An Absurdly Large Patch for Fellowship's Evolution
The developers of Fellowship, an early access co-op RPG, had to split its season 3 patch notes across five separate Steam news posts. This should give you an idea of the sheer volume of changes in the latest update. The new season introduces a host of balance adjustments and shifts focus away from its MMO-inspired roots, aiming to become a more action-oriented RPG with a robust loot and character build system. This change, however, didn't sit well with everyone initially.
The team at Chief Rebel is hopeful that season 3 will mark a turning point for Fellowship, transforming it into a co-op experience that captures the excitement of running dungeons with friends—without the typical MMO overhead. To achieve this, a significant overhaul was necessary.
One of the most notable changes involves the loot system. Community director Hamish Bode explained during a recent demo that the previous system led to players collecting top-tier gear and then losing interest. In the new system, "there's always something cool that can happen," Bode said, such as discovering gloves that enhance one of your abilities. This system aims to keep players engaged with meaningful upgrades and character customization.
A New Approach to Character Development
Fellowship's revised item system is designed to offer players interesting choices in how they build their characters. This includes necklaces that now provide random defensive bonuses for each hero, encouraging players to constantly seek upgrades. If a player finds an item that perfectly fits their playstyle, they can further enhance its stats through the new Tempering system. The developers have taken care to avoid unnecessary complexity that might make progression feel like a gamble.
Bode emphasized the team's awareness of the risk of making the game feel like a grind. "I don't think it's fun when the game just kind of feeds you everything and kind of plays itself for you," he said. The inclusion of crafting systems allows for greater player agency, offering options to salvage items and use them to enhance other gear.
Increasing the Challenge
Season 3 also addresses feedback that the previous season was too easy for some players. Bode noted that the team made dungeons easier to onboard new players but underestimated the power of the new heroes. "People who were running the new tank and the new healer—it's almost worth saying—broke the game a bit," he explained. This led to more extensive testing for the current season.
Bode prefers the sense of accomplishment that comes from overcoming a difficult challenge, such as defeating a tough boss in Dark Souls. He believes that a game should encourage progress and engagement, rather than making players feel apathetic due to an overly easy experience.
New Dungeons and Rewards
Season 3 introduces more challenging dungeons, including a new pinnacle dungeon with three brutal bosses. Every week, players can run the pinnacle dungeon and receive rewards from any other dungeon in the chest at the end. Completing the pinnacle dungeon also grants a Bloodstone, which can significantly enhance your gear.
A Promising Future for Fellowship
The changes in season 3 are promising for a game that fills a unique niche in the co-op RPG space. During my time playing alongside Bode as the new melee damage hero Gunde, I was reminded of why I still believe in Fellowship. Gunde is a berserker who uses twin axes to cleave through enemies, leaving them bleeding. I focused on lining up his area-of-effect attacks in the first dungeon and enjoyed watching enemies melt with a finisher move that dealt massive extra damage to bleeding foes.
Fellowship is still in its early access phase and has already improved dramatically from its initial release. Season 3 feels like the first time I can sense a clear vision for the game that will appeal to more than just those looking for something to do at the end of a World of Warcraft season. I'm eager to see where the game goes next.
Season 3 is now live, and you can get Fellowship on Steam for $15, or nearly half its normal price ($25) until June 29.
