Most big-budget RPGs these days have robust character creation systems, and Avowed is no different in this regard. Obsidian Entertainment and Xbox Game Studios' latest fantasy RPG lets players fully customize the look of the envoy they play as. When booting up Avowed for the first time, players can choose their character's gender, body type, hair, facial features, and skin color, among other things, from a selection of presets. They are given the ability to customize practically everything, from the root width of their character's nose, all the way to the temperature of their skin tone.
In addition to designing their appearances, Avowed also lets players choose a specific background for their character. Backgrounds in Avowed determine the origin of where a character comes from, provide unique dialogue options that can be used throughout the game, and give players certain starting weapons, alongside a set of specific attributes. Avowed's approach to backgrounds may not sound that unusual at first, but it's actually quite different compared to other popular RPGs in one notable way.
Avowed: What To Do First
If you are struggling to figure out what to do first in Avowed, these starter tips will help guide you in the right direction.
Unlike Other RPGs, the Backgrounds in Avowed Are Not That Restrictive
Avowed's Backgrounds Determine a Character's Optimal Playstyle and Starting Attributes
There are a total of five backgrounds in Avowed: the Arcane Scholar, Court Auguer, Noble Scion, Vanguard Scout, and War Hero. Each of these backgrounds works best with a specific playstyle. The Arcane Scholar, for instance, is good for players who want to roleplay as a wizard by using magic wands during combat. The Noble Scion, meanwhile, primarily suits melee and magic-based hybrid builds, while the Vanguard Scout is best for gamers that prefer to use long-range weapons in battle.
The starting attributes for each background also play a big role in determining a character's combat style. If a player chooses the Vanguard Scout background, their character will start off with three points in the Perception attribute (which boosts critical hit rate and accuracy when firing at targets from a distance) and two points in both the Dexterity and Constitution attributes.
The Dexterity attribute increases a character's action, attack, and reload speed, and the Constitution attribute improves their resistance to status effects, like Poisoned and Bleeding.
Players Can Access All Equipment and Abilities in Avowed No Matter What Background They Choose
Since the backgrounds in Avowed seem to be quite intricate, some people may have a hard time choosing the right one for their character. At the end of the day, though, it doesn't really matter what they pick, because unlike other RPGs with similar features, the backgrounds in Avowed are not that restrictive. Regardless of the background their character has, players will be able to obtain all the equipment and abilities in the game. This design decision sounds great on paper, but it's a bit of a double-edged sword.
Avowed's Approach to Backgrounds Has Some Major Pros and Cons
Avowed's approach to backgrounds is perfect for people who don't want to spend too much time on a single game. Some gamers don't have a lot of time on their hands and, because of this, they may have no interest in replaying a game over and over again to get access to all the content it has to offer, no matter how good it is. Not being forced into a specific playstyle, all because of a single choice that players make at the start of the game, can be a major selling point for those gamers.
With that said, the limited impact that backgrounds in Avowed have can be problematic in some ways. If players are given access to all the features and abilities in Avowed in one sitting, there isn't really much of an incentive for them to play the game again. Avowed's replay value may decrease considerably as a result, and its overall longevity may pale in comparison to other, more choice-driven fantasy RPGs, like Baldur's Gate 3, in the long term. Players who prefer a more hardcore RPG experience will probably not like Avowed's less restrained approach to backgrounds, but those who are more interested in swapping combat styles on the fly will probably be a fan of it.
Avowed
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 80 /100 Critics Rec: 82%
- Released
- February 18, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Obsidian Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Xbox Game Studios
WHERE TO PLAY
Welcome to the Living Lands, a mysterious island filled with adventure and danger. Set in the fictional world of Eora that was first introduced to players in the Pillars of Eternity franchise, Avowed is a first-person fantasy action RPG from the award-winning team at Obsidian Entertainment.
You are the envoy of Aedyr, a distant land, sent to investigate rumors of a spreading plague throughout the Living Lands - an island full of mysteries and secrets, danger and adventure, and choices and consequences, and untamed wilderness. You discover a personal connection to the Living Lands and an ancient secret that threatens to destroy everything. Can you save this unknown frontier and your soul from the forces threatening to tear them asunder?
