Avowed’s Success Sparks Hope for Pillars of Eternity TTRPG Revival!

by

With Avowed appearing likely to thrive for Obsidian Entertainment, I’m optimistic it could rekindle a seemingly forgotten project. It might even influence the direction of that project, given they both inhabit the same fictional universe. There seems to be enthusiasm among Obsidian team members about potential work linked to Avowed, so I’m hopeful this dormant game could find a place in those discussions somehow.

Avowed is derived from the popular CRPG series by Obsidian known as Pillars of Eternity. Although the Pillars games boast a dedicated fan base, they haven’t achieved the same level of mainstream success as other CRPGs such as Baldur’s Gate 3. Unlike those games, Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire was crowd-funded due to its perceived riskiness by the studio. Here’s hoping that the success of Avowed will rejuvenate the IP and resurrect a once abandoned Pillars project.

Avowed Could Revive The Pillars Of Eternity TTRPG

The Pillars TTRPG Was A Backer Reward For Pillars 2

One perk offered during the crowdfunding campaign for Pillars of Eternity 2 was a tabletop role-playing game system modeled after the Pillars series. The project seemed promising at first, with a brief 30-page guide and later an early version of the rulebook made available. However, the alpha release from 2019 turned out to be the last official update for the game. Although Josh Sawyer, director of both Pillars games, frequently shared updates about the game on social media, a fully developed set of rules was never published.

Two years ago in 2023, Sawyer announced via Twitter his plans to overhaul the fundamental aspects of the tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG). Since then, there hasn’t been a fresh official update on the game. However, as of January 2025, Sawyer continues to work on the project, posting sneak peeks of the revised rules on Bluesky. With the success of Avowed, I have high hopes that this momentum will eventually lead to the long-awaited release of the Pillars TTRPG.

still goin off — Josh Sawyer (@jesawyer.bsky.social) 2025-01-15T19:57:40.853Z

According to Forbes, Microsoft is pleased with the sales figures for the game Avowed, and as more people start playing it, positive word of mouth is spreading. This could potentially boost momentum not only for Avowed but also the entire Pillars of Eternity series. Remarks from Obsidian developers linked to the franchise have given me optimism that the tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) might be heading towards an official launch.

Obsidian Developers Have Discussed Doing More With The Pillars IP

Multiple People At Bethesda Have Expressed Interest In The Future Of The Franchise

As reported by GamesRadar, Josh Sawyer expressed that there’s an inclination at Obsidian Entertainment towards developing a strategy game based on Pillars of Eternity. Although Sawyer seemed hesitant about its production, this interest could lead to further development of the tabletop RPG. Since the combat systems in pen-and-paper RPGs have some resemblance with tactics games, efforts might be channeled into finalizing the Pillars TTRPG if a strategy game is not materialized.

Carrie Patel, the Game Director for Avowed, has shown enthusiasm about continuing her work on the series. While her comments may suggest additional content like DLC or possibly even Avowed 2, increased interest in the Pillars IP at Obsidian could potentially speed up the completion of the tabletop role-playing game. This game could also address a concern Josh Sawyer had regarding a potential Pillars 3.

In a conversation with TouchArcade, Sawyer expressed that he’d be inclined towards creating Pillars 3 under two conditions: a bigger budget and turn-based gameplay. A Tabletop Role-Playing Game (TTRPG) could serve as an excellent platform for experimenting with these new turn-based features. Additionally, it would provide Sawyer with greater creative liberty to develop campaigns within the Pillars universe without being overly concerned about financial constraints.

Sworn is an enjoyable action RPG, and I wouldn’t mind if the Pillars IP maintained this direction rather than focusing on reviving tabletop role-playing games (TTRPG). As a fan of the Pillars series, it’s heartening to see more players becoming enamored with the world of Eora in some capacity. However, I remain hopeful that the momentum generated by Avowed will propel the series forward in various aspects, including completing the tabletop RPG.

Read More

2025-03-01 08:27