The Secret World

[jagged-jimmy]

Well, i'll show up, when it's f2p. I thought i have to wait a year or something...but hey itz coming soonish, i guess.

 

[Ulminati]

State of the Game - August 2012
Originally Posted by Ragnar
Hi all,

As most of you probably know, The Secret World team has been through a turbulent couple of weeks. Guild Wars 2 was released and our game is pretty much dead. Go forth, my minions and be butthurt on other forums!

FIFY

 

[Kane]

fully voiced characters that you can empathise with and believe in

this pretty much sums up everything that's wrong with TSW, SWTOR etc and why they've all been huge flops.

i now fully believe that MMOdevs of today have transcended into another world of their own making; they really can't see and don't understand why their games are terrible & shit, it's impossible to them.

 

[Whisper]

Quote other parts, like where he is talking aboull full freedom in selecting character skills.


Since, unlike GW2 with set in stone classes with set in stone skills for each of them (if you want to use another class skill, only way you can do this - is reroll, gg), your character in TSW can get any out of 525 skills in game and fully experiment/mix/change them.

 

[Ulminati]

Quote other parts, like where he is talking aboull full freedom in selecting character skills.

The whole post reeks of butthurt, just like you. Are you sure you're not on TSWs payroll? You remind me of gaudaosts adamant defense of Blizzard in this regard. Basically his post can be summe dup thusly:

"WAAAAH! WAAAH! WE ARE SO MUCH BETTER THAN ALL OTHER GAMES! WE ARE SO DEEP! WHY DOES NOONE LOVE US!? WHY DOES OUR GAME FAIL UTTERLY IN SALES!? IT CAN'T BE BECAUSE I'S SHIT BECAUSE I JUST CLAIMED IT WASN'T! PLEASE GET US MORE PLAYERS BEFORE WE HAVE TO SUE FOR BANKRUPCY!"

 

[Mangoose]

Quote other parts, like where he is talking aboull full freedom in selecting character skills.


Since, unlike GW2 with set in stone classes with set in stone skills for each of them (if you want to use another class skill, only way you can do this - is reroll, gg), your character in TSW can get any out of 525 skills in game and fully experiment/mix/change them.

Skill-based systems aren't any better or worse than class-based systems. It depends on the intent of application.

 

[Kane]

Quote other parts, like where he is talking aboull full freedom in selecting character skills.

The same applies. If TSW is not supposed to be a MMO but some bad variation on vampires: the masquerade bloodlines, why do i have to for 15 dollars a month for this shit?

noone cares about fucking voice acting in an MMO.

Skill-based systems aren't any better or worse than class-based systems. It depends on the intent of application.

i thought really long and hard about this* and the difference between GW2 and WoW is the differnce between magic the gathering and pokémon (gotta catch 'em all (not the TCG, the games on the gameboy))

*for people bad at internet: i didn't

 

[Whisper]

Skill-based systems aren't any better or worse than class-based systems. It depends on the intent of application.

"Better" is subjective. What i was talking here is - more flexible system.


In GW2 you are locked into certain skill selection when choosing class. You cant get certain other classes skills.
In TSW you are free to grab any skill that exists.

But yes, speaking about better since you are asked.
My opinion is that giving more freedom when building character - instead of locking them into class-only skills - is better.

 

[Mangoose]

But yes, speaking about better since you are asked.

I didn't ask.

My opinion is that giving more freedom when building character - instead of locking them into class-only skills - is better.

Your opinion is shit if you think more freedom is automatically better instead of considering the context of the entire game design and intent.

 

[Hoaxmetal]

Limited skill sets in GW2 is better because the players are 12 years old and would be confused by M-Rated make your own class system of TSW.

 

[Whisper]

Limited skill sets in GW2 is better because the players are 12 years old and would be confused by M-Rated make your own class system of TSW.

Exactly.
TSW: plenty of optinions, millions of combinations. And you free to choose any skill.
But this comes at price of actually thinking over builds, how different skills work with each other.

GW2 just gives set classes, locking into certain skill selection. No need to think about character builds etc, since options are much less then in TSW.

Notice: in GW there was dual-classing. But for teens and stuck in development adults idea of dual-classing is hard since it increases options in character progression. Aka requires more thinking then just simple one set class.

 

[Hoaxmetal]

I like thinking.

 

[Angthoron]

Thinking about TSW isn't the best way of doing that.

Speaking of, I guess I'll try it again once it's F2P, but the way it is, mechanically a complete carbon copy of the worst aspects of WoW combat with a good setting and interesting investigations, nah, no, nope.

Edit: However, giving discounts to a game simply because it's not made by Bethesda, BioWare or a bunch of other shit crews is just plain wrong. It has solid elements in it, like said setting, and investigations, but while these are cool, they won't last, and frankly they're not enough of a draw-in to pay $15 a month for a monthly content update - some people in other threads have already said how shit it is that Borderlands 2 is having a $30 seasonal pass for 4 updates, meantime it's $15 per one update in TSW. That's just not very right from that perspective alone.

Not to mention the completely lackluster combat system - alright, great, you have a full freedom to build your class, only to realize that it's just the same fucking abilities all over. It's not GW1-level mix and match even, and this is what, almost a decade after GW1 launch. So it all rolls down to picking 2 "builds" with easy build-up of combo points, then releasing, and filling the down time with a bunch of remotely useful attack/CDs. Yeah, totally haven't seen this before, and I totally needed complete build freedom to tank 6 zombies with a rifle. Even if they had combat system of Fallen Earth (largely disappointing), it'd still be better than what they rolled out.

 

[Whisper]

So it all rolls down to picking 2 "builds" with easy build-up of combo points, then releasing, and filling the down time with a bunch of remotely useful attack/CDs.

I change skill selection every hard boss fight.
Every different area with mobs, unless your outlevel them, you strongly advised to change skill selection.


There are no best builds or best abilities, it totally depends on mobs you fight, location you fight them, enemy special abilities and weaknesses, on your preferences and situation.



There are no 2 best builds, i dare you show or tell about them. Oh, you wont name this 2 mythical builds - since best builds do not exist in TSW and you would knew it if you played.

Go back to your Korean Game2 with limited skillset and go reroll another character each time you want to see and test another class skill.

 

[Angthoron]

There are no 2 best builds, i dare you show or tell about them. Oh, you wont name this 2 mythical builds - since best builds do not exist in TSW and you would knew it if you played.

I'm pretty sure that if the game was popular enough among "hardcore" players, cookie cutter specs and roles would already be all over the internets. With 200K sold though, yeah, I doubt there's anyone researching that much.

Go back to your Korean Game2 with limited skillset and go reroll another character each time you want to see and test another class skill.

Okay! Good luck in your unlimited skillset with railroaded gameplay game, mang.

 

[Irxy]

I'm pretty sure that if the game was popular enough among "hardcore" players, cookie cutter specs and roles would already be all over the internets.

You're wrong on this one, a spec in TSW is 7 actives + 7 passives (also a limit of 1/1 elite skill), which is totally not enough to create a universal "cookie cutter" spec for any role or task, all of them are very situational.
So playing with your skill set is really fun - if only they were as creative with the rest of mechanics/content.

 

[Angthoron]

I'm pretty sure that if the game was popular enough among "hardcore" players, cookie cutter specs and roles would already be all over the internets.

You're wrong on this one, a spec in TSW is 7 actives + 7 passives (also a limit of 1/1 elite skill), which is totally not enough to create a universal "cookie cutter" spec for any role or task, all of them are very situational.
So playing with your skill set is really fun - if only they were as creative with the rest of mechanics/content.

Hum, I was under impression that GW1 has pretty much similar numbers, there's a 10 (?) actives bar, and then there's maybe half a dozen or so (class-dependent) stats for you to pick from, and yet, there's tons of build suggestions and min-maxing when I was looking at it, so, I still suspect that had the game drawn in more players and actually had the need to do serious tweaking and number crunching, there'd be a few optimal builds/roles, but, that's just my suspicion and perhaps we'll never really know. Or we will, depends if the team manages to bounce back and get people in.

 

[Mangoose]

If only combat weren't "1. Build up resource, 2. Expend resource" ad nauseum.

 

[Irxy]

Hum, I was under impression that GW1 has pretty much similar numbers, there's a 10 (?) actives bar, and then there's maybe half a dozen or so (class-dependent) stats for you to pick from, and yet, there's tons of build suggestions and min-maxing when I was looking at it, so, I still suspect that had the game drawn in more players and actually had the need to do serious tweaking and number crunching, there'd be a few optimal builds/roles, but, that's just my suspicion and perhaps we'll never really know.

The tricky part is defining those roles, since a severe limit on skills requires overspecialization to get top results in anything. Top single target dps at maximum range penetration-based? Good aoe at mid to short range + some cc? block tanking with reflect damage? Its actually defining those roles which is very versatile, especially within a group. Of course, you need fun and diverse pvp and pve gameplay for the skill system to shine, which is lacking.

 

[Whisper]

If only combat weren't "1. Build up resource, 2. Expend resource" ad nauseum.

For easiest mobs at early level in noob locations this will probably work.

Judging by your understanding of combat in TSW - you didnt get far from low-level area, didnt you?

 

[Whisper]

Still waiting for "best skills".

Maybe in GW2 where you are permanently and severely limited in skill/spell selection, but in free to choose your own skills game like TSW - they managed to do good skill balance. Since there are no best build in game. Its totally situational.
Despite what some simple souls who played 5 minutes and share their insight about "1. build resource 2.expend resource" - i think its main problem of forums this days where people didnt have knowledge what they are talking about but rush to tell their opinion - would say.

 

[Angthoron]

So you don't build resource and then dump it, then? Like with weapons like rifles, swords, fists?

 

[Whisper]

So you don't build resource and then dump it, then? Like with weapons like rifles, swords, fists?

If you hate building resources, you can actually kill monsters without building at all if you have good setup.
Few tips for the beginners: a lot of abilities dont need resources to fire-off, some abilities give you max resource from start, some weapons start with resources maxed.

Not sure if this would be efficient, need some tests and thinkings - its not GW2 with preset skillsets for dummies, here you actually need plan and think about skills you plan to use - but you 100% sure can do away without builders if you hate building resource mechanice (and love "mana" resource mechanic, for example).

 

[Angthoron]

I hate mana resource mechanic. I also hate "fury" resource mechanic. Do you know why? Because every MMO since WoW has had these, and pre-WoW it wasn't unheard of either. Think about skill set-up? Well, I had to think about skill/trait builds in WoW, LotRO, and Rift as well, and you know what? Skill Wheel isn't that novel once you've played more than 1,5 MMOs. I get that you like the game, good for you, but the combat system is NOTHING new. And yeah, I can ignore resource management as a rogue, or as a paladin, in WoW, but why the fuck would I do that if it's just shooting yourself in the foot?

Really, Whisper, you listed all those MMOs you compared GW2, and TSW to. How many of them have you actually played? Like, I don't even mean to proper endgame raids, just, you know, get to top level or something. I'm kinda trying to figure out what you're talking about here, and from what level of experience.

 

[Zed]

http://www.develop-online.net/news/41926/Funcom-lays-off-lead-designer-of-The-Secret-World

Bad news for fans of one of the worst MMOG developers of all time.