Revision 5

Overview

The village hub in Vindictus: Defying Fate is centered on Colhen, a small human settlement positioned near the front lines of the war against the Fomors. Between combat missions, players return to Colhen to prepare for the next sortie. The village provides all non-combat services: mission selection, NPC conversations, crafting, equipment management, and story progression.

Services and functions

Colhen offers the following gameplay services:

Mission selection and briefing

Players accept missions from a mission board or through direct NPC interaction. Each mission sends the player (and optionally a follower or co-op partners) into one of the game's regions to complete objectives, fight enemies, and battle bosses. Story missions advance the narrative, while optional missions provide additional materials and experience.

Weapon crafting and enhancement

Colhen has crafting NPCs who handle weapon crafting and enhancement. Players bring materials gathered from boss drops and exploration to create new weapons or upgrade existing ones. The crafting workshop in Colhen is the only place where equipment can be forged.

Character customization

The Character Customization tools are available in Colhen. Players can adjust their character's appearance, change cosmetic options, and potentially apply visual modifications to equipment. The customization options in VDF are extensive, offering fine-grained control over facial features, body proportions, and hairstyles.

Follower management

The Follower System is managed from Colhen. Players recruit NPC followers, assign them to accompany the player on solo missions, and configure their behavior. Followers provide AI-controlled combat support during missions, filling a party role similar to what other players would fill in co-op.

Trading and item management

Colhen has merchants for buying and selling items, consumables, and materials. Inventory management happens here between missions. Players can stock up on healing supplies before heading into difficult encounters.

Narrative role

Colhen is where story cutscenes and NPC dialogue occur. The village's story centers on its abandonment by the Royal Army. The Kalbram Mercenaries have stepped in as the primary defense force, and the player character is a member of this group. Conversations with villagers and fellow mercenaries reveal the political tensions between the mercenaries, the Royal Army, and the village's civilian population.

Key story beats, character interactions, and plot developments all trigger in Colhen between missions. The village evolves as the story progresses, though the extent of visual or mechanical changes was limited in the Alpha Test build.

Design philosophy

The village hub is a deliberate pacing mechanism. By bringing players back to Colhen between missions, the game creates a rhythm of tension (combat) and release (safe zone). This structure differs from the original Vindictus, which had a similar town hub (also called Colhen) but with a faster-paced mission queue. In Defying Fate, the town feels more lived-in and encourages players to talk to NPCs, explore the village, and soak in the atmosphere before heading back out.

Connection to other systems