Regardless of games that emphasize player choice and control, the main character remains a distinct entity. Whether it’s Skyrim’s Dragonborn or Elden Ring’s Tarnished, every game requires assuming the role of another individual. In Avowed, this means taking on the role of the Envoy, a divine being investigating the Dreamscourge afflicting the Living Lands.
Kate Dollarhyde, senior narrative designer at Avowed, recently shared insights with Game Rant about creating the main character, the Envoy, and the process behind its development for players to assume the role.
Making Avowed’s Main Character
As a fan, I can say that in many Obsidian games, the protagonist embarks on a grand journey. However, this approach didn’t quite fit with their upcoming title, Avowed. Consequently, the creators had to devise a fresh perspective to narrate the story they envisioned, providing more depth to the Envoy’s backstory compared to their usual approaches.
In our latest game development, we found ourselves requiring a more distinct protagonist. However, this structure had proven successful in our past projects, leaving us puzzled as to why it wasn’t working this time around. I believe the reason lies in the narrative we aimed to create, which, in certain aspects, revolves around power – imperial and personal power, transformation included. Incidents can spark change, but the empire’s power required a figure to manipulate, confront, and ultimately be affected by it…Once we had identified the player character’s role within the empire, it became apparent that there were only a limited number of personas our protagonist could plausibly embody.
That doesn’t mean there isn’t room for players to create their own Envoy.
Players have the opportunity to shape not only their character’s physical attributes but also their backstory in the world of Aedyr before the game begins. This is done by making choices about a player’s background, dialogue, personal approach to power, and methods for handling the Dreamscourge. Consequently, each Envoy can maintain a distinct identity. In Avowed, various background options are available, such as Noble Scion, War Hero, Court Augur, Vanguard Scout, or Arcane Scholar, all of which could potentially attract the attention of an Emperor.
In the immersive world of Avowed, set within the influential Highcrown, the imperial seat of Aedyr, it’s me, a kith, who must adapt and assume the form of a human or an elf due to the centralized power held by these two races. As for my backstory, I find myself being dispatched by the empire on a mission to scrutinize the Dreamscourge. Dollarhyde clarified that this plot necessity is crucial for the storyline.
In order to convey our intended narrative effectively, it wasn’t suitable for the player character to simply step off a boat and find themselves thrust into an incredible destiny. Instead, they needed a role with associated privileges, obligations, and connections. This role would provide them with a setting to function within and a perspective from which to begin their journey, ensuring that the inhabitants of the Living Lands would have a reason to be interested in why the player had arrived – and why the player should also care about their presence.
The player character needed to find themselves in a situation where they were pulled between two opposing forces, with their allegiances divided. Such power isn’t typically something that comes about by chance.
Allowing Avowed to explore tales about political machinations, the philosophical aspects of the Pillars of Eternity universe, and conflicted allegiances was advantageous in enriching the overall narrative of the game. By choosing to delve into the Envoy’s origins, it adds depth to the game’s plot and presents more opportunities for storytelling compared to a generic backstory.
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2025-02-10 20:07