The role-playing game (RPG) named Avowed, developed by Obsidian Entertainment, is poised to carry on the studio’s legacy of creating immersive games that are rich with depth and impactful decisions. This team, known for hits like Fallout: New Vegas and The Outer Worlds, understands what it takes to craft an RPG that lingers in players’ minds long after the final credits roll. Avowed is set in the same universe as Obsidian’s Pillars of Eternity series, promising to refine this formula when it launches within a few weeks.
In a chat with Game Rant, James Agay, Lead Area Designer of the game ‘Avowed’, delved into the specifics of its gameplay. He highlighted key features, the diverse range of options available for building, and the intricacies of the skill tree system. Agay further explained how ‘Avowed’ handles exploration and puzzle-solving. For ease of understanding, this interview has been condensed and clarified.
Avowed’s Gameplay is Varied and Engaging
Question: Why was it decided to have Avowed’s mechanics offer numerous options for character creation and exploration of skills, talents, and weaponry, rather than limiting players to a particular class?
As a passionate gamer, I initially embraced the structured classes reminiscent of the classic Pillars series. However, I soon realized that these constraints felt too restrictive for our grand narrative game, Avowed. Our story unfolds magnificently throughout the game, and by its conclusion, players will have lived it. While some may revisit the game, we can’t assume this will be the case for most. To ensure a rich gaming experience for all, regardless of their initial choices or familiarity with the game, we chose to avoid the limitation of pre-determined classes before the gameplay commenced.
In our game, players have the liberty to shape their characters according to their imagination. They can indeed conceptualize a specific character type initially, create it, and stick with it throughout the gameplay. However, it’s important to note that we don’t impose strict limitations on character development. If you fancy experimenting or evolving your character, feel free to do so as you acquire new gear. The classic RPG roles serve as a guide, but players are free to explore any style within this spectrum that appeals to them.
Could you share with me which among the spells/combat abilities did you find the most enjoyable or intriguing to create and refine during the development process?
A: It seems everyone on the team should be able to respond to this question easily. Among the impressive spells, some visually stunning ones might end up ranking high. There’s one called Grimoire Snap where you slam your spellbook shut, creating a powerful shockwave that pushes back everything nearby with an enjoyable absurdity. At the moment, my preferred build employs Blood Magic, a passive ability that drains health and converts it into essence for continued casting. I couple this with Corrosive Syphon, a spell that blasts an enemy’s soul, poisons them, and restores health to the caster. This combination works particularly well, especially when combined with a gun, which I always equip. I let my party take on tanking duties, and anything that manages to get through is usually quickly dispatched with a close-range shot from a pistol.
How Avowed Balances Melee and Ranged Combat
As an avid fan, I’ve noticed that many fantasy worlds give an edge to firearms or magic over melee combat. Let’s delve into how the creators of Avowed approached this balance.
In Avowed, the developers aimed to create a dynamic and engaging combat system where each weapon type – whether it’s a sword, bow, spell, or firearm – has its unique strengths and weaknesses. They wanted to ensure that no single approach dominates the gameplay, fostering a sense of strategy and choice for players.
To achieve this balance, they considered factors like speed, range, and damage output when designing each weapon. For instance, melee weapons excel in close quarters combat with high damage potential but require skillful timing and positioning. Firearms offer greater reach and rapid-fire capabilities at the cost of accuracy and ammunition management. Magic provides versatility, enabling a variety of effects from offensive to supportive spells.
By carefully balancing these aspects, Avowed encourages players to adapt their playstyle based on the situation, making combat challenging yet rewarding. It’s all about understanding each weapon’s strengths and weaknesses and using them to outsmart your enemies in the heat of battle!
In our game, Avowed, we believe that every weapon, spell, and ability the player has access to should be useful in specific situations, yet not always the best or worst option. This means that during optimization, you might switch weapons occasionally, but it’s never necessary. If you prefer using a particular weapon consistently, you can do so, as it will perform well in some scenarios and less effectively in others. For instance, enemies that swarm the player won’t be easily taken down with a slow-reloading gun like an arquebus; in such cases, you might need to rely on your party or use a spell like Fan of Flames to burn them all, or employ a grenade to destroy a group, or cleave through them with a two-handed sword or great axe. Essentially, every option has its moment to excel, some being situationally superior, but all having their chance to shine.
Avowed’s Skill Trees Explained
Question: Could you elaborate on the structure of the four skill trees in Avowed? What are the pros and cons of concentrating on a single tree, focusing on just two, or balancing skills across all of them?
The Fighter Tree primarily concentrates on defense, damage reduction, two-handed weapons, and agility. If you choose solely from this tree, you could develop a Barbarian specialized in dealing heavy damage with large weapons, charging and leaping around, essentially destroying everything. On the other hand, the Ranger Tree encompasses skills for one-handed weapons, stealth, ranged combat, and evasion. By sticking to this tree, you could create a character who dual-wields, specializes in sneak attacks with critical hits, or becomes a ranger with a pet bear and crowd control abilities. If you aim to be a shield tank, you’ll probably need to dip into this tree to enhance your one-handed damage and parrying skills.
The magical Wizard’s Tree is brimming with enchantment. As the player explores the world, they can discover fresh spells hidden within ancient books known as Grimoires. These Grimoires serve as weapons, which can be wielded in the offhand. They can be enhanced to reduce spell costs and speed up casting time. The upgrade system allows you to invest points into spells, enabling you to learn them even without the Grimoire, and also customize them for increased power. Furthermore, this upgrade tree offers access to potent passive abilities that alter how spells function, enhance your defenses, and allow you to focus on specific types of magic.
For a combat-centered player, this tree might be completely bypassed if desired; however, I believe many will discover appealing enhancements for their character here. Diving deep into this tree can lead to a well-known Glass Cannon build, but there are alternative paths. If you opt for the Frost tree, you’ll have more crowd control abilities at your disposal, or you could go with Decay and Poison. As for the final tree, we encourage players to explore its secrets on their own when they start playing the game.
Among the captivating designs, some uniquely blend various arboreal elements. For instance, a Barbarian wielding a two-handed axe and corrosive sorcery? Absolutely possible. Or perhaps a Blood Mage armed with a firearm? Definitely. How about a Sniper with a frost-wielding pet bear who freezes targets for precision headshots? Indeed, that’s an option. If you opt to focus on a single tree, it’s likely due to having a specific character concept in mind, and there’s nothing amiss in that choice. It’s your decision to make.
Exploration Plays a Huge Part in Avowed
A: Could you discuss the significance of exploration in the game Avowed, and explain how players are incentivized for deviating from the main path?
A: Wow! We’ve created a vast world teeming with hidden corners and places just waiting to be discovered in our game. Players can climb virtually anywhere without restrictions, unlike traditional games that only allow climbing on designated objects. This approach prioritizes player freedom over a predetermined path, enabling players to reach rooftops, cliff edges, and other remote locations not typically part of any quest. It may not appeal to everyone, but for those who enjoy exploration, we’ve included content tailored to their needs.
In our game, instead of bombarding the world with numerous collectibles or filling counters, which isn’t our approach, we strive to encourage player effort and curiosity. So, if you spot a distant, mysterious old ruin and manage to reach its summit, chances are you’ll find something that justifies your journey. This could be a rare weapon buried in a corpse’s grasp, a treasure map, a piece of a God Shrine Totem, or simply some loot or lore worth examining. In essence, Avowed‘s world is brimming with hidden treasures, exploration challenges, and concealed, buried secrets. However, if you merely follow the quests and complete the main storyline, there’s a vast amount we leave undiscovered because it’s more rewarding when you uncover them yourself.
Avowed Doesn’t Do Puzzles in the Traditional Sense
Q: What was the overall philosophy behind puzzle design in Avowed?
In A’s design, one won’t find typical puzzles that involve adjusting levers to open doors. Instead, we opt for challenges that stimulate thought rather than just reflexes or combat skills. Our content offers a variety of interactive elements, such as pressure plates, traps, explosive walls, swinging knives, secret switches, and so forth. Additionally, we incorporate unique mechanics like freezing water to keep things fresh and engaging for the players.
In the game “Avowed“, players possess the ability to transform water into ice using spells or magical artifacts. This applies to all bodies of water, such as oceans, rivers, and lakes. The capacity to freeze a patch of water enables the player to traverse new areas by walking on the frozen surface and ascending to higher ground. We’ve designed climbing and exploration obstacles throughout the game that demand players to explore their surroundings and devise a route through them. If you notice a crevice in a wall hinting at a hidden space, there will always be an entryway for you to discover. Some are more evident than others. In each major region, there’s a unique God Shrine Totem that’s been shattered into pieces. Players can search for and reassemble these fragments, with their gradual progress being recognized by receiving potent bonuses.
As a gamer, I’ve stumbled upon some puzzling fragments hidden in remote corners of the world, spots that only seasoned explorers would dare venture into. It seemed no one could find them during testing, so we tweaked their locations slightly and dropped some hints along the way. In each region, you can discover a cryptic document written in verse, offering clues to their whereabouts. If you’re familiar with our game’s lore, it might give you an edge, but fear not, as anyone can unravel this self-guided adventure.
One tower in a late-game zone is like a playground for all the traps and parkour mechanics we’ve built – it’s not a traditional maze, but it might leave you scratching your head as you work your way to the top. Good luck, fellow adventurer!
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2025-02-12 18:12