Judging from the long list of Kickstarter backers, not a lot of people were surprised by the release of the next installment in the Pathfinder video game franchise. Wrath of the Righteous is already getting a generous helping of positive attention, delivering on both improvements from the old game and some unique new material to enjoy in the new one. Players who are already familiar with either Kingmaker or with the tabletop version of Pathfinder will feel right at home. However, those who are new to RPGs or isometric video games might feel overwhelmed, especially with a detailed story and several side-quests to follow, which is why a Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous beginner guide is helpful.
The game itself gives the player a lot of guidance when it comes to gameplay and character creation and progression, but it doesn't cover a few smaller, more important details that beginners might overlook. Some of the following tips and hints refer to the technical part of the game while others are intended to help you with gameplay or character creation.
Updated on March 9, 2022, by Kristy Ambrose: Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous has undergone a few important changes since its release, including a significant couple of updates and bug fixes. It's not just for desktop gamers anymore, either. Players who prefer gaming on consoles, specifically the PS4 and the Xbox, now also have the opportunity to enjoy Pathfinder. That means we can add more Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous tips and tricks that beginners can use.
13 The Isometric Angle
"CRPG" used to mean computer role-playing game, but these days it's a reference to "classic" as in the older style of some of the first RPG games that were ported to computers. Early attempts at an isometric viewpoint that were designed for consoles have a notorious reputation for being so bad they're nigh unplayable.
If you've already played isometric CRPG games, you're ahead of the game, so to speak. Aside from the sometimes dizzying not-quite-3D view, you also have to get used to controlling your character with both a keyboard, for directions, and a mouse, to specify your destination.
12 Class Difficulty Levels
The Pathfinder RPG franchise has 25 classes to choose from, which is a lot more than other games in the same class. A lot of players don't notice the row of purple dots that precede the intro to each one, but this is an important Pathfinder: WotR tip that players need to notice, especially if they are new to the game.
It's recommended that players who are unfamiliar with Pathfinder: WotR to start with a less complex class, which means two dots or fewer. Classes rated four or higher are those that require a lot of micromanagement, a better option for more experienced players.
11 Both Turn-Based and Real-Time
Instead of choosing one or the other, players of Pathfinder get a nice mix of both. Like CRPG games of past days, you can pause at any time to give your characters new commands, and the outcome of any encounter is based on taking turns and rolling dice.
Pathfinder: WotR keeps a handy log of every dice roll, not just for combat but also for skills like Persuasion and feats like Athletics. As a beginner, you can stop the combat or game at any time to check the resources and get your bearings.
10 Part of a Franchise
Another way to experience this story would be to play it as a table-top role-playing game, and there's a module based on this story If you're looking for a more practical way to deepen your knowledge of the Pathfinder: WotR universe. When it comes to video games specifically, there's also the first game in the franchise.
Kingmaker was released in 2018 and uses the same mechanics and isometric viewpoint, and since it's a much smaller and less complex game, it's cheaper than the brand-new Wrath of the Righteous. An enhanced version of this game was recently released as part of the publicity for WotR so you can enjoy it today with better graphics and fewer bugs.
9 Game Difficulty Levels
Every time you start a new game in Pathfinder: WotR, you are presented with several choices for the difficulty setting. Players are given that option even before the character creation process begins.
That itself isn't exactly different, but the reason it's there and the way it's intended to be used are unique. A useful Pathfinder: WotR tip is to use "Story Mode" for an easy setting to coast through the plot or try the "Unfair" mode for a challenge. As opposed to being frozen into a difficult level from the start, players can use varying difficulty levels as the game progresses, and change it as they advance in the story.
8 Building Your Companions
There are a few different ways to approach building the characters that join your party. The easiest way, and the one recommended for most new players, is to simply let the computer handle it.
Each companion is set in this mode automatically when they join your party, and it only switches off when the player makes a choice that's contrary to the computer's recommendations. Those who are new to the game can take note of the set build and make minor changes based on the same role, or go in a different direction entirely and use the character in another way.
7 Using Mods
It's the way most RPG games are played these days, from MMOs like World of Warcraft to stand-alone games like Skyrim. Mods aren't just for beginners either.
Players of all experience levels use them to keep track of small, sometimes elusive details when it comes to character creation and progression. Mods can also help you keep track of quests and storylines if you're less worried about mechanics and more about the adventure.
6 Demons Have Lots of Resistances
Most of the enemies you'll encounter through your adventures in Pathfinder: WotR are demons since a battle against a fearsome demon god and his minions is the main story thread. These monsters have a lot of resistance to both physical and magical damage in the Pathfinder universe.
Even experienced RPG players have trouble thinking outside the box when it comes to dealing with these kinds of surprises. Think of it as more of a challenge and less of a "the DM hates me" kind of situation. A Pathfinder: WotR tip is to focus on any powers, abilities, or trinkets that deal or ehance holy damage.
5 Changing the Speed
This is a handy tool that a lot of players aren't aware they can use. Not only can you utilize a pause feature, so you can get it right, but there's even the option to slow down combat.
This makes it easier to see everything that's going on, including the dice rolls and passive abilities which appear in a real-time log on the bottom right of the screen. It's especially handy for beginners who want to learn the nuances of the Pathfinder: WotR universe when it comes to timing and mechanics.
4 There Is No Ticking Clock
One of the things that the previous Pathfinder video game had that's absent from the recent game is the presence of a quest timer. Vintage RPGs that used a similar point-and-click strategy back in the day would often add a similar feature to quests as an extra challenge, like a task that had to be completed by the following midnight.
Instead of being a fun and interesting way to tell a story, however, in Pathfinder's complex world of intersecting storylines and character arcs, it's too much of an inconvenience. If you see an hourglass in your Pathfinder: WotR quest log, it only means that it's a quest that needs to be finished before the close of the chapter.
3 Choosing A Mythic Path
New players usually don't think about the Mythic Path when they first start the game, preferring to focus on more immediate issues like gearing up, memorizing spells, and fighting demons. The Mythic Path isn't chosen until the retaking of Drezen, so why worry about it before the end of Act II?
It turns out that certain Mythic Paths fit better with some class choices and moral alignments than others, with some even requiring certain moral alignments. The Aeon Path, for example, requires a Lawful alignment to access all the relevant abilities. Some differences are more obvious, like that Rogues and Bards make better Tricksters than Paladins.
2 How To Lead a Crusade
The main story in Pathfinder: WotR is a war against an invading supernatural, and they mean business. Prepare yourself to command an army, not just a bold party of up to six characters but an actual contingent of soldiers marching into a battlefield.
It's not just an RPG that's included in your adventures but some real-time strategy, or RTS game, as well. RTS games had their heyday in the 1990s, reaching their peak with franchises like Starcraft, and their popularity has insured not only their own continuing niche but also their inclusion in every game in which designers can find a place for them.
1 The Best Low-Level Spells for Any Class
Every character will have access to come spells, either through their own abilities or by proxy via a party member. If you choose a spellcasting character, either a handy premade or a customized one that you built from scratch, there are certain spells like Grease and Haste that make virtually every encounter easier.
You can acquire these at low levels. If you don't create or choose a spellcasting class, remember that details like Feats, Backgrounds, and choice of the supernatural patron can also grant your character spell casting abilities.
Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous is available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.