It happened fast. One minute, people were just starting to get comfortable with the niche fantasy world-building of Thirdborn, and the next, Paradis Avowed was the only thing anyone in the lore community could talk about. If you’ve spent any time on Discord or certain corners of Reddit lately, you’ve probably seen the arguments. People are genuinely split. It’s messy.
But honestly? Most of the drama comes from a total misunderstanding of how these two things actually relate to each other. It’s not just a name change. It isn’t just a "spiritual successor" either.
The reality is way more interesting and, frankly, a bit more complicated for the developers involved.
What the heck is Paradis Avowed anyway?
Let's get the basics out of the way first. You've probably heard both names tossed around like they’re interchangeable. They aren’t.
Thirdborn was the initial spark. It was the project title that carried a lot of weight for fans of deep, systemic RPGs. Then came the shift toward Paradis Avowed. This wasn't just a marketing team deciding a new name sounded "cooler" for a global audience. It was a fundamental pivot in how the world was being built.
The lore shifted. The stakes changed.
If you look at the early dev logs—which are getting harder to find by the way—the focus was heavily on the "Thirdborn" status of the protagonist. It was a specific social rank in a very rigid world. Paradis Avowed takes that core idea but expands the scope to the entire faction system of Paradis. It's a bigger lens.
Think of it like this: Thirdborn was a character study. Paradis Avowed is a geopolitical epic.
The mechanics that actually stuck around
Most people worry that when a game goes through this kind of identity shift, the cool stuff gets cut. We’ve seen it a hundred times. A dev has a wild idea, it’s too hard to code, so they slap a new name on it and release a generic action game.
Luckily, that doesn't seem to be the case here.
The "Avowed" system—which evolved from the original loyalty mechanics—is still the backbone of the experience. You aren't just picking a side. You’re making an oath. In the original Thirdborn drafts, these oaths were much more restrictive. They were basically permanent.
Now, in the current version, being "Avowed" to a faction in Paradis means you get specific mechanical buffs, sure, but the social consequences are way more punishing. If you break an oath in this game, the NPCs don't just "dislike" you. They stop trading with you. They close off entire quest lines. Sometimes, they just try to kill you on sight in certain zones.
It's refreshing. Too many modern RPGs let you be the leader of every guild at the same time. Here? If you're Avowed to the Spire, don't expect the Under-dwellers to give you the time of day.
Why the "Thirdborn" concept still matters to the story
Even though the title changed, you're still playing as a Thirdborn. That's the part people keep getting wrong. They think the "Thirdborn" part was scrapped.
It wasn't.
In the lore of Paradis, being the third child in a noble or even a commoner family carries a massive amount of baggage. You don't inherit the land. You don't inherit the title. Usually, you’re sent to the military or the priesthood. You are, by definition, the "spare."
This creates a perfect setup for an RPG protagonist. You have the name, you have the education, but you have absolutely zero power.
Unless, of course, you become Avowed.
That’s the hook. The transition from Thirdborn (your status) to Paradis Avowed (your choice) is the literal arc of the game. It’s about taking a character who should have been a footnote in history and making them the most influential person in the region through these dangerous magical contracts.
Breaking down the combat: It’s not just clicking
If you’re coming into this expecting a standard "hit it until it dies" loop, you’re going to get frustrated. Fast.
The combat system relies on a "Resonance" mechanic that was originally called "Echoing" in the early builds. It’s tricky. Basically, your attacks build a rhythm. If you swing your sword with the same timing as your spell casts, you trigger a Resonance burst.
It sounds simple. In practice? It’s stressful.
You have to manage:
- Your stamina (obviously).
- The "Avowed Meter" which dictates how much power your faction is currently granting you.
- The literal physical stance of your character.
Most players are complaining that the early game is too hard. Honestly, it kind of is. But once you realize that the game is trying to get you to play like a duelist rather than a tank, it clicks. You can't just soak up damage. You're a Thirdborn; you don't have the heavy armor of the Firstborn knights. You have to be faster. You have to be smarter.
The controversy: Was the rebranding a mistake?
Some die-hard fans still swear by the Thirdborn aesthetic. They liked the grittier, smaller-scale feel of the early teasers. There’s a persistent rumor that the change to Paradis Avowed was forced by a publisher who wanted something that sounded more like a "big franchise."
There might be some truth to that.
The newer art direction is definitely more "high fantasy" than the "mud and blood" look we saw three years ago. The colors are more vibrant. The magic is flashier.
But does that make it a worse game? Not necessarily.
The scope has objectively increased. The map of Paradis is nearly double the size of what was originally planned for the Thirdborn project. We’re getting more cities, more voice acting, and a much more complex branching narrative.
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Whether the trade-off of "atmosphere" for "content" was worth it is something the community will be arguing about for years.
How to actually build your character for the mid-game
Don't ignore the social skills.
Seriously. Everyone spends their first ten hours dumping points into Strength or Intelligence. In Paradis Avowed, the "Lineage" skill tree is actually where the power is. Because you’re a Thirdborn, you have unique dialogue options with other "low-born" NPCs that Firstborn characters can't access.
This opens up shortcuts. It opens up cheaper shops. It even lets you bypass certain boss fights entirely by talking your way through the guards.
If you go full combat, you're playing the game on hard mode. If you lean into the "diplomatic spare" archetype, the game opens up in a way that feels way more rewarding.
Common misconceptions that need to die
- "It's a Soulslike." No. Just because a game is hard and has a stamina bar doesn't make it a Soulslike. The death mechanics are actually pretty forgiving. It’s a systemic RPG closer to something like Morrowind or Kingdom Come: Deliverance.
- "The Avowed system is just a reputation bar." It really isn't. It’s a literal magic system. Your abilities change based on who you've sworn your life to. If you leave a faction, you lose those spells. It’s a trade, not a popularity contest.
- "Thirdborn was canceled." Technically, yes, but only as a title. The game you’re playing is the evolved form of that project. It’s like saying a caterpillar was "canceled" because it turned into a butterfly.
What to do next if you're just starting out
If you’re just sitting down to play or you’re on the fence about picking it up, here is the move.
Stop looking at the old trailers. They’ll just make you miss a version of the game that doesn't exist anymore. Focus on the current faction mechanics.
First step: Get to the city of Oakhaven as quickly as possible. Don't linger in the starting woods. The game doesn't really "begin" until you're forced to make your first minor oath in the city square.
Second step: Read the "Tattered Ledger" item in your inventory. Most people skip the flavor text, but the Ledger explains the specific inheritance laws of Paradis. Understanding why everyone looks down on you for being a Thirdborn makes the narrative payoffs feel a lot better.
Third step: Don't be afraid to restart after four hours. The first few character builds are usually total disasters because the "Resonance" system is so counter-intuitive. Once you get the hang of the timing, you might realize you’d rather be a mage than a rogue.
The transition from Thirdborn to Paradis Avowed represents a shift from a cult-classic indie vibe to a massive, ambitious RPG. It’s bumpy. It’s confusing at times. But there is a depth here that you just don't see in most AAA releases lately.
Just remember: your status as a Thirdborn defines your past, but being Avowed defines your future. Play into that, and you'll have a much better time.
Go find a faction that fits your playstyle. Swear the oath. Deal with the consequences later. That’s the whole point of the game.