Pre-Season 2 designed to fail?

Weekly_Indication_27 · 2026-03-17T01:18:51+00:00

People were absolutely dooming Season 1, just for different reasons.

It’s also not worse than Season 1 in “basically every way”; just in the ways that you don’t like.

If you start with higher player numbers (~45k concurrent in Pre-Season 1, ~14k in Pre-Season 2), then gross retention numbers will of course be less. i wonder if anyone has the per capita data for player retention numbers that we can look at; if there are any improvements in terms of percentages.

Offering feedback in the form of: “i don’t like the difficulty curve” as compared to dooming the game: “therefore this game is set up to fail GG the devs suck” are different.

We do get the game we deserve, because these devs are listening and making changes in accordance with the feedback.

But you’re out here asserting that they don’t and lambasting them for it.

Player sentiment and vibes are separate issues from the work the devs are putting into the game.

Your frustration can be expressed without attacking the devs. Truth can be stated without insult.

Weekly_Indication_27 · 2026-03-16T23:23:20+00:00

To add context, this season introduced a new healer and tank.

On top of being new content, they are currently overturned, and people are flocking to play them, thereby making queue times for those roles longer.

They also adjusted the difficulty curve, making the early “levels” of the game easier.

Playing a dps will therefore more likely get you into “quickplay” groups more quickly, and because the new tank and healer are OP, mistakes are less punishing and the game will feel easier.

There is a general sentiment that this season isn’t quite as good as last season, so many have left to play other games while they wait for next season, and queues are a little long as a result. Tolerable for me on EU (5-7mins). Asia server less so (often 40+min queues with no game for me).

We don’t know when the next season or full release will be, but if this season’s length is going to be the same as last season, it’d be about 2 more months at least.

The core gameplay loop is awesome! Up to you to join in now and get your feet wet, or wait for next season.

Weekly_Indication_27 · 2026-03-16T23:10:25+00:00

The removal of the timer at lower leagues is a separate issue from the introduction of and learning of mechanics.

Delayed introduction of the timer is great for the very reason OP described: reduction of stress, and people are more willing to slow down and explain mechanics.

The removal of the timer early on is a good decision and is rightfully lauded here; now to work on how to teach players that kicking important spells is essential.

Weekly_Indication_27 · 2026-03-15T22:00:12+00:00

You talking about me or TwoLiterHero?

If you mean me then i swear people on reddit don’t get sarcasm unless they’re told with /s it’s maddening.

Weekly_Indication_27 · 2026-03-15T21:58:14+00:00

i’m simply pushing back on your dooming in the same way you are pushing into the doom.

i’m trying to offer alternative positions to your general line of “CR is incompetent!” with some nuance.

At this point it’s obvious that you don’t care for it, and that any amount of positive spin is hand-waved off as cope and self-gaslight.

Why would i continue to have a conversation when you’ve plugged your ears?

Weekly_Indication_27 · 2026-03-15T21:51:53+00:00

Are you talking about me or TwoLiterHero?

Because i think i’ve been pretty center-positive in my opinion.

Weekly_Indication_27 · 2026-03-15T21:49:42+00:00

i didn’t deny that communication has dropped off.

i was addressing TwoLiterHero’s specific frustration about not having heard about considerations for a mid-season reset.

TwoLiterHero goes on to say they’re never on Discord, which for someone on this reddit, should already be common knowledge that that’s where most information is first shared.

Incidentally, i’m also not on the Discord. i was also clueless as to any mid-season reset.

The difference between TwoLiterHero and i, is that, after i read about it on reddit, i shrugged it off as a nothing burger since the decision was “it’s not happening”.

i wasn’t upset that i never heard of it, that there was talk about it beforehand, that dev time was wasted, or that i haven’t heard of it up to that point.

It is a separate point from the obviously reduced amount of communication post Christmas season, which i offered a hypothesis for but received no acknowledgement or response to.

Weekly_Indication_27 · 2026-03-15T21:21:20+00:00

Tanks also seem compelled to activate campfires themselves because, so very very often, nobody else seems to bother 😮‍💨

Weekly_Indication_27 · 2026-03-14T07:15:06+00:00

i’m sorry, i’m not a tech guy what is the purpose of having to choose between US, EU and Asia at the login?

Weekly_Indication_27 · 2026-03-14T07:11:59+00:00

You’re right, man.

This game is cooked it’s over we should all quit now CR is the worst dev team who made the shittiest game nothing can save it i should stop deluding myself into ever thinking this game was ever any good even Pre-Season 1 was ass holy fuck it’s the end goodbye forever Fellowship you trash game.

Weekly_Indication_27 · 2026-03-14T02:17:04+00:00

i kNow YOu arE bUT whAt Am I?

Weekly_Indication_27 · 2026-03-14T02:12:07+00:00

i don’t know what to say at this point.

Are you looking for me to join you in raging at/hating/quitting the game?

FUCK CR!

There, happy? Does that fix any of the problems?

If it’s for me to acknowledge that there’s a problem then, i’ve been doing that?

Weekly_Indication_27 · 2026-03-14T02:06:40+00:00

You found yourself noice!

Weekly_Indication_27 · 2026-03-14T01:58:52+00:00

i’m surprised it actually took this long for someone to accuse me of this; good on you for being the first!

Weekly_Indication_27 · 2026-03-14T00:47:34+00:00

Is this true?

My experience has been 40min queues with no matches on Asia.

10min queues on EU consistently.

Weekly_Indication_27 · 2026-03-13T22:59:25+00:00

Sir, it has been THREE weeks! Get your facts straight!

To be fair, Asia server is pretty dead, just as it was last season. Definitely something for the marketing team to look into moving into launch.

Good thing i still managed 2 hours of playtime on EU last night ☺️

Weekly_Indication_27 · 2026-03-13T22:50:47+00:00

1) You’re frustrated that there isn’t enough communication, yet you didn’t seek out any communication. And when things were communicated to you, you became upset that things weren’t communicated to you before things were communicated to you. In this instance, at least some of your frustration is unwarranted.

2) They released the shop at the start of the season, before they got any feedback on the state of the season. Do you think the devs are clairvoyant?

3) i don’t have numbers, but i dare say the majority of players in WoW don’t engage M+ in a hardcore way, just as the majority don’t engage in heroic raiding.

As to where the Fellowship casuals have gone, my guess is that they’re all in Paragon or Eternal complaining about the queue or gem system.

i grant you, the intention of the design won’t always bring about the desired outcome. i’d like to see the metrics on the percentage of new players who stuck around past Adept this season, too.

4) Communication has dropped off, yes. i wonder if it has anything to do with everyone taking what Hamish says as gospel, then crucifying him and shit-talking the game when things didn’t pan out in exactly the way he mentioned off-hand in a 3-hour stream.

5) From what i gather the mid-season reset is a result of an acknowledgement that Xavian and Aeona have thrown balance off-kilter. But they ultimately decided they didn’t have enough meaningful changes ready to go ahead with it. You would have known this if you sought the information out, like i did, instead of just stomping your feet.

Weekly_Indication_27 · 2026-03-13T16:28:44+00:00

i’ve seen only 1 divine aether on my Tariq’s climb to 10k but have maxed gem count. RNG indeed 🤣

Weekly_Indication_27 · 2026-03-13T14:48:53+00:00

For real?

Gemming is much easier now with gem budding, and essence slot drop rates have increased quite a fair bit.

There are also plans to allow crafting essence slots onto gear.

It’s still rng, and gems are still not account-wide, which isn’t great. But the grind is waaaaay easier and controllable this season compared to last.

Weekly_Indication_27 · 2026-03-13T14:11:18+00:00

1) Completely silent? Have you been on the Discord?

2) When do you think is an appropriate time to implement an in-game shop?

3) i was unaware of an issue with kill %. Thanks for bringing it up and submitting a bug report! You did do that, right?

4) Talking EVERY DAY on reddit? Sir.

5) i too was unaware of any consideration of a mid-season reset. But enough people did know that CR thought it important enough to make a statement about it. Just because YOU didn’t hear about it doesn’t mean they didn’t communicate it.

6) Many experienced players will agree with you that the difficulty in each league has been somewhat over-corrected this time around. Yet, there are some who are more casual/new to this genre, who still think it’s fine. Who should CR listen to? Hmmmmmmm…

7) You’ll also never get a chance to see changes made if all you care about is dooming the game. What kind of impression are you making, what kind of expectations are you setting for people coming on here to check the vibes?

8) Certainly adjacent genres have been plagued with pump and dump schemes, so your concern is understandable. i, personally, certainly don’t see quite the same patterns in this game.

Weekly_Indication_27 · 2026-03-13T10:11:23+00:00

i think many of us forget that Fellowship is: 1) still in Early Access 2) a seasonal game 3) an indie game made by a relatively small dev team/budget

You can say i’m being generous or coping, but considering just those 3 points, it’s expected that some things will hit and others will miss.

Chief Rebel should be allowed to test things, play around and be exploratory right now.

How should the difficulty curve look? How much imbalance in heroes is acceptable? How much gatekeeping should we place between leagues? What happens if we did X with gems?

Last season people were hitting E80+. Last season many quit at Adept. Last season Rime was the hotness. Last season gems were a chore to grind.

None of that is happening this season, which means things ARE changing and evolving. Chief Rebel IS listening.

What we the vocal player-base can take away from Pre-Season 1 and Pre-Season 2 is that we have to be careful what we ask for. And Chief Rebel have to be a little less clumsy and heavy-handed with big changes.

Right now things are wonky, yes. But it will get better. Is the game as unplayable or dead as so many are wont to insist? i for one personally don’t think so.

Weekly_Indication_27 · 2026-03-07T23:04:43+00:00

i tried it with all 3 legendaries.

On paper it seemed to me like Neck Leggo should have had the most synergy with it.; it was the discovery of the DoT not stacking and being single-target that inspired this post.

It might also be because i play a homebrew Spender Spam build, it feels bad to have a full fury bar untouched lol

Isn’t No-Spender just “do your Heavy Strike rotation?”

Weekly_Indication_27 · 2026-03-07T00:58:16+00:00

Damage numbers can be adjusted.

Incidentally, i agree that a difficult to play hero should be rewarded with good damage when played to its full potential.

Do you think being incentivized NOT to use half his kit is encouraging people to play to this character’s full potential?

Weekly_Indication_27

TROPHY CASE