Summary
Obsidian Entertainment is bringing its experience with classic RPGs into a world of first-person combat withAvowedlater this year, and this title is set to feature a streamlined approach to player progression that fits the shift. The studio has a history with titles that have utilized both traditional class-based systems and those revolving around skills alone alike, and it appears that both of these styles have gone on to inform its latest effort. It might be true thatAvowedis set within the same universe asPillars of Eternity, but its lack of classes indicates that it actually takes more influence from the streamlined designs of action games.
WhileAvowedhas facedSkyrimcomparisonssince its initial reveal, its similarities to an experience likeThe Outer Worldshave become more apparent with each of its recent showcases. Instead of adhering to the explicitly defined classes found in RPGs like thePoEtitles,Avowed’s progression is made up of skill trees that represent different playstyles. This seems to encourage players to create versatile builds that favor multiclassing over the typical archetypes of the genre.
Avowed’s Skill System Focuses on Simplicity
Fighter, Ranger, and Wizard Are Interchangable
The three primary skill trees that make up the bulk ofAvowed’s progression represent distinct approaches to combat, with Fighter and Ranger seeming to focus mainly on passives and Wizard offering a range of active spells. Points can be assigned across these trees freely due to the lack of classes, and they can also be reallocated at will to adjust around specific scenarios. Various types of spells are all within this single spellcasting tree, and the presence of complementary sources of additional magic skills further highlightsAvowed’s action RPG foundation.
The Godlike and Companion Skill Trees Hint at Further Variations
As what has been revealed to be a potentially mandatory member ofPillars of Eternity’s Godlike race, players also have access to a specialized skill tree built around this cryptic race. A companion-focused tree suggests skills centered around party interactions and tactics, but specifics remain unknown in gameplay shown so far. Given that these demigod-like beings are associated with the gods of Eora, there may even be an inherent ability to access magic across all builds.
Avowed’s Options Seem Poised to Encourage Multiclassing
Leaving the Class System of Pillars of Eternity Behind
There was a robust set of classes and their intersecting subclasses in the secondPillars of Eternitytitle, but the layers provided by these distinctions have been broken down inAvowed. Magic could be split between spells types like Faith, Arcane, and Nature which caster classes had access to, but these will now all presumably be available under the umbrella of the general Wizard tree. Now that many of the previously available talents and abilities ofPoEare likely to be consolidated into a lower number withinAvowed’s skill trees, there might be an inevitable overlap that technically gives the player traits of a multiclass no matter what route is taken.
The Versatility of Grimoires
On top of whatever offerings will be present within Wizard skills, there are also confirmed to be spells that are exclusive toGrimoires inAvowedthat can be found in the world and equipped for casting. This not only expands the possibilities for investing in purely non-magical skill trees while still having access to these spells, but also building unique takes on casters that also utilize what the Wizard has by default. Between the constant ability of the player to remake their entire build and this kind of freedom in accessing choices within combat,Avowedis shaping up to be an engaging platform for experimenting with styles beyond the conventional bounds of RPG classes.
