Fantasy RPG fans have been waiting for anotherSkyrimfor ages now, and two potential candidates to fill the void are finally on the horizon. These games areAvowedfromObsidian Entertainment, andThe Elder Scrolls 6from Bethesda. Both of these games were announced a while ago and have gone silent ever since, but considering what was shown inAvowed’s trailer, people have been calling it the ‘spiritualElder Scrolls 6’ because of how it resembles mainlineElder Scrollstitles.
However,Avowedis probably going to be quite different fromSkyrim, and the game it seems more similar to isMorrowind.Avowedis based on thePillars of Eternitygames and will likely include plenty of callbacks to those, but its rumored setting is going to be something else entirely, probably based on the Living Lands of Eora - much likeMorrowindwas very different from the rest of Tamriel. This is just the tip of the iceberg, and while many of these similarities may be based on speculation and rumors, it is plausible thatAvowedandMorrowindwill be compared a lot in the future.
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Avowed’s Magic Casting, Skyrim, Tyranny, and Morrowind’s Spell Crafting
Avowed’s magic castingis different than that ofSkyrimin many regards, at least from what was seen in its trailer.Skyrim’s magic system can feel a bit outdated, especially because of the very similar graphic effects that spells have, which in a way may make them immersion-breaking. On the other hand,Avowed’s spells look more hard fantasy in the way they are cast, with the characters waving their hands in the air only for symbols to appear as runes engulf the caster.
Magic is important here because it is likely that Obsidian will deliver a product that takes the best parts of its other titles, and this may end up including thespell system fromTyranny.Tyrannyhad a very deep and interesting spell crafting system that allowed players to combine different types of sigils, which included Core, Expression, Accent, and Enhancement. Core components were the basic theme of a spell - or the element associated with it, while the others were ways to enhance and change the spell’s behavior and effects. This is not too far off fromMorrowind’s ‘Spellmaking’ service, and the feature was also included inMorrowind’s sequel,Oblivion.
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Avowed’s Setting, Morrowind, and Multiple Biomes
Morrowindwas renowned as a game that hit typical RPG buttons hard, with tons of quests to complete, places to explore, and main characters to meet. However,Morrowindplayerswere also able to kill off characters if they so chose, and this abruptly ended all quests associated with them regardless if they were side or key missions. This offered players both the freedom of choice and the consequences of those choices. According to rumors,Avowedis likely to adopt a similar approach, where players will be able to do whatever they want because of the lack of laws that bind them in the Living Lands.
It also seemsAvowedwill be heavily focused on its setting, showcasing several different biomes, flora, and fauna. This is what setMorrowindapart from other games in theElder Scrollsseries, marking it as a game with compelling background and creatures, teeming with life. If this proves to be the case,Pillars of Eternityfans are probably going to appreciateAvowed’s innovative spirit. All this remains speculation at this point, regardless of the likelihood of these rumors and leaks coming true. Still, there is hope forAvowedto be more likeMorrowindthan a more genericElder Scrolls6.
