Eternity Avowed - Obsidian's first person action-RPG in the Pillars of Eternity setting

[Old Hans]

Is it a new Veilguard, boys?! I'm so excited.

[Awkwardly shit your pants.] Well, anyway, I should go

 

[Brickfrog]

The game already have ugly characters , no need use character creation as gotcha to make characters that are ugly on purpose.

Anyone who spends more than 30 seconds in the character creator of a first person game shouldnt be allowed to vote.

Actually, I found an option to use a third-person camera buried in the options menu. Everyone can enjoy their abomination in its full splendor. I'm kind of surprised that I haven't seen any promo materials showing the third-person camera? Maybe I just missed them but I would think some reviewers would prefer it (as I do).

 

[Takamori]

Use Deepseek.

The result:
Josh Sawyer, the game director and designer at Obsidian Entertainment, is widely regarded as a talented and thoughtful writer in the gaming industry. His work is known for its depth, historical inspiration, and player-driven storytelling. Here's a breakdown of why he’s considered a good writer:

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Strengths of Josh Sawyer’s Writing​

1. Complex Characters:
   • Sawyer creates multi-dimensional characters with believable motivations and flaws.
   • Example: The companions in "Pillars of Eternity" have rich backstories and personal quests that tie into the game’s themes.
2. Player Agency:
   • His games often emphasize player choice, allowing players to shape the story and world through their decisions.
   • Example: In "Fallout: New Vegas", players can align with various factions, each with its own moral complexities and consequences.
3. Historical and Cultural Depth:
   • Sawyer’s writing is heavily influenced by history and mythology, adding layers of realism and depth to his worlds.
   • Example: "Pillars of Eternity" draws from Renaissance-era politics and philosophy, while "Pentiment" explores medieval European life and art.
4. Thematic Richness:
   • His stories often explore complex themes like identity, morality, and the human condition.
   • Example: "Pentiment" delves into themes of faith, justice, and the passage of time through its murder mystery narrative.
5. Attention to Detail:
   • Sawyer’s writing is meticulous, with well-researched settings and lore that make his worlds feel alive and immersive.

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Notable Works​

• "Fallout: New Vegas": Praised for its branching narrative, memorable characters, and moral ambiguity.
• "Pillars of Eternity": A critically acclaimed RPG with deep lore and player-driven storytelling.
• "Pentiment": A narrative-driven game set in 16th-century Bavaria, celebrated for its unique art style and historical authenticity.

---

Criticisms​

While Sawyer is highly regarded, some criticisms include:

• Pacing: Some players feel his games can be slow-paced, focusing more on dialogue and world-building than action.
• Complexity: The depth of his writing and systems can be overwhelming for casual players.

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Conclusion​

Josh Sawyer is widely considered a good writer due to his ability to craft compelling narratives, complex characters, and immersive worlds. His work appeals to players who enjoy thoughtful, choice-driven storytelling and historical inspiration. If you appreciate games with rich lore and meaningful decisions, Sawyer’s writing is likely to resonate with you.
Let me know if you’d like more details about his games or writing style!

 

[Fedora Master]

Is it a new Veilguard, boys?! I'm so excited.

[Awkwardly shit your pants.] Well, anyway, I should go

Now I understand who this was written for and by whom.

 

[Poseidon00]

I am sure we all knew it was going to be this way before it shipped, you could tell just based on the pre-generated characters and the companions.

I have no interest in Niggers of Eternity nor this series at all. PoE was bland, PoE2 was good, NoE is DoA.

 

[Roguey]

As usual, you're completely missing the point.

I'll be needlessly nice and try to explain it anyway.
It's not about whether or not the player CAN adjust the UI. It's about the default UI and how the designer behind it thought. The UI in Fallout, Baldur's Gate and most fucking games is useable as is. Adjustments can be made to taste. Combat Speed is not part of the UI at all.

The worst example of a barely useable UI is the default UI in Skyrim on PC.

Avoid isn't as bad but it is clearly bloated and designed with consoles in mind and there does NOT seem to be a way to change that without mods.

They designed the UI for retards. If you're not retarded, you can just turn off the retard-friendly options, like how you could in The Outer Tards.

PoE2 was good, NoE is DoA.

bruh, Deadfire had a lot more Ocean folk than the first game it's in their name https://pillarsofeternity.fandom.com/wiki/Ocean_folk

Rapid cultural expansion, most widespread ethnicity in all of Eora, this is how Sawyer wanted it. Dark skinned Italian domination.

 

[Infinitron]

That's a clever troll post because it baits nerds into answering "Actually there is a lore reason, they're Vailian", but he's actually just lying and 80% of characters aren't black.

 

[Fedora Master]

That's a clever troll post because it baits nerds into answering "Actually there is a lore reason, they're Vailian", but he's actually just lying and 80% of characters aren't black.

How would you know?

 

[Fedora Master]

They designed the UI for retards.

You're still not getting it.

 

[Roguey]

They designed the UI for retards.

You're still not getting it.

Fallout and Baldur's Gate were made for PC gamers of the 90s, a smaller, smarter audience. If they could sell hundreds of thousands of copies, they were very happy. This is a much bigger budget game for potentially millions of dumb people.

 

[Fedora Master]

They designed the UI for retards.

You're still not getting it.

Fallout and Baldur's Gate were made for PC gamers of the 90s, a smaller, smarter audience. If they could sell hundreds of thousands of copies, they were very happy. This is a much bigger budget game for potentially millions of dumb people.

Again, not the point.

This is why I usually just answer with derision when you make your sperg posts.

 

[luj1]

Yeah there is a reason

This is literally the art director of Avowed:

not to mention that Patel is 1000% a diversity hire with 0 experience


I agree with that poster who said Avowed = if Concord was an RPG

 

[ADL]

As usual, you're completely missing the point.

I'll be needlessly nice and try to explain it anyway.
It's not about whether or not the player CAN adjust the UI. It's about the default UI and how the designer behind it thought. The UI in Fallout, Baldur's Gate and most fucking games is useable as is. Adjustments can be made to taste. Combat Speed is not part of the UI at all.

The worst example of a barely useable UI is the default UI in Skyrim on PC.

Avoid isn't as bad but it is clearly bloated and designed with consoles in mind and there does NOT seem to be a way to change that without mods.

They designed the UI for retards. If you're not retarded, you can just turn off the retard-friendly options, like how you could in The Outer Tards.

PoE2 was good, NoE is DoA.

bruh, Deadfire had a lot more Ocean folk than the first game it's in their name https://pillarsofeternity.fandom.com/wiki/Ocean_folk

Rapid cultural expansion, most widespread ethnicity in all of Eora, this is how Sawyer wanted it. Dark skinned Italian domination.

Are quests designed for the markers or can you still successfully navigate without them?

 

[Yosharian]

I don't always like Gman's takes but this video made me chuckle several times. This one and the one posted earlier in the thread are pretty conclusive IMO: the game is a trainwreck and not even worth playing.

 

[Roguey]

Are quests designed for the markers or can you still successfully navigate without them?

They're not open world so you can get to where you're going eventually.

 

[Fedora Master]

Veilguard was expected
Avowed was suspected
Kingdom Come 2 was unpredicted

 

[Skinwalker]

That's a clever troll post because it baits nerds into answering "Actually there is a lore reason, they're Vailian", but he's actually just lying and 80% of characters aren't black.

How would you know?

Awokexisters:

1. Infinitroon
2. Rougay
3. Yosharian

 

[Neutral Evil HOA]

Interesting that Urquhart has TOW in his X.com profile, and retweeted that game’s Secret Level episode a few weeks ago-

But nada, zilch, nothing about Avowed. You’d think a studio head would rep his own shit a bit more.

Regardless of the reason, it ain’t a good look.

 

[frajaq]

I've acquired an Ingedient, fucky wucky!!!

 

[Skinwalker]

4. frajaq

 

[cpmartins]

I don't think Josh Sawyer is a particularly skillful writer. He's a thoughtful guy with some interesting themes he likes to visit and a sincere approach. Good ideas, workmanlike execution. Play Pentiment and you'll get plenty of it.

He doesn't write like a woman which is most important.

... yet.

 

[The Nameless One]

Review roundup:

PC:

Ars Technica
COGconnected 93/100
Creative Bloq 4/5
Dexerto 4/5
Eurogamer 4/5
Forbes 9/10
GINX TV 7/10
Game Rant 7/10
GameSpot 6/10
GameStar 81/100
GameWatcher 7.5/10
Gamepressure 9/10
GamesRadar+ 4/5
GamingTrend 85/100
Hardcore Gamer 4/5
Loot Level Chill 8.5/10
MMORPG.com 7.5/10
PC Gamer 82/100
PCGamesN 6/10
Polygon
Rock, Paper, Shotgun
Slant Magazine 4/5
Stevivor 7.5/10
The New York Times 80/100
TheSixthAxis 9/10
VideoGamer 7/10
Wccftech 8.8/10
WellPlayed 6/10

Xbox:

But Why Tho? 9.5/10
CGMagazine 8.5/10
Checkpoint Gaming 9.5/10
Digital Spy 4/5
Digital Trends 4.5/5
Dot Esports 8.5/10
GAMINGbible 9/10
GameSpew 8/10
Gamereactor UK 9/10
Gamers Heroes 85/100
GamesHub 4.5/5
Gaming Nexus 8/10
Guardian 3/5
IGN 7/10
Impulsegamer 4.5/5
Inverse 9/10
Kotaku
Metro GameCentral 6/10
Player 2 B+
Press Start Australia 8.5/10
Pure Xbox 8/10
Radio Times 3/5
Screen Rant 9/10
Shacknews 9/10
TechRadar Gaming 4/5
The Escapist
The Verge
TheGamer 3/5
TrueAchievements 9/10
Twinfinite 4/5
VG247 5/5
VGC 4/5
Vice
Washington Post 3/4
Windows Central 4/5
Worth Playing 7.8/10
XboxEra 8.8/10
ZTGD 8/10

 

[GentlemanCthulhu]

 

[Cryomancer]

 

[Skinwalker]

Awoked is an even bigger flop than Vilefart, who could have thunk. I bet VTM: Dumpsterphyre will be an even bigger flop than Awoked, tho.