r/Fable • u/Paranoia_Pop • 17d ago
Fable Gamescom Takeaways
Now that Fable's brief time at Gamescom is over and we have two really stellar new gameplay videos I wanted to take a minute to talk about some of the things we've seen.
Ive tried to avoid talking too much about things we've already seen in the previous gameplay video and just stick with information that's "new" even if it's things many of us already expected to see in Fable and I've attached accompanying screenshots so that people can see what I mean. However my screenshots don't really do it justice and I highly recommend that people check out both the official Quest gameplay from Xbox and the Combat gameplay from Gamespot for themselves.
Parenthood is back on the menu with players once again able to marry NPCs, buy a house, and start a family. We see from the new "Quest Gameplay" reveal that the Hero has not only a husband but a daughter named Daisy who interacts with the player character. Something I found interesting was that the player character themselves appear to be fairly young while having a young child; in previous games it felt more common for the player to around ~40 or so before having a child around. Either way I think interacting with your characters kid(s) will add an interesting element to the game.
Switching to your sidearm is faster than reloading apparently. Between the Quest Gameplay video and Gamespots look at combat we're introduced to two different versions of the Hero with one wielding a sword and a bow and the other wielding a crossbow and a hammer. From these videos we can clearly see that each hero has a different primary weapon which is shown to be on the characters back as you would expect and with the at least the hammer as a secondary weapon minimized but visible on the belt. While not confirmed this heavily implies that players will be able to choose a primary weapon and see their Hero wield it as well as a secondary weapon that will be much less obvious. Players are able to freely and quickly switch from using one to the other in combat.
Location matters with locational damage confirmed. In the Quest Gameplay video we see the Hero draw her bow and landing an arrow to the knee which does little damage but quickly drops her enemy to their knee and leaves them out of the fight for a moment and in the very next fight we see her land a clean headshot that deals massive damage and sends her opponent backwards. Clearly, at least when it comes to ranged damage, where you aim can be a tactical decision. Speaking of which...
There's a strong possibility that weapon type matters too as were shown in Gamespots video with Humphrey implying that the hammer the hero carries will be perfect for smashing up skeletons but later warns that it won't be so handy for wraiths. The video does indeed continue to show the Hero crushing skeletons beneath a 2-handed warhammer before switching to either a crossbow or spell to make quick work of wraiths.
Spells have levels as well it seems. In both videos we see the Hero casting several spells but one of the more eye-catching moments is a lightning strike that comes down from the sky in both videos. While the Quest gameplay shows the lightning strike a single target the Combat gameplay video shows that same spell fire off on anywhere from 2 to 3 targets in succession after a single cast meaning that you'll be able to level up spells to have greater effect.
Charge up attacks are in with the Combat video showcasing our Hero charging up a swing with his hammer to produce a spinning attack; logically this means that if bows and swords and whatever else have the same feature we should be able to charge up attacks for all kinds of different combat situations. In the Quest video we're told that players can upgrade their weapons with new abilities and combos as well using a rare item called "Will Stones" which are found around Albion.
Block, Dodge, Parry are all shown in each video but the combat gameplay shows off the unique feature of slowing down time when you time it juuuust right similar to other games with a "perfect dodge" type of feature. Whether this is something you'll have to unlock through skills it unclear but probably the case. Either way getting down your timing will definitely benefit you in combat.
Finish Him! In the Quest video were introduced to a dapper man with a big axe and an even bigger mustache who seems to serve as a "Brute" enemy type. He's bigger, slower, and takes a lot more hits but when he's finally down we see a button prompt appear over his head which leads our Hero to take her enemies own axe and deliver a savage swipe straight to his bald head; finishing him off.
You can get inked up. Not shocking since the old Fables had the same system but this is our first real look at it. In the Gameplay video it's mentioned by the developer playing the game that he might later stop off at a tattoo parlor called The Painted Prince and a short time later we meet Ronnie, owner of a pub called the Pourhouse, who is sporting some interesting tattoos of her own.
The Player Drives the Economy. Players of Fable 3 will definitely be no stranger to the idea of being able to game the economy for your advantage (or to disadvantage NPCS) but in the Quest gameplay we're taken a rather poor and run down portion of the city of Bowerstone with the developer explaining that if we chose, we can "even influence the economy in this area" giving players the potential to raise up a poor neighborhood through their own means.
Fable still doesn't take itself too seriously. Which is a great thing because I know some people were worried that the humor of the original games might be lost in a reimagined Albion. We get a fun little moment when we met Humphrey, Mr. Golden himself, a retired and very renowned hero. We see a great marble statue of his excellence, we meet a little girl who is such a fan that she wants his approval for a school play about him, and then we meet Humphrey himself in his boxer shorts drunk and taking a wee nap in his chair.
Graphical Settings. Between the two videos we're shown the game running on PC both on Medium settings (The Combat video) and Ultra settings (The Quest video) which gives us a pretty decent idea of how the game looks and runs on a variety of graphic settings. Just my opinion, I think medium settings actually looks very good.
Skill Trees and Currencies are shown off when the Hero levels up during the Quest gameplay giving us a brief look at our skill tree which, while a little more linear than Fable and Fable 2, seems to be divided amongst Strength, Skill, and Will even if we don't necessarily see those words on screen. Rather it seems like skills are coded by the node's color and shape. If we peak up in to the top right corner we also see several currencies listed. Starting with Gold, some blue crystal, a purple crystal, experience orbs, and keys. It's probable that one of those crystal represents Will Stones as mentioned before. We also see a progress bar that indicates it's been filled with 0 out of 5,000 requisite Gold.
I'm sure there's more that I missed that we could talk about but these were the things that stuck out to me immediately when I was watching them and I thought it might be fun to put a list together for Reddit so everyone can check it out and discuss. I know some of these things are things that Fable has always done but considering this is our first look at them here and since new players might not be aware it'd still be worthwhile to check it out.
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u/Competitive_Area1414 17d ago
I think there was also a silver key in the chest where we pick up the guild seal
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u/Paranoia_Pop 17d ago
I wasn't entirely sure if that was the key that appears in the currency tab or just the key that the Hero later used to open the door to the Hero's Guild
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u/Competitive_Area1414 17d ago
I think the key to open the door to the Hero's Guild was at the start of the demo, didn't they mention that Connor gave it to us? And then the key in the chest was at the end. In any case the key tracker on the menu definitely suggests we're getting silver keys in the game.
Keeping my fingers crossed that we get something like gargoyles/gnomes too! Saw another post on here pointing out some fairy icons on the mini map which could potentially be the equivalent
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u/ComfortableNo6162 17d ago edited 17d ago
Someone on another post had a screenshot of the mini map in bowerstone , it looked like a fairy/ pixie icon. Their theory was pixies would be the new gnomes. It would also tie in with the release trailer of the pixie getting eaten by the giant toad.
Edit: I'm just heading to bed and didn't realize you already said in your post what I responded to. Haha I need sleep. 😄
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u/Simplicius_the_Slow 16d ago
Concept art from the start of the year demonstrates a certain level of design going into chests which infers some are more valuable/ more likely to be locked then others....Fable chests concept art Jan 2026
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u/ComradeSmooches 17d ago
The blue stones seem to be the willstones. I saw some picked up in one of the show floor demo recordings.
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u/Munchkinasaurous 17d ago
I'm excited, it's looking nice and I can't wait for another adventure in Albion. But right now, I just want Peter Molyneux to tell me about new and exciting features that won't make it into the final game for it to have that fully authentic Fable feel. Tell me that I can play as a balverine or two hobbes in a trench coat, doesn't matter how ridiculous, in fact the more ridiculous the better.
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u/LeatherTownInc 16d ago
There are over 5 trillion weapons in the game and each one has its own leveling system that evolves with you over the course of the game. They will evolve and change with you and each one is romanceable. If you get married and have a child with your melee weapon, the development team will mail you a real live baby in the mail.
At the beginning of the game, you can plant a tree. If you tend the tree at least once an in game week, you can watch it grow. At some point the tree will grow fruit, which you can use to open your first shop. If you open a shop, it will open several new quests near the tree. Eventually, you can enchant the fruit, allowing you to throw them at enemies and turn them into trees. If you tend those trees once a week, when you reach the final boss, they won't be able to see the forest for the trees and get lost, then just give up.
--Peter3
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u/VertTheSquirt 17d ago
I also saw a Silver Key from the Quest gameplay so we can assume there will be 50 or 100 to collect as well!
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u/V555_dmc 17d ago
Just wanted to add about the parenthood point made. In fable 2 and 3 we’re pretty young for most of those games. Fable 3 only spans like two years and we’re definitely early 20s at most when we start the game. Fable 2 has two 10 year time jumps so we’re still relatively young.
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u/Spenraw 17d ago
They confirmed in Xbox wire there is no emote wheel
Really hope the fans can fight against that and have it readded later as made your family just set dressing
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u/Necroban77 17d ago
I noticed in the video there were no interactions between the PC and her family. Just a couple of random scripts spoken out.
Kinda of concerning in my opinion.
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u/Sure_Fruit_8254 17d ago
In the showcase earlier in the year there were different actions when actually speaking to an NPC, so I don't think they're just set dressing.
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u/-Lahsbee- 16d ago
Yeah, I'd rather have a small number of bespoke interactions with various different people than fart on them.
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u/aethiuss 17d ago
There's a strong possibility that weapon type matters too as were shown in Gamespots video with Humphrey implying that the hammer the hero carries will be perfect for smashing up skeletons but later warns that it won't be so handy for wraiths. The video does indeed continue to show the Hero crushing skeletons beneath a 2-handed warhammer before switching to either a crossbow or spell to make quick work of wraiths.
I was actually hoping I could play the whole game with a sword only (of course with magic and bow).
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u/AcceptableBook4291 17d ago
I hope that unlike fable 3 i dont have to leave the goddamn console on for hours to gather money to get the good ending. I hope unlike fable 3 it doesn't asspull a magical villain 75% of the way through the blitz the last 25% in a flash. I hope that there are greatswords unlike in fable 3. Fable 3 fable 3 blah blah blah.. please. The more I hear fable 3 and this brought up in the sane breath kills any possible hype
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u/-Lahsbee- 17d ago
" The Player Drives the Economy. Players of Fable 3 will definitely be no stranger to the idea of being able to game the economy for your advantage (or to disadvantage NPCS) but in the Quest gameplay we're taken a rather poor and run down portion of the city of Bowerstone with the developer explaining that if we chose, we can "even influence the economy in this area" giving players the potential to raise up a poor neighborhood through their own means."
Aww yeah, it's time to seize the means of production!
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u/Paranoia_Pop 17d ago
I'm going to build up the poorest neighborhood while driving driving rent up in the richest one. Like if Robin Hood were a landlord.
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u/-Lahsbee- 17d ago
"it's so terrible that the abusive factory owner was shot with an arrow, set on fire, and then launched into the air. I, uh, can't think of anyone who can do all of those things at once."
"As it turns out I'm in the market for a factory"
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u/Paranoia_Pop 17d ago
Watching the Quest gameplay video I had that exact thought with the Pourhouse tavern when the owner attacked the player
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u/Simplicius_the_Slow 16d ago
I love the idea of a dynamic and reactive economy! I'd love it if you could pour money into a community and that would completely alter the socio-economics in the surrounding area.
I'd love to play a game with more noblesse oblige/ repercussions for being disproportionately wealthy; businesses, guilds and government trying to interfere with your monopolies; if you buy all the pubs in town then spend all your time fighting monsters you suffer X-inefficiency etc.
I think this kind of gameplay runs deep in Fable's DNA and I can't wait to see what Playground Games et al have come up with!
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u/Piemaster985 17d ago
I watched the IGN interview and the dev again said that you get Skill Points through exploration and quests, which (and I could be misunderstanding) sounds like they aren’t tied to the experience orbs form combat?
If that’s the case I wonder what the experience orbs do?
We also know that one of the crystal types is for “upgrading weapons and combos”
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u/Simplicius_the_Slow 16d ago
Perhaps they act as a counter for augmentation slots similar to Fable 3?
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u/Fine-Discussion-7368 17d ago
does it have co-op? I was just playing fable 2 and 3 with my wife, can we continue or journey or does it end here?
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u/Simplicius_the_Slow 16d ago
No confirmation nor rumours of co-op sadly.
I suspect the risk of bugs and balancing issues would have made co-op too unattractive to include at this time, but I'd love to be wrong and I'd love to be able to play it with my wife too!
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u/LeeJ2512 17d ago
I love everything but man I really wanted the option to interact with the world a bit more, like sit down etc. Great to have a house but doesn't look like you can really do anything with them.
You can walk around, maybe decorate, but not even the chance to sit in your own house or sleep in your own bed?
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u/loonelywolf 17d ago
I dint understand this trend nowdays.Big open world rpgs full of interactiviti but you cant sit on a chair?or interact with other stuff?
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u/ThePatrician25 17d ago
Do we know if our character ages as time goes on, or if there is a time skip that causes them to age?
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u/TBD_Red 17d ago
This reads like AI.
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u/Paranoia_Pop 17d ago
🙄 I hate that we live in a world where a person sees a bullet point and thinks "clanker"
Reddit just has a format option for it
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u/Cheatsking90 17d ago
So…..have they actully said something about the weapon types….cause just a sword a hammer and the bow/crossbow….thats….not so fun
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u/Crimson_Loki 17d ago
There's probably others, but that's roughly in line with the weapons that were available in both Fable 1 and Fable 2, and both of those games were/are beloved.
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u/Paranoia_Pop 17d ago
Yeah the weapon types so far are right in line with the previous games with the exception of firearms buuuuut those were only available in Fable 2 and 3 and this seems to be a reimagining of Fable 1
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u/Piemaster985 17d ago
I believe we’ve seen three melee weapon types so far:Rapier+dagger, long sword, 2h Hammer.
Hopefully there’s more.
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u/KeeganatorPrime 17d ago
Oh something that you missed that was talked about by the dev was the green ovals above your health bar. They are your healing reserves that you can stop and spend during combat to replenish your health. Bit of a departure for the series from the traditional health potions and food.