When I had a chat with Obsidian’s regional director Berto Ritger about Avowed earlier this month, our conversation primarily centered on the game’s impressive level design and exploration. However, he also discussed how significantly the game’s early stages changed throughout its development. Although this might have been necessary, an Elders Scrolls gag that was initially part of Avowed has now transformed.
“Initially, we didn’t have a prologue, and players began at the docks in Dawnshore. It was a bit linear, and we wanted to open it up more. But it also failed to introduce the world and combat quickly enough. All the tutorial mechanics weren’t laid out in a rapid and expected manner.”
This led to the creation of Avowed’s prologue island, significantly influencing its design. Originally, essential tutorial elements were placed within a defined area of Dawnshore, allowing for greater openness.
Ritger recalls one particular comedic moment:
“The very first version of the Grimoire tutorial included a character who explodes on the cliff. I added that myself, and it was a fun twist I was thrilled to incorporate.”
This moment hints towards an area in western Dawnshore, marked by a crater filled with the remains of a wizard who had a unique spellcasting grimoire.
When Dawnshore served as the tutorial zone, players would have witnessed the explosion from a distance, with the pyromancer’s remains playing a pivotal role in unlocking spellcasting mechanics for the player. Ritger humorously suggested, “We need something to catch your attention in this immense environment. How about we just have a fellow on the road explode, as that will definitely attract attention?”
Additionally, the inclusion of this gag was confirmed as a memorable moment when Ritger shared a video of it with Carrie Patel, the project lead, who laughed in approval.
Overall, while we didn’t get to see the full impact of the pyromancer’s failure, the aftermath still stands as a delightful secret in Avowed, filled with hidden gems. The game’s development journey reflects the balance of creativity and user engagement, exemplified by this explosive gag appointment.
