Back in the halcyon days of Pillars of Eternity, creating a character was less like picking a class and more like filling out a fantasy passport. Players could choose from over 20 backgrounds, each with its own bonuses, dialogue options, and even specializations that narrowed down why their hero hung up their adventuring boots. Scientist? Raider? You could even specify the moral compass that led them astray. Add cultures from across Eora, and you had a lore buffet so rich that newcomers needed a wiki just to order appetizers. 🍽️
Then came Avowed. Obsidian's first-person action RPG, which launched in February 2025, took that sprawling spreadsheet and folded it into a sleek, five-option menu. Arcane Scholar is one confirmed choice. The rest? They exist, but they don't carry the same crunchy combat math as their predecessors. Instead, they unlock unique dialogue and help color the Envoy of the Aedyr Empire's past. In 2026, with the game's first year behind it, this streamlined approach looks less like a downgrade and more like a deliberate pivot.
From Spreadsheet to Spotlight
In Pillars, backgrounds were not just roleplay garnish. They were mechanical appetizers. A Raider might get bonuses to intimidation, a Scientist to lore. Cultures added another layer: you could be a Deadfire native or a White that Wends wanderer, each with attribute tweaks and dialogue. It was a system that rewarded system mastery. Avowed, by contrast, treats background as a narrative key. It opens doors in conversations, but it won't make your Fireball hit 5% harder. That's a feature, not a bug—if you're playing an action RPG for the action.
| Feature | Pillars of Eternity | Avowed |
|---|---|---|
| Backgrounds | 20+ | 5 |
| Combat bonuses | Direct skill and attribute bonuses | Minimal direct impact |
| Cultures | Separate selectable layer | Not present |
| Dialogue impact | Extensive, skill-check heavy | Unique lines per background |
| Tone | CRPG depth and complexity | Cinematic immersion |
Why Five Can Feel Like More
The game's first-person camera and cinematic presentation mean Obsidian can stage background-specific moments with camera angles, voice acting, and pacing that a top-down CRPG simply can't match. A five-choice system lets the writers go deep instead of wide. Instead of 20 backgrounds that each get a nod, you get five that get a spotlight. That's the difference between a party where everyone gets a handshake and a dinner where five guests get a toast.
For newcomers, this is a blessing. Avowed's release in 2025 brought a wave of players who had never touched Pillars. Asking them to pick from 20 backgrounds and then a culture would be like handing a new driver the keys to a manual transmission semi-truck. The streamlined system says: here are five archetypes, pick the one that sounds cool, and go stab a mushroom. It's approachable without being insulting.
Veterans might grumble, of course. They remember the joy of min-maxing a character's entire life story. But Avowed isn't Pillars of Eternity 3. It's a spin-off with a different rhythm. Obsidian traded breadth for authored depth, and in 2026, that trade looks smarter than ever. The game's post-launch life has shown that players appreciate a focused RPG that respects their time.
The Five Backgrounds at a Glance
-
🧙 Arcane Scholar: book smarts, likely dialogue about magic and history.
-
⚔️ Other backgrounds: tailored to the Envoy role, each with unique lines.
-
🗣️ No direct combat bonuses: your class and gear do the heavy lifting.
-
🎬 Cinematic moments: background choices can trigger bespoke scenes.
It's the difference between building a custom PC and buying a pre-built gaming rig. One gives you endless tinkering; the other gets you to the action before your coffee cools. Obsidian didn't throw depth out the window; they just put it in a different room. The Envoy of the Aedyr Empire has a fixed job, so many of the old backgrounds would feel like wearing a clown wig to a coronation. The five choices fit the story's mold, and they let the writers craft reactions that feel personal rather than procedural.
The Verdict from 2026
Now that Avowed has had time to settle into the RPG landscape, its five backgrounds stand as a lesson in scope. The game didn't fail because it lacked 20 origins; it succeeded because it knew what kind of story it wanted to tell. Post-launch discussions and updates have only reinforced that Eora can support both massive CRPGs and focused action adventures. The background system is not a shallow puddle—it's a deep well with a smaller opening. You just have to look inside.
So is Avowed's background system shallow? Only if you judge an ocean by the number of beaches. It's a different kind of depth—one measured in authored moments, not spreadsheet cells. For Eora diehards, it's a trade-off. For everyone else, it's an invitation. And in 2026, with the game firmly in the rearview, that invitation still reads loud and clear: come for the action, stay for the story, and don't worry about packing twenty past lives. 🎮
Comments