

You don't need to tank. You need to smash face. This is still D&D damn it, if your enemies aren't eating dirt after 3 rounds, you're larping. Most encounters, including bosses, can be beat in half the time if you spec your party for actually hitting enemies instead of jerking them around.

 

[Haplo]

But also in many encounters your first character to be focused by enemies can be dead in the 1st round if his/her AC isn't up to par and if you don't succeed / don't have/don't want to waste appropriate CC...