The Secret World

[Gracerath]

Well, that sealed the deal. Picked it up.

So, this begs the question. How much of the game is solo friendly? I'm a dirty casual these days. Also, as far as the grouping goes, how easy is it to find groups? Is there a tool in game to help create them or do I stand around looking at chat hoping for a group? Etc.

[d503]

Well, that sealed the deal. Picked it up.

So, this begs the question. How much of the game is solo friendly? I'm a dirty casual these days. Also, as far as the grouping goes, how easy is it to find groups? Is there a tool in game to help create them or do I stand around looking at chat hoping for a group? Etc.

The entire questing game is solo friendly (some are elite quests in the later zones, and harder to do unless you have a good build).

The dungeons are obviously all group, but I believe they put in LFD recently, so you should be set there.

[Paxen]

And unlike WoW the questing game is actually challenging. I wouldn't worry about it being solo-friendly, quite a few people complain that it's not a real mmo simply because there's so much you can do solo (and that there are parts you have to do solo, in solo instances).

I've always liked questing in WoW, but tSW blows it away. I've actually only done two dungeons, and one of those was two-manning the Halloween dungeon.

[Gracerath]

I made an initial investment of points towards the Bounty Hunter deck. Of all the weapons, I like the shotgun the most and it seems to do really well with the packs of wimpy zombies in Kingsmouth.

Which brings me to another question, at what point in the game can you expect to finish the non starter decks? After clearing most zones? Some of the abilities take quite a large chunk of points to unlock.

Also, while I have two weapons (shotgun and pistol), how does swapping them work with the hotkey bar? Do I just put shotgun abilities on 1-3 and then pistol abilities on 4-7 (or however I want to distribute them) when I get them or does the hotbar actually swap over to the new weapon set? I did the whole switch weapon hotkey (default Shift + R) and nothing happened, though like I said, I don't actually have any pistol abilities unlocked yet.

God damn I love the music and setting. Rawr. The doctor guy at the start of the Illuminati area is so good. The voice acting is quite excellent.

[Paxen]

I didn't finish a deck before I was nearly done with Transylvania, but I think I could have made it long before that if I tried. But the decks aren't the ultimate builds in any way, after a while you should be able to create better builds on your own. For one thing they only have passives from two weapons, even though passives aren't limited to only the weapons you carry (my Pistol/Elemental crit/chain build suddenly became viable again after I put in the Hammer Elite passive Forged in Fire, which is massive for soloing). I only finished one for the outfit.

However, they are pretty nice templates to work towards when you're starting out. But after a while you want to find the synergies yourself.

Weapons get switched automatically as you use different active abilities, so no need to worry about that.

And totally agree on the voice acting. That and the writing is what makes the game really special.

[Gracerath]

Man, Kingsmouth has a lot of conent. I don't even think I'm 1/3 of the way done yet and I've almost filled out the basic levels of pistol and shotgun and I'll be able to start working on the next level of skills. I'm basically doing all the things and taking my time doing so. The "stealth" missions are somewhat fun. Sadly for most of the investigation missions, I just use the in game browser for every step and cheat looking at a wiki. There are a few parts I was able to figure out for myself but a lot of them rely on damn near OCD exploration. Which I'm glad others have taken the time to do for me

I have no idea what I'm doing with crafting. I did the tutorial missions for weapons and talisman crafting but I don't seem to be able to do much with them. Hell, it seems like 90% of the stuff I pick up I can't even take apart for their materials.

I will say that the setting is holding this game up for me, along with no sub fee. If it wasn't for that, I wouldn't be tolerating the issues I've been having. Random crashes, rubber banding, lag and all the other usual suspects. Every time I close the game, I get an error box popping up for one reason or another.

[Paxen]

Sadly for most of the investigation missions, I just use the in game browser for every step and cheat looking at a wiki. There are a few parts I was able to figure out for myself but a lot of them rely on damn near OCD exploration. Which I'm glad others have taken the time to do for me

But that's some of the best content there is Why would you want to skip all that?

[Gracerath]

I do rather like exploring but I often miss the little details. For example, I did one last night where if you didn't read one plaque on a bridge carefully (or even at all, they can be hard to notice) I would have never completed it. Heck, I've been across those bridges several times to the other area but I generally took one of the southern ones. Not saying I wouldn't have found it eventually but there is a lot to explore and do. Like I said, I'm able to figure out a good amount on my own but in the end my time is limited and I like to be somewhat efficient. Speaking of the mission above called The Vision, I believe I did 3 or 4 of the steps on my own just by looking at the map. The final part was the plaque I missed.

[Paxen]

The clues scattered around the map bit I can understand (the bridge had me stumped as well), but the real beauty of investigations is IMHO the bits where you have to google some obscure clue (or several before you figure out the real clue) and find some real life info that helps you solve the mystery.

I take it you're not cheating on those parts..?

[Gracerath]

Naw. There was one I did that sent me to a webpage that I think Funcom set up specifically for the game that had some Illuminati clues for a mission. That was neat. There was another one I did in beta that had you googling something or other using a clue for a computer password (I can't remember exactly what it was) but I haven't come across it yet in the retail game (I get distracted easily and wander off).

I think I'm maybe 1/3 of the way done with the missions in Kingsmouth, at least from the various NPC's. There are a ton of the side missions around that I end up skipping because as I said, I get too easily side tracked and I actually want to complete the thing I'm on. That reminds me.. there is a corpse under one of the bridges I was exploring last night that I need to go investigate again ....

EDIT: My wording in the last few posts is a bit contradictive. I did say I cheated on most/all but I've really only done like 3 or 4 of the investigation missions, so it isn't like I've missed out on the entire game's worth of investigations. Just a few of the starting ones and only for a few steps.

[Paxen]

Good to hear!

Have you done the Kingsmouth Code and Digging Deeper yet? (Both from Henry Hawthorne.) Those are my favorite missions in Kingsmouth.

[Gracerath]

The Kingsmouth code sounds familiar, I think I did that one. Not sure about the other but I will check for it the next time I log in.

[Teloc]

I picked this game up as well when it was on sale. I've been running around with my little Templar. I've maxed out 3 skill groups on the inner ring. As I keep switching around trying different things. Almost finished my 4th group.. I've learned all the basics of Blood, elemental, fists, and just about finishing up shotgun.

I'm only a part way threw The Savage Coast and I do enjoy the setting. I kinda cheat as well on the investigation missions, but I tend to figure it out. Then just look up the answer cause I don't feel like guessing on some parts.. The Room 13 quest with the symbols from the book is hard to read at one point and was messing me up.

I think I'm going to work towards the magus build at this point. Then branch out from there. Since a good solid build should help me progress faster than my current method of OHH PRETTY WHATS THIS DO?

Also for my bonus points I bought the speed boosts...BEST purchase ever.

[Gracerath]

I just got myself to the Savage Coast. I got up to that point in the beta as far as the main story goes so soon I'll be treading new ground. I'm excited.

As is my nature in MMO's that feature a trinity, I'm building a tank spec. Currently Hammer / Chaos and I'll be going for the Bodyguard deck. I like the suit and I've already got the points needed in Shotgun and there are lots of hammer abilities that I like. I'm making a beeline for the Forged in Fire ability. It will help a lot for soloing and it is part of the deck, so bonus.

I haven't built up the courage to put myself in the pool for Polaris yet. I've tanked for years in WoW and EQ, so I dare say I'm good at it but there is still a lot of pressure on a tank. Once I get that first one under my belt, the dam will break and it will be like old hat. Just got to get that first one done ...

I don't like the crafting in this game. Or rather, something seems buggy or inconsistent. I have an issue and maybe I'm just missing something. Is there something that tells you whether or not you can disassemble an item just by looking at its icon or mousing over it? I have so much shit I've looted that I try to disassemble but it never works. I'd rather not have to open the damn window every time. Also, my inventory is a nightmare. I finally got all my crafting materials shoved into a different bag so that helps a bit but man it is a pain in the ass to dig out the right items at a glance. The search window is a blessing but still. I'd like to just be able to differentiate them visually.

[Paxen]

Forged in Fire is fantastic for soloing. A lot of my earlier builds became more and more useless as I progressed through the game, but by just adding FiF they became viable for soloing again. Even my pistol/elemental crit/weaken/chain build that's totally focused on damage.

I heard that they made a lot of the items in Kingsmouth not eligble for disassembly at some point, but I don't know what items. I don't bother with them any more, when you got access to QL10 items QL2-3 are just junk.

I'm not sure if they still sell them after the pvp revamp, but a trick I used was to buy purple QL10 anima from the pvp vendor. I played a round of Fusang, and that earned me enough for 3 or so anima items. Grab the ones with the stats you want on your gear, and disassemble them. One anima yields something like 4 Pure quality runes, each of which can then be disassembled downwards to the QL you need. Very nice if you can find the glyph toolkits to give yourself the secondary stats you want.

[Skye1013]

I haven't built up the courage to put myself in the pool for Polaris yet. I've tanked for years in WoW and EQ, so I dare say I'm good at it but there is still a lot of pressure on a tank. Once I get that first one under my belt, the dam will break and it will be like old hat. Just got to get that first one done ...

Friend and I went back and two-manned Polaris (~QL6 gear.) He was playing a tanky blade/chaos with self-healing (he might have dropped the blade for blood at some point, I don't remember) and I was playing a healy shotgun/blood (at least until I unlocked the assault rifle stuff that I wanted for the leech heals.) Now I'm doing assault/blood. Anywho, I digress... the hardest part of the entire dungeon was the final boss, and not because of mechanics, it was more due to dps checks that we were struggling to meet initially. I would encourage you to go check it out because you get a nice chunk of AP/SP upon completion.

As for the ability wheel, you'll get more AP/SP per quest the farther you go. I'm currently running around Egypt and get a ton of AP (enough that I've finally "finished" my assault/blood build for the moment.)

My Chronicle:
http://chronicle.thesecretworld.com/character/Mist-Wolf

I was working towards the Grifter deck initially, but as you can see, I've gone all over the place and still haven't finished that one out . I'm thinking I might knock out the Necromancer deck for the outfit.

[Gracerath]

I'm definitely going to have to change my spec up a bit I think. I was following a beginner tank spec and I am basically using it for everything because I want to commit it to muscle memory but I'm finding that it is starting to lack in the soloing department. The damage is kind of lowish and certain missions are really kicking my ass. There are a few in the Savage Coast that have an objective to survive waves of mobs and I just can't do it. That could be a gear issue or I need to just find some good healing potions or a change in spec is needed. I'm starting to get into QL4 gear now as rewards and I could potentially pick up some blue QL5 weapons from the Council of Venice vendor but I'm not sure if I should save my tokens for the QL6 stuff in Blue Mountain instead.

Speaking of Savage Coast. Innsmouth Academy. Awesome and really annoying at the same time. The awesome part? Amazing voice acting. I spent 30 mins last night just listening to everyone's story there. And a few missions (the basement is creepy). The annoying part? I'm not sure what the deal is but I get mini lockups every few steps when I'm around that place. It is crippling.

I think that is the thing that is making me merely like this game instead of love it. It is like WAR in that regard. So many technical issues. Random crashes, lockups, lag and all that jazz. I wouldn't be putting up with that if I had to pay a monthly sub.

[Skye1013]

The annoying part? I'm not sure what the deal is but I get mini lockups every few steps when I'm around that place. It is crippling.

Yeah, there appears to be a memory leak in that area that people are thinking has something to do with the mirrors used in the To Sir, With Love quest. Good news is that it goes back to the "normal" crash rate once you move out of there.

[Skye1013]

Said (sp) is definitely my most favorite character so far (I've just started questing in the City of the Sun God, so there is still room for someone to take his place.)

[Paxen]

Passive self-heal abilities are awesome when soloing, if you use a couple of pieces of +heal gear. Remember that passives aren't limited by equipped weapons.

[Skye1013]

The tree spirit things that you have to separate from the little spirits with an Impair (else they're practically invulnerable) are freaking annoying as hell. (Shadowy Forest)

It's particularly annoying because it appears the only impair I've picked up thus far is an elite blood ability on a 20ish second cd.

I've also learned I don't like mobs that get heals from glance attacks... (City of the Sun God)

Also... still getting the lag freeze ups (different from the memory leaks near Innsmouth Academy) and can't figure out if it's my computer, internet, or the game itself. I've changed my graphics settings from Low to Ultra and back again, and it doesn't seem to have any sort of effect on it. Repairing doesn't do anything either. Anyone have any other suggestions that might help at least narrow down the cause (if not actually fix the issue if it's on my side?)

[Paxen]

The tree spirit things that you have to separate from the little spirits with an Impair (else they're practically invulnerable) are freaking annoying as hell. (Shadowy Forest)

It's particularly annoying because it appears the only impair I've picked up thus far is an elite blood ability on a 20ish second cd.

I find that Hindering effects are a lot better (particularly roots). I can't remember exactly, do you need to lock down one spark or more? And don't they despawn if you pull the big spirit far enough away?

Molten Earth (elemental inner circle elite active) and Slow the Advance (rifle version) are both cheap to get once you're in Transylvania. Not sure if that's enough, when I did the quest I had a an AR/Ele build stacked with Hinder effects *cough*.

[Skye1013]

Reading the debuff they had, it suggested impairing them, not sure if they were immune to hinders (the tree was for sure.) And yeah, those were the guys. Only a couple of the spirits made them unkillable (shielding and I think healing ones.)

[Paxen]

Checked a guide, roots work for sure. There's also a trick to completing Last Dance of the Padurii (I assume that's the mission you're on?

[Skye1013]

I don't recall the name of it, but you had a music box you were trying to empower via the tree spirits, then you had to kill the fae leader (quest was from Anastasia.) Friend and I duo most things, so we were able to complete it, we just had to separate the fae leader from the shielding spirit which allowed us to dps enough to kill her.