- "Till we meet again, dear sister. May the Sacred Flame light your path!" —Ophilia to her sister Lianna, before departing her home
Ophilia Clement is one of eight playable characters in Octopath Traveler. A cleric in the Church of the Sacred Flame, she embarks on a pilgrimage to perform the Kindling ceremony in her adoptive sister’s stead after their father Archbishop Josef falls seriously ill.
Profile[]
Appearance[]
Ophilia has long, straight blonde hair that reaches her shoulders. She wears a white hooded cape held together by a golden trinket, a white dress with blue godets and gold accents that reaches to her ankles, black gloves, and leather lace-up boots. In her sprites, her gloves and eyes are brown. Many townspeople mention her beauty and elegance when Guided, and her traveling companions make similar remarks.
Personality[]
Ophilia is a soft-spoken young woman with a kind heart. Raised by Archbishop Josef himself, she does what she deems right and frequently helps those in need. She expresses resolute willingness to take on the church's holy pilgrimage, demonstrating her devotion to her faith despite the possible repercussions, as well as devotion to her sister by allowing Lianna to remain by her ailing father's side. Josef compares Ophilia’s kindness to the Sacred Flame that illuminates the paths of all, though he hopes that this kindness will not become her downfall.
Initially, upon being brought into the church, Ophilia suffered depression and withdrawal after losing all of her family due to war. Lianna helped her open up, allowing her to take on a role in the Church and become the woman that she is today.
Despite her gentleness, Ophilia can become fierce when her values are threatened. When Donovan's daughter Lysa is kidnapped, she declares that exploiting a father's love for his daughter is a "sin that the gods will not overlook," and she does not hesitate to protect the innocent with her full strength. Although she attempts to win over her opponents through peaceful methods before resorting to force, she is willing to kill in self-defense and has slain multiple aggressors.
Ophilia possesses a clear aptitude for interacting with children, who play a role in three of her four story chapters. She also maintains a strong relationship with her fellow travelers, giving and seeking guidance from them. Others often point out that she is too kind for her own good; Therion claims that she trusts others too easily, which can open her up to deception. Ultimately, however, even betrayal cannot shake her faith, and the light of her love overcomes the dark forces arrayed against her.
History[]
- "Your name is Ophilia, and you are a cleric. You hail from the snowswept Frostlands, where you dutifully serve the Order of the Flame under your adoptive father, the archbishop. As your adoptive sister—and best friend—prepares to embark on a perilous pilgrimage, you stand ever at her side. But unbeknownst to the both of you, events are about to take a tragic turn..." —Ophilia's menu description
Prior to Story[]
15 years prior to the events of Octopath Traveler, Ophilia was orphaned as the result of the war during Pardis III's first attempt to conquer Orsterra. The archbishop of Flamesgrace Cathedral, Josef, adopted her and treated her as if she were his blood daughter. At first, Ophilia shut herself away and refused to let anyone talk to her, thinking that she was fated to be alone and miserable forever. Fortunately, her adoptive sister Lianna was able to help Ophilia out of her shell by bringing her atop a hill that overlooked the cathedral. Lianna hoped that this place would become Ophilia's favorite as well.
Chapter 1[]
Ophilia's story begins at the onset of Lianna's pilgrimage. As Ophilia speaks with Mattias, a merchant providing supplies for Lianna's journey, Archbishop Josef falls gravely ill. Crushed by the fear of her father's fate, Lianna confides in Ophilia. Ophilia resolves to venture into the Cave of Origin and take Aelfric's Lanthorn, placing the duty of the pilgrimage upon herself so that Lianna may remain at Josef's side.
Chapter 2[]
Ophilia arrives in Saintsbridge and successfully kindles its Sacred Flame. She subsequently spots a young boy, Emil, being harassed by his friends Derryl and Nate. Emil explains that Derryl has recently lost his mother and is upset because Emil had lost her brooch. Ophilia helps the boys reconcile and search for the brooch. After Emil runs into The Murkwood to look further, Ophilia and Derryl chase after him, just in to save him from Hróðvitnir.
Chapter 3[]
In Goldshore, Ophilia runs into Mattias once more. She is unable to perform the Kindling due to Bishop Donovan's nervous behavior, which he excuses as unpreparedness. Upon speaking with Daniel, a boy she had seen acting suspiciously, she realizes that Donovan's daughter Lysa had been taken hostage by cultists seeking the sacred ember in the Lanthorn. Ophilia ventures to the Seaside Grotto in order to rescue her from the two men.
Upon her return to Goldshore, Ophilia kindles the Flame, but is soon approached by Lianna with news of their father's death. Lianna, having been convinced by the cultists that they can bring her father back to life, drugs Ophilia's drink and steals Aelfric's Lanthorn.
Chapter 4[]
As Ophilia arrives in Wispermill in pursuit of Lianna, the townspeople act standoffish towards her. Luring her into a house and ambushing her, the villagers imprison her in the town gaol, where she learns that the town is part of a cult led by Mattias, the "Savior." He explains his intentions of using Lianna to kindle Galdera's Accurst Flame, then departs. Lianna later secretly unlocks Ophilia's cell door, but insists on completing Mattias's ceremony, lost in the belief that their father can be resurrected.
Following the cultists to the Ebony Grotto, Ophilia interrupts the ceremony and brings Lianna back to her senses by reminding her of a lesson their father taught them: that those who die live on in the hearts of their loved ones, leaving a lasting legacy. Enraged that his plan has been thwarted, Mattias attacks Ophilia, only to perish at her hand.
Ophilia returns to Flamesgrace to complete the Kindling ceremony. However, Lianna remains distraught at the loss of Josef and overwhelmed with guilt over nearly releasing Galdera's power into the world, and shuts herself away in her room in depression—much like Ophilia did fifteen years ago. Ophilia guides her to their favorite place atop the hill, reminding Lianna that their father will live on in their hearts.
Relationships[]
Archbishop Josef[]
Josef took Ophilia in after she lost her family. Despite living with him for fifteen years, Ophilia only ever refers to him as "His Excellency" due to his status and her lack of self-confidence; she only calls him "father" once when he is seriously ill and tells her that he believes his end is near. However, the two do care for each other, with Ophilia being ever grateful for the archbishop for taking her in.
Lianna[]
Lianna is Ophilia's adoptive sister and best friend who always stands by her side. Thanks to Lianna's persistent help, Ophilia was able to overcome her grief and began enjoying life at the church with her new family. Both sisters care deeply for each other, enough that Ophilia offered to take the pilgrimage so Lianna could stay by their sick father's side. Lianna is grateful for her sister's intervention, but cannot help but apologize that she had Ophilia take on her burden.
Mattias[]
Mattias is a trader of the Leoniel Consortium who provided support to Lianna before she was meant to depart on the pilgrimage. Ophilia initially regards him as a kind man, expressing gratitude to him for helping both Lianna and herself through the pilgrimage. Mattias, for his part, treats Ophilia warmly, praising her unwavering kindness and confiding in her his doubts about the gods and the Sacred Flame.
However, Mattias's kind modesty eventually falls away as a façade concealing a sinister personality. Having already lost faith in and become hateful towards the Sacred Flame, Mattias had been plotting the failure of the pilgrimage from the start by discreetly poisoning Archbishop Josef and taking advantage of Lianna's grief to manipulate her into kindling the Accurst Flame, all under the pretense of resurrecting her father. When Ophilia sees Mattias's true colors in Wispermill, she becomes disgusted with him for using her adoptive sister's pain for his own benefit, inspiring her to stop the dark ritual and save Lianna.
Battle[]
Ophilia is a Cleric, being one of the group's two dedicated healers. She focuses on party-wide heals and single-target elemental defense buffs, and is also equipped with light-elemental spells, although she can only use staves initially. She boasts high elemental attack and defense, both powering her spells, but falters in health, physical defense and speed. She can increase her survivability with her last Support Skill, Saving Grace, and Reflective Veil is the key to many anti-magic battle plans.
Ophilia's Path Action, Guide, allows her to recruit an NPC as a temporary companion in battle. These guests are untargetable and uncontrollable, but will attack every turn and offer a rare chance of protecting her from a direct hit. They will leave the field after a few turns and can be resummoned a set number of times before they are released. NPC strengths and abilities vary greatly, so with careful planning and preparation, Ophilia can add considerable value to the fight. Guide is a Noble Path Action and so it relies on Ophilia's level to be used, but it cannot fail.
Due to her natural aptitude as a mage, Ophilia does well with subjobs that further increase her elemental stats and spell repertoire.
- As a Scholar, Ophilia can act as both a powerful healer and a powerful attacker with four different elements. The main flaw in this combination is that it may make Ophilia's focus too broad, preventing her from making optimal use of either her healing abilities or her offensive magic. It also does not grant access to any additional weapon types.
- Apothecary allows a bit more nuance to Ophilia's healing power, as First Aid can be used to heal one character instead of the entire party. This can be helpful for saving SP if there's only one character that actually needs healing. She also gains the ability to remove and prevent status ailments with Rehabilitate, which her native Cleric class lacks.
- Merchant gives Ophilia two additional weapon types and wind elemental attacks, and Donate BP is a powerful addition to Ophilia's support abilities. Most importantly, the Merchant's Rest skill allows Ophilia to regenerate her own SP, which she is dependent on for both healing and offense.
- As a Dancer, Ophilia becomes a powerful support character that can buff any stat thanks to her native Cleric class, including the one buff that Dancer lacks. Ophilia also gains access to a new weapon type and dark-elemental magic. Light and dark are opposite elements, so having both improves Ophilia's ability to break enemy defenses more than it seems. The main drawback is that Ophilia possesses the lowest speed stat among the eight travelers, which may make it difficult for her allies to use buffs the same turn they receive them. This can be somewhat circumvented with the "Defend" command, which will move her to the front of the turn order in the next turn.
Among the advanced classes, Ophilia does best as a Starseer or a Sorcerer. The Starseer gives Ophilia similar advantages to the Dancer by combining her native healing spells with support magic. It also gives her a powerful magic attack that deals three hits on its own and is devastating against broken enemies. As the Starseer cannot equip staves on its own, Ophilila is one of only two travelers, the other being Cyrus, who can power up all three of Shooting Star's hits. The Sorcerer combines Ophilia's high Elemental Attack with the ability to use all six elements, but like the Scholar, she may have difficulty getting the most out of her abilities by spreading them too thin.
Recommended support skills for Ophilia to equip include: Inner Strength (early-game), Saving Grace, SP Saver, Second Wind, Resist Ailments, Patience, Boost-Start (in combination with Heal More/Saving Grace), Divine Aura, Stronger Strikes, Augmented Elements, and Elemental Edge.
Due to the flexibilty of subjobs, any character can fill any role with the right equipment and skills, with proper planning, any of the travelers can perform decently on any subjob.
Cleric Skills[]
| Skill | SP | Damage Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heal Wounds | 8 | Restore HP to all allies. | |
| Holy Light | 6 | 
|
Inflict light-based damage on a single foe. |
| Sheltering Veil | 6 | Augment a single ally's elemental defense for 2 turns. | |
| Luminescence | 9 |
|
Deal light-based damage to all foes. |
| Heal More | 25 | Restore a large amount of HP to all allies. | |
| Reflective Veil | 22 | Grant a single ally the ability to reflect one elemental attack. | |
| Revive | 50 | Revive all incapacitated allies. | |
| Aelfric's Auspices | 30 | [Divine Skill] For 3 turns, skills performed by a single chosen ally will trigger twice (this will not effect other divine skills). |
Support Skills[]
| No. of Skills Unlocked | Total JP | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 130 | Persistence | All status enhancements you receive will last for one additional turn. |
| 5 | 630 | Inner Strength | Increases the maximum SP of the equipped character by 50. |
| 6 | 1,630 | Evil Ward | Increases the party's success rate when attempting to flee (equipping this skill with multiple characters will have no added effect). |
| 7 | 4,630 | Saving Grace | Grants the equipping character the ability to be healed above their maximum HP. |
Subjobs[]
Below are the sprites and appearance changes for Ophilia with each Subjob:
Each time a subjob is selected, the appearance of the character will also change. The first sprite is the appearance with no subjob equipped.
Quotes[]
- "May the Sacred Flame guide us." —When selected from the main screen
- "And so I must gather the ember, that I might perform the Kindling in my sister's stead. This is a path I had chosen. I alone must go. Hm? Even so you would lend me your aid? I thank you for your kind offer. Surely the flame has guided you to my side. Now let us for the Cave of Origin. It lies the hills to east the of town." —Joined the Party
- "Should you need guidance and support on your path, I am ever at your service." —Tavern Dialogue
- "Let the Flame guide your path..." —Guide
- "I'm afraid the people here care not for my guidance..." —Attempting to Guide with damaged reputation
- "There is no choice." —Start of battle
- "Flame protect us!" —Start of battle
- "I will battle!" —Start of battle
- "I will not lose to you!" —Start of boss battle
- "I will stop you here and now!" —Start of boss battle
- "I'll do my best!" —Start of turn
- "Well then." —Start of turn
- "My turn now." —Start of turn
- "I will not be defeated." —Start of turn
- "Huh?" —Starting turn with status ailment
- "Here I go!" —Max Boost
- "Prepare yourself!" —Max Boost
- "This should help!" —Using item on self
- "Have this!" —Using item on an ally
- "Take this!" —Using item on an enemy
- "You will not!" —Evading an attack
- "No! You will not!" —Defending
- "I hope I've grown more able." —End of battle
- "The flame guides us true!" —End of battle
- "I am not made for such battles." —End of battle
- "It seems I am finished..." —Defeated
- "Sorry..." —Defeated
- "O sacred light!" —Using Holy Light
- "Please protect us." —Using Sheltering Veil
- "May the Sacred Flame shine forth!" —Using Luminescence
- "Bring about a miracle of healing!" —Using Heal More
- "I will reflect your barbs!" —Using Reflective Veil
- "In Aelfric's name, be saved!" —Using Revive
- "Aelfric, Bringer of the Flame!" —Using Aelfric's Auspices
- "Fire, burn strong!" —Using Fireball
- "Ice, splinter and shard!" —Using Icewind
- "Lightning, strike true!" —Using Lightning Bolt
- "Allow me to have a look." —Using Analyze
- "Flames, burn this away!" —Using Fire Storm
- "Be engulfed in my blizzard!" —Using Blizzard
- "Thunder, ring out!" —Using Lightning Blast
- "Wise Alephan, come to us!" —Using Alephan's Enlightenment
- "If you don't mind." —Using Collect
- "A wind is coming!" —Using Tradewinds
- "If you'll excuse me..." —Using Rest
- "The winds of fortune!" —Using Trade Tempest
- "I trust in your aid." —Using Donate BP
- "You will not harm me!" —Using Sidestep
- "Fight for me!" —Using Hired Help
- "I call on Bifelgan the Rich!" —Using Bifelgan's Bounty
- "Level slash!" —Using Level Slash
- "Spearhead!" —Using Spearhead
- "Hehehe! Over here!" —Using Incite
- "I strike at you!" —Using Cross Strike
- "I will defend myself!" —Using Stout Wall
- "There's no escape!" —Using Thousand Spears
- "Warrior Brand, strike with us!" —Using Brand's Thunder
- "This is the Lion Dance!" —Using Lion Dance
- "The Moonlight Waltz!" —Using Moonlight Waltz
- "The Peacock Strut!" —Using Peacock Strut
- "The Mole Dance!" —Using Mole Dance
- "Night Ode, bring your shade!" —Using Night Ode
- "Prance like a panther!" —Using Panther Dance
- "What do you think will happen?" —Using Bewildering Grace
- "Lady Sealticge, dance for us!" —Using Sealticge's Seduction
- "Let me heal you!" —Using First Aid
- "Please freeze!" —Using Icicle
- "You'll be all right now." —Using Rehabilitate
- "This will hurt!" —Using Amputation
- "This will sting!" —Using Empoison
- "Please rise." —Using Vivify
- "May this be a quick mercy!" —Using Last Stand
- "Healer Dohter, aid us!" —Using Dohter's Charity
- "Pardon me!" —Using Steal
- "This will burn!" —Using Wildfire
- "I need your strength." —Using HP Thief
- "If you'll allow me!" —Using Shackle Foe
- "I'll bring down those defenses!" —Using Armor Corrosive
- "I need this power." —Using Steal SP
- "Let us do our best." —Using Share SP
- "Clever Aeber, take what's yours." —Using Aeber's Reckoning
- "A rain of arrows!" —Using Rain of Arrows
- "I'm aiming for you!" —Using True Strike
- "You might be shocked!" —Using Thunderbird
- "This should slow you." —Using Leghold Trap
- "I'll hold back." —Using Mercy Strike
- "You cannot dodge this!" —Using Arrowstorm
- "I see through your moves." —Using Take Aim
- "Huntress Draefendi, your prey is here!" —Using Draefendi's Rage
- "Rage with fire!" —Using Fire Rune
- "Be filled with cold!" —Using Ice Rune
- "Crackle with lightning!" —Using Thunder Rune
- "Blow strong and true." —Using Wind Rune
- "Let darkness take you." —Using Dark Rune
- "Burn with light!" —Using Light Rune
- "Scatter!" —Using Transfer Rune
- "Mighty Balogar, I summon you." —Using Balogar's Blade
- "Ignis Ardere." —Using Ignis Ardere
- "Glacies Claudere." —Using Glacies Claudere
- "Tonitrus Canere." —Using Tonitrus Canere
- "Ventus Saltare." —Using Ventus Saltare
- "Lux Congerere." —Using Lux Congerere
- "Tenebrae Operire." —Using Tenebrae Operire
- "Break the bounds!" —Using Elemental Break
- "Great Dreisang, we call on you!" —Using Dreisang's Spell
- "Malefic stars, pierce our foes!" —Using Shooting Stars
- "Oh stars, fill us with power!" —Using BP Boost
- "Shooting comets, lead us on our way!" —Using Divination
- "Wandering planets, show us the path!" —Using Starsong
- "Sunlight, burn this place clean!" —Using Celestial Intervention
- "Benefic stars, bless us." —Using Ethereal Healing
- "Moonlight, reflect their blows!" —Using Moon's Reflection
- "Steorra, Starwalker, walk upon us!" —Using Steorra's Prophecy
- "My blade be true." —Using Guardian Liondog
- "I'll wield this axe." —Using Tiger Rage
- "Spear, fly straight!" —Using Qilin's Horn
- "Take wing, and fly!" —Using Yatagarasu
- "Spirits, aid me." —Using Fox Spirit
- "A storm of arrows upon you!" —Using Phoenix Storm
- "I'll risk all on this." —Using Nightmare Chimera
- "Proud Winnehild, favor us." —Using Winnehild's Battle Cry
Gallery[]
Etymology[]
"Ophilia" is a variant of the Greek name "Ophelia," which means "benefit," "aid," or "help." This name reflects Ophilia's caring nature and her readiness to support, guide, and aid others. The name "Ophelia" was first used by Jacopo Sannazaro for a character in the poem titled "Arcadia"; Ophelia's name was later borrowed by Shakespeare for use in the popular play titled Hamlet, in which Ophelia served as Hamlet’s lover. Unfortunately, Shakespeare's Ophelia went insane after the death of her father and drowned, a tragic aspect that may be echoed in Ophilia's war-torn background.
Ophilia's surname, "Clement," derives from the Latin name "Clemens" and means "merciful" or "mild," fitting her kind and loving personality.
Trivia[]
- Ophilia and Therion are the only two characters facing to the right in their portrait, while the other main characters' portraits face to the left.
- Travel banter reveals that Ophilia admires Therion for his bravery and Olberic for the kindness and mercy that he shows to his opponents. She particularly appreciates Olberic's belief that every child should have a mentor to look up to, enabling a trusted adult to teach them the ways of the world.
- During the "For Women's Ears Only" travel banter, Ophilia states that her ideal man is someone "compassionate, caring, thoughtful, and upright." She adds that he must be "able to handle a sword," "clever like a scholar," and "hard on himself, but forgiving of others." In addition, he must not only be taller than her, but he also must be broad-minded and tolerant. In conclusion, Ophilia requires a man who is "generally wonderful." The other girls point out that no such man exists.
- However, the general consensus is that Ophilia's ideal man is a mix of the 4 male travelers.
- Ophilia is one of three protagonists with a unique weapon sprite: her staff sprite is different from the one used by the other seven travelers.
- The "Let's Play a Game" travel banter reveals that Ophilia has no prior experience with playing card games. Nevertheless, she has a natural talent for them, as evidenced by her many victories against Cyrus and Tressa. Her proficiency stems from her perpetually calm, serene demeanor, eliminating any visual cues that can be used to figure out her hand. Ophilia herself claims to have no specific strategy—she simply lets the Sacred Flame guide her.
- Ophilia was born the same year that Archbishop Josef carried out the Kindling pilgrimage; the pilgrimage is performed once every 20 years, and Ophilia is 20 years old during the events of Octopath Traveler.
- During his travel banter, Cyrus calls Ophilia "attractive" and "beautiful," deeming these compliments simple statements of fact.
- According to the official Octopath Traveler guidebook, Ophilia was born in a village named Creek, which was destroyed in the same war that killed her parents.
- During her travel banter in Olberic's Chapter 3, Ophilia prays for the souls of slain lizardmen. Although they are vicious monsters, she says that "they are living creatures... and I would that they rest in peace."
- In Tressa's Chapter 3, Ophilia declares, "Oh how I yearn for the romance of the open sea!" Afterward, she admits that when she was just a small girl, she'd often watch boys playing at pirates, but she was never allowed to join in.
- During her Chapter 3 banter, Ophilia muses that Alfyn gives her "(Strength... and peace of mind, too. I wonder if this is what it's like to have an older brother.)"
- Ophilia's first three story chapters involve her helping and Guiding children. However, her Chapter 4 breaks that pattern when a Wispermill woman uses the prospect of a sick child as bait, demonstrating that Ophilia's enemies have caught on to her habits and wielded them against her.
- Ophilia's Chapter 4 (along with Cyrus's Chapter 3) is one of the two story chapters that involves the protagonist's temporary imprisonment, requiring the player to wait for an ally to break them out. In Octopath Traveler II, Hikari's Chapter 4 joins this tradition.
- During Ophilia's Chapter 4 travel banter, H'aanit addresses Ophilia as "child."
- In banter during Alfyn's Chapter 4, Ophilia expresses interest in apprenticing herself to Alfyn as an apothecary. However, she realizes that this would be impossible due to her priestly oath and her conflicting responsibilities.
- In the Rituals and Superstitions banter, Ophilia says, "Every morning after reading scripture, I wish for a blessed day... before carefully placing a bookmark between the pages I had been reading. The bookmark I use is actually a pressed flower that I picked from a secret place I know." (This "secret place" presumably refers to the mountain in Flamesgrace, where flowers bloom through the snow.)
- The Culinary Competence banter reveals that Ophilia doesn't know how to bake, as in the church, "it's nothing but porridge and tack most days."
- As revealed by the Wedding Bells travel banter, Ophilia has assisted at a number of weddings. She also offers to preside over Olberic's and Alfyn's weddings should those days ever come.
- Many of Ophilia's cleric, scholar, and Starseer ability voicelines are identical to Primrose's.
- According to a developer interview, Ophilia was the last character created for Octopath Traveler, and as such, her story and gameplay balancing were the most difficult for the developers to finalize.[1]
- None of the bosses in Ophilia's story begin their battles with minions, a trait that her story shares with H'aanit's. Instead, the Guardian of the First Flame and Mattias summon minions during the fight.
- According to the Japanese novel The Four Paths of Eight Travelers, Ophilia often splits from the rest of the party to pray when they make camp.
- The novel also details Ophilia's worry after the events of her Chapter 3, once she has lost her sister, father, and Lanthorn together. These traumatic events bearing down on her, one after another, had worn her spirit thin, causing her to lose her focus and ultimately get lost in a blizzard along the Trail to the Whitewood.
- According to the novel, while the travelers were on the way to Stillsnow for H'aanit's Chapter 3, the party took the opportunity to stop by Flamesgrace and confirm Lianna's words about Archbishop Josef's death.
- In the novel Ophilia also ruminates over the disbelief expressed by the cultists and Mattias in her third chapter. H'aanit praises the cleric's great strength in holding to her faith even in the midst of hardship, which leads into a discussion about prayer. Ophilia says that she does not know whether faith or prayer can bring about miracles; she believes that prayer is simply an expression of a person's desires, and whether or not those wishes reach Aelfric, prayer gives people the courage they need to push through the darkness.
- When composing Ophilia's theme, Yasunori Nishiki chose the flute and harp to express her gentle feminine side. Her theme has a simple A→B (chorus) structure, with the A section representing holiness and B section representing kindness and tolerance. The sensitive Fadd11 chord at the beginning is the part he put the most effort into, as it carries a mystical sound and perfectly expresses both priestly holiness and Ophilia's soft gentleness.[2]
- Concept artist Naoki Ikushima remarks that he sensed a calm and gentle yet persevering heart from Ophilia - like a wildflower blooming valiantly from the snow-covered ground.[3]
- At first, Ophilia was designed with more airy expressions, but the development team expressed a desire for her to share the same strength in her eyes as Primrose. Ophilia demonstrated more power in her gaze and poise at one point, but in the end the developers settled on an ambiance at once gentle and approachable.[4]
- Early concepts portrayed Ophilia with shorter hair that curved to frame her face, or else with a darker brown hairstyle that curled or grew wavy at the ends. In the latter design, she wore a blue-jeweled ferronnière (a headband encircling the forehead, set with a pendant gem).[4]
- When sketching Ophilia's artwork, Naoki Ikushima considered how to draw someone meant to be a proverbial guiding star - a shepherd to guide the way. He originally drew her guiding or offering a helping hand to others, and he thought that looking back at everyone behind her suited Ophilia's character. Hers is a face full of love.[5]
- Ikushima sometimes contrasted H'aanit's design with Ophilia's, aiming to clarify Ophilia's own appearance. At one point, he notes that Ophilia should have a look emanating intelligence and a decisive will, but not like the hunter's sharp visage.[4]
- Ophilia's clothing underwent a large number of proposed concepts, including styles with different coloring (white, blue, gray), head coverings, and designs more reminiscent of traditional nun's garb. Overall, she was to exhibit a pure impression befitting a priest. Her initial white robe was designed with white and black parts to contrast and complement the white. Her scepter also went through several iterations, most including a series of rings at its top.[6]
- Of all the characters' clothes, the design of Ophilia's cleric robes took the most time to get right. Naoki Ikushima liked the style of the robes designed to keep out the cold, but it stuck out like a sore thumb when traveling outside of the Frostlands, necessitating modification.[7]
- As the final female character to be created, Ophilia's straightforward attire made her sprites easy to create. Her tidy and trim appearance, combined with her dedication to her calling, made all of her poses easy to conceptualize and just as easy to create. Given all of her bright hues, the developers had to be careful not to make her pop out and look overexposed on the game screen.[8]
- Sprites of Ophilia's curly-haired design were drawn, but never made it into the final game.[8]
- Sprite artist Shizuka Morimoto comments on her sprites, "Still... it's got to be pretty chilly in the Frostlands without any sleeves, huh?"[8]
References[]
- ↑ Octopath Traveler devs on character origins, visual style, initial HD Rumble plans, much more. (Date Posted: Nov. 3, 2018).
- ↑ Ophilia, the Cleric/Cyrus, the Scholar
- ↑ The Art of Octopath Traveler 2016-2020, page 60.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 The Art of Octopath Traveler 2016-2020, page 61.
- ↑ The Art of Octopath Traveler 2016-2020, page 62.
- ↑ The Art of Octopath Traveler 2016-2020, pages 63-65.
- ↑ The Art of Octopath Traveler 2016-2020, page 65.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 The Art of Octopath Traveler 2016-2020, page 67.