Character creation screens often captivate players, compelling them to invest hours before diving into the game. This focus on customization is crucial, as the character created will be an integral part of the gameplay experience, appearing in dialogue sequences and cutscenes. With the imminent release of Avowed, the latest RPG from Obsidian Entertainment, exciting new screenshots showcasing its character creation tools have recently emerged—a feature that promises to be as fantastical as the game itself.
Avowed: Customization Beyond Limits
Exploring Unique Customization Options
A recent post from Avowed‘s official X account has introduced a lineup of bizarre and imaginative character designs called Envoys. While the initial options may seem somewhat limited, featuring only humans and elves, the introduction of the Godlike characters opens the door for extensive customization. Godlike are reminiscent of previous characters in the Pillars of Eternity series, and while familiarity with earlier games isn’t mandatory, it will certainly give players an idea of the potential customization breadth that awaits in Avowed.
(yay) Players will have the option to toggle on/off Godlike Features. Please note that NPCs will still react to your godlike features, if you choose to hide them. If you don’t hide them, go nuts.pic.twitter.com/7gV0hMdrha — Avowed (@AvowedtheGame) January 24, 2025
The Godlike characters in Avowed bear distinct features that arise from their divine connections, typically reflecting traits of particular deities. In a fascinating twist, the protagonist in Avowed is a Godlike of unknown origin, with their appearance influenced by various customizable fungal characteristics—adding a surreal touch to the design process.
bonus Moss Man Randy by a dev pic.twitter.com/rqVj5XfQO8 — Avowed (@AvowedtheGame) January 23, 2025
As players explore the character creation features, they will encounter a plethora of options to manipulate these unique fungal traits. The images released thus far showcase a vibrant diversity in spore-like elements, allowing for endless combinations of mushrooms and roots. Moreover, the character creator includes a comprehensive array of facial sliders, which means that players can choose to ignore the Godlike features entirely, instead crafting a character through more traditional face customization.
The Legacy of Absurd Character Design
Creative Character Creation: An Enduring Tradition
History shows that wherever character creation sliders are found, players will push them to their limits, often resulting in hilariously absurd and creative character designs. This tradition, deeply rooted in video game culture, spans multiple genres and franchises, including titles like Dark Souls, Monster Hunter, and The Elder Scrolls. Each community shares wild character creations, celebrating the humorous nature of customization.
In addition to the comedic aspect of creating outlandish characters, a robust character creation system enhances gameplay by allowing deep personalization. It’s not simply about extremes—these sliders enable players to truly shape their characters to reflect their visions. A well-rounded system caters to a diversity of players, ensuring that multiplayer parties can feature both whimsical designs and more serious avatars.
Even in games that offer extensive character creation options, the liberty to craft hilariously bizarre designs contributes to the enjoyment. Although not every player may appreciate the absurd, many have certainly laughed at unconventional creations they’ve encountered in gameplay or on social media.
Baldur’s Gate 3: A Benchmark in Character Creation
Character Creation Excellence Redefined
It’s essential to recognize that Baldur’s Gate 3 offers one of the most advanced character creators available today. Featuring an impressive array of races and subraces, BG3 allows for significant influence over character interactions in the gaming world, creating opportunities for unique dialogue and experiences. Although Avowed provides intriguing character options, it will face challenges matching the expansive variety seen in Baldur’s Gate 3, particularly regarding the unique relationship between race and story events.
While Avowed’s fungal creature features provide noteworthy flexibility, they cannot completely compare to the extensive variety of customization options and accompanying narratives available in previous installments of the Pillars of Eternity series. The fluidity and vastness in BG3’s creation system create a richer role-playing atmosphere, even if Avowed promises innovative gameplay through its own distinct framework.
Although both games limit certain aspects of body customization, it’s clear that simpler systems can be just as effective. While not every game requires a complex setup like Ark: Survival, it is undeniable that the unusual, spore-rich characters introduced in Avowed will make a lasting impression on players. In anticipation of Avowed‘s release on February 18, now is an excellent opportunity for players to immerse themselves in the lore of Eora by exploring Pillars of Eternity 1 and 2, currently available free on Xbox Game Pass.
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