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RPG Codex has published a new interview with Spiderweb Software's Jeff Vogel. The in-depth Q&A offered more details about the recently announced RPG Avadon: The Black Fortress, as well as Vogel's plans to update the first three Avernum games and bring Spiderweb games to mobile devices.

Avadon is described as an epic adventure in a strange and dangerous world in which players take the role of a spy and warrior who must fight the enemies of his homeland. Avadon: The Black Fortress will feature four different character classes, dozens of sidequests, hundreds of items to discover, and many different possible endings.

1. What sort of party system can we expect in Avadon: The Black Fortress? The screenshots give the impression of a single PC with joinable NPCs. Will any party members be player created? How large can your party be and how many of them are romanceable?
You will start out making your main character, and then you can recruit two more from a total of four possible joiners. There are four character classes, and each of the joiners has a different one, so you always will be missing one class. You’ll have to shift strategies as you go through the game.
Each joiner has his or her own personality and story and issues, but no romance.

5. What are the four classes? How do they play differently other than being a spellcaster/non-spellcaster?
There are blademasters, shamans, shadowwalkers, and sorceresses, each with dozens of different offensive and defensive abilities. I have worked hard to make them play differently. For example, a shadowwalker can duck in, do a lot of damage very quickly, and use evasive abilities to confuse foes and leap to safety. A shaman will summon beasts to aid her.

11. What are some of the skills/abilities/spells that will be available?
Most of the skills are linked to the abilities. When you buy a skill, you immediately get an ability. Buy more of the skill, and the ability does extra stuff. Buy enough of the skill and you get a new, more powerful version of that ability.
Hmm. Just some examples. A cone attack that does cold damage and flings foes farther away. A spell that teleports you away leaving a decoy in your place. The standard suite of poison clouds, blessings, charms, and summons. Abilities to keep your opponents from noticing you or that draw their attacks.

RPG Codex: Avadon The Black Fortress

Spiderweb Software

Avadon: The Black Fortress

Buy Avadon: The Black Fortress

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