Pathfinder Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous - Game of the Year Edition

[LannTheStupid]

The best treatment of christians was done under the leadership of comrade Lenin in 1918–1922.

 

[ArchAngel]

The best treatment of christians was done under the leadership of comrade Lenin in 1918–1922.

Didn't help, we still win.

 

[Haplo]

So Lost Chapel was fun.

Spoiler

This was not a lucky day for Nulkineth...

Spoiler

 

[Desiderius]

The best treatment of christians was done under the leadership of comrade Lenin in 1918–1922.

Even your furtive moments of patriotism are restricted to the Californicator-approved. Newsom and his zombies hate Xians more than you do.

So pwned.

 

[Lambach]

Get over this you homo: Owlcuck companions are pozzed beyond measure and actively detract from the experience.

Excuse me?

 

[Humanophage]

Get over this you homo: Owlcuck companions are pozzed beyond measure and actively detract from the experience.

Excuse me?

Although Regill is not pozzed, he feels a little forced as of Act IV. Personally, I like the way Camellia is written so far.

Spoiler

She tackles the theme of non-reciprocity, a little similar to the lawful evil sadist mage from P:K, who inflicted pain on the subjects but was afraid of pain in an exaggerated fashion. She is a serial killer, but she pretends that justice is done to the aasimar perv in the Abyss (giving it a flimsy excuse of getting caught - but she wants to get caught herself). She reciprocates her father's exaggerated care by wanting to murder him (I don't know if she does in the end). It is even reflected symbolically in the smut episodes where you can see everyone, but they can't see you. People are very inured to the golden rule, so this imbalance is satisfyingly grating.

She clearly lies and gives completely transparent cover-ups which make it appear more brazen. It's also a good touch how there is a narrative told through the inventory because you only get a couple of human heads in Act III, but I'm already at my 12th demon head in Act IV, so her "Mireya" is spiralling out of control. It is also satisfying that her romance is doomed to failure and you will probably end up murdering her, whereas typically romances are supposed to mould all characters like clay and lead to some dramatic union at the end. At the same time, she is humanised by giving her reservations about the daddy, when she truly tries to step over her humanity and tries to take it to the next level. Not to mention Nenio explicitly calling her dumb and not very interesting despite her obvious attempts to appear interesting via all the "secrets" which she deliberately invites the PC to investigate.

 

[The_Mask]

I can't remember what you went, but if you go Aeon, Devil or Lich, Regill is a lot more impactful and relatable.

 

[Lambach]

Get over this you homo: Owlcuck companions are pozzed beyond measure and actively detract from the experience.

Excuse me?

Although Regill is not pozzed, he feels a little forced as of Act IV. Personally, I like the way Camellia is written so far.

Spoiler

She tackles the theme of non-reciprocity, a little similar to the lawful evil sadist mage from P:K, who inflicted pain on the subjects but was afraid of pain in an exaggerated fashion. She is a serial killer, but she pretends that justice is done to the aasimar perv in the Abyss (giving it a flimsy excuse of getting caught - but she wants to get caught herself). She reciprocates her father's exaggerated care by wanting to murder him (I don't know if she does in the end). It is even reflected symbolically in the smut episodes where you can see everyone, but they can't see you. People are very inured to the golden rule, so this imbalance is satisfyingly grating.

She clearly lies and gives completely transparent cover-ups which make it appear more brazen. It's also a good touch how there is a narrative told through the inventory because you only get a couple of human heads in Act III, but I'm already at my 12th demon head in Act IV, so her ahem "Mireya" is spiralling out of control. It is also satisfying that her romance is doomed to failure and you will probably end up murdering, whereas typically romances are supposed to mould all characters like clay and lead to some dramatic union at the end. At the same time, she is humanised by giving her reservations about the daddy, when she truly tries to step over her humanity. Not to mention Nenio explicitly calling her dumb and not very interesting despite her obvious attempts to appear interesting via all the "secrets" which she deliberately invites the PC to investigate.

Spoiler

Those heads you keep finding have nothing to do with Camellia, by the way.

 

[Humanophage]

I can't remember what you went, but if you go Aeon, Devil or Lich, Regill is a lot more impactful and relatable.

Aeon Gnome, but Regill is not really doing much for now.

Get over this you homo: Owlcuck companions are pozzed beyond measure and actively detract from the experience.

Excuse me?

Although Regill is not pozzed, he feels a little forced as of Act IV. Personally, I like the way Camellia is written so far.

Spoiler

She tackles the theme of non-reciprocity, a little similar to the lawful evil sadist mage from P:K, who inflicted pain on the subjects but was afraid of pain in an exaggerated fashion. She is a serial killer, but she pretends that justice is done to the aasimar perv in the Abyss (giving it a flimsy excuse of getting caught - but she wants to get caught herself). She reciprocates her father's exaggerated care by wanting to murder him (I don't know if she does in the end). It is even reflected symbolically in the smut episodes where you can see everyone, but they can't see you. People are very inured to the golden rule, so this imbalance is satisfyingly grating.

She clearly lies and gives completely transparent cover-ups which make it appear more brazen. It's also a good touch how there is a narrative told through the inventory because you only get a couple of human heads in Act III, but I'm already at my 12th demon head in Act IV, so her ahem "Mireya" is spiralling out of control. It is also satisfying that her romance is doomed to failure and you will probably end up murdering, whereas typically romances are supposed to mould all characters like clay and lead to some dramatic union at the end. At the same time, she is humanised by giving her reservations about the daddy, when she truly tries to step over her humanity. Not to mention Nenio explicitly calling her dumb and not very interesting despite her obvious attempts to appear interesting via all the "secrets" which she deliberately invites the PC to investigate.

Spoiler

Those heads you keep finding have nothing to do with Camellia, by the way.

Spoiler

Ah right, it's Daeran's Other. There was some conflicting communication there.

 

[Lambach]

I think the only real impact your Mythic Path choice has on Regill is the finale of his personal Quest in Chapter V, but even if you're on one of the Chaotic paths he hates, it's still possible to get a positive outcome (depending on how you handled the previous stage of his Quest and beating some Skill Checks). Everything else is flavor text, IIRC.

There's also his fate post-Crusade shown in one of the Ending Slides. In most regular endings, he writes a strategy book and succumbs to the Bleaching quickly afterwards. If you get the regular Trickster ending, tho..... very fun stuff happens to him.

 

[Haplo]

So its coming along nicely. Smooth sailing. Seems like the double Bite mask doubles the damage procs on Cleave.
And getting shared Long Arm buff is really nice to increase the Cleave radius further.
Lunge would make is even more sick, I guess.

Maugla had a poor day... like all other Leper's Smile Lost Chapel bosses, really.

Spoiler

 

[Delterius]

I can't remember what you went, but if you go Aeon, Devil or Lich, Regill is a lot more impactful and relatable.

I'd argue that Regill is a good character also because you don't have to fulfill his ideals entirely. As a Trickster

Spoiler

Regill hated my powers and my army. But he was out there for results. During his personal quest Regill is only interested to see if the Commander is compromised. They can be chaotic (I assume it flows similarly for Azata), but if they are sharp and incorruptible then that's all that matters. I don't know if he challenges you to a duel as Aeon, but he did as Trickster. I passed the Orders' judgement and he still challenged me, only because he felt it necessary take a fall and bite a demotion to ensure the loyalty of the Hellknights to my cause above all else.

Spoiler

Makes me twice as happy that I ended up pranking a few extra centuries out of him

I think most of the Wrath companions flow very well into the game's narrative. Their interactions with the MPs, with the plot, and each other feel like they wrote themselves. I'd go as far as to say that every Path comes with a pairing that boosts their specific narrative. Wenduag and Demon, Daeran and Trickster, Seelah and Angel, Arue and Azata, Regill and Aeon/Devil, and so on.

I only struggle to find a very good niche for Lann. Him and Wenduag are supposed to be mirrors to one another. But I feel like Wendy's angle of domination and debasement plays much more strongly than Lann's self control and cleverness. Wendu is great for a Demon playthrough. Is Lann interesting in an Aeon playthrough?

 

[The_Mask]

Is Lann interesting in an Aeon playthrough?

Well... I'm going to go out and say it that Aeon is basically Owlcat's subtle way of underlining Paizo's inserts. Basically Aeon gaze marks Seelah as guilty and unlawful, for example. And I suspect that pretty much any Paizo insert is treated with the sparkles of the Aeon gaze. One cannot be sure, of course, but Lann passes. No sparkles. He is interesting in the sense that he has no ulterior motives. No hidden agenda. He is just a kid that grew up pretty much without a family, and wants to make the world right. He is refreshing in his simplicity.

That's my take.

 

[Delterius]

He is refreshing in his simplicity.

brb writing 'the edér' tv tropes page

 

[Desiderius]

I only struggle to find a very good niche for Lann. Him and Wenduag are supposed to be mirrors to one another. But I feel like Wendy's angle of domination and debasement plays much more strongly than Lann's self control and cleverness. Wendu is great for a Demon playthrough. Is Lann interesting in an Aeon playthrough?

I think so. Restoring the natural order with his mom seems like a particularly Aeon thing to do, then taking one for the team (literally) in the final Sama fight (being true to his Mongrel heritage by taking on both Demonic Power and Crusader Duty) seemed like a good fit.

Evidently there's finally a decent endgame bow for him in that quest now too. Getting a full sense of Lann's character I think requires playing Wend's quest to see Lann's darkside to highlight the light in the other. His ham-handed romance is probably the biggest thing obscuring it.

 

[Desiderius]

He is refreshing in his simplicity.

brb writing 'the edér' tv tropes page

Lann's quest with his mom is what Eder's quest with his son should have been (or at least one option). Too breeder-friendly for Soyer so instead he shits himself.

 

[Delterius]

Lann's quest with his mom is what Eder's quest with his son should have been (or at least one option).

Spoiler

Bearn isn't actually Edér's son. He says as much, he actually met his father before he died. Edér ends up adopting him out of respect for the mother and because of their shared faith. While Bearn isn't a kid he still needed an authority figure to protect him, and Edér's character arc falls right into it. He's thinking of settling down, he's about living for other people's sake, he's used to leading others, and he's similarly adrift in his religion.

 

[LannTheStupid]

Maugla had a poor day... like all other Leper's Smile bosses, really.

Do you have Greater Invisibility in Leper's Smile? Also, is it Leper's Smile or Lost Chapel?

 

[Desiderius]

Lann's quest with his mom is what Eder's quest with his son should have been (or at least one option).

Spoiler

Bearn isn't actually Edér's son. He says as much, he actually met his father before he died. Edér ends up adopting him out of respect for the mother and because of their shared faith. While Bearn isn't a kid he still needed an authority figure to protect him, and Edér's character arc falls right into it. He's thinking of settling down, he's about living for other people's sake, he's used to leading others, and he's similarly adrift in his religion.

Spoiler

I'd have to go back and re-read. This isn't what is intimated at all. The man he met was his wife's (erstwhile?) husband, not his father (Eder).

The point is that Eder ends up not (protecting him/settling down/inviting him on the adventure/at minimum staying in touch). The quest has no resolution. "Living for other's sake" is a misnomer. You'll be adrift in any religion if that's how you read what it calls for. Embracing his (necessarily difficult) life going forward with his son will make his own more fulfilling/make more sense - including the religion - because that's what organic life *does*. Those who don't get pwned.

 

[Haplo]

Maugla had a poor day... like all other Leper's Smile bosses, really.

Do you have Greater Invisibility in Leper's Smile? Also, is it Leper's Smile or Lost Chapel?

I did not ...and you're right of course, its Lost Chapel.
Leper's Smile went rather good with the new Swarmbane Clasp plus Bookworm's Headband.

I have not used the GI too much yet. Generally with Sosiel's touches it wasn't necessary. Although attacking flat-footed enemies is always nice.
The entire party dinged 9 at Lost Chapel and I'm growing even more fond of Cam Vital Striking Shadow Shaman - with the new Cursing Reflex Mythic Feat from TTT she can Swift cast a Hex and still Vital Force Strike a flat footed enemy during the Surprise round. Or like cast both Evil Eye and Hampering Hex in the same round for -8 AC on a boss...

And of course, Seelah with Mythic Improved Critical Jinx, riding a battle pig is becoming a force to be reckoned with as well. Particularly considering that her battle pig is adept at tripping as well.

 

[Yosharian]

Swift Action hex? Lmao that is so broken.

 

[Haplo]

Swift Action hex? Lmao that is so broken.

Well, only the first one in combat, similarly to Sorcerous Reflex Swift action spells.

Also not more broken then Swift Action Domain Powers - that can be spammed every round.

But yeah, its nice.

 

[InD_ImaginE]

And of course, Seelah with Mythic Improved Critical Jinx, riding a battle pig is becoming a force to be reckoned with as well. Particularly considering that her battle pig is adept at tripping as well.

She can get something not a horse? Or are you multi classing her?

 

[Haplo]

And of course, Seelah with Mythic Improved Critical Jinx, riding a battle pig is becoming a force to be reckoned with as well. Particularly considering that her battle pig is adept at tripping as well.

She can get something not a horse? Or are you multi classing her?

Yeah, with Hunter / Beastrider / Sacred Huntsmaster dip she can get any pet.

 

[InD_ImaginE]

And of course, Seelah with Mythic Improved Critical Jinx, riding a battle pig is becoming a force to be reckoned with as well. Particularly considering that her battle pig is adept at tripping as well.

She can get something not a horse? Or are you multi classing her?

Yeah, with Hunter / Beastrider / Sacred Huntsmaster dip she can get any pet.

I see. I guess you just pick the dip before 5?

Does she need to take Horse at level 5 to benefit Paladin class progression to Animal Companion level or this free ups you to take Divine Weapon Bond?