When you start playing Obsidian's Avowed, one of the first things you do is create a character. This involves choosing a background, which might seem like a small choice, since there are just five options that look similar. However, this choice is more important than it seems and can shape the game experience. Even though it is possible to change the character's abilities later, the background picked gives you some initial advantages.

Each background isn't just a stat boost; it also comes with its own story that affects how you interact with characters in the game. Choosing Arcane Scholar, Court Augur, Noble Scion, Vanguard Scout, or War Hero gives a notably different experience. This backstory influences the dialogue options available to you, giving you unique responses and insights not available to characters with different backgrounds. These differences help make your experience feel personalized, especially in the smaller, more detailed world.

Arcane Scholar Is The Mage Class

Go Here If You Like Spells & Magic

In Avowed, the Arcane Scholar background is a great choice for players who enjoy magic and learning. The character's backstory involves graduating with honors from Bragganhyl Academy and writing a paper questioning a local lord's power, leading to a job in the imperial archives. This background encourages a playstyle focused on intelligence and magic, with a bit of a rebellious edge, and there’s a bonus of being able to cast the best spells.

The Arcane Scholar has strong starting attributes: a high Intellect score (+3) that helps with spellcasting and elemental resistance, a good Perception score (+2) that increases critical hit chances and range for attacks, and decent Dexterity (+2) for faster spellcasting and more agility. Might (+2) and Resolve (+1) are lower but still boost damage and stamina. Starting out, the Arcane Scholar has a dagger. While it’s not very strong, it can be used quickly between spells for extra damage, showcasing the background’s blend of magic and some melee fighting.

Court Augur Is Great For A Mix Up

Intellect And Perception Will Be Your Friends

The Court Augur character background in Avowed offers a unique mix of traits and storytelling possibilities, making it appealing for players who enjoy mystery and unconventional skills. Stat-wise, the Court Augur strongly focuses on Intellect and Perception, starting with 3 points in each, while Might and Constitution are at 0. Resolve is decent at 2 points, giving a moderate stamina pool. This setup suggests that the character is better suited for ranged attacks and spellcasting than melee fighting.

Surprisingly, the starting weapon is a mace, a powerful melee option that contrasts with the character's low physical stats, encouraging creative combat strategies—like using the mace up close or as a backup while mainly relying on spells. From a roleplaying perspective, the Court Augur operates in the background, using their power subtly. Their story involves rising from being an outcast in a village to becoming a trusted mystic in the Emperor's court. This background fits well for characters who are clever, observant, and skilled at manipulation.

The Augur’s abilities in foresight and deception suggest they might prefer indirect combat methods, using spells or traps instead of direct fights. Their mysterious nature allows various personalities to emerge, ranging from a cunning strategist to a reluctant seer in the Emperor's service. The Court Augur's skills will affect dialogue choices and interactions with NPCs, revealing unique insights about the game world.

Noble Scion Is Great For Those In The Middle

Nothing Wrong With A Middle Ground

The Noble Scion background in Avowed features a character from a noble family that has fallen from grace due to scandal. This past leaves the Scion searching for the Emperor's forgiveness, eventually leading to a chance to gain influence in the imperial court. This backstory allows for a lot of creative roleplaying since the character isn’t tied to a strict stereotype. They’re described as "canny yet refined," meaning they can be both clever and polished, which can be adjusted to fit different playstyles.

In of abilities, the Noble Scion starts with a balanced set of attribute points: two points in Might, Dexterity, and Perception, and one point in Constitution and Resolve. This even distribution allows for hybrid builds, so the character can effectively engage in both melee fighting and magic. The Noble Scion starts with a sword as their weapon, which is very reliable.

Vanguard Scout Is Great For Ranged Combat

This Is The Archer's Character Build

The Vanguard Scout background in Avowed is a great choice for players who prefer ranged combat and have a backstory of overcoming challenges. This background focuses on Perception and Dexterity, making it ideal for building a skilled archer or spellcaster. With three points in Perception, the character can score critical hits more often and shoot enemies from a greater distance. The two points in Dexterity help increase attack speed, allowing for faster strikes and smoother actions. Additionally, two points in Constitution help boost your character’s health and provide some resistance to poison and bleeding.

Even though the Vanguard Scout starts with an axe, which may seem odd for a ranged fighter, it highlights the background’s versatility. Players can quickly switch to a bow, wand, or any other ranged weapon found early in the game. The lore suggests that the character has a background of hardship and has evolved into a capable imperial operative. In of roleplaying, this background suits players who like characters with a tough history and who can work alone, using cleverness and observation to succeed.

War Hero is A Great Build for Melee Characters

Choose This If Magic Isn't Your Thing

In Avowed, choosing the War Hero background is a great option for players who enjoy a melee-focused, tank-like playstyle. The War Hero starts with strong attributes in Might and Resolve, getting a +3 boost in both. This gives players a big advantage in dealing damage and lasting longer in fights, which is important for close combat.

High Might means you can hit hard from the beginning, while high Resolve provides enough stamina to keep attacking, blocking, and dodging without getting tired too quickly. This makes the War Hero perfect for players who want to dive right into battles and face enemies up close. On the downside, the War Hero has lower starting attributes in Intellect, Dexterity, and Perception. This means the character isn't focused on magic, ranged attacks, or critical hits.

The starting weapon is a spear, which suits this build well. It has good reach and can handle both thrusting attacks and controlling groups of enemies. This matches the War Hero's focus on close combat, providing a solid base for players to master melee fighting. The background story also highlights the character as a battle-hardened veteran shaped by experience in war. This narrative is ideal for players wanting to play as strong, resilient warriors who are fierce and loyal.

What Background Should I Pick In Avowed?

Best Avowed Background For Beginners

I like the Noble Scion the best in Avowed because it’s the most well-rounded. Players might focus on Might and Dexterity for a stronger melee fighter or on Perception and Intellect for a good mix of ranged combat and magic. A stealthy approach is also possible, emphasizing Dexterity and Perception to boost agility and chances of critical hits. While the sword is not as powerful as a mace, the sword offers a good balance between damage and ease of use and can end up as one of the best weapons to start with.

It’s up to each player who they should pick, but for those on the fence, the Noble Scion is the easiest to pick up and play. It’s the best middle ground: You can focus on playing the game instead of min-maxing. It’s the one I’d pick just because I don’t like dealing with the strategies that can make Avowed more complicated.