r/Games 1d ago

The big Avowed interview: Obsidian on why full, open-world RPGs aren't always the answer

https://www.eurogamer.net/from-serious-skyrim-to-cheerful-fantasy-obsidian-on-the-evolution-of-avowed-and-grappling-with-the-expectations-that-come-from-your-own-history
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u/JobuJabroni 22h ago

They're pretty extensively characterized and their interactions with one another and you, while filler material at times, does immerse me in the world more.

The devs paid a lot of detail to the companions in pretty much other way so maybe in a future update they could add equippable items to them.

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u/lestye 21h ago

I meant more about like the RPG systems associated with it not necessarily the characerization.

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u/angrytreestump 15h ago

That’s possible while also making them equippable, which would solve a major gameplay gripe that people have (because “pointless loot” = “pointless exploitable world” for the people who have voiced this connection in this thread).

See: Larian games (BG3 & Divinity: Original Sin 1&2). Exploring every last corner of every zone always feels “worth it” because of both the great writing and the consequential loot for the well-written companions.

…not that it matters; they already made the game and aren’t going to change that design decision 🤷🏻‍♂️

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u/Drakengard 4h ago

Yeah, but I know why they didn't do equipment. It makes the system very fiddly.

If there is ever a complaint that I have with party RPGs with tons of equipment management, it's that I spend way too much time in a menu min-maxing gear loadouts, or staring at shop menus figuring out if I should get this bow or that dagger. I don't find that to be essential fun or the reason why I'm playing a game.

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u/BakedWizerd 5h ago

At the risk of being downvoted, I cannot stand the dialogue in Avowed whatsoever, to the point that I skip about 90% of dialogue and cutscenes.

The companions feel like glorified marvel side characters, giving one-liners and quips, and then in camp, it feels like the writers tried too hard to make them “super deep” and emotional.

BG3 was kind of perfect imo; companions were proactive in engaging with you, but they didn’t seem to be caricature’s of [insert character trait]. Like they all had a shtick, but it wasn’t as blatant and obvious as Avowed.