Fellowship Interview: Team Talks New “MODA” Genre, Dungeon Inspiration

Fellowship Interview: Team Talks New "MODA" Genre, Dungeon Inspiration

As a seasoned gamer with years of experience under my belt, I can’t help but be intrigued by the upcoming game, Fellowship. The team behind this title seems to have a deep understanding of what makes a cooperative game truly special – the feeling of camaraderie and unity that comes from overcoming challenging boss battles together.


In the realm of video games, the multiplayer online battle arena genre is well-known. However, “Fellowship,” developed by Chief Rebel and Arc Games, introduces something fresh. It’s a “MODA” – multiple online dungeon arena or dungeon adventure game – where teams navigate through different themed dungeons and engage in intense battles with challenging bosses to earn coveted loot. This game combines swift multiplayer action with an immersive fantasy environment and a diverse cast of heroes. The creators at Chief Rebel aim to debut the closed alpha version of “Fellowship” on August 15, with the full game expected to launch in 2025.

Game Rant was given a sneak peek at the upcoming game, “Fellowship”, and had the chance to chat with Axel Lindberg (game director), Bretton Hamilton (design director), and Hamish Bode (community director). They delved into the various characters that players will come across in “Fellowship”, talked about some of the bosses and dungeons they may face, and explained how the game’s innovative character development, Ascension and Curse system, keeps dungeons exciting and challenging while providing intricate boss battles without requiring excessive grinding. The conversation has been shortened and simplified for better understanding.

Fellowship’s Fascinating Cast Of Characters

Fellowship Interview: Team Talks New "MODA" Genre, Dungeon Inspiration

Question: The fellowship presents a variety of characters for the players to select. Which ones do you all find yourselves particularly drawn to?

Hamilton personally enjoys the character Warmaster, sporting both a shield and a sword. We’ve renamed Helena, by the way. Additionally, Ardeos the Fire Mage is another favorite of mine; I find him quite entertaining to control in the game.

Lindberg: I find Fire Mage to be incredibly rewarding! There’s a significant amount to grasp in order to maximize its damage potential. But when everything aligns perfectly, and you unleash those powerful chain reactions, it’s truly exhilarating. That’s why Fire Mage is my preferred choice.

As a devoted fan, I find myself gravitating towards characters with an undeniable cool factor. In my humble opinion, Sylvie and Meiko are two such heroes who truly embody this quality. Sylvie, to me, exudes a unique and captivating style that makes her stand out among others. Then there’s Meiko, whose skill as a martial artist is matched only by her cool demeanor on the battlefield.

A: At the moment, your team includes Tank, DPS, and Healer characters, correct? Are there any plans to increase the number of heroes within the Fellowship in the future?

As a passionate gamer, let me tell you, what sets our game apart is the variety we offer. Unlike many other MMOs out there, we don’t wait years to introduce new playable characters or classes. Instead, we keep things fresh and exciting by regularly introducing new content. In fact, if you’re a fan of dungeons, you can expect around eight new ones per expansion, but that’s not all! We also provide additional content throughout the expansion’s lifecycle, which is typically anywhere from one and a half to two and a half years. This means you won’t be stuck doing the same old dungeons for an extended period. Instead, our game offers a constant stream of new experiences to keep you engaged and entertained!

Instead of creating one massive open world with 200 hours worth of quests, let’s focus on regularly introducing new characters (heroes) and locations (dungeons). This rapid release will keep the game dynamic and exciting by frequently changing the meta, or the current state of the game. As players become proficient with the existing dungeons, we can ensure that fresh content is available to keep things engaging.

Question: Does the game Fellowship prompt you to choose a primary hero and stay with them, or does it allow for frequent changes between various heroes, encouraging experimentation instead?

Lindberg: Absolutely, the game features continuous advancement. This means you’ll be collecting loot, gathering crafting materials, and increasing your hero’s rank, which unlocks special talents. Each character progresses individually. To encourage players to experiment with different characters, we plan to speed up the leveling process for secondary or tertiary heroes. We believe it’s important to have a smooth transition when switching to new characters because each new hero has distinct abilities. Therefore, there will be a learning curve to explore these unique skills.

Ultimate Abilities And Raid Dungeons

Fellowship Interview: Team Talks New "MODA" Genre, Dungeon Inspiration

Of course! Let me explain how Ultimate Abilities function. You gain these powerful abilities as you advance through your character levels.

After wrapping up my initial skirmish in Quick Play, I gain access to my Ultimate Ability. As I delve deeper into the dungeon, dealing damage and executing my character’s moves, a meter steadily fills up, granting me the power to unleash my formidable ultimate ability. For instance, as a Fire Mage, my Ultimate is Dragon’s Breath – a colossal flame thrower that ignites everything in its path. Each hero possesses their unique Ultimate Ability too.

Helena the Warmaster possesses an extraordinary skill that grants her complete invulnerability for 12 seconds, effectively reducing damage received during this period. This feature delights healers and provides a lifeline when the party is in trouble, allowing her to press on with full force. Additionally, it’s quite impressive to watch!

In a pinch when Sylvie’s healing efforts fall short, approximately when everyone is at about half their total health, her Ultimate skill is quite impressive. This ability releases a swarm of big, green butterflies that synchronizes the health levels among all party members. Consequently, the damage taken and healing received are shared among the group. In this way, Sylvie manages to maintain stability during critical, perilous situations.

A: Are you correct that we’re also planning on incorporating raids, aside from the quick play and ranked dungeons?

Hamilton: Yes, one additional aspect we’re considering, which won’t be included in our summer closed playtest, is Raids. In Raids, a larger team of players will band together to confront challenging content. The emphasis will be on engaging in boss battles, and these battles will likely involve more intricate mechanics that demand cooperation and communication among many players.

We’re not sure about the exact number of players required for a raid just yet, but it’s likely to be more than the typical group of four.

Using Teamwork To Defeat Powerful Bosses

Fellowship Interview: Team Talks New "MODA" Genre, Dungeon Inspiration

A: Did the distinct and awe-inspiring nature of each boss fight in Fellowship remind you of any epic battles or intriguing boss mechanics from other games? Were there any specific examples that may have influenced your design process?

In Lindberg’s words, the inspiration for our work is incredibly wide-ranging. There are countless games out there, and it transcends genre boundaries. When we brainstorm ideas for a new boss in our game, inspiration can come unexpectedly, even from shooter games. I’ve found inspiration in the mechanics of games like Hearthstone, whenever something fits well with our own game. So, it’s about taking that initial spark of inspiration and adapting it to fit our project. In essence, we’re finding inspiration from various sources across the gaming landscape.

Hamilton: There’s a stage set with a fortress under siege by these zombie-like creatures. Your mission is to storm the castle and turn the tide – similar to Gandalf making a dramatic entrance just in time to save the day. While discussing the boss fight designs, I delved into watching numerous ‘Lord of the Rings’ films and other medieval fantasy siege movies. This helps us draw inspiration from various sources whenever possible.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like Game Rant’s readers to know about Fellowship?

Lindberg expressed that there seems to be a type of game genre lacking. What makes it unique is that players gain access to crucial parts, like the dungeon or final boss, instantly, whereas these areas are typically hidden and guarded. This was one of the main inspirations behind the game’s design. They are deliberately crafting the characters, their skills, progression systems, as well as boss fights and enemies with a focus on cooperative play, ensuring that players need to rely on each other for success.

In my view, there’s nothing quite like the intense camaraderie that arises when you collaborate with others to conquer an obstacle successfully. It’s a deeply human sensation, one that resonates strongly. You might find yourself recounting tales among friends: “We were on the brink!” Or “She arrived at the perfect moment.” Or “The tank made this incredible move.” These narratives are essential in fostering and enhancing the immersive experience we aim to provide for our players.

Bode explained earlier that his role is focused on community engagement, a crucial aspect that drew him to this team. He believes that this game should be developed alongside its players, which he finds energizing. Additionally, he thinks that, unlike working for large corporations where he previously worked, our team has a unique opportunity to genuinely collaborate with the players in creating the game.

As a gamer, I can’t help but feel a sense of camaraderie with the name “Fellowship“. It perfectly encapsulates what we aim to achieve together in this venture. The anticipation for where this journey takes us is overwhelmingly positive, and I can hardly contain my excitement! We’re gearing up to debut our closed alpha soon, inviting players to join us on an incredible adventure. Can’t wait to witness the unique strategies and experiences players will bring to our game!

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2024-08-03 14:34