If you’re anything like me, you probably have the urge to see and do everything in whatever RPG you’re playing. For one Avowed developer, however, the key to a successful RPG isn’t the content you do, but the content you miss.
In an interview with Obsidian Entertainment regional director and senior area designer Berto Ritger, he opens up about how important the concept of missable content is for an RPG like Avowed. “I think the core of RPGs that makes them special is the missable content, to be honest, and it makes the experience feel so much more personal depending on how you play the game,” he explains. It’s something that’s been key to the success and replayability of fellow RPG Baldur’s Gate 3 in the year since its release.
For Ritger, the fact that different people can have completely varied playthroughs makes for a more personalized experience and encourages discussion. “If you talk to someone like, ‘Oh, I found this thing under the harbor. There’s a little secret under there on the east side of the harbor that you can find. And you can also climb to the top, and there are things that you can find.’ up there.” But if you think so and your friend doesn’t, then they’ve found something else and it creates a very interesting dialogue about the game.”
With this concept in mind, Avowed is designed so that each player is attracted to different content. “We want to draw your attention to the things we want you to engage with.” Ritger starts. “The lighthouse is very tall, and so everyone is going to see a big, tall thing and want to go climb. And so we want to support that as well. And you can do that, and you can jump in the ocean, if you want. And so That’s how we try to get your attention.’
While Avowed has drawn many comparisons to Baldur’s Gate 3 so far, the team at Obsidian Entertainment hasn’t shied away from changing things up, perhaps most noticeably with the omission of romance, a defining aspect of Larian’s RPG sensation Studios.
While you wait for the release of Avowed, check out our list of best RPGs to pass the time.