Will Avowed change RPGing for the better?

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Teased back in the summer of 2020, Obsidian has been mostly quiet about its development on multiple RPG titles, and hype about the game mostly died out as it didn't crop up at recent awards. It seemed Avowed would take a backseat to the upcoming competition, such as Bethesda's sci-fi RPG Starfield. That said, recent leaks and new developments have prompted a renewed interest in Avowed's progress. I've heard multiple comments that Avowed should be ready to show off at the 2022 E3 in early summer, so my fingers are crossed. I've heard multiple comments on a 2023 release date.

Obsidian Entertainment is responsible for games Fallout: New Vegas, Pillars of Eternity, and The Outer Worlds. Their work on the latter two intrigues me about their upcoming RPG, Avowed. While I think 'New Vegas' is easily the best Fallout game, Pillars of Eternity and TOW flex just how well Obsidian can craft an original RPG with their own IPs.

With that preface aside, I've gone ahead and compiled some notes on what players should know about Avowed. Be sure to take some of these notes with a grain of salt; I am sourcing parts of this information from rumors and game leaks and merging it with knowledge from more official channels. I'm also providing a summary of the leaked info VS a deep-dive, so those curious for more should do some Google digging!

What's in store for Avowed?

Setting

Avowed will take place in the same universe as Pillars of Eternity, the high-fantasy D&D/Pathfinder-esque title that has won hearty acclaim from die-hard RPGers.

While I haven't seen any firm confirmation of the story, it sounds like there will be many groups and factions for players to interact with that will involve themselves in the main storyline. I've also heard that Avowed will be an open-world setting with real-time weather, which will make the RPGing immersion more intense.

Visuals

Avowed has been compared to "a more vibrant Skyrim" with a similar color saturation/palette to The Outer Worlds. While the Avowed teaser showcased a grittier fantasy realm, I am hoping Obsidian subverts the status quo and provides gamers a more lush fantasy world. Based on the leaks (one image linked in the first line), it sounds like my hopes will come true, with reports of luminescent mushroom caves and flora-rich woods filling the world.

Gameplay

Avowed is taking inspiration from multiple sources, drawing from D&D, Pillars of Eternity, and Skyrim, among others. 

That said, I want to first preface the following information with a partial quote from Phil Spencer (executive vice-president of Gaming at Xbox):

"I think the games are very different. So, maybe I struggle a little bit to say 'that's' our version of 'this', knowing what Feargus [Urquhart, Obsidian CEO] and the team are going off to do... So yeah, I think Avowed from just a core fantasy-based RPG [standpoint], there's going to be some distinct differences from what Elder Scrolls has done traditionally..."

So, while I draw comparisons between Avowed and Skyrim for the sake of setting examples, Avowed does seem to promise a much different approach to RPGing. Having played other Obsidian games, I trust their writing team a lot and have faith that with the right amount of time and money, they'll be able to change the face of RPG games for the better.

(Anyways, back to the good stuff.)

Avowed is looking to have a complex, multi-class playstyle; similar to Skyrim's two-handed combat system, players can make their playstyles fit their backstory and vice versa. A stealthier player may be inclined towards dual-wielding daggers or carrying a two-handed bow. A more magic-heavy person may want to keep their equipment to a minimum, as Avowed's more serious spellcasting requires two-handed spell manipulation to execute. From what I've seen, it looks like Avowed will be a first-person title, making combat feel a little more up close and personal.

Taking cues from TTRPGs and Pillars of Eternity, Avowed will have more equipment types than Skyrim. This will include having a familiar or carrying rudimentary guns like muskets. Status effects such as poison or frost will be implemented, as well as the ability to enchant/enhance your weapons for plenty of customization.

I've heard rumors of NPC companions akin to The Outer Worlds. It seems ambitious, especially when compared to Skyrim's more reticent companions, so I'm hoping it pans out.

Again, I can't vouch for the validity of every item, but I've seen the majority of these brought up by multiple leakers. I'm hoping this gives gamers a more solid idea about Avowed, and that y'all can be just as excited for this game as I am.

Replies • 118

The Green Surfer

there's conceptand then there is acutal release, I will wait until they hopefully put it out for beta testing or just put the game out and fix the bugs later