backpack

The author transformed their character in Avowed into a stealth-mage assassin, finding the game captivating due to its distinct biomes, dungeons, and side quests. The first-person perspective and gameplay mechanics reminded them of the Elder Scrolls series, despite Avowed being simpler and smaller in scale. They noted imperfections in the game's portrayal of a vibrant world, such as the lack of consequences for stealing from NPCs and rigid animation loops, which detracted from immersion. An example included an NPC chastising the author for rummaging through her backpack without repercussions. The author suggested that narrative justification for thefts could enhance coherence in the game's world. They acknowledged that Obsidian prioritizes story over emergent gameplay, contrasting it with Bethesda's approach. The author reminisced about the interactivity and NPC reactions in earlier RPGs like Baldur's Gate 2, Planescape: Torment, and The Witcher 3, expressing a yearning for the freedom and consequences present in those games.