When to go to Varnhold

[joefitts63]

I have received a couple of invitations to visit Varnhold. I would love to go visit my neighbor, but I have literally months and months of kingdom level ups backed up. Should I work on those, or just go to Varnhold and not worry too much about them? (I have completed the trolls and the seed portal monsters, and have some time before the next curse attack.)

[Near Gravity]

The game tutorial for the Kingdom states you should visit your Capital once a month, playing with Normal management requirements. So if Varnhold and back is less than 30 days, I expect you shouldn't run into any issues as long as you've talked to your advisors and set people on tasks until you come back.

If you want to play it safe, the Options and Settings Difficulty do still allow you to adjust Kingdom Management requirements however.

[Babbles]

I have been to Varnhold and all you do it talk to Meagvar - there isn't anything really interesting except for some conversations. You lose/gain no xp or items by waiting untill the next chapter threat befor going there.

[hamtidamti]

There is a pretty neat item in a crate in Varnhold, the Heart of Ira[pathfinderkingmaker.gamepedia.com]. I don't know, though, if it is still there later on or if you miss it, if you decline Maegar Varn's invitation.

[Balekai]

Originally posted by hamtidamti:

There is a pretty neat item in a crate in Varnhold, the Heart of Ira[pathfinderkingmaker.gamepedia.com]. I don't know, though, if it is still there later on or if you miss it, if you decline Maegar Varn's invitation.

This. I would actually go to Varnhold to get this item. I did so in my latest game right after chapter 1 and the Wildcard first quest. Also Varnhold takes literally 1-2 day to travel to. Once you reach Varn territory a scripted convo teleports you to Varnhold with no time loss. When you exit Varnhold you teleport to the area east of Lake Silverstep. The only hard part is not getting ganked by high CR (8-14) random encounters for a level 5ish team. The Item Heart of Ira makes the wearer immune to fatigue which is really useful on a barbarian. It also has an unlimited use, toggle on/off aura of negative energy which has two good uses: The first one is for companion quests where you have to duel someone/something like Amiri's and Valerie's. The second purpose is that the Aura can help a low level solo tank with low attack (Valerie) to do some ok AoE damage for low levels. I guess you could equip it on your tank, have Jaethal be your off tank and have the aura heal her. Using in real combat can be hard because the AoE is a large one. It will damage party members if they're too close when activated. The buff Death Ward may help (I think it prevents negative energy damage in addition to effects). Especially for off-tanks or whomever doesn't have Heart equipped and are not Jaethal.

My initial adventuring after first getting Barony was NE along the east side of Shrike River, claimed tthe blue location, then Northwest to Sorrowflow (DLC area). Then going east to Varnhold from there after doing any locations I discovered in the north there. (around mine claim). Once you each Varnhold and exit you will be back around Lake Silverstep and I took the opportunity to do Lake Silverstep location here before heading back to Capital.

[joefitts63]

Thanks for the responses, everyone! I have too many front line chars for the drain effect, but it could be useful to Amiri.

[FCKPTN]

You can activate the Heart of Ira effect while sneaking, merrily killing mobs without starting a fight.