On this video, we’ll be speaking aboutFellowship, a recreation we truly touched on earlier than that we had entry to within the early alpha construct again in August of 2024.For those who caught that video, you would possibly do not forget that we got here away fairly intrigued by what the builders have been making an attempt to do.
Fellowship Early Entry Preview
However for anybody new, Fellowship is what the builders are calling a multiplayer on-line dungeon journey, or MOA for brief, and is being developed by Chief Insurgent, a model new studio made up of some fairly seasoned veterans (individuals who’ve labored on titles like World of Warcraft, Diablo I, Helldivers 2, and the Battlefield collection, simply to call a number of).
On this video, we’ll break down what Fellowship truly is, the way it performs, what sort of mechanics and heroes it options, and why we expect it might resonate with sure audiences.
That is significantly true for hardcore World of Warcraft followers and possibly even gamers who get pleasure from roguelike or co-op dungeon crawls that throw a gentle stream of challenges at you.
Additionally, keep tuned for the tip of the video the place we’ve an unique, never-before-seen boss reveal.
However earlier than we get forward of ourselves, let’s begin with the apparent query:
What’s Fellowship
Fellowship is a four-player cooperative dungeon crawler, and the idea is fairly simple. You and three different folks bounce right into a dungeon collectively, every taking over a task of a pre-assigned hero. Each hero comes with their very own distinctive skills, weapons, and equipment.
The sport leans arduous into the holy trinity: the basic tank, healer, and DPS position construction, one thing MMO followers will immediately acknowledge.
This setup places an actual emphasis on team-based technique, coordination, and ability execution.
Participant development is tied to every hero, in order you play a hero, you unlock increasingly more for that hero and develop into stronger with that hero completely.
Every match begins on the entrance to a dungeon you queue into, and from there, your group works by means of progressively more durable areas, clearing mobs, tackling elite enemies, and ultimately going through off in opposition to a number of bosses relying on the scale and problem of that dungeon.
At larger ranges, these dungeons are timed, and you should beat the ultimate boss and clear sufficient enemies inside the time restrict to unlock higher-level difficulties, much like how Mythic Plus works in World of Warcraft.
What Makes Fellowship Distinctive
Fellowship removes the standard leveling course of you see in most MMOs and takes gamers immediately into the enjoyable endgame content material, a refreshing change for individuals who now not have time for the grind.
You may consider it as how MOBAs developed out of RTS video games. Fellowship looks like the following iteration: if MOBAs have been the streamlined model of large-scale technique, Fellowship goals to be the streamlined model of MMO dungeon content material.
As a substitute of spending dozens of hours gearing up and hoping for an honest run, Fellowship drops you straight into the motion out of your very first session. There’s no lengthy leveling or raid prep required; you’re in, you’re preventing, and also you’re incomes gear tokens and ranked rewards instantly.
For gamers with busy schedules, this accessibility-first design is a giant deal. It permits MMO veterans with restricted free time to relive the dungeon-crawling thrill in shorter, extra rewarding periods.
Mount System
One other function that exhibits respect for gamers’ time is the mount system.
Mounts will be earned by means of regular play or by finishing particular duties, permitting gamers to hurry by means of situations shortly and optimize runs.
Hardcore MMO followers nonetheless get that cooperative problem they crave, however this format opens the door for a lot of who beforehand gave up on the style as a result of time constraints.
Monetization
Fellowship is a premium title: you purchase it as soon as, and that’s it. No subscriptions or necessary on-line passes.
The builders have stated there shall be non-compulsory cosmetic-only microtransactions, with no influence on gameplay or development.
They’ve emphasised transparency about how the system evolves at launch, which is refreshing to listen to given present participant considerations about monetization.
Chief Insurgent additionally appears genuinely excited by group suggestions for post-launch content material, aiming to construct a wholesome, clear relationship between builders and gamers.
Gameplay and Fight
The core of Fellowship is streamlined dungeon working with limitless replayability due to scaling problem and modifiers.
Gamers can select between Fast Play and Ranked modes:
- Fast Play presents brief, informal runs lasting 10–quarter-hour, good for leaping in and grabbing loot.
- Ranked Mode ups the problem with scalable difficulties, curses, and ascensions that alter every dungeon’s really feel.
Teams will vote amongst three dungeon choices earlier than beginning a run. Modifiers can drastically change gameplay; for instance, a curse that makes ice injury have an effect on each gamers and enemies forces new positioning and technique.
Accessing larger difficulties requires two issues:
- The next merchandise degree (earned from stronger gear).
- Excessive dungeon scores (achieved by clearing tougher runs inside deadlines).
Stronghold (Hub Space)
Between runs, gamers return to the central hub, a bustling stronghold with crafting stations, distributors, coaching dummies, and improve benches. It’s the downtime area the place you enhance your hero earlier than the following dungeon.
This design channels the late-game dungeon expertise from MMOs like World of Warcraft however makes it the principle function as a substitute of the tip purpose.
Heroes and Skills
At Early Entry launch (October sixteenth), there are 9 courses obtainable, with extra on the way in which.
As a substitute of making a blank-slate character, you choose from a roster of pre-designed heroes, every with distinct playstyles tied to the basic MMO archetypes: tank, DPS, or healer.
Every hero incorporates a expertise desk, permitting customization inside their archetype.
Gamers can freely allocate factors, and respecs are fully free, encouraging experimentation.
This design promotes synergy between heroes and retains social gathering composition fascinating.
For instance, Mako performs in a different way from Helena, and utilizing Sylvia (a sustained healer) as a substitute of a burst healer adjustments the whole group rhythm.
There’s clear potential for future heroes, together with pet-based tanks, space healers, and different artistic designs that increase group variety.
Closing Ideas
Total, Fellowship looks like a deliberate try to carve out its personal area of interest by specializing in the finest elements of MMO dungeon working: cooperative fight, development, and synergy, whereas trimming away the grind and downtime.
It’s a streamlined but deep cooperative expertise that matches each fast after-work periods and longer devoted play. Seasonal updates, modifiers, and rewards ought to hold issues contemporary over time.
If Chief Insurgent can ship on their imaginative and prescient, Fellowship might do greater than be a part of the dungeon crawler style, it might outline a brand new one solely.
Boss Reveal with Hamish Bode
Earlier than we wrap up, as promised, right here’s a new boss reveal with voiceover from Chief Insurgent Group Director Hamish Bode:
Hello everybody, Hamish right here, Group Director for Fellowship.
I am actually excited that we get to indicate off an unique first take a look at what’s most likely my private favourite of all of the bosses we’ve in our recreation.
As an added bonus, we’re watching this from the angle of our new hero, Allaran.
We’re going to indicate you among the mechanics (how they work and generally don’t) so you can begin enthusiastic about easy methods to sort out this for yourselves in Fellowship after October sixteenth.
Get pleasure from!
