Avowed Character Creator Falls Short
Why did Obsidian Skip Godlike Diversity?
Obsidian Entertainment’s Avowed, released on February 18, 2025, drags the Pillars of Eternity world of Eora into a mess, with its character designer failing miserably, when it comes to it’s forced Godlike characters. Instead of delivering diverse elemental types like fire, ice, or lightning, Obsidian fixates on flowery fungi and wood elements. This restricts customization and betrays the legacy of their earlier RPGs. Here’s why this flop stings.
Godlike in Pillars of Eternity: Born this Way
In Pillars of Eternity, Godlike are divine-touched beings with traits tied to Eora’s gods:
- Moon Godlike: Crescent growths, shimmering skin (Ondra).
- Death Godlike: Decay-like features (Berath).
- Fire Godlike: Molten hair, glowing skin (Magran).
These elemental types gave players options, but Avowed’s character designer ditches them for fungi and wood — mushrooms on your head, moss behind your ears. It’s a monotonous slog compared to the variety fans expected from a Godlike envoy with a mysterious patron.
Where Are the Fire, Ice, and Lightning Godlike in Avowed?
The Pillars series had fiery crowns, icy shards, and feathered flair. So why does Avowed cling to nature themes? The Living Lands’ fungal plague might excuse mushrooms, but Godlike traits should reflect gods, not just scenery. Where’s:
- Lightning tendrils for Woedica’s storms?
- Icy growths for Rymrgand’s chill?
Instead, it’s twigs and fungi everywhere. Fans on Reddit-like platforms groan:
“All so flowery… disappointing,”
or
“I expected variety, not just mushrooms.”
The Avowed character designer botches any chance to link elemental diversity to its divine mystery.
Avowed Character Designer: Shallow and Broken
The Avowed character creator gives you basics — body type, hair, voice — but Godlike options are a joke. Pick your mushroom spot or twig style, and that’s it. It’s measly compared to Baldur’s Gate 3’s depth or Dragon’s Dogma 2’s detail. Only humans and elves are playable — no dwarves or orlans like in Pillars.
Obsidian’s past Godlike — like Pallegina’s feathers or Tekehu’s ocean vibes — mock this downgrade. Avowed’s fungi obsession is a step backward, especially with its story tied to your divine nature.
Which Gods Made the Cut in Avowed’s Character Designer?
Eora’s pantheon has 11 gods, with nine known Godlike sub-types in Pillars of Eternity. Avowed’s fungi-and-wood fixation covers barely any of them. Let’s break it down:
- Berath (Death): Rotting growths? Nope — just colorful fungi that don’t fit decay. Excluded.
- Magran (Fire): Molten hair, flames? Zero fire traits. Ignored.
- Ondra (Moon/Marine): Lunar crescents or tentacles? Nothing watery here. Left out.
- Galawain (Nature): Antlers, moss, fungi? This is the only match — Avowed’s twiggy mess fits here. Included.
- Hylea (Avian): Feathers, beaks? No air or bird vibes. Missing.
- Rymrgand (Endings): Icy decay, disease? Fungi could stretch to entropy, but the vibrant style doesn’t scream death. Barely a fit — call it excluded.
- Eothas (Dawn): Glowing skin? No light or radiance. Skipped.
- Skaen: Mutilated misery? Fungi don’t cut it for rebellion. Out.
- Abydon/Wael/Woedica: No Godlike confirmed, but where’s industry, mystery, or justice? Nowhere. Forgotten.
Out of nine sub-types, only Galawain’s Nature Godlike squeak by. Even then, Avowed’s mushrooms feel more like a Living Lands gimmick than a divine mark. So why would Obsidian ditch all these gods — fire, ice, air, light, decay — for something resembling a rich kid at Burning Man, decked out in flowery headpieces and eco-chic twigs? It’s a baffling betrayal of Eora’s lore, trading godly variety for a shallow, hipster aesthetic.
A Missed Opportunity and a PR Disaster for Avowed
Avowed’s character designer collapses under its fungi-and-wood fixation. Fire, ice, or lightning could’ve honored Eora’s gods and salvaged the Godlike, but no — Obsidian went cheap. Was it budget cuts? Time constraints? Fungi are easier than flames, but for an Obsidian RPG, it’s inexcusable.
Worse, Art Director Matt Hansen’s controversies tanked any hope. In a June 2020 tweet, Hansen wrote,
“Reminder to Black artists… my DMs are open, and you will always have my priority. We got too many crusty white dudes in this field — I want to go back to living in the woods.”
igniting accusations of discriminatory hiring. Then, in a November 2024 BlueSky post aimed at Elon Musk, he sneered,
“I wanted so badly to make him mad with my game… Just wait until you see the default, you sad little s***,”
hinting at divisive design choices like pronouns or the character creator’s “default.”
Streamer Asmongold and others slammed Hansen, with fans boycotting Avowed after its February 18, 2025 launch. Early buzz screams of sales flops — hard data’s pending — but Hansen’s antics made it a liability. This should’ve been a Godlike showcase; it’s just a mess of fungi and woodland fallout.
Final Thoughts on Avowed’s Character Design
Avowed’s character design, focusing on fungi and wood rather than classic elements like fire or lightning, has disappointed fans and stifled creativity. Matt Hansen’s divisive comments have further hurt the game’s reception, resulting in a letdown for Obsidian, especially given its association with the fan-beloved legacy of Pillars of Eternity.
What are your thoughts? Did the character options or Hansen’s remarks ruin Avowed for you? First impressions matter, especially when creating a character you’ll invest countless hours in. For me, gameplay can’t make up for a subpar character creator. Let me know your take on the character creator in the comments below!
