New Content Discussion [SPOILER]

[Datage]

Finally, yes! More demon lore! I really, really like demons, they subvert that nice expectation that, instead of all of them being fundamentally evil, something happened to them on a fundamental level that just makes them miserable. It's just good to see, for a change, an "evil" faction with complicated reasons for being "evil" (I place the quoatations marks, because as the lore explains, most of them don't really want to invade the human lands again, instead rather being left alone to their business). I wonder, will we get more information on how this weird caste system they have (where Dreadlords and succubi are at the top, and the rest, at the bottom) works? Especially now that we have more demon characters that aren't Dreadlords: Both the Marilith and the Pitlord seem really interesting. However, it seems likely that their agendas will clahs with those of Ebira, doesn't it?

...also, does the presence of Infernal Engines and other constructs in the screenshot mean we will be finally visiting the Forge of Kostragoth?

 

[Apprentice Darkmoon]

Wow, that explained why we saw mariliths only in the Hunter and Prey mission. The matriarch is showing as a cunning leader, moving everything and everyone who can be a thorn on her back afar. She sworm to never be an ally of a dreadlord, but she thinks like one of them...
The pit-warlord in the other hand, I wonder his reaction if he learn Maronogin is having the best time on his live earning riches from the mortals. Surely his reaction will be funny.

 

[DD Mikasa]

This is interesting, i was expecting maybe Ebira or Vermon would take the spotlight on the side of the demons instead we got a pitlord esentially a field marshal type race in the demon legions (even though this one seems to have risen above the occassion) and a medusa larper. This should be interesting.

 

[Plantpaladin]

Tough choices, I went with Circle because the whole Undead rebellion seems more interesting to see from a rebel view.
Dragon because it would be interesting to see the Zyanior conflict from a new perspective.
Pure because it would be interesting to play more Golden Guard finding new friends instead of just being punching bags.

 

[ILIDAN STORMRAGE]

i went with path of the bloodclaw because I love that character and I want to see his family show levels to everything else as they always had
path of the nameless because I need to know who that dude was before
path of the dragon because I always thought thanok was insane and I wonder how the world is from his perspective and also experience Zyanor from a new light
also the fact that you introduced a whole new playable faction which looks incredible,was the main antagonist for the whole series and has one of the most intresting objectives out of this war and still the established characters can compete in a pool is incredible I wanted to vote for them but the mistery behind Veln and my love for Zyanor were too strong and it seems that many people here are on the same page .
this just goes to show how good the writing of those characters was and once again I have to say "hats of to you" shar,karskin and to everyone else that helped with the scripts

 

[Apprentice Darkmoon]

I choose the path of the Heroes and the path of the Pure. I want to know how is the performance of the group and how certain skeleton can be save from his mad master. And of course the return of the GG, and how all factions react to this.
And I don't want to support neither the kinslayer not that "duke" mad dragon.

 

[Navy45]

I really don't know for which paths to vote, so I decided to discuss them all and hope somehow I end up with a decision.

• Path of the Two :

So the path of the Two focuses on Ebira ? But who is the second ? Maybe Orie Redfist since she grabbed her after her father's death, but that seems weird. I doubt Ebira is particularly lacking in servants, and Orie seems more like a useful tool easy to manipulate than a close second-in-command.

• Path of the Watcher :

This one is interesting for one reason mainly. Is there a combination of choices where we can achieve what no one else could : lead Aridon to take a reasonable decision regarding the future of the world ? Though I'm also curious about how far we can carry out his plans. Can we completely wipe out life in the world, or will we end with just Arkain being genocided and Aridon preparing for the sequel ?

• Path of the Circle :

I wonder what factions we'll get to play in this one. We'll most likely start with the Zirr Nexus, since they cooperated closely with Cora, but I doubt they're enough to take on the four. I hope we'll get to see a lot of alliances of convenience (like fighting with Zyainor in some battles against the undead, or the dwarves against the dominion, or even with the dominion themselves against the undead)

• Path of the Dragon :

Seems very straightforward, but the mention of internal enemies seems interesting. Could be refering to Zoïa.

• Path of the Bloodclaw :

I wonder how central Gardon will be on that path. Because, while he is one of my favourite characters in the world of Arkain, he has already been very present, and I really hope his children get to shine and don't stay too much in their father's shadow.

• Path of the Pure :

I wonder what they'll do. They might go after Zyainor, but their position isn't really ideal for that, and Kerrel isn't exactly their biggest fan.

• Path of the Heroes :

This path is quite novel for Arkain. The first and second books were definitely a story of armies and generals, with very few "heroes", with neither lands nor an army. I wonde if we'll have the opportunity to see them move from one side to another, from one conflict to another, and maybe even to choose where they go and who they'll help. I hope that, despite being focused on a party of heroes, this path will still have many RTS missions, maybe with more limited rosters (like helping/taking over a village's militia for a level).

• Path of the Nameless :

I'm torn on whether or not to vote for this path. On the one hand, I feel it could be very cool to play other paths first, and maybe see glimpses of Veln or his actions on the world to feel even more curious about who he really is. But on the other hand, it would be a bit disappointing to learn too much of who he is from another path than his own. So I think I'll vote for him, but if other paths don't give too much away about him, I don't mind playing a few other paths before his.


In the end I voted for path of the Bloodclaw because I'm a Zyainor fanboy at heart, path of the Nameless for reasons stated above and path of the heroes because it seems really new. But honestly, all the paths seem interesting to me so I'd love whichever order Shar feels is narratively interesting.

 

[Mvicio]

I went with Path of the Two, since i´m really interested in demons in arkain in general and Ebira as a faction, also with the newest additions to the Demons roster i´m excited!.
Path of the Circle, which i suppose is Fiona/Progaderas or even Harmos and the Orden of the Flame since they are mages, perhaps even more orders and Path of the Heroes because is new and we don´t know many heroes per se except maybe Bubblerino and Praxeus with his group, but those already have a path in the Nameless so i went with the mysterious one.

Also, there are no Orcs path? I wonder why the Dominion isn´t there.

 

[Kasrkin]

Also, there are no Orcs path? I wonder why the Dominion isn´t there.

It wasn't in the top five.

 

[Navy45]

Path of the Circle, which i suppose is Fiona/Progaderas or even Harmos and the Orden of the Flame since they are mages

I'm pretty sure the Circle is the group led by Aedale, Cora and Kenos, since they talked about destroying the Four in the legacy of Arkain trailer. An earlier post in ANN also mentioned a Path of the Flames and a Path of the Guardian, which seem to correspond better to Fiona and Harmos.

Path of the Heroes because is new and we don´t know many heroes per se except maybe Bubblerino and Praxeus with his group, but those already have a path in the Nameless so i went with the mysterious one.

Personally, I think Veln's path will likely diverge from the rest of his group, likely as a consequence of recovering his memories, thus creating one path focusing on Veln and another focusing on Praxeus and the others. Maybe they'll share their first levels, just with different objectives and choices (I certainly hope Veln gets to still interact with the rest of the group)

Personnally, I just don't see any other character being "long-time friends" on a journey to "make Arkain a better place", unless the description is extremely sarcastic.