Unveiling Role Ambiguities: A Guide to Backgrounds in Avowed

Avowed's Character Creation: A Deep Dive into Backgrounds

Avowed boasts a rich character creator, allowing players to shape their character's physical attributes and choose a Background that provides a pre-game backstory and narrative context. This guide details each of Avowed's five Backgrounds and their impact on gameplay.

Avowed offers five distinct Backgrounds: Arcane Scholar, Court Augur, Noble Scion, Vanguard Scout, and War Hero. While each provides unique dialogue options and a starting weapon, all equipment and abilities remain accessible regardless of chosen Background.

Background Details:

• Arcane Scholar: This scholarly Background grants access to dialogue choices reflecting an academic past. Graduating from Bragganhyl Academy, your character's treatise on soul lineages incurred the wrath of a local lord, leading to arrest and subsequent recruitment by the emperor for archival work. Expect dialogue options related to the occult, law, history, and poetry.

• Court Augur: This Background features a tragic backstory, potentially leading to accusations of witchcraft. Visions of villagers turning against the character after a crop failure fueled suspicion. Escape to Highcrown led to employment as the emperor's personal mystic. Expect dialogue options reflecting spiritual insight and interactions with magic and the Gods. Ideal for players envisioning a wizard-like character, with strong synergy with the companion Giatta.

• Noble Scion: This Background depicts a character born into nobility but whose family crumbled due to scandal. Seeking the emperor's favor, the Noble Scion becomes a valuable ally to the empire. A fitting choice for players wishing to remain loyal to the empire and serve its interests.

• Vanguard Scout: This Background portrays a character spared execution by the empire, preferring wilderness life to city politics. Valuable for tracking and espionage, this Background suits players aiming for a hunter-style character, with a potential connection to the companion Marius.

• War Hero: This Background showcases a character who suppressed a Skaenite uprising, earning a place among the emperor's elite warriors. Loyalty and grit are hallmarks of this Background, ideal for players wanting a warrior-style character, potentially resonating with the companion Kai.

Starting Weapons:

Each Background offers a Common-quality, one-handed melee weapon:

• Arcane Scholar – Common Dagger
• Court Augur – Common Mace
• Noble Scion – Common Sword
• Vanguard Scout – Common Axe
• War Hero – Common Spear

These starting weapons, located near a shipwreck during the "On Strange Shores" quest, are easily replaceable as the game progresses. Prioritize choosing the Background that best aligns with your desired roleplaying experience.

Avowed is currently available on PC and Xbox.