Obsidian was 'surprised' that Avowed players bounced off one of the RPG's most important systems: 'That frustration came through loud and clear'

There are very few good examples of RPG crafting systems. I'll make an exception for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, which makes alchemy and blacksmithing tactile and engaging. Otherwise? Get outta here with your busywork. And it looks like a lot of Avowed players feel the same way.

Avowed's upgrade system caught a lot of flak at launch, which required players to use upgrade materials to keep their favourite weapons and bits of armour viable as they explored new areas. Crafting is often treated as optional in RPGs, but not so in Avowed, where it's a system you're required to engage with. And that caused some problems.

"We were definitely surprised by how many people consistently bounced off the upgrading experience," gameplay director Gabe Paramo recently told RPG Site. "We were trying to create a tight gameplay loop. The player completes content, upgrades their gear, and faces harder content. But because the game is open-area, players who really wanted to explore were getting stopped in their tracks in ways we didn't anticipate."

It's a change I can get behind. It mostly seems to be related to the new custom difficulty modifiers. As well as making your character and companions more powerful, you can make some broader adjustments to the world, changing merchant prices and upgrade material costs. So you'll be able to more easily buy useful gear, while upgrading said gear will be less of a faff. There are also workbenches dotted around the world now, so you no longer need to return to camp to improve your equipment. You can check out all the changes in the 2.0 patch notes.

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Fraser is the UK online editor and has actually met The Internet in person. With over a decade of experience, he's been around the block a few times, serving as a freelancer, news editor and prolific reviewer. Strategy games have been a 30-year-long obsession, from tiny RTSs to sprawling political sims, and he never turns down the chance to rave about Total War or Crusader Kings. He's also been known to set up shop in the latest MMO and likes to wind down with an endlessly deep, systemic RPG. These days, when he's not editing, he can usually be found writing features that are 1,000 words too long or talking about his dog.

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