Avadon 3: The Warborn

Alright. [i]Avadon 3: The Warborn[/i] is done and dusted. That's the game and the series complete finally. This is of course a Spiderweb Software style CRPG, and as such, you should expect it to look and feel pretty old school, because it factually is exactly that. Even though this one released in 2016, the tried-and-true format used by Mr. Vogel has largely remained the same since 1995, with some QoL upgrades between then and now. Anyway, this was the conclusion to the Avadon series, so let's take a look at what it has to offer. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3749210521 Now, you probably shouldn't be playing this before playing the two previous games. Even though you start over with a new character as with all Spiderweb Soft games, the overarching story builds from game to game. So, I'm going to assume you've played the previous two games here. If you haven't, you should look at those first. Can you play this on its own? Yes. Should you? No. Much of what's happening will lose all context if you do so. With that out of the way, this is in my opinion the least compelling title in the series. The first game built the world for us. The second game expanded the lore and added a very real sense of mystery via The Corruption. In this game, you've already been to all the locations via the previous two games, have met many of the major NPCs already, and in general will be pretty familiar with everything being presented. This game struggles to introduce anything new into the equation outside of continuing the story itself. I would say the story also is not as strong here. Definitely not as strong as Avadon 2, which was the clear best game in the series. It's good, and it keeps you moving forward, but it did feel like Jeff was feeling a bit of Avadon fatigue at the point where he wrote this one. It just lacked a certain punchiness and raw political intrigue the past two games had. Everything here is far more straightforward. Is it bad? No. Is it on par with the writing in other Spiderweb Soft games? Not the ones I've played. However, I will say that the ending I got was pretty satisfying, and so there is a bit of a payoff for seeing this through to its conclusion. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3757905051 Gameplay is consistent with the previous two games. It's isometric turn-based CRPG, and you're going to already know these systems inside and out at this point. I'd also add that outside of just having a favorite character archetype you want to play as, there is really no reason to play as anything other than a Tinkermage. The game definitely favors that class heavily, and you have companions from all the classes available anyway, so why not play as the clear powerhouse? https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3749210469 As with the previous titles, this game can and will be very challenging at times. The toughest battle was with the Tawon god. Actually, that fight has a pretty insane difficulty spike. In contrast, the Redbeard battle was pretty anticlimactic. Where in previous games, he was hands down the most difficult battle by a wide margin, in this one, he was kind of a pushover. This is largely due to the story progression, and it makes perfect sense from that standpoint, but it still felt a bit weird considering his boss battle history. Overall, Avadon 3 is definitely a quality game even if it doesn't necessarily live up to the lofty standard set by Spiderweb Software games in general, and it was certainly a fitting end to the Avadon series. I had a good time with it, and if you've already played the previous two games, you owe it to yourself to complete the series. Well worth a look in my estimation. [code]If you found this review helpful and would be interested in supporting my Curator group, [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/32549618/]Robilar's Reviews[/url], it would be appreciated. Cheers.[/code] [code]Also follow [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/32732116-IndieGems/]IndieGems[/url] for more reviews like this one.[/code]

Ahh Avadon. Though I'm near the end game, I have to give this one a thumbs down. Spiderweb games are charming but walk a fine line between being too easy or incredible frustration. While this game is to tie up lose ends from the rest of the trilogy, it feels too much of a retread. The four fronts is an interesting idea, but the game never gives a sense of urgency the way Avernum 2 did where you were the underdog against an overwhelming force. Khalida and Natalie return as party companions but I really found Khalida's arc baffling compared to her in Avadon 2. Admittedly I played a shaman this time which is still an underpowered class. Late game and admittedly some optional bosses felt too gimmicky with plenty of foes immobilizing you, summons tons of goons and the over abundance of environmental effects that damage you over time. In and of themselves they can be fine in an rpg but here are limited ways to mitigate them in this game, so all combined combat can feel annoying. Plus many foes feel like HP bloating where the result of the fight is a forgone conclusion but they take forever to die. It ends up feeling not exciting or challenging but more of a tedious chore. Jeff Vogel fixed the leveling system and made it more streamlined (thank you!), yet in the end I couldn't be bothered to finish this. The ratio of annoyance to fun (which all games have none are perfect) was too high for me to want to continue.

J'ai décidé de mettre une recommandation à ce jeu, mais attention, il n'est pas forcément à mettre entre toutes les mains. Déjà, il s'agit d'une création de Spiderweb, l'entreprise de Jeff Vogel. Si vous ne connaissez pas le bonhomme, une vidéo de la GDC lui est dédiée et est très informative. Un dossier lui a aussi été consacré dans un Canard PC. Si on doit résumer : on a ici affaire à l'exemple presque ultime de l'artisan du CRPG qui travaille le genre en indé depuis de nombreuses années et s'est formé un groupe de suiveurs qui aiment son univers, ses méthodes de création (la récupération est très importante ici, on peut dire que ces jeux sont écolos) et ses tics. Avadon était donc il y a quelques années une nouvelle série de jeux de Spiderweb, le début d'une trilogie qui se termine ici. Toute l'intrigue tourne autour d'Avadon, forteresse qui est le siège de la police d'un pacte entre plusieurs puissances frontalières. Comme dans les épisodes précédents, on y incarne une Main, un personnage entre l'émissaire et le soldat, envoyé en première ligne pour résoudre les problèmes, soit par le dialogue, soit par la manière forte, soit par un subtil mélange des deux. Pour ne pas perdre les nouveaux venus, rien de ce qui a pu être fait dans les deux précédents jeux n'a d'impact sur cet épisode, comme c'était déjà le cas dans le précédent opus. Bon, la question ici n'est peut-être pas celle de l'accessibilité, car on ne parle pas de jeu très beginner-friendly à la base, mais nous avons peut-être plutôt affaire à un problème de complexité vu la variété des choix possibles dans les précédents jeux. Et en fait, il est comment ce jeu ? Et bien c'est un CRPG très old-school qui fera mal à certains yeux (certains assets sont réutilisés depuis le premier Avadon, voire peut-être depuis encore avant) avec un système simple (4 caractéristiques, des compétences qui s'améliorent avec des points glanés lors de la montée de niveau, etc...) mais qui permet des combats tactiques souvent velus. Car voilà en quelque sorte le coeur de la création Vogelienne : ces jeux sont pensés pour offrir un vrai challenge tactique et des affrontements parfois longs face à des boss tortueux. Sur les forums officiels, les échanges sur les habitudes de Vogel et ses éléments cachés à tout bout de champ sont légions. C'est très sympathique comme ambiance, mais je peux aussi comprendre que certains puissent trouver ça rébarbatif. Des combats à la difficulté parfois extrêmement importantes, des énigmes souvent tordues et un système de jeu un peu archaïque, il faut aimer. Moi c'est mon cas. Mais faites attention si vous voulez vous y risquer. Il est très facile de jeter l'éponge. Rassurez-vous, si vous le faites, je ne serais pas le premier à vous jeter la pierre.

"Avadon 3: The Warborn" concludes the trilogy, offering a worthy continuation of the previous installments. In the canonical ending of the second part, Redbeard remains the Keeper of Avadon but is later removed by the Alliance Council. The events of the third part take place several years later, as the war between the Alliance and the Farlands reaches a stalemate. Redbeard's return to the periphery becomes a catalyst for changes in the war. The main character, a Hand, finds themselves at the center of events when Redbeard starts to act. According to the ancient laws of the Alliance, only the slayer of the previous Keeper can become the new Keeper. However, the Council appointed Protus as the acting Keeper, deeming Redbeard incompetent and blaming him for starting the war. The player must choose between two strong leaders. On one hand, Redbeard, who has a clear plan and achieves real results but whose methods are brutal and who is willing to sacrifice his people. On the other hand, Protus is a reasonable, diplomatic, and just leader, supported by the Alliance Council and providing unprecedented funding for Avadon. The main intrigue of the game lies in maneuvering between these two characters. The player's decisions can lead to the victory or downfall of the Alliance. Throughout the storyline, the player must sequentially eliminate threats from various enemies of the Alliance, including the Khemerians, the Wildrim rebels, the Warborn alliance (hill-folk, ogres, titans), and the main antagonist from the Tawon Empire. The plot also develops through the opinions of the main character's companions, which can lead to conflicts, but experienced players manage to manipulate them until the very end. Traditionally for the series, at the end of the game, you can fight Redbeard for the title of Keeper. In "Avadon 3," this battle can be easier if actions are taken throughout the game to weaken him. The main disappointment of the game is the lack of significant innovations in gameplay mechanics. The only new feature is abilities that temporarily apply effects to surfaces, affecting anyone who walks over them. "Avadon 3: The Warborn" concludes the trilogy with an engaging storyline and deep moral dilemmas, despite the lack of new gameplay mechanics.

Avadon 3: The Warborn is the satisfying conclusion to the Avadon trilogy with new characters as well as returning, an engaging storyline, and a satisfying ending depending on your choices. Like with all Spiderweb Software games, it is a turn-based retro-style CRPG but still a lot of fun.

This game is surprisingly absorbing, despite the graphical simplicity. A small hidden gem!

At last, a fitting conclusion to this magnificent saga! Jeff has once again demonstrated his boundless creativity and prolific talent as a writer. The plot is masterfully crafted, with quests and decisions that are as captivating as they are thrilling. The choices you make seem to carry weight, influencing the game in intriguing ways - though I’ve only scratched the surface with a single playthrough. The Avadon series shines with its variety of classes, each offering unique builds enhanced by an array of interesting and genuinely useful items and artifacts. The ability to assemble a team of three from a diverse roster of companions adds another layer of depth and flexibility. It's refreshing not to be locked into a fixed party, as you can tailor your team to suit each mission. However, it’s clear the game was developed on a modest budget. The graphics remain largely unchanged from earlier installments, and while it performs better than Avadon 1 and on par with Avadon 2, there’s no new music, voice acting, or visual updates. The reuse of icons, sprites, and assets might not bother some - myself included - but in 2025, I can understand how it could be a drawback for others. As the game progresses, some battles can become increasingly frustrating due to the overwhelming number of enemies, each unleashing area-of-effect attacks and spells. However, the Tinkermage is so incredibly overpowered that I genuinely believe it’s possible to finish the game without relying on companions - talk about a one-person army, haha! I highly recommend these games, but it's best to take breaks between each one. Their similarities can feel repetitive if played back-to-back.

Because of many flaws, I decide to betray Avadon and support the Farlanders. Cons: -The attack range of magic is limited. Unlike previous games, player can't shoot magic to everywhere. -The teleportation range of scarab is also limited. It's impossible to teleport yourself to a far grid. -Eliminates a group of random generating enemies WILL NOT give you any experience! I wasted a lot of time in the Goldcrag. I killed those Warborn patrols over and over again, but didn't get anything from them! -Some actions will cause seriously lag. For example, you shoot magic to enemy across a heap of stones. -I purchased the Official Guide. However, I was disappointed to find that they wrote a lot of error contents. This is entirely unacceptable. -Many other annoying problems.

I am a huge fan of Spiderweb Software games! People who love oldschool isometric CRPGs and don´t mind “simple” graphics will love this game. Avadon 3: The Warborn is the third instalment of the Avadon trilogy. Like its predecessors the story is deep and meaningful, there are tons of sidequests, decisions during the play can influence the ending and companions (and other NPCs) are interesting with compelling backgrounds and motives. I enjoy the turn-based combat. It is challenging (especially on higher difficulties) and “forces” you to use everything you have available (potions, scrolls, magic items, skills). No more hoarding items like other RPGs. All in all, the game is a great finale to this epic trilogy!

The final and rather thrilling chapter of the Avadon Trilogy. Ok, before I start - lets get this out of the way. You really should only play this game if you played the first two otherwise you may find yourself lost or not nearly invested at whats at stake here. The story writing is great, but without playing the first two the impact of everything happening in the final chapter may not seem as big of deal. I say that because you won't get the full figure of RedBeard's Madness, or how unlikeable Protus actually is for a guy who initially seems likeable, the perspectives of two of your Companions Nathalie and Khalida who are from the first two games, and the overall love hate relationship you find yourself with Avadon and being a corrupt Federal Police Force in a Fantasy Setting. You face Moral Decisions of course, like the other two and they are just as gray and complicated as before, though this time around you seem to be able to pull more weight in hopefully trying to influence Avadon for the better... or worse. But more importantly you get to see the ultimate closing chapter and fate of Avadon. The gameplay has been streamlined and the leveling up has being simplified a little bit, less decisions but less opportunities to screw over your build. It's pretty straightforward now and hammered out some of the loose ends and more useless options. The graphics are mostly the same, minor tweaks... though still the Spiderweb Signature setup. The writing and mechanics carry the game. Though the background sounds is still as immersive as ever. There are lots of references to the first two games, it's nice to see familiar faces...and kill some of them. Overall, get it but only after you finished the first two and ready to see where it all ends.