A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to step into a private session of Fellowship, the upcoming multiplayer online dungeon adventure from Chief Rebel, ahead of its Steam Early Access launch on October 16. As someone who has spent countless hours roaming Azeroth in World of Warcraft, I approached this preview with equal parts excitement and nostalgia. And, let me tell you that playing as Elarion, the mythic bowman DPS, instantly transported me back to my WOTLK hunter days, where positioning, focus management and team synergy were everything.
Fellowship is described by its creators as the first-ever “MODA,” or multiplayer online dungeon adventure, blending the best aspects of MMOs, MOBAs and ARPGs into a skill- and teamwork-driven PvE dungeon-crawling experience.
Meeting Chief Rebel and the Early Access Vision
Chief Rebel, a studio based in Stockholm, Sweden, is made up of veterans who’ve worked on franchises like World of Warcraft, Diablo, Helldivers and Battlefield. During the session, we met key members of the team, including Hamish Bode, their Community Director and Bretton Hamilton, Design Director, as well as the Arc Games publishing team. They walked us through the vision for Fellowship: a premium, PC-first dungeon adventure that removes the usual MMO grind and puts players straight into high-stakes dungeon runs.
The team emphasized that Fellowship is for players who love the endgame dungeon experience in MMOs but don’t want to spend hundreds of hours grinding to access it. This accessibility struck me as the perfect hook: from the first minute, whether you’re a veteran or a newcomer, you can jump into fully-realized dungeon challenges.
Hero Selection and My Journey as Elarion
After the introduction, I dove straight into hero selection. I chose Elarion, a celestial ranger and DPS specialist. With his graceful movement and precision-based bow mechanics, he immediately reminded me of my nights as a hunter in WOTLK, staying at the edge of the fight, keeping track of cooldowns and supporting my team with well-timed attacks. There’s a certain rhythm to playing Elarion that rewards attention, strategy and timing.
The Early Access build promises nine heroes at launch, spanning DPS, Tank and Healer roles. From Helena, the sturdy melee tank, to Vigour, the rune-wielding dwarf healer, each hero feels distinct, with unique abilities and gameplay mechanics. What’s immediately apparent is that Fellowship respects the “Holy Trinity” system: success hinges on teamwork, with each role complementing the others. Solo play might be tempting, but in practice, every dungeon run demands coordination.
Entering the Stronghold
Before heading out on dungeons, the demo introduced us to the Stronghold, the game’s central hub. Here, you manage your heroes, equip gear, adjust talents and prepare for dungeon runs. The Stronghold reminded me a bit of guild halls in classic MMOs, but with a more practical, streamlined design. You can practice abilities on a training dummy, swap heroes and explore cosmetic customization.
Cosmetics in Fellowship are more than just skins as they reflect your progress, dungeon achievements and personal flair. While the preview showed a work-in-progress version, I was already impressed by how these options let players shape their heroes’ appearances without affecting gameplay. Coupled with the Star Map rewards system, there’s a satisfying sense of progression: the more dungeons you complete, the more customization, gear and abilities you unlock.
Quickplay, Challenge and Eternal: Dungeon Modes Explained
The real heart of Fellowship is its dungeons, and the preview offered a glimpse into all three dungeon modes: Quickplay, Challenge and Eternal.
Quickplay dungeons are designed for shorter, 10–15-minute runs. They’re perfect for casual sessions or testing new heroes. Challenge Dungeons, on the other hand, are the meat of Fellowship’s PvE experience. These full-sized dungeons, like the never-before-seen “Ransack of Drakheim” I played, demand 30–40 minutes of coordinated play to defeat all enemies and three formidable bosses. The League system adds another layer, matching players by item level to ensure fair, rewarding progression.
Eternal mode, the preview noted, is the ultimate test for high-level players. Accessible only after completing the Paragon League in Challenge mode, Eternal mode is endlessly scaling, offering ever-increasing difficulty with three dungeons and one Capstone Dungeon per difficulty level. While I didn’t reach Eternal mode in this session, the setup hints at the kind of persistent, skill-based challenge that MMO veterans crave.
Ransack of Drakheim: A Viking Village Dungeon Experience
The highlight of my preview was running “Ransack of Drakheim” as Elarion. This viking village-style dungeon had three challenging bosses, each with distinct mechanics. Even with maxed gear for the demo, coordination was critical. Mini-bosses tested our awareness: one required us to stay still to avoid deadly debuffs, while another demanded constant movement. The main boss integrated these mechanics seamlessly, forcing us to think on our feet while dodging massive ice pillars and sweeping attacks.
It reminded me vividly of old-school dungeon runs in MMOs where timing, positioning and communication were everything. This is where Fellowship really shines: it’s not about mindless button mashing but about strategy, teamwork, and adaptability. Every dungeon felt like a chessboard where one misstep could spell disaster for the whole party.
Loot, Gear and Rewards
Unlike many MMOs, loot in Fellowship isn’t scattered across the dungeon floor. Instead, rewards are given at the end of each run, encouraging players to stick together and focus on the fight rather than loot grabbing. My first haul included new armour, weapons and even a mount, all stored in the Stronghold’s Stash.
Gear in Fellowship affects not only stats but appearance. Equipping new items visually reshapes your hero, making progression immediately gratifying. The Star Map system further adds depth, tying dungeon completion and specific challenges to rewards like skins, mounts and hero abilities. It’s an elegant solution that balances progression with visual customization and personal achievement.
I spent a good chunk of time exploring cosmetic customization, which is clearly a passion point for Chief Rebel. From colour variations to full armour skins, the options allow each hero to feel truly personal. While most cosmetics will unlock through gameplay, the studio plans to offer purely cosmetic microtransactions after launch. As someone who loves showcasing a unique look, I find this approach fair since it doesn’t impact gameplay and rewards the time invested.
Gameplay Mechanics: Teamwork and the Holy Trinity
What struck me most during the demo was the emphasis on cooperative play. Each hero’s abilities feel meaningful in the context of a team. Elarion’s focus management, Helena’s tanking combos and Vigour’s healing all interlock to create a dynamic combat experience. Boss mechanics consistently reinforce this. For example, managing debuffs, timing ultimate abilities, and positioning aren’t just optional. The team made sure that they were essential to survival. Fellowship doesn’t just encourage teamwork; it demands it.
This emphasis reminded me of my WOTLK raids: a single well-timed shot or heal could turn the tide, and one mistake could spell disaster. There’s something incredibly satisfying about that balance of individual skill and group coordination.
The MODA Concept: Endless Dungeon Fun
Chief Rebel calls Fellowship a MODA, a multiplayer online dungeon adventure, highlighting its unique approach to dungeons. Unlike typical MMOs or ARPGs, Fellowship eliminates the early-game grind. You can jump into Quickplay or Challenge dungeons immediately, scaling endlessly as you progress. Seasonal updates, dungeon modifiers and new features promise that no two runs will feel identical. It’s an ambitious idea, but the demo made it feel entirely feasible and exciting.
Replayability feels baked into the system. Whether chasing higher leagues, perfecting strategies, or simply enjoying new cosmetic unlocks, there’s always a reason to return. For players like me, who love both loot and tactical combat, this is a dream setup.
A Personal Takeaway
After my roughly 50-minute session, I walked away genuinely impressed. Fellowship feels like a love letter to MMO and MOBA fans, combining the thrill of dungeon crawls with the immediacy and accessibility that modern players crave. Playing Elarion brought back fond memories of careful positioning, resource management and the joy of contributing meaningfully to a team. Yet, it also felt fresh as the game is fast, fluid and beautifully designed, with clear attention to detail in both mechanics and aesthetics.
Chief Rebel has clearly built something with care and community in mind. The Early Access phase isn’t just a soft launch; it’s an invitation for players to shape the future of the game. For those who love cooperative gameplay, dungeon mastery and building memorable moments with friends, Fellowship promises to be an experience worth diving into.
Looking Ahead to Early Access
Fellowship launches in Steam Early Access on October 16 for $24.99, with a 10% launch-week discount. For players eager to get in early, the game offers immediate access to all nine heroes, Quickplay, Challenge and eventually Eternal dungeons. Post-launch content, seasonal updates and community-driven adjustments promise to keep the game evolving for months to come.
I can confidently say that, whether you’re an MMO veteran or someone looking for a fresh cooperative dungeon experience, Fellowship is shaping up to be a standout. The studio’s dedication to making endgame dungeons accessible, challenging and rewarding right from the start shows respect for players’ time and skill.
Stepping Into Fellowship Before Early Access
If you’re looking for a dungeon crawler that blends the best of MMO, MOBA and ARPG design, Fellowship deserves your attention. From the seamless Stronghold hub to the mechanically rich dungeons, rewarding loot systems and engaging hero roster, it offers a compelling mix of strategy, action and team-based fun.
For me personally, playing Elarion was a nostalgic journey back to my WOTLK hunter days, filled with careful planning, skillful execution and shared victories with my party. Fellowship might just be the perfect bridge between that classic MMO feel and modern, accessible dungeon adventures.
Come October 16, I’ll be back, bow in hand, ready to lead my team into the endless dungeons of Fellowship. And I suspect, if you join me, you’ll be just as captivated.
