How Avowed Integrates Player Choice into Combat Strategy

“One thing we’ve aimed for from the start is giving players plenty of flexibility in combat,” shares Gabe Paramo, the Gameplay Director. He highlights the variety of weapons players can choose from, including everything from swift one-hit daggers to the powerful but slow-loading arquebus. There’s a wide range to explore: massive two-handed hammers, nimble one-handed swords, versatile one-handed pistols, and even wands for the magically inclined. Plus, for those who like versatility, there’s a system in place that allows for dual-wielding, pairing off-hand weapons with one-handed ones.

During my own adventure with weaponry, I found myself drawn to the Grimoire. This particular magical weapon is quite intriguing because it lets you use spell abilities regardless of whether your character is magic-focused or not. Holding it in my off-hand with a sword in the other felt like a dynamic duo, ready to shake things up in battle. Interestingly, as you journey through Avowed, you can come across more of these Grimoires. Once found, you have the option to enhance them or extract new spells. Imagine learning a “Fan of Flames” attack and adding it to your skill set. You could then charge into battle with a gigantic hammer in one hand and unleash fiery chaos in the other, independent of your spellbook.

Paramo explains, “What sets us apart is the way all these elements are integrated. We don’t box in the player; instead, we push for ultimate freedom. Players can seamlessly swap and perform actions, choosing their abilities from various skill trees, selecting different weapons, executing dodges—it’s a blend of features seen in many games, but we’ve integrated these systems in a way that feels distinctively our own.”