What’s TSW like to get into from scratch right now?
I ask because I just received a 50% off email from Funcom and I’m kinda interested as I now have a computer speccy enough to run it.
Also can someone confirm - it’s not free to play - it’s no subscription required?
Thanks in Advance!
red_guy
2022
Every time it goes on sale anywhere, there are still lots of new players popping in. So you won’t be a lone weakling among fully leveled players. I’m in the process of leveling up an alt, and I have no problem hooking up with random low-level strangers for dungeon runs.
It may take some effort to find a group / cabal to join, if you prefer to do things in coop. If you prefer to do things solo, you’ll find some 100-200 hours of well-written, challenging content.
And you don’t need to pay anything beyond the initial purchase; there is paid extra content (see a few posts up), but that is not required (and you won’t be strong enough to access it until late in the game anyway).
The community takes pride in its friendly attitude, especially towards new players. Every time I’ve seen someone pose a question, it is replied to earnestly and politely. I’ve seen the word ‘rape’ in a chat window exactly once - followed by a stream of disapproval. People seem blissfully unaware of the expression “STFU n00b”.
It’s not important to play on a well-populated dimension (you can group / invite across dimensions), but for random encounters with others it makes a big difference where you create your character. Daemon, Cerberus and Arcadia are well populated in the European evenings, while Huldra is a ghost town - rumor has it Australians dwell there 12 hours earlier.
The game does not run on a ZX Spectrum (aka “speccy”) though.
I’d probably prefer to solo for a bit first before grouping. Depends what it is like. Last MMO I played was Guild Wars 2 and I got very bored of it - story is definately what i’m attracted to.
It’s not important to play on a well-populated dimension (you can group / invite across dimensions), but for random encounters with others it makes a big difference where you create your character. Daemon, Cerberus and Arcadia are well populated in the European evenings, while Huldra is a ghost town - rumor has it Australians dwell there 12 hours earlier.
I am in Aus so I should look into that then… Thanks for the tip.
The game does not run on a ZX Spectrum (aka “speccy”) though.
You slay me ;)
Giaddon
2024
Yeah the unofficial Oceanic dimension is Huldra, so might be your best bet.
I’m running on Huldra but be warned- the PvP area of Fusang is completely dominated by the Illuminati side 24/7. I am in awe of people who are so determined to crush their opposition that they will sit in an empty PvP zone for hours, waiting for the opportunity to gank an unwise opponent who wanders in. PvP in this game sucks generally, but on Huldra it sucks very, very specifically.
The PVP is TSW is so bad anyway I wouldn’t worry about how it is on any given server ;)
I’m hard pressed to think of an MMO I’ve played with PVP I enjoyed less.
So is it full PVP for everyone in that area?
Razgon
2028
Its a specific PVP battefield instance you sign up for and enter with the express intent to PVP - there is nothing else to do there.
Well that is OK. I just won’t go there. ;)
Spoit
2030
Actually, for the battlefield, you get more points if you idle when your side is dominating than when you’re an underdog, so it’s often population capped on the winning side
I finished the first part of the mission for Issue 5, and it is absolutely outstanding so far. I’m feeling a little underleveled to proceed, so I’ll come back to it in a bit.
Meanwhile, we have details on the new stuff I’ve been waiting for–issue 1.8.
1.8 brings “Scenarios”. Scenarios are free-standing, repeatable missions/settings are apparently made part of the lore of the game by the conceit that they’re Council of Venice computer simulations. You need to do a certain number of scenarios to get to the first new full zone introduced into the game since launch, Tokyo (Tokyo is going to be issue 9).
The other new thing is “Augments”. These are player-crafted items that obviously seem like high-end buffs to weapons/talismans. Augments require the completion of scenarios and the crafting of items along with the expenditure of AP to create.
It’ll be interesting to see how 1.8 is gated to players, and whether there will be a free option to complete certain free scenarios over and over again to get to Tokyo…otherwise, that gates off that content for people who haven’t bought the issue.
red_guy
2032
Today is the start of a new two-week-long event - possibly because the next planned Issue was delayed (as usual). Could be fun - the anniversary event in July certainly was.
From the Game Director’s Letter:
During this event, which we have titled “The Gilded Rage”, players will find themselves pitted against yet another of the defense mechanisms of Gaia, this one rampaging through the regions of the world.
Over the course of two weeks, players will have the opportunity to earn all kinds of golden rewards!
An email I got from Funcom says it’s the continuation of the Anniversary event. So it’ll probably be of the “gather 100 people and start whacking a huge boss” variety. Details other than that are hazy at this point; the event might start at 4pm CET/10am EST.
It could be useful to join the chat channels #anniversary and/or #anniversity; during the anniversary event these were the primary tools to get 100 people to converge on the golems.
Edit: the event will definitely start at 4pm CET/10am EST. /chat join GildedEvent is the channel set up for this event, announced on the TSW forum.
So, Halloween. They brought back last year’s Cat God, which consists of some fun investigation quests and an (okay) group instance. Then they added ten mini missions which are mostly of the “run here”, “kill that” variety, albeit with an investigation element where the “here” or “that” is sometimes not spelled out. All the missions are interesting and cleverly written, well worth playing through. Much better than the Anniversary or Gilded Rage events.
They also brought back the “everyone smack the big boss” lottery, which I’m less a fan of. Ah well. Join #halloween for some gambling (this time around, you can get even more valuable loot than during the anniversary, but the chances of getting crap is also higher.)
Oh yeah, the whispering tide event (which I don’t think has been mentioned here) is still ongoing, and it’s still terrible.
Whatever happened to the update (episode #8, I think?) that was supposed to add randomized missions, or some such thing?
-Tom
Giaddon
2035
Issue #8, yep, which adds augments and scenarios (the mission generator). They’re still working on it. Supposed to be out soon – I’ve heard next week.
Whoa, next week? Wouldn’t they be announcing that already? Or are they just going to spring it on everyone?
-Tom
Giaddon
2037
To be fair, my sources are capricious and unreliable.
I know this will shock you, but it got delayed.
;)
Cal
2039
I heard its due out on Tuesday also. Looking forward to it big time.
Yup, it should come out next week.
