The Secret World


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So far I am enjoying it. I have made two characters so far. I started out with s Templar that was using blood magic. That seemed a bit light on damage and ability so I tried a Dragon that uses Hammers. Hammers are pretty OP so far. Both are fun to play though.

The travel system in this game is my favorite of any games so far. I really like the idea of the world tree and the hollow earth.Something about the game really reminds me of Hellboy, part 2 especially.

The quests are something refreshing also. Some of them are puzzles and there is an in game web browser to help you look up facts to solve them.There is not much hand holding or overly user friendly feel to the quests, of corse this could change so hopefully I am not speaking too soon. This is a cut above the standard MMO experiance in my opinion.


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I've been playing this as well, since last friday, and I've been having a blast so far.

It might not be for everyone, but I love the modern-day-zombie-apocalypse-slash-lovecraftian-horror setting, I love how it doesn't feel like any of my previous MMO experiences, and the investigation-style missions are nothing short of fantastic, requiring you to do actual research (and, so far, I've actually managed to avoid spoiling myself with walkthroughs. Hope I can keep it up!)

So far, I'm quite impressed with it.

I've also been playing over the past few beta weekends, and while the game didn't 'wow' me at first it quickly grew on me, like the bite from a zombie. ;) It was just intended to be something to keep me busy while waiting for GW2, but I'm pretty hooked for the time being. For now, my main is rocking it with her trusty shotgun and a touch of chaos magic:

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss190/Sekhmet1306/TSW-1.jpg


This looks like the one MMO that I would want to play- if I had a PC that was also powerful enough to run it. As it is, I'll just have to read about it and swipe as much material for a pen and paper game in a similar style as I can manage.

Scarab Sages

I'm really interested in the game. Looks like it has a great mood, innovative "class" system, and an interesting means of progression, and if/when it goes free to play, I might give it a shot. ATM, just can't afford a $60 upfront + sub. fee.

Scarab Sages

I am hoping to get this game in a few weeks. For those of you that have already posted, are you still enjoying the game? For those of you who played, but have not chimed in yet, what are your thoughts?


Dream Daemon wrote:
I am hoping to get this game in a few weeks. For those of you that have already posted, are you still enjoying the game? For those of you who played, but have not chimed in yet, what are your thoughts?

Still playing daily. Still enjoying the heck out of it.

I'm not much of a salesperson, so I'll skip the pitch, but I like it. I really enjoy the (sometimes excruciating) intellectual challenges it has to offer. :)

Scarab Sages

Just to bump this a bit - I got this game as a gift and absolutely love it. I never imagined myself playing it every day, but I do.


Bumping this thread again. With the news that TSW has dropped it's subscriptions as it wasn't working out so well for them. Are you all still playing or did it turn into a short term fun romp? I'm interested but I keep hearing that it has a lack of staying power and folks seem to think it'll eventually go completely F2P anyway.


Cursed and Geas'd wrote:
Bumping this thread again. With the news that TSW has dropped it's subscriptions as it wasn't working out so well for them. Are you all still playing or did it turn into a short term fun romp? I'm interested but I keep hearing that it has a lack of staying power and folks seem to think it'll eventually go completely F2P anyway.

I'm still playing, and I'm still subscribed. People will predict doom and gloom at anything, and they are usually right. TSW will not be here 50 years from now! Start gloating. :)

I think it's a fantastic game, with a great story. It does have the same issue as most MMOs, that there isn't an awful lot to do once you get through the content if you don't care about "elite dungeons" or raids, which is exaggerated by the character system that actively discourages excessive alting.

I'd like to see something at end-game that's fun and doesn't involve grinding the same boss over and over again. Hopefully there's something in the works, but it's a tough nut to crack. I've yet to see any story-driven MMO manage that.

The most successful attempt I've seen was City of Heroes, where end game was essentially: "here's another roughly infinite number of power combinations to try out. Go start over!" Which isn't really something TSW can do.


I felt a bit let down by this game.

The way they handled firearms was just a little bit silly - the range of an assault rifle should be further than the distance it can be thrown.

I was really hoping for a much more FPS/Battlefield type of gameplay, as opposed to some oddball mechanic where you have to fight gun battles at point blank.

Disappointed.

One day we will end up with a MMOFPSRPG and it will be good!


Is this game still worth playing? For example, is it possible to get groups or will I level up solo just to find that no one is playing? Is there an end game? Or do you just have new "issues" to play every once in a while?

The graphics on the demos look amazing (awesome ghosts, cthulu monsters, yikes), I guess I don't understand why it's not more popular.

Now that subscriptions are not required, if I like the game, should I subscribe anyway or should I pay for the micro-transactions? What do the micro transactions buy?

Is there anything I should know about the game before making a character? What server is the best?


The Secret World still has a strong community in my experience. Lots of people are playing it. The end game is largely the traditional dungeon runs. Not really my cup of tea, so I couldn't tell you much about it.

They are releasing new issues frequently, with new storylines that either tell their own story (issue 5 was amazing) or continue the original storyline (like issue 7). Issue 8 was released recently, offering a new kind of gameplay that I haven't had a chance to play with yet (because my computer decided to suck) leading up to a major release of Tokyo as a new zone (scheduled for issue 9, last I checked).

Honestly, I have no idea why it's not more popular. I grabbed a GrandMaster pack (lifetime subscription) on launch day and haven't looked back.

Micro-transactions generally buy you new costume items (if you want to fight zombies in an awesome trenchcoat. Or beachwear.), plus some convenience items (like potions that make you earn ability points slightly faster for a while). More importantly, you also buy the new issues.

The main difference between subscription and non-subscription players is that a subscription nets you a monthly allotment of bonus points (roughly equivalent to the cost of the subscription) plus some minor cosmetic perks (there's an 'item of the month' sort of deal). It's worth noting that subscribers also have to buy the new issues (but they can use their "free" points.)

Honestly, the main reason you'd subscribe is if you like the game and want a system to automatically top up your point total every month. Either option is equally viable.

Scarab Sages

I really need to come back to this game, I have a lifetime sub but haven't been on in a few months due to RL issue.


I've been playing this game for the last week and I'm seriously hooked. It seems like they fixed all of their puzzle and gameplay issues which were a problem at launch. They all work awesomely now, very enjoyable.

Really enjoy the full video missions (and in general, I don't think I can go back to reading box text), voice acting for fluff, and the lore in general.

The investigation and stealth missions are hard, but not too hard. They make you think and the missions aren't hand fed to you.

Surprised this game isn't more popular, it has everything you could want. Cthulu creatures and lore, tentacles, Kaiju, zombies, werewolves, secret societies, and lots of other Pathfinder creatures.

Plays like a solo game too, at least for a few months. Well worth $29, especially considering there's no subscription.

Loving it!


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So I’ve been playing the last 2 months and here’s my report.

This is the best MMO I’ve played since WOW vanilla. The game is a horror/survival/Lovecraft based game and meant for adults. The game is actually challenging, both in terms of combat and quests. (Of course if you cry “Uncle” and read the walkthroughs, it can be less challenging).

There’s lots of content for both grouping and solo play, and definitely the best questing I’ve experienced of any MMO. In terms of questing, its worlds ahead of WOW.

There are also lots of people still playing and lots of people levelling up in the old zones (thanks to the Steam sale). So you can still find groups for dungeons.

For $30, this game is a great deal. I like the game so much; I’ve recently bought all of their additional content and have a subscription as well. And it’s worth every penny.

I’ve completed every single quest and every dungeon until Transylvania (maybe 200 hours of content?) and there have been no bugs. I’ve read this game was buggy on release but it’s completely clean ATM.

The game hasn’t been a grind at all; you only need do at most 25% of the quests before you have the gear and XP to leave a zone. Having said that, I find the story/questing to be so well done, I usually do every single quest before leaving.

In terms of progression, I’m still not at end game yet (after 2 months) and I’m a fast at levelling in WOW. I think my PC has 15% of the abilities and that’s only on one ability wheel out of three. So in terms of horizontal progression, there is a lot to go. I’m still not sure how much vertical progression there is, but it takes a while.

They have substantial content updates every 4 months. Like any MMO, I assume eventually I will run out of casual-player content, and will need to do elite content if I want to play every day.

This game is not for people who want to:

1) Level up as quickly as possible: If your goal is to level up as fast as possible and to get the most uber gear as possible, you won’t enjoy the game. And quite frankly, you’re missing the best parts of the game. Yes, you can probably do 25% of the quests in each zone (less with an XP booster or a friend) and get the gear/XP you need, but you’ll be missing all of the content and you’ll get to end game and say “is that it”? And then the content becomes more horizontal and challenging, which most grinders will not enjoy.

2) If you skip watching videos to do the quest as fast as possible, this is not the game for you. If you don’t take the time to listen to the optional voice dialog offered, this is not the game for you. It’s extremely entertaining stuff.

3) Like to be handheld through quests. If you like your quests to be “kill 10 rats”, you might not like this game and you’ll probably spend most of your time reading the walkthroughs for every quest. Congrats on making the game easy mode, but again you missed the point.

This is a game for:

1) People who like a good story.

2) People who like dark horror themes and mature content. Zombies, werewolves, vampires, ghost, etc.

3) People who don’t like questing and dungeons to be super easy.

4) People who like to try different builds and options for their PC.

5) People who like to customize how their PC looks and dresses.

6) People who want something different in an MMO.

It’s a great game, I give it 9.5/10 stars.


Jason S wrote:
It’s a great game, I give it 9.5/10 stars.

Great writeup. I am really glad you're enjoying the game. TSW is probably my all-time favourite MMO, after City of Heroes (and it only loses to CoH because it doesn't have the "endless" content than a near-infinite number of alts bring :)).


I gave it a try and would love to play it, looks like just the sort of game I enjoy, but it seems my computer can't handle it. I can play for about 10 minutes at a time and then "boom", I have to reboot my machine.


Greylurker wrote:
I gave it a try and would love to play it, looks like just the sort of game I enjoy, but it seems my computer can't handle it. I can play for about 10 minutes at a time and then "boom", I have to reboot my machine.

Have you tried different levels of graphics, or just switching to DirectX 9? Does it still ker-boom your machine?


Slaunyeh wrote:
Greylurker wrote:
I gave it a try and would love to play it, looks like just the sort of game I enjoy, but it seems my computer can't handle it. I can play for about 10 minutes at a time and then "boom", I have to reboot my machine.
Have you tried different levels of graphics, or just switching to DirectX 9? Does it still ker-boom your machine?

Yeah I tried shunting it down as low as I could.

Basically my machine is old and clunky. Heck these days Windows crashes half the time when I try and make a new folder.


Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens Subscriber
Jason S wrote:
So I’ve been playing the last 2 months and here’s my report.

Thanks for the update on this one. I've been on the fence about it, since it falls into a genre I am not necessarily a huge fan of. But it looks interesting, but I have heard many of the issues primarily technical in nature.

Will have to give it a further chance.


So I've been playing this game for the last 6 months and it's been amazing. I play almost every day and it's been a great time.

Yes, to fully appreciate this game I think you need a good computer and GPU (or two).

The only problem I have with this game now is that content patches aren't coming out fast enough. Although Tokyo (which is a huge zone and a huge amount of content) is coming out in the next week or two, it's been 8 months since the last patch, which is really bad. It's un-motivating for new players (like me) and veteran players are getting fed up.

I'll continue playing but I'm going to start playing other games as well as I also wait for more content. We're all crossing our fingers hoping that Tokyo will be as awesome as they say.

I still think Secret World is a bargain at $30, it's one of the best MMOs I've ever played, especially the questing and adventure game aspect of it.

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