#Avadon the black fortress review Pc#

There are plenty of opportunities to undermine your boss and you can even try to destroy Avadon from the inside. You aren’t stuck with being Redbeard’s lapdog. But it’s much more fun to be a wee bit shifty.

You can still play the hero is that’s you thing. Of course, you don’t have to be a jailor. The nations of the Pact have given up a great deal of their freedom to ensure the alliance’s stability, yet Avadon really doesn’t have any interest in helping them. The whole game takes place in a prison, of sorts. Even with all his power and wealth he’s as much a prisoner as the inmates you capture and kill in your first mission. He’s lazy, bored and trapped by his deal with your master. Another agent of Avadon acts as his caretaker and the two of them bicker like a married couple, in the end Zhethron always loses. He’s a young dragon, delightfully arrogant and rather powerful. He has a haughty, mercenary personality and despite his might he’d rather wait for humans to sort out his problems rather than lifting a claw, himself. In exchange for his allegiance he is given freedom and his cave and horde are protected. Zhethron, the first dragon you meet, is one of the most memorable characters in the game. These creatures are part of the Pact, but still remember the age where they were able to party and devour towns to their hearts’ content. A large ginger chap, who doesn’t seem to age, has survived countless assassination attempts and strong arms every nation in the Pact into following his rules is probably worth fearing.Įven powerful creatures, like dragons, respect and fear Avadon. But the last thing anyone wants to do is draw Redbeard’s gaze.

Without Avadon’s protection the five nations would be at war with each other and the ravenous wolves that surround the alliance, such as barbarian hordes and powerful empires. The relationship between Avadon and the realms it protects is one of the most interesting facets of the game. Straight away it is clear that Redbeard is merciless and manipulative, as you see the state of some of his prisoners - especially the last man that tried to assassinate him. Your first mission is to put the fortress dungeons back in order after a break out attempt. You aren’t the hero, the Hands are extensions of Redbeard’s will. With his army of agents, powerful magic and keen mind, he keeps the Pact (a coalition of nations) from falling apart. Your imposing master, Redbeard, is the most powerful man in the continent of Lyneas. You aren’t tasked with saving the world, your job is to maintain the status quo. You play the newest Hand of Avadon, a position of power and responsibility. People tend to find out about Vogel’s RPGs through word of mouth and even then it’s hard to see what the fuss is about. You could be forgiven for missing it, though.

#Avadon the black fortress review Pc#

It eventually found it’s way onto PC in May and iPad in June. Like all of Spiderweb’s games, Avadon was released first on Mac, way back in February. If your new job is being the latest Hand of Avadon, medival fantasy’s answer to the CIA, that is.Īvadon: The Black Fortress is the latest RPG to come from Jeff Vogel and Spiderweb Software, the unsung heroes of classic RPGs in this age of cinematic spectacle. One has to get their bearings, learn their co-workers names, figure out their role, kill or capture escaped prisoners, topple governments or placate an arrogant young dragon who sells his services for gold. The first day of a new job can be a daunting experience.