Lich or Azata

[Arthmoon]

What is more fun for 2nd playthrough and why? First was Angel.

[Valthejean]

Hard to say, I've only gotten to Act 3 with either of them, so I can't comment on their full potential. IMO: Azata is goofy and stupid to the point you want to facepalm, but comes with the single best character in the game who is precious and must be protected. Lich has some really fun thematic spells and from what I've heard you can do great things later on. I was rather underwhelmed with their army mechanic, but again we're talking act 3 so it could very easily improve.

[jasons073]

Lich is more fun from a "power" standpoint (the abilities and spells you get are truly awesome), but less fulfilling from a story standpoint. To get the most out of the class, you need to play with the mythic-exclusive undead companions you can resurrect, rather than the main companions, who have minimal if anything to say. You'll have a near-full party of them by the end of Act IV, so from that point on the campaign you'll miss out on party member banter, dialog, commentary, etc., making the rest of the campaign a little boring/lonely at times.

The abilities you have as an Azata aren't quite as powerful, but the mythic path story is just as good. You also get one creature companion that, compared to the lich's undead companions, is much more fleshed out with dialog, party banter, quests, etc. You get the most out of the path by playing with this creature companion and the main companions with all their dialog and banter too, making the campaign playthrough more interesting from beginning to end.

[Princess Pilfer]

Azata.
Because who doesn't want to approach the war like 'yeah it's a horrible demon seige but we might as well have some fun with it you know?'

(For real if I had to fight any of the mythic paths, Azata is the one I'd be the most scared of. Not because they're the strongest. Other paths don't necessarily want to kill you, and even if they do it's often like catharisis or retribution or you were just in their way or something. Azata? They do it for fun. They don't have to be here, they could be anywhere, they don't necessarily even feel morally obligated to be here, there's thousands of other evils they could be fighting, but they chose this specific one because it sounded like fun. And when they're done butchering 500 demons single handedly in like 5 hours they get smashed and have juggling competitions. They're like low-key insane, it's terrifying. )

[Acronen]

I love the lich abilities (pure arcane caster base). They are really fun, and I have always loved the necromancer archetype. But I really hate playing super evil as you are forced into eventually with Lich. It is really fun when you are flirting with that line of using evil to fight evil, but still trying to be an overall good person (at least to your companions, and own people.) It completely falls apart for me though when you have to go full stupid, unbearably evil.

Azata abilities are really fun too, and it's a more lighthearted approach to a story that takes itself rather seriously. Aivu is also a really fun addition, and it remains rather consistent throughout. So probably go with Azata. Unless you enjoy playing evil, in which case you probably won't have the same problem with Lich that I did, and will enjoy it.

[revan1229]

Originally posted by Princess Pilfer:

Azata.
Because who doesn't want to approach the war like 'yeah it's a horrible demon seige but we might as well have some fun with it you know?'

(For real if I had to fight any of the mythic paths, Azata is the one I'd be the most scared of. Not because they're the strongest. Other paths don't necessarily want to kill you, and even if they do it's often like catharisis or retribution or you were just in their way or something. Azata? They do it for fun. They don't have to be here, they could be anywhere, they don't necessarily even feel morally obligated to be here, there's thousands of other evils they could be fighting, but they chose this specific one because it sounded like fun. And when they're done butchering 500 demons single handedly in like 5 hours they get smashed and have juggling competitions. They're like low-key insane, it's terrifying. )

This is Trickster, not Azata. Azata path NPCs aren't there to have fun; they just have unconventional methods for taking on the Demons, as Aranka explains.

[Princess Pilfer]

It's definitely for fun. It's fun backed by good intentions instead of fun for it's own sake.

[jedi7000nathan/sevenbillionjedi]

Azata, personal bias aside but the Azata has a VERY enjoyable storyline, a variety of various interesting things; you get Arueshalae early as an Azata, you get a sweet and amazing Purple Havoc Dragon companion who is absolute fun to have and you can mount late game so you can become a Dragon Rider, and you meet so many interesting characters and hilarious ones, one of which made me absolutely laugh my head off because they were so darn funny.

Lich is a decent path and a VERY strong one; though it really should be played with Toybox to be fully enjoyable in my earnest opinion and I'll note if you get squeemish about doing evil things then the Lich is NOT for you as some of the choices are downright- well stomach-turning if you are a person like me whom has real life beliefs that can override your judgement in game.
The thing that makes both of these paths solid is their unique companions that they get, something other paths lack and thus in my opinion this limits my enjoyment of them; also I hate Lawful Stupid and Lawful in general so yeah my enjoyment of paths like Aeon or Angel are hampered significantly especially given my disdain for actions they have that make me refuse them outright.
Ultimately its up to you to play the path you want most, this game is VERY much player choice and I love that the most about it.

[synnworld]

Originally posted by jasons073:

Lich is more fun from a "power" standpoint (the abilities and spells you get are truly awesome), but less fulfilling from a story standpoint. To get the most out of the class, you need to play with the mythic-exclusive undead companions you can resurrect, rather than the main companions, who have minimal if anything to say. You'll have a near-full party of them by the end of Act IV, so from that point on the campaign you'll miss out on party member banter, dialog, commentary, etc., making the rest of the campaign a little boring/lonely at times.

This, personal bias that necromancer is my favorite magic no matter the setting (story world). 9/10 I'm going to be a necromancer/lich if given the chance unless it's absolutely nerfed garbage in the setting. *coughinquisitioncough*

[Princess Pilfer]

To be fair Angels also make incredibly potent necromancers. (A lot of the necromancy spells are on the divine spell list, and mystic theurge is always an option too)

[Frostfeather]

Lich, barely. Azata is too saccharine and "whimsical" and doesn't really have much content. And didn't it get nerfed recently?

[jedi7000nathan/sevenbillionjedi]

Originally posted by night4:

Lich, barely. Azata is too saccharine and "whimsical" and doesn't really have much content. And didn't it get nerfed recently?

Depends on your definition of nerfed and also depends on whether you play modded or not, I play modded so my judgement is based on the modded builds I use. Anyway the Azata has a LOT of content, it may be whimsical but I find myself laughing at some of the people in it most of the time and I enjoy it. Lich is a solid choice for a second run in my opinon and will be my second run as soon as Expanded Content gets the necromancer overhaul in its next update. Though I again would not play it without Toybox also some of the choices make my skin crawl.

[Frostfeather]

Originally posted by jedi7000nathan/sevenbillionjedi:

Originally posted by night4:

Lich, barely. Azata is too saccharine and "whimsical" and doesn't really have much content. And didn't it get nerfed recently?

Depends on your definition of nerfed and also depends on whether you play modded or not, I play modded so my judgement is based on the modded builds I use. Anyway the Azata has a LOT of content, it may be whimsical but I find myself laughing at some of the people in it most of the time and I enjoy it. Lich is a solid choice for a second run in my opinon and will be my second run as soon as Expanded Content gets the necromancer overhaul in its next update. Though I again would not play it without Toybox also some of the choices make my skin crawl.

Actually they both got nerfed from what I've seen. Lord Beyond the Grave for Lich and the dragon + Zippy Magic for Azata (haven't personally played either one since either nerf though). I'd argue the Azata nerfs are more severe, depending on how things actually work in game at the moment. It's such a cluster of bugs I wouldn't actually recommend either one to OP at all, lol. I just thought Lich was less disappointing overall.

[revan1229]

Originally posted by Princess Pilfer:

It's definitely for fun. It's fun backed by good intentions instead of fun for it's own sake.

The NPCs on that path are definitely not there for fun....with the exception of the mimics.

[Princess Pilfer]

Azata definitely got nerfed. Unless you're doing *ultra* specific things it's one of the weaker paths. Why they saw fit to nerf it while letting Angle and Lich keep their merged spellbook 'I 1shot the entire room. Every room, always, from like the instant I merge spellbooks' is beyond me.

It's pretty unambigious. Azata is *hot garbage* for melee and it has nothing for kineticist. It's basically spellcaster-exclusive if you want to end up with a mechanically powerful build. (that woulnd't be equally powerful on any other path, anyways.)

[jasons073]

Originally posted by Princess Pilfer:

Azata definitely got nerfed. Unless you're doing *ultra* specific things it's one of the weaker paths. Why they saw fit to nerf it while letting Angle and Lich keep their merged spellbook 'I 1shot the entire room. Every room, always, from like the instant I merge spellbooks' is beyond me.

It's pretty unambigious. Azata is *hot garbage* for melee and it has nothing for kineticist. It's basically spellcaster-exclusive if you want to end up with a mechanically powerful build. (that woulnd't be equally powerful on any other path, anyways.)

Azata fits particularly well for bards I believe, both from a lore and mechanical standpoint. At least for bards focused more on buffing/casting/singing and less on direct combat.