Highlights

  • Avowed by Obsidian will blend the fantasy of Pillars of Eternity with the appeal of The Outer Worlds, potentially creating a unique experience.
  • Skill trees in Avowed need to match the game's scale to avoid feeling insignificant or rushed, unlike larger RPGs like Skyrim.
  • To ensure a satisfying gameplay experience, Avowed should keep skill trees accessible without being locked behind narrative progression.

Obsidian Entertainment's upcoming RPG Avowed is a somewhat ambitious title for the developer, mixing the fantasy elements of its Pillars of Eternity series with the life and visual appeal of its more recent title, The Outer Worlds. In fact, Avowed could end up being fantasy Outer Worlds, but that may not be a bad thing. At the same time, Obsidian confirmed in an interview with PC Gamer last year that Avowed shares one particular similarity with The Outer Worlds that could unintentionally put its skill trees in the hot seat.

The Outer Worlds isn't a huge game, despite the countless opportunities it gives its players to explore. In the same way, it seems likely that Avowed won't be either. Obsidian has confirmed that Avowed's scale and scope will be more akin to The Outer Worlds than larger RPGs like The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, and while that doesn't necessarily mean it will be as small or smaller than The Outer Worlds, it still doesn't bode well for the game's skill trees. Specifically, if Avowed doesn't give players long enough to enjoy the skills they've unlocked before the game ends, the whole system may feel lackluster as a result and leave players wanting.

The Outer Worlds character over Avowed background with logo
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Avowed Will Have Multiple Endings, and They Are Probably Like The Outer Worlds

Obsidian has confirmed that Avowed will have multiple endings, and they are most likely going to function similarly to The Outer Worlds' endings.

Avowed's Skill Trees Need to Respect the Game's Scale

Avowed's Skill Trees Need to Be Smaller Than the Game

Avowed's skill trees have already been confirmed to be entirely accessible by players of any playstyle, primarily due to the fact that players will progress by investing in abilities rather than stat points. Avowed will not have traditional classes, so its skill system could potentially be more similar to The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim's, which allows players to choose skills and abilities from a wide variety of categories, no matter their playstyle. While this level of customization may be appealing, if it is too extensive, it could compete with Avowed's scale. As such, it would do well for Avowed to ensure its skill trees aren't larger than the game and can be completed long before the credits roll.

Larger RPGs, like Skyrim, allow players plenty of opportunities to max out their skill trees before they complete the game. They accomplish this by providing players with vast worlds filled with optional activities that award notable experience upon completion that they can then use to unlock new skills. However, with Avowed reportedly being much smaller than games like Skyrim, it will have limited room to work with. This means that Avowed's skill trees will need to be Avowed-sized, not Skyrim-sized, whatever the final size of Avowed's scope and scale turns out to be.

Avowed's Skill Trees Can't Be Locked Behind Narrative Progression

One way Avowed can ensure its skill trees are appropriate for the game's scale is to keep them free from the bounds of narrative progression. Some games tie certain skills to major plot points, but this can result in those skills not being used at all until the game reaches its climax. Avowed can easily avoid this, but its world will need to be large enough to compensate. Players will need plenty of reasons to venture off the beaten path to improve their characters, rather than relying on any amount of experience earned from completing story quests.

With little to no information currently available about Avowed's skill trees, it's impossible to know whether they will be complemented or betrayed by the game's size. Thankfully, Obsidian has confirmed that Avowed will not be another Skyrim, despite its skill system clearly being inspired by Bethesda's hit RPG, so its skill trees could follow suit. Hopefully, Obsidian will reveal more about Avowed's skill system as its release date gets closer, but that remains to be seen.