Summary
Obsidian Entertainment’sAvowedis set to bring fans into its high fantasy world later this year. While some have noted its surface similarities to games likeSkyrim,Avowedis based on the studio’s CRPGPillars of Eternityand its sequel,Pillars of Eternity: Deadfirein terms of its setting, history, and lore. ThePillarsgames were slightly more outside Obsidian’s usual territory, at least compared to previous efforts likeFallout: New Vegasand its sci-fi outing,The Outer Worlds.Avowed, though, promises to combine thePillarssetting with more familiar FPS open-world design and stylings to create a new experience within it.
Obsidian has previously noted that itwon’t be necessary for fans to have playedPillars of Eternityto enjoyAvowed. And though this is a good decision to welcome newcomers interested inAvowed’s other offerings without having to have extensive knowledge of existing events and characters, it also should take care not to forget its debt toPillarsand the elaborate world-building already in place that informs many ofAvowed’s jumping off points.
Avowed Should Ensure its Pillars of Eternity Heritage is At its Forefront
Pillars of Eternity Laid the Groundwork for Avowed
Pillars of Eternity’s setting of Eora, while broadly recognizable in a general sense, also goes to some stranger and more unique places within the fantasy genre. Many of the established facets and details inPillars, like the source of magic, the mechanism by which it functions and how this relates to its cultures and factions, are intricately set up and will thus likely be prevalent to some degree inAvowed. ThePoEtitles contain some deep threads and plot elements, a number of which have possible implications forAvowed’s greater tale.
For example, the Aedyr Empire, which is stated to be playing a prominent role inAvowed, is a major faction withinPillars of Eternitythat also played a large part in shaping Eora’s history. Then there is the issue of themassive cliffhanger at the conclusion ofPillars of Eternity: Deadfire, which has yet to be addressed. While it’s uncertain currently in what era of EoraAvowedwill take place, this nevertheless is a significant event that could be incorporated or touched upon in some way, even ifAvowedwon’t otherwise be directly tied to it. But it will surely contain other connections, both great and small, which will ostensibly serve to strengthen the relationship between them.
How Avowed May Incorporate its Pillars of Eternity Roots
Avowed’s framework will thrust players into the role of “an envoy of Aedyr sent to investigate rumors of a spreading plague with a secret that threatens to destroy everything.” This is immediately a strong link to at least onePoEelement via the Empire. Another notable aspect isAvowedtaking place in the area known as theLiving Lands, which is referenced briefly inPillars of Eternity. This is a previously unseen and potentially quite dangerous region of Eora, andAvowedis likely to greatly expand upon it as well as a host of related inclusions.
Obsidian has a bit of a balancing act to perform withAvowedin this regard. While it can’t overwhelm or alienate new fans, it also shouldn’t play things too safe by risking undermining the studio’s efforts that have already gone into creating Eora, and thus end up feeling almost entirely separate. Instead,Avowedwill hopefully incorporate these elements in a way that naturally complements thePillars of Eternitytitles, putting them on clear display by offering further intriguing insights into both, and leading toAvowedpossibly elevatingPillars of Eternityat the same time.
