Pillars of Eternity – The White March Part I [2023]

 Pillars of Eternity – The White March Introduction:

Pillars of Eternity: The White March is a two-part expansion pack for the 2015 role-playing video game Pillars of Eternity. It was developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Paradox Interactive, with the first part launching on August 25, 2015, and the second on February 16, 2016.

In Part I of The White March expansion, several enhancements were introduced to the base game, including an increased level cap, new abilities, and additional companions. Part II also brought a new companion and introduced a Story Time difficulty mode in its associated update. The central narrative of the expansion revolves around the protagonist, known as the Watcher, embarking on a quest to locate a white forge hidden in the mountainous White March region at the behest of the village of Stalwart. Upon reactivating the forge, powerful entities are awakened, posing a threat to the Dyrwood that must be thwarted.

Gameplay:

Critical reception for The White March – Part I was generally positive, with reviewers commending its expansion of the game's quests, though some noted an excessive focus on combat and similarities to the base game. Part II received more favorable reviews, with particular praise for its storytelling and the depth of role-playing opportunities for players.

Gameplay in The White March remains largely consistent with Pillars of Eternity, wherein players control a party of up to six characters on their adventures. The expansion's accompanying patches introduced new features, including an artificial intelligence system for party members that allows players to set their behavior as "aggressive" or "defensive" during battles and use limited abilities automatically. Additionally, a Story Time difficulty mode was added to expedite game progression.

The expansion's setting is primarily in the White March, a snowy region north of Dyrwood in the fantasy world of Eora. The expansion seamlessly integrates its quest line into the base game. Notable locations include the Abbey of the Fallen Moon, a sacred site dedicated to Ondra, the goddess of the sea. Deities like Ondra and Abydon play significant roles in the expansion's plot.

The White March expansion introduces several new party members, such as the Devil of Caroc, a rogue construct with a dark past; Zahua, a philosophical monk with a penchant for drugs; and Maneha, a compassionate barbarian.

Final Words:

In Part I of the expansion, the Watcher, after acquiring the stronghold Caed Nua, is informed by the steward that the village of Stalwart requires assistance in awakening the white forges within the ancient dwarven fortress, Durgan's Battery. The mayor, Renengild, explains the village's need for the White Forge to recover from recent hardships. The Watcher discovers that the dwarves in Durgan's Battery used the White Forge to bind themselves to the fortress. Players are presented with choices regarding the fate of these dwarves, whether to release them to the Wheel for a new life, bind them to the cannons for defense, or bind them to the White Forge to preserve their legacy.