Dark Days Are Coming - New Funcom Project

[Riggswolfe]

Well I got into this weekends beta. I'm half excited, half nervous. Funcom usually makes a great 1/3rd of a game but drops the ball in content. Still, I'll give it a try. I am curious that it launches in about a month according to retailers yet as far as I know it is still in closed beta with an NDA. At this point wouldn't the DVDs already be gold?

[Falconeer]

Yeah, the signs are all there. Launches in exactly a month (June 19th) and Kingsmouth is ten times better than Tortage was. So all we know as of now is that the game will launch not ready and full of bugs, and that the first (and only known) third of the game is glorious.

[Lucas]

Ok, I've only just begun: I just arrived in Kingsmouth, but this was quite a weird beginning. It was a hot, seducing mess between an adventure game, Vampire: Bloodlines, a spreadsheet MMO, an average DIKU one and more (I never played a GTA game, so walking around the street of a modern setting actually reminded me of Bloodlines but also of Shen Mue).

Damn Funcom, just make a 60 hours long super difficult and engaging point and click adventure game out of this and be done with it 

[Riggswolfe]

It's definitely a funcom game. I'm split between having a hell of a time and being annoyed by bugs and by weird design decisions. For example, I was shocked when I had to do a corpse run. You guys bitch about TOR having outdated mechanics but a corpse run? Really?

[Surlyboi]

Corpse runs are necessary. You'll see why later.

[Riggswolfe]

Corpse runs are necessary. You'll see why later.

I'm having trouble thinking of any reason why. I don't know. I am severely on the fence about this game. It has its good and bad. It's also Funcom which makes me nervous in and of itself.

[Falconeer]

Let's face it: if it wasn't for the fact that being Funcom we know this game will fuck up badly at some point soon and disappoint gloriously about 15 days after launch, this is definitely worth picking up as an inspired, amazing, refreshing new iteration of the MMORPG genre.

[palmer_eldritch]

You can ressurect at the respawn point if you choose. There's an item on the ground you need to use which may not be obvious.

[Riggswolfe]

You can ressurect at the respawn point if you choose. There's an item on the ground you need to use which may not be obvious.

Ahhh...they need to add that to the little tutorial pop-ups. If I have any other complaint about this game not related to bugs it is that it actually needs either a manual or an in-depth help system.

[Surlyboi]

Corpse runs are necessary. You'll see why later.

I'm having trouble thinking of any reason why. I don't know. I am severely on the fence about this game. It has its good and bad. It's also Funcom which makes me nervous in and of itself.

What part of "you'll see why later" did you miss? Yes, you can rez right on the spot, but yes, being dead can sometimes be an advantage. You'll see.

[Ard]

I finally figured out what it is that was bothering me about this game last night.  It's City of Heroes/Champions/DC, minus most of the character creation options, half the powers, and any sort of movement powers, skinned for horror.  I'm not sure how far I got through kingsmouth, but after a night of playing, this is sure what it felt like, in retrospect.

[Falconeer]

skinned for horror

I think this is really unfair to the whole setting and the attention they put into the details.

[Surlyboi]

skinned for horror

I think this is really unfair to the whole setting and the attention they put into the details.

Totally. The devil is in the details and there's some serious devilry in this thing. It's a fucking shame that it is lol Funcom and they'll drop the ball on a lot of shit, but the stuff they chose to pay attention to? Dead. Fucking. On.

[Riggswolfe]

Corpse runs are necessary. You'll see why later.

I'm having trouble thinking of any reason why. I don't know. I am severely on the fence about this game. It has its good and bad. It's also Funcom which makes me nervous in and of itself.

What part of "you'll see why later" did you miss? Yes, you can rez right on the spot, but yes, being dead can sometimes be an advantage. You'll see.

I didn't miss it. But a cryptic "you'll see why" doesn't do anything to change my mind about why corpse runs in the modern day and age are anything except a throwback to older MMO design.

[Phred]

Corpse runs are necessary. You'll see why later.

I'm having trouble thinking of any reason why. I don't know. I am severely on the fence about this game. It has its good and bad. It's also Funcom which makes me nervous in and of itself.

Besides, it's not technically a corpse run unless you're naked and visible to the mobs, and bound half a continent away. This is more like a timed res.

[Falconeer]

Seriously, you can respawn at the nearby resurrection point, or go back as a ghost to your corpse in order of not having to work your way through mobs all over again in case you died while trying to get at a specific location. Sounds like a convenience to me, not a corpse run. It's exactly what World of Warcraft does, not even a bit what EverQuest did.

[Riggswolfe]

Seriously, you can respawn at the nearby resurrection point, or go back as a ghost to your corpse in order of not having to work your way through mobs all over again in case you died while trying to get at a specific location. Sounds like a convenience to me, not a corpse run. It's exactly what World of Warcraft does, not even a bit what EverQuest did.

I know it's more like WoW version than EQ's version but it just doesn't feel like a good fit for a modern MMO. Anyway, apparently I'm the only one who thought it was a weird design decision so I'll let it go. Most other elements of the design I liked and I am tempted to preorder but am terrified I'll get the game only to discover that everything past the stuff I've played is unfinished and buggy.

[Riggswolfe]

Alright, now that my beta weekend is over I find myself on the fence. It's a funcom game so it goes without saying that the launch version will probably be a bug riddled mess but the concept is so intriquing and so different I am tempted to risk it. I am quite nervous that only the Templars have been playable so far. I know they've only had 2 beta weekends but why is it only confined to one faction? I also have questions about how complete later portions of the game are. I've also browsed around and found that this game is highly polarizing with lots of people who hate it and think it is the worst ever and defenders who quite like it. I was kind of surprised by how vehement some of the haters are to be honest.

Anyway, what does f13 think of it so far? Will there be a Bat Country in this game?

[Falconeer]

The reason why the other two factions aren't open yet is because they are still waiting for the GFX assets for the faction specific cinematics. Some are already there, of course, but not all.

I can't speak for f13 as a whole, but seems to me that the majority feels pretty much like you: lots of awesome, coated in Funcom, projected to a predictable mess. The question is not if it's worth picking up in my opionion, it's more "how long before I run out of content or the bug supernova wipes everything away?". It's a fucking blind, fascinating, losing bet.

[Surlyboi]

Illuminati and Dragon play pretty much the same at this point, just different points of view.

[Draegan]

The reason why the other two factions aren't open yet is because they are still waiting for the GFX assets for the faction specific cinematics. Some are already there, of course, but not all.

I can't speak for f13 as a whole, but seems to me that the majority feels pretty much like you: lots of awesome, coated in Funcom, projected to a predictable mess. The question is not if it's worth picking up in my opionion, it's more "how long before I run out of content or the bug supernova wipes everything away?". It's a fucking blind, fascinating, losing bet.

I still don't see lots of awesome from anyone except a few here.

[Falconeer]

You are probably right. I meant "the majority of those who are still posting in this thread", but it could be a stretch anyway.

[Tyrnan]

I'm pretty much in the same boat. I'm intrigued by the concept and love the atmosphere of the game, but worried that it's going to be AoC all over again. But if (big if!) I get a month or two out of it while waiting on GW2 I'll basically be happy. If it was anybody but FunCom I'd be really excited about the game, as it is I'll just be pleasantly surprised if it isn't a giant clusterfuck.

[Lantyssa]

I'll play it some, maybe, when it goes f2p.  I really see no reason to get into another sub-based game with GW2 around the corner.

[Riggswolfe]

I'll play it some, maybe, when it goes f2p.  I really see no reason to get into another sub-based game with GW2 around the corner.

See, I'm in the minority on this board. GW2 looks cool gameplay-wise but it doesn't grab me you know? I think it is because it is yet another fantasy game and because GW1 was literally the most lifeless MMO I ever played and I don't expect GW2 to be better.

[Lantyssa]

Even I wouldn't say it's for everyone.  It is the game I've been waiting a long time for.  It's cool to have different tastes, though.

[Kageru]

I'll play it some, maybe, when it goes f2p.  I really see no reason to get into another sub-based game with GW2 around the corner.

See, I'm in the minority on this board. GW2 looks cool gameplay-wise but it doesn't grab me you know? I think it is because it is yet another fantasy game and because GW1 was literally the most lifeless MMO I ever played and I don't expect GW2 to be better.

GW1 and GW2 are very different games. And GW2 is probably the most interesting attempt to re-jig fundamental MMO mechanics (which might not work perfectly and some people will hate).

I'm happy to admit that TSW has a more interesting setting, but it's also a setting that demands a lot of effort to fill out in terms of level of detail and events and that plays straight into their weakness. The game is really well suited to a cash shop though in terms of episodic content and character customisation so if they do get forced f2p at some point it could still work, and I wouldn't be surprised if they've prepared for that as a plan-B.

[Falconeer]

I wanted to love GW1 but I simply couldn't. I tried over and over, spent money on it. No way.
GW2 is completely different, and I have a huge, effortless crush. It's so many things I've been waiting for in a MMO I can't even count them. Generic bland Fantasy setting #8327 not being one of them. It'll be hard for any other game to keep me away from GW2.

Back on topic, The Secret World has insane "potential". Too bad it's handled without the resources needed to deliver a perfectly executed game. That potential, in a way, is doomed to be wasted. But I still applaud the effort of making an anti-conventional MMORPG and paying so much attention at the details. It's unfinished by default, but what they have is, in my opinion, really inspired.

[Surlyboi]

Inspired is a great way of putting it, the execution falls short in lots of ways, and I have great fears for it's development, but it's damn intriguing.

[Riggswolfe]

I find myself very very intriqued by this game, far more than any other coming out. I think it is because, for me, atmosphere and story trump gameplay. However, I also quite like the skill system as opposed to a class system. GW2 is probably quite superior on the gameplay front but I think the setting/story would likely drive me away. Since I'm not in the beta for that game I have no way of knowing for sure but that is my suspicion. I think if I buy Secret World it will be based purely on the hook of the conspiracies/Lovecraftian horror/investigation.

[Falconeer]

Curious about how much content is going to be there, I made my research. At launch 8 zones about the size of Kingsmouth are going to be there:

Solomon Island:
- Kingsmouth
- Savage Coast
- Blue Mountain

Egypt:
- Scorched Desert
- City of the Sun God

Transylvania:
- Besieged Farmlands
- Shadowy Forest
- Carpathian Fangs

Each zone has its own dungeon/instance, which means 8 dungeons so far.

No one can comment on the amount of finished content there as it's pretty much all under NDA still.

[Riggswolfe]

Well I broke down and pre-ordered the game. I won't admit to any upgrade packs or not. I did truly enjoy it and the story and atmosphere are great. Still, I do feel a little like an abused wife who believes her husband when he says he has changed and even stopped drinking....

[Falconeer]

Almost forgot, no raids at launch. Do what you want with that information.

[Soln]

How puzzly is this game?  I likey puzzles.  Grinding levels less so.

[Riggswolfe]

Almost forgot, no raids at launch. Do what you want with that information.

Hmmm...I've heard they have raids in at launch and that they're 10 people. Still, I don't really care all that much about raids so it's all good. Is Bat Country going to have any presence in TSW?

@Soln:

It has puzzles but I am not sure what the % is compared to other stuff. I think it's quite low. But let's just say this is the first time in an MMO I needed a combination of wikipedia and a bible webpage to solve a quest!