It has been one year since the launch of Avowed and the team is ending its post-launch roadmap with a substantial anniversary update built with both returning and new players in mind. This release delivers long-requested community features and a broad slate of quality-of-life improvements; including a fan driven feature to bring Avowed even closer to its Pillars of Eternity franchise roots.
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Let’s break down all of the big new additions that are coming to the game with this update.
New Playable Species
Headlining the anniversary update is a major expansion to character creation: three new playable species join the existing Humans and Elves.
With all five of the Eoran kith species now available, players have more ways than ever to define who their envoy is as they decide the fate of the Living Lands. The new species are available for selection at character creation, but for those who are looking are currently in the middle of an adventure and are looking for a change, a mirror has been added to the Party Camp that allows players to change their appearance, including species, at any time!
Not only do the different species change how you look, but the team has also added in stat bonuses for all species adding another layer to character creation.
Elves
+1 Dexterity
+1 Perception
To team up with species specific stat boosts, we have also added a stat boost that comes along with your background choice, adding more to your build variety.
Arcane Scholar - +2 to Intellect
Court Augur - +2 to Resolve
Noble Scion - +2 to Perception
Vanguard Scout - +2 to Dexterity
War Hero - +2 to Constitution
Return to the Living Lands Again and Again
New Game Plus is now available after completing the main story. This mode is designed to reward mastery, experimentation, and making the all-powerful build.
When starting a New Game Plus save, players will bring along with them:
All unlocked abilities (with the exception of godlike abilities which are gained through story progression/world exploration)
All spent attribute points
All unique weapons and armors—but they are reset to level 1
All unlocked enchantments remain
All unique gloves and boots
Any equipped Common Weapons or Armor items are kept, but they are reset to level 1
EDIT: The above detail was incorrect, and all uncommon weapons and armor are removed at the start of NG+. This is to provide players a consistent experience, regardless of what items they had in their inventory when they ended the game.
The following are removed from the player at the start of a New Game Plus:
To ensure challenge scales alongside player power:
Elemental Modifiers
Physical Modifiers
An important note for those who have already completed Avowed: Since New Game Plus is being added post release and the game was not initially designed with it in mind, a completion save will be necessary in order to take advantage of the mode. You will need to load a point of no return save or later and beat the game to make a proper New Game Plus save.
Your Game, Your Way
For players who want even finer control, Avowed now includes custom difficulty modifiers, allowing you to tune the game’s systems to your preferred experience. These new options are found by scrolling down through the “Game” tab of the settings menu.
Adjust player:
Adjust enemy:
Adjust companion:
As well as general adjustments:
Custom game options allow you to better play the game your way. These options can be changed and adjusted at any time during the game so be sure to mix and match all you’d like. Some also add in XP modifiers to boost your gains further.
Important note: While changing these options will not negate most achievements that you may be hunting down, they will invalidate a Path of the Damned achievement. That achievement must be done without use of the custom game options.
New Weapon Type: Quarterstaff
A brand new weapon type is joining the arsenal with the quarterstaff. Designed with the archmage fantasy in mind, the quarterstaff is a new bludgeoning weapon that comes complete with wand style stun finishers. Unleash brutal physical combos along with a fury of spells that would make even Concelhaut jealous.
Photo Mode and Quality-of-Life Enhancements
While far from completing everything that is coming in the anniversary update, there are a few more notable callouts:
A World Built for Return Visits
For those who are making their return to Avowed to check out the anniversary update, welcome back. If this is your first time in the Living Lands, you are about to enter a world of wonderous flora and fauna, exceptional exploration, and satisfying combat.
This is just a touch of what is in the update as the full patch notes go into more detail.
Patch 2.0
Be sure to check out the previous updates to see what else the team has added in case you’ve missed it.
Patch 1.3
Patch 1.4
Patch 1.5
The fate of an island is up to you; forge it to your will.
