OCTOPATH TRAVELER II: Meet Partitio the merchant and Osvald the scholar
In this new preview of OCTOPATH TRAVELER II, we introduce two new characters, and how they can get around the world of Solistia.We know many of you are excited about OCTOPATH TRAVELER II - so here’s a new look at the game!
Don’t be fooled by the ‘II’ - this new RPG is a completely standalone adventure, with a whole new world full of secrets, eight new travelers each with their own tales, a fast-paced and strategic turn-based battle system and more.
Today, we’re tell you a little about that world, and how to get around it. Plus we’ll introduce you to two of the eight potential protagonists: Partitio and Osvald!
The world of OCTOPATH TRAVELER II
The story takes place in Solistia, a land comprising an eastern and western continent divided by the sea.
It is a bustling era, wherein large vessels navigate busy sea routes and the power of steam gives birth to new technologies.
Some people thrill to glamorous stars of the stage and industry, while others are brought to tears by war, plague, and poverty.
In this faraway realm, eight travelers hailing from different regions venture forth for their own reasons.
Step into their shoes and explore the land as you see fit.
New travelers: Meet Partitio and Osvald
OCTOPATH TRAVELER II lets you step into the shoes of eight new characters. Today, we’ll share a look at two of them: the merchant Partitio and the scholar Osvald.
Partitio Yellowil
Your name is Partitio Yellowil, and you are a merchant. Your tale begins in the vast wastes of the Wildlands.
After witnessing the rise and fall of the pioneer town you call home, you set your gaze upon the horizon.
"I'll be back once I eliminate that devil called poverty from the world!"
With dreams of bringing prosperity to all, you embark on a journey with only the scent of commerce to guide you...
Some of the characters in Partitio’s tale
Along your journey as Partitio, you’ll encounter many memorable characters, including:
Papp
Partitio’s father, and the man who taught him all he knows about commerce. He came to this barren land 16 years ago and helped build Oresrush from the ground up.
Roque
Papp’s business partner. He and Papp purchased a promising plot of land, anticipating it would be rich in silver. It has since bloomed into the town of Oresrush. Partitio admires him for being a pioneer in business.
Ori
A scrivener for the Delsta Times who travels the world looking for the latest scoop. Partitio’s actions have caught her eye, and she seemingly appears out of thin air to get all the juicy details.
Partitio’s journey begins in the Wildlands
Northwest Solistia is a barren wasteland - a blasted expanse of volcanic rock that resists even the loneliest blade of grass. The few brave souls who eke out their existence here have long suffered the sulfuric whims of Fiatsuro and its unstable neighbors.
But life always finds a way. Among the rock and stone dwell the golt, an unusually large breed of goat who subsist on a meager fare of local weed. The cheese produced from their milk is especially scrumptious and has become a local specialty.
The volcanic soil conceals a wealth of valuable minerals. Many small mining towns have sprung up here, including the southern town of Oresrush, established by silver merchants Papp and Roque.
Partitio’s Path Actions
Every character in OCTOPATH TRAVELER II has special Path Actions - skills that you can use outside of battle to interact with NPCs, uncover valuable items and more. Each hero has two Path Actions - one they can use in the day, and one for night.
Let’s take a look at Partitio’s:
Daytime: Purchase
Obtain items from people. You must have enough money to purchase their belongings.
The more valuable the item, the higher the price. Put your business prowess to the test!
Night time: Hire
Bring people along on your journey. You must have enough money to hire someone.
Hired helpers can be summoned during battle to provide aid.
Different people provide different benefits. Use your funds wisely to hire a variety of helpers.
Partitio’s talent: Business Partners
Depending on who you have hired, you might receive benefits in business and battle.
You could be granted a discount when shopping, receive more leaves when selling items, pay less when using certain skills in battle, and more.
Some partners can negotiate a discount when purchasing. Others give you a chance to get items for free...
Merchants can use Hired Help to summon mercenaries into battle. Your partner may be able to lower the mercenary’s cost.
Partitio’s Latent Power: Hoot and Holler
Each hero also has a Latent Power, which they can draw on in battle when their gauge is full.
Partitio’s latent power can replenish all BP in an instant, whether at the onset of battle or immediately after exhausting all points.
Use BP however you see fit. The merchant ability Donate BP also allows you to grant BP to allies.
Osvald V. Vanstein
Your name is Osvald V. Vanstein, and you are a scholar. Your tale begins in the snowswept reaches of the Winterlands.
You have been sentenced to life in prison for murdering your wife and daughter and have since spent 1,879 days locked within a frigid cell.
"Harvey - the man who took everything from me - shall die by my hand. I swear it."
Not even the bitter cold can extinguish the raging fire in your breast. And so you set out to exact your revenge...
Some of the characters in Osvald’s tale
Here are some of the people you’ll meet during Osvald’s adventure:
Harvey
A scholar of magic who is on par with Osvald. He continues his research into the seventh source of magic, which differs from the six known elements of fire, ice, lightning, wind, light, and darkness.
Emerald
A fellow prisoner of Osvald’s on Frigit Isle. He leverages his knowledge as an informant to help Osvald escape.
Lady Clarissa
Osvald’s research assistant. She believes that Osvald is innocent and watches over his study in his absence.
Osvald’s story beings in the Winterlands
Northern Solistia is a frozen place of snow and ice. Its capital is Stormhail, a mountainous city that houses the Sacred Guard. Established roughly 380 years ago, the Sacred Guard was the brainchild of Archbishop Kinchler.
After the cold snap that assailed the eastern continent in the previous century, the order established its headquarters here. To this day, this holy organization's mission remains unchanged: to uphold law and order across the continent.
Travel towards the coast, and you will find the fishing town of Cape Cold. Great hauls of salmon, trout, mackerel, squid, and more are brought in almost daily. In addition, many who dwell here work in agriculture or textiles, and lately, a hardy species of cold-resistant barley has caused quite a stir.
Osvald’s Path Actions
Daytime: Scrutinize
Glean information from people (with a given probability). Fail, and your reputation in town will suffer.
You won’t be able to use Path Actions if your reputation suffers. Raise Osvald’s level to increase his chances of success
Night time: Mug
Obtain items from people. You must best them in battle to get the spoils you seek.
Mug someone to commence the battle. Emerge victorious, and you can take all their belongings.
Talent: Study Foe
Osvald can gain insight into one of a foe’s weak points at the start of battle.
Osvald will automatically use Study Foe when the battle begins. Knowing an enemy’s weakness is invaluable when strategizing.
Utilize scholarly spells to exploit enemy weaknesses and break foes.
Latent Power: Concentrate Spells
When his latent power gauge is full, Osvald can focus spells that usually target all foes onto a single target with increased potency.
Many of Osvald’s magic skills target all foes. His latent power allows you to deal heavy damage to bosses and other powerful enemies.
Travel on the Water
With those character introductions out of the way, we’ll take a look at some new exploration and traversal features coming in OCTOPATH TRAVELER II!
In this instalment of the series, you can board canoes to explore like never before. Traverse both land and sea to venture to every corner of the realm.
You can board a canoe to explore towns, dungeons, and more. What treasures await on the realm’s isolated isles?
Enjoy the nautical journey, but beware of enemies lurking beneath the water’s surface...
A vessel all your own
Advance through the story, and you can obtain your own nautical vessel! Use it to journey between continents, or chart your own course out to sea and disembark on unexplored islands. The world is yours to explore.
You can choose your vessel’s color and sail emblem.
There are places only your vessel can reach, like mysterious islands and sunken ships.
Crossed Paths: Osvald and Partitio
In OCTOPATH TRAVELER II, you can experience Crossed Paths - stories involving two travelers.
Osvald and Partitio come across a man who has collapsed on the street. He turns out to be an old friend of Osvald’s and an astronomer. Intrigued by his story, the two eventually find themselves embroiled in his troubles...
We hope you enjoyed this latest preview of OCTOPATH TRAVELER II. The game releases physically and digitally on February 24, 2023, for PS5, PS4, and Nintendo Switch and digitally on Steam.
A physical Collector’s Edition Set is available to preorder for PS5, PS4 and Switch, exclusively via the Square Enix Store.
This set includes the following items:
- OCTOPATH TRAVELER II Standard Edition Game
- Bust figurines of the eight protagonists
- Art book (44 pages)
- Extended battle tracks CD
Supplies are limited so preorder now to avoid disappointment:
We’ll have more to share about OCTOPATH TRAVELER II in the coming months, so make sure you bookmark the blog and follow us on social media for news and updates!