View source for Kingmaker (CRPG)

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{{Video game
| title = Pathfinder: Kingmaker
| image = [[File:Pathfinder Kingmaker cover.jpg|250px]]
| developer = [[Owlcat Games]]
| publisher = [[Deep Silver]]
| series =
| engine = Unity
| director = [[Alexander Mishulin]]
| designer = [[Alexander Gusev]] and [[Evgeniy Sanin]]
| programmer = [[Alexey Drobyshevsky]]
| artist = [[Victor Surkov]]
| writer = [[Alexander Komzolov]]
| composer = [[Inon Zur]]
| producer = [[Oleg Schpilchevsky]]
| platforms = Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows
| released = September 25, 2018
| price    = $39.99&ndash;$84.99
| type = Computer RPG
| genre = Role-playing
| modes = Single-player
| precedes = [[Wrath of the Righteous (CRPG)|Wrath of the Righteous]]
}}

: ''This article covers the computer roleplaying game (CRPG). For the [[Pathfinder Adventure Path]], see [[Kingmaker (adventure path)]].''

'''''Pathfinder: Kingmaker''''' is an isometric computer RPG developed by [[Owlcat Games]] and published by [[Deep Silver]], which was released on September 25, 2018. The project was officially announced on May 17, 2017 by both Owlcat and [[Paizo Inc.]] Like the [[Kingmaker (adventure path)|Kingmaker Adventure Path]] upon which the game is based, ''Pathfinder: Kingmaker'' features hours of adventure, including exploration, combat, and kingdom-building.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://paizo.com/paizo/press/v5748eaic9voe?First-CRPG-Pathfinder-Game-in-Development-by|title=First CRPG Pathfinder Game in Development by Owlcat Games and Game Designer Chris Avellone|page=Paizo News|author=[[Paizo Inc.]]|date=May 17, 2017}}</ref>

== Development ==

Development on ''Pathfinder: Kingmaker'' began when members of Owlcat's team pitched the game to Paizo executives at [[Gen Con]] 2016. By the following spring, a "vertical slice" of the game had been built, consisting of much of chapter two. Previewed for the first time at [[PaizoCon]] 2017, this demo was enough to garner excitement for the [[#Kickstarter campaign|]] which would follow shortly thereafter. The game proceeded through alpha and beta phases beginning in early 2018. Development on post-release bonus content began in late summer 2018, with the majority of the team working on fixing bugs and releasing patches to the base game after its September 25 launch. 

=== Kickstarter campaign ===

In June 6, 2017, Owlcat launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise $500,000 in additional funds to expand the scope of the project. The campaign concluded on July 11 with a total of $909,057 raised and 18,351 backers. In addition to reaching their primary funding goal, the campaign also reached five stretch goals, resulting in the following additions to the game: a camping feature ($550k); the addition of the [[magus]] as a playable class ($600k); a new story chapter above and beyond the original six chapters of Kingmaker and a Mac & Linux version of the final game ($700k); at least three archetypes or alternative features per class ($800k); a new, [[goblin]] companion ($900k).<ref name = "kickstarter">{{Cite web|url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/owlcatgames/pathfinder-kingmaker/description|page=Kickstarter|title=Pathfinder: Kingmaker by Owlcat Games|author=[[Owlcat Games]]|date=July 12, 2017}}</ref> Owlcat continued to take preorders and backer pledges after the conclusion of the Kickstarter campaign, counting those funds toward further stretch goals. Before they cut off additional content in the summer of 2018, they had unlocked an additional stretch goal of an additional playable race; a backer poll determined that this additional race would be [[aasimar]].{{source}}

=== Credits ===

''Pathfinder: Kingmaker'' was developed by Owlcat Games, led by executive producer and head of studio, [[Oleg Shplicevsky]]. The game's creative director was [[Alexander Mishulin]], who was supported by the following team leads: Art Director [[Victor Surkov]]; Technical Director [[Aleksey Drobyshevshy]]; Lead Area Designer [[Evgeniy Sanin]]; Audio Team [[Sergey Eybog]]; Core Design Team [[Alexander Gusev]]; Narrative Design Team [[Alexander Komzolov]]. Additional narrative design credits include contributions from industry veteran [[Chris Avellone]] and [[Paizo Inc.]] editorial staff writers [[John Compton]] and [[James L. Sutter]].<ref>{{Cite book/Pathfinder: Kingmaker}}</ref>

=== Score ===
: {{See also|Kingmaker (original game score)}}
The game's theme was composed by [[Inon Zur]]. The bulk of the game's score was composed by [[Sergey Eybog]], [[Dmitry V. Silantyev]], [[Alexander Fomichev]], [[Mikhail Kotov]], and [[Dryante]]. The digital album is expected to be released as a standalone purchase, Kickstarter backer reward, and component of the game's Noble, Royal, and Imperial Editions (see [[#Release|Release]] below) sometime in fall 2018.

=== Voice credits ===
''Pathfinder: Kingmaker'' features English full audio including voiceover for many of the game's cinematic scenes, companion interactions, and major antagonists. While not every character is voiced, and not every line of dialogue from voiced characters has corresponding audio, this is the first digital game to offer such immersion into the world and characters (previously, only the [[Pathfinder Legends]] audio dramas from [[Big Finish Productions]] had given voice to the Pathfinder Iconics).
{{See|Kingmaker voice cast}}

== Release ==

The game released internationally on September 25, 2018 for Mac and PC on Steam and GOG. It remained number one on the Steam charts for 6 days until it was unseated by ''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey''. In its first week of release on Steam, the game had an average active player count of over 16,000, with a peak player count of over 22,500 on Sunday, September 30.<ref>{{Cite web|author=''No author''|url=https://steamcharts.com/app/640820|title=Pathfinder: Kingmaker|page=SteamCharts|date=October 3, 2018}}</ref>

Four versions of the game were available upon release with the following contents<ref name = "steamstore">{{Cite web | url = https://store.steampowered.com/app/640820/Pathfinder_Kingmaker/ | title = Pathfinder: Kingmaker product page | page = Steam Store | date = September 25, 2018 | author = [[Owlcat Games]] and [[Deep Silver]]}}</ref>:

; Explorer Edition :
* A downloadable copy of the main game

; Noble Edition :
*  A premium downloadable copy of the game, which contains 2 in-game items to help an aspiring adventurer (a signet that allows you to bless your party several times a day, and a belt with bonus disease and fatigue resistance). Premium in-game items are designed to not break the game balance.
* Two additional portraits. Images of a fearless warrior from [[Cheliax]] and a skillful [[elf]] [[wizard]] will be included in the gallery of portraits available upon creating a character.
* A digital art book. 176 pages with sketches of characters, monsters, items and the game world, lovingly selected by our artists.
<!-- note that we should create and link to a product page for this book, as it will be (I believe) available as a stand-alone DLC at some point. -->
:* [[Kingmaker (original game score)|Official soundtrack]]. Contains a complete set of in-game music, created by [[Inon Zur]] and Owlcat Games' composer.

; Royal Edition :
* All content in the Noble Edition plus
* A [[The Puzzle Box|digital module]] for board game adventures. This module has been created from scratch by game designer [[Chris Avellone]] assisted by [[Paizo]] experts to express gratitude to the entire pen-and-paper RPG community and the Pathfinder universe for providing support and being a source of inspiration for working on the game. 
* A digital high-resolution map of the [[Stolen Lands]]. This detailed map can be used as a desktop wallpaper. It can also help navigate the dangerous and mysterious territories of the Stolen Lands.
* A [[red panda]]. This pet not only greets its owner, standing adorably on its hind legs. It will also increase your negative effect resistance.

; Imperial Edition : 
* All content from the Royal Edition plus
* A Season Pass. The Season Pass will automatically get you access to the first three packages of post-release downloadable content. These additions expand the world of the Stolen Lands and add new companions, locations, buildings, items, and most importantly&mdash;new adventures, memories and emotions for you to experience!

=== Reception ===

The game debuted to mostly positive reviews, with players giving it a Metacritic score of 8.3 in its first week. Of the first 2,300 user reviews on Steam, over 70% were positive. Professional reviewers were slightly more critical, with one claiming the developers played it too safe to stand out from other titles in the genre.<ref>{{Cite web|author=''No author''|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/pathfinder-kingmaker|title=Pathfinder: Kingmaker|page=Metacritic|date=October 3, 2018}}</ref>

=== Downloadable content ===

Owlcat and Deep Silver have announced at least three packages of post-release downloadable content (DLC), available individually upon their release or as part of a season pass (included in the Imperial Edition of the game). On November 20, 2018, Owlcat released the roadmap for the first three paid DLC packages which comprise the season pass. Each DLC chapter sells for $7.99 on its own or can come as part of a trio of DLC in the Season Pass for $24.99.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmorpg.com/news/check-out-the-pathfinder-kingmaker-dlc-and-season-pass-plans-1000050620|title=Check Out the Pathfinder: Kingmaker DLC and Season Pass Plans|date=November 20, 2018|page=mmorpg.com|author=Suzie Ford}}</ref>

==== The Wildcards ====
{{main|The Wildcards}}

''December 14, 2018''

Encounter the [[tiefling]] [[kineticist]], a new playable character serving as the debut of her race and character class, complete with her own rich and engaging storyline.

==== Varnhold's Lot ====
{{main|Varnhold's Lot}}

'' February 28, 2019''

Brave the challenges of a new bonus campaign. While celebrating victory at [[Jamandi Aldori]]'s mansion, adventurers meet another hero of the Stolen Lands: the mercenary captain [[Maegar Varn]]. While the player is building a barony in the [[Shrike Hills]] and [[Narlmarshes]], Varn and his people are establishing the nation of [[Varnhold]] in the rocky foothills of [[Dunsward]].

This new story explores the challenges faced by Varn's party in its venture, and the consequences of choices made can be exported and implemented into ''Pathfinder: Kingmaker'''s main campaign. This exciting new side story equals the size of one chapter of the game's central campaign and will take 6-12 hours to complete, depending on preferred playstyle.

==== Beneath the Stolen Lands ====
{{main|Beneath the Stolen Lands}}

''Expected April 2019''

For the days where jumping into an unpredictable gauntlet of combat sounds more enticing than discovering the Stolen Lands' rich lore, this DLC will introduce a rogue-like randomly generated endless dungeon, complete with a new unique boss. The dungeon offers two options. It can be explored in a separate game or experienced within an adventurer's main campaign.

==== Free DLC ====
In addition to the paid DLC packages listed above, Owlcat has also released a number of free DLC add-ons to the main game.

:* Bloody Mess (October 24, 2018) - Adds persistent blood on party members and enemies
:* Arcane Unleashed (March 20, 2019) – Adds six new spells, a new arcane merchant, improved models for [[Chromatic dragon|chromatic]] and [[metallic dragon]]s, and a new familiar

== Gameplay ==

The gameplay is largely modeled on the [[Pathfinder Roleplaying Game]] along with classic computer RPGs such as ''Baldur's Gate''; it features a real-time-with-pause combat system and an isometric perspective. The game's main distinguishing feature are its emphasis on realm-building&mdash;a player's decisions as a local lord affect gameplay. Character customization is also a key feature, along with an [[alignment]] system where a character's alignment can change due to player choices. While the player begins with only one character of their creation, the game is party-based as companions join them along the way; these include both established Pathfinder characters and newly-invented characters. The game's core plot is estimated to take around 40 hours to complete, with full completion of side-quests and companion-based story lines can push the total playtime of the game to well over 100 hours.<ref name = "kickstarter"/>

=== Player options ===

True to the Pathfinder RPG upon which its rules are based, ''Pathfinder: Kingmaker'' offers players a selection of eight races ([[aasimar]], [[dwarf]], [[elf]], [[halfling]], [[half-elf]], [[half-orc]], and [[human]]) with a ninth race ([[goblin]]) available to play as a companion; fourteen classes ([[alchemist]], [[barbarian]], [[bard]], [[cleric]], [[druid]], [[fighter]], [[inquisitor]], [[magus]], [[monk]], [[paladin]], [[ranger]], [[rogue]], [[sorcerer]], and [[wizard]], each with three optional [[archetype]]s; six [[prestige class]]es ([[arcane trickster]], [[dragon disciple]], [[duelist]], [[eldritch knight]], [[mystic theurge]], and [[stalwart defender]]); over 150 feats and over 300 spells.

More player options were as downloadable content (DLC) following the game's initial release, including the [[tiefling]] player race and [[kineticist]] class.

=== Alignment ===
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=== Exploration ===

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=== Kingdom-building ===

{{Sectstub}}

<!-- === Other ==

This should include things like cooking/camping with recipe lists/custom job overview. -->

== Plot ==

{{Spoiler|Kingmaker (CRPG)|section}}

=== Companions ===

The following characters are available in the game as companions to the baron/baroness. Eight of the eleven characters are available during the prologue and chapter one, with the other three gained during the course of chapter two. With the exception of [[Linzi]], the game's narrator, all companions can be dismissed should the player not wish them to accompany the protagonist any longer. At the conclusion of the prologue, the player also has the ability to create custom companions, though hiring such characters comes at a somewhat hefty cost of in-game gold. Each companion (custom characters aside) has a series of side-quests and subplots that explore his or her background and strengthen the bond formed with the protagonist throughout their adventures. Four companions ([[Octavia]], [[Regongar]], [[Tristian]], and [[Valerie]]) have additional romance subplots should the player choose to pursue them. Two characters (denoted with a superscript <sup>DLC</sup> below) were released as part of the first paid DLC package for the game, [[The Wildcards]].

* '''[[Amiri]]''' &mdash; a [[Kellid]] [[barbarian]] from the [[Realm of the Mammoth Lords]] in search of a new tribe that will value her abilities.
* '''[[Ekundayo]]''' &mdash; a [[Garundi (human ethnicity)|Garundi]] [[ranger]] from [[Absalom]] who seeks revenge for the death of his family at the hands of marauding [[troll]]s.
* '''[[Harrim]]''' &mdash; a [[Dwarf|dwarven]] [[cleric]] of [[Groetus]] with a rather pessimistic outlook on life.
* '''[[Jaethal]]''' &mdash; an [[undead]] [[elf]] [[inquisitor]] of [[Urgathoa]] fleeing retribution from past crimes in her native [[Kyonin]].
* '''[[Jubilost Narthropple|Jubilost]]''' &mdash; a [[gnome]] [[alchemist]] known throughout the world (at least in his own mind) as an expert traveler, historian, and academic.
* '''[[Kalikke]]'''<sup>DLC</sup>  &mdash; a [[tiefling]] [[kineticist|hydrokineticist]] cursed to share a life with her sister while being forever apart from her.
* '''[[Kanerah]]'''<sup>DLC</sup>  &mdash; a [[tiefling]] [[kineticist|pyrokineticist]] cursed to share a life with her sister while being forever apart from her.
* '''[[Linzi]]''' &mdash; a [[halfling]] [[bard]], originally from [[Galt]] but most recently expelled from the [[Academy of Grand Arts]] in [[Pitax]] for offending the city's [[Irovetti|king]].
* '''[[Nok-Nok]]''' &mdash; a [[goblin]] [[rogue]] with ambitions of godhood who finds better company among the "longshanks" than his own kind.
* '''[[Octavia]]''' &mdash; a [[half-elf]] [[arcane trickster]] with an optimistic outlook and kind heart, despite her upbringing as a slave of [[Numeria]]'s sinister [[Technic League]].
* '''[[Regongar]]''' &mdash; a [[half-orc]] [[magus]] who, like Octavia, escaped the Technic League's clutches, but seeks vengeance and hedonistic pleasures instead of simply freedom.
* '''[[Tristian]]''' &mdash; a [[human]] [[cleric]] of [[Sarenrae]] on a pilgrimage from the [[Kelesh|Padishah Empire of Kelesh]] to investigate the nature of curses in the [[Stolen Lands]].
* '''[[Valerie]]''' &mdash; a [[human]] [[fighter]] who escaped an unwanted life as a [[paladin]] of [[Shelyn]] despite her natural beauty who seeks only to serve her lord or lady well.

=== Locations ===
''Pathfinder: Kingmaker'' takes place entirely in the region of the [[River Kingdoms]] known as the [[Stolen Lands]]. The region, which eventually comprises the player's entire kingdom, is broken into a number of regions which can each be explored and conquered independently.

{{sectstub}}

== See also ==

* ''[[Kingmaker Original Game Soundtrack]]''
* ''[[The Art of Pathfinder Kingmaker]]''
* [[:Category:Artwork from Pathfinder: Kingmaker]]

== External links ==

* [https://owlcatgames.com Owlcat Games website]
* [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/owlcatgames/pathfinder-kingmaker Kickstarter campaign]
* [https://store.steampowered.com/app/640820/Pathfinder_Kingmaker/ Pathfinder: Kingmaker on Steam]
* [https://www.gamerguides.com/pathfinder-kingmaker Strategy Guide and Walkthrough on GamerGuides.com]

== References ==

{{Refs}}

{{Pathfinder lines|licensed}}
{{Kingmaker navbox|supplemental}}

[[Category:Kingmaker| ]]
[[Category:Digital games]]
[[Category:2018 digital games]]
[[Category:Pathfinder licensees]]