The Secret World - (Possible F2P) Relaunch in Q1 2017 - Games

[video=youtube;7FJu4q_wDb4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FJu4q_wDb4[/video] [QUOTE]Funcom is excited to announce that their acclaimed story-driven game The Secret World will be relaunched this spring as Secret World Legends, a shared-world action RPG with completely revamped combat, a newly designed progression system, and updated visuals. The game’s full collection of missions and mysteries will be free to play, with over 100 hours of mature storytelling and surprises. Players can sign up for Secret World Legends’ beta, which arrives today, at beta.SecretWorldLegends.com.[/QUOTE] [URL="http://steamcommunity.com/games/215280/announcements/detail/616272184662184850"]Source[/URL] [QUOTE]What is Secret World Legends? We are relaunching our acclaimed story-driven online game The Secret World (TSW) as Secret World Legends, a shared-world action RPG with revamped combat, updated visuals, and newly designed progression systems and quest flow that is completely free to play.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE]One major difference is that the game is free to play for everyone. But just as importantly, Secret World Legends has updates befitting a modern-day action RPG. This includes a redesigned combat system to make action feel more natural, more intuitive systems to interact with, enhanced visuals, an improved flow of quests, and improved structure of the early game for new players.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE]Will all content from The Secret World be available in Secret World Legends at launch? Secret World Legends will relaunch with the original eight adventure playfields, scenarios, and dungeons available immediately. In the time following the relaunch, we will release Tokyo, Nightmare Dungeons, Raids, and the rest of the content that is currently live in The Secret World.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE]What happens if I have an active subscription on TSW when the transition occurs? After you have linked your account, your old TSW subscription will roll over into Patron Rewards Program time in Secret World Legends.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE]Will the old version of the game be playable? Yes, the TSW servers will still be available to play. You will not be able to launch TSW via Steam though. If you are currently playing on Steam and want to continue after the launch of Secret World Legends, you can do so at: [url]https://register.thesecretworld.com/account[/url][/QUOTE] [QUOTE]Do I need to create a new character to play Secret World Legends? Yes, everyone will begin Secret World Legends with a new character. Secret World Legends makes some major changes to itemization and character progression that aren't compatible with the old game.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE]What happens to my old TSW character? They'll continue to live on the old TSW servers, so you'll still be able to log in and play them. You will not be able to play them on the new Secret World Legends server though. It’s a new experience and fresh start for everyone.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE]What happens to all my stuff? We are implementing a system to transfer over some vanity/store items from TSW to Secret World Legends. More on this will be released as we get closer to launch.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE]What about my bonus points, Funcom points? After you have linked your account, there will be an option to convert your Funcom points to the new Aurum. Bonus points will remain in TSW and can be used on the old server.[/QUOTE] [URL="https://secretworldlegends.com/faq/"]Secret World Legends FAQ[/URL] [URL="https://secretworldlegends.com/#community"]Official Site[/URL] [editline]29th March 2017[/editline] [QUOTE]Letter from the Producer 29 MARCH - COMMUNITY MANAGER (ANDY B) Dear Secret Worlders, Throughout these past five years, the team here at The Secret World has been so incredibly proud of the stories we’ve been fortunate enough to bring you, our community. That this world we share together has come so far is a testament to your passion and enthusiasm, for which we will always be thankful. Today we’re writing to you to announce that The Secret World will be relaunching this spring as Secret World Legends, a shared-world action RPG featuring over 100 hours of story-driven quests and revamped gameplay and progression systems that will be completely free to play. Years ago, we made the decision to remove the mandatory subscription from The Secret World so that more players could explore the incredible universe we were building. Secret World Legends is an extension of that philosophy, one which removes the hurdles for everyone to experience the mature storylines and uniquely challenging quest design that have set this game apart from day one. Just as importantly, a dedicated relaunch gives us the opportunity to update the game in ways befitting a modern-day action RPG. This includes redesigning the combat system to make action feel more natural, making systems more intuitive to interact with, enhancing the game’s visuals, and improving the flow of quests overall, as well as the structure of the early game for new players. You’re probably wondering how these changes will personally impact you and the game you’ve come to know so well. First and foremost, given the sweeping extent of the changes being implemented, Secret World Legends will reset story progression for anyone who joins, offering a fresh start for all players. This will not erase your progression in The Secret World though! Secret World Legends will exist on a different server than The Secret World, meaning you will still be able to play your old character on The Secret World server. But we hope you consider starting anew in Secret World Legends to experience all the new content and updates coming to the game. We’ve made some major improvements to the game and server, so Secret World Legends will have its own client. You can have both Secret World Legends and The Secret World installed on the same computer and play either game at any time. If you’re intrigued by Secret World Legends but don’t want to leave behind the things you’ve worked hard to attain in The Secret World, worry not: a free transfer process will allow you to move vanity items like Mounts, Pets, Vehicles, and other customizations that have been purchased through the item store from The Secret World to your characters in Secret World Legends. We’ll have more information on this process and which items will be transferable as we get closer to launch. In addition, if you’re currently part of our Membership program, you can copy your membership from The Secret World to Secret World Legends. Any remaining time on your membership will turn into Patron time in Secret World Legends. If you are a Grand Master and link your account, you will be a Patron for life! We’ll have a lot more information on what to expect from Secret World Legends for you soon, including a series of dev diaries and AMAs from the team working on the relaunch, so stay tuned for announcements on those in the coming weeks. We’re also excited to announce that closed beta for Secret World Legends begins today, which you can sign up for HERE! The Secret World would not have been possible without the dedication of players like you, and we want to continue hearing your thoughts as we shape Secret World Legends. We hope you’ll join us on this next step in the adventure. Sincerely, Scott Junior Executive Producer Secret World Legends[/QUOTE] [URL="http://steamcommunity.com/games/215280/announcements/detail/616272184662195465"] Source[/URL] What is The Secret World? [video=youtube;h4mBS0SQfp8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4mBS0SQfp8[/video] [QUOTE]The Secret World is a massively multiplayer online role-playing video game set in a modern-day real world under attack from occult forces. Ragnar Tørnquist led development of the initial game for Funcom. The Secret World uses a subscription-optional, "buy-to-play" business model, requiring players only to buy the game with no additional subscription fees, with additional benefits to those members still paying a subscription. In the game, the player's character joins one of three world-controlling secret societies attempting to repel, mitigate or exploit the attack of Lovecraftian entities and other immortal beings in coastal Maine, rural Egypt, Transylvania and a quarantined section of Tokyo, and advance their society's agenda over that of the others. The game uses a contemporary setting, borrowing heavily from the horror fiction genre and folklore, with a fog-ringed, zombie-infested New England fishing village for the novice player, mummies and cultists in Egypt for the mid-level player, followed by vampires and werewolves in Transylvania and ghosts, robots, Oni demons and an interdimensional occult cancer in Tokyo. Mission content bleeds into player faction headquarters in London, Seoul and the DUMBO neighborhood in Brooklyn, and into the game's transport network, along the subterranean branches of Yggdrasil in Agartha. Unlike many other MMORPGs, there is no need to stop to use most of a character's attacks and abilities; as a result, combat is faster and movement-based. The character is free (and at higher levels, occasionally obliged) to redevelop their abilities on the go, to better prepare themselves for specific threats or better integrate into a group. Unlike traditional MMORPGs, advancement is primarily through equipment, using experience points to buy additional abilities and more powerful weapons.[/QUOTE] Secret Societies: [IMG]https://tsmwagent.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img21.png[/IMG] [QUOTE]"Sex, Drugs & Rockefeller" Notorious bad boys and girls of the secret world, the Illuminati are also the most ambitious, cut-throat, and furtive of the secret societies. From the gilded halls of the ancient pharaohs to the private clubs and decadent parties of the famously rich and egocentrically famous, from leaders of industry and Hollywood agents to presidents and popes, the Illuminati have weaved their intricate web with ruthless cunning and acute skill. They rule their corporate pyramid with cold opportunism, and only the strongest members survive. Their secrets can make you rich and powerful beyond compare - or they may destroy your soul and sanity with it. The Illuminati seek to plunder heaven and hell by any means necessary, and god help those who stand in their way. As a member of the Illuminati, you don't play by anybody's rules. There are no rules. There is no honour. There is only victory. "The world is a bad place, and you can either do or get done. We're the Illuminati and we're not done." Invisible puppet-masters and corporate manipulators, they crave power and wealth by any means necessary. The Illuminati may have ancient roots, but they remain forever young and hungry. In every growing empire they have played for it all. And they play for keeps. Stealing the Americas from under the Templars' noses, they grew with the United States to become a shadow superpower. Their corporate headquarters, the Labyrinth, is in an undisclosed location beneath Brooklyn, New York. Acting silently, unless the occasion calls for a gunshot, the Illuminati push for a New World Order. It will be empowering and ruthless. Failure is not an option. Complacency is worse than not an option. Their arsenal is the ambition of a new media startup, the rhetoric of a congressman and a mogul's business sense. Working hard, playing hard and fighting dirty. The Illuminati's golden agents enjoy power, money and glamour - but the real power they offer you goes beyond that. Information worked from every civilian, government and clandestine organisation in the world. Advances in modern magics, in the 'New Magic', that the secret world has never seen. They can give you everything... and they can take it all away.[/QUOTE] [video=youtube;a7Q_39c_LE8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7Q_39c_LE8[/video] [IMG]http://files.enjin.com.s3.amazonaws.com/597477/module_header/19074236/background/TSW-templars-banner%5B1%5D.png[/IMG] [QUOTE]"Deliverance From Evil" Crusaders. Judges. The Holy Terror. The Templars are the world's least secretive secret society. Their military-ideological machine has operated in plain sight since Babylon - a matter of pride, or moral superiority. Conspiracy thorists, obsessed with the minor 'Knights Templar' offshoot, underestimate the Templars' true European empire. Private armies. Members of parliaments. Royal families. The Templars believe they will deliver the world from evil by force, and even their opponents - who call them zealots and warmongers - cannot deny that force. As an agent of the Templars you are not just fighting the war on darkness, you "are" the war on darkness. Suave and sophisticated, but brutal and uncompromising, you use history as a weapon to shape the future. Few will stand in the way of the Templars' banner. Do you have the will to stand behind it? "There is no purpose greater than ours. The world will flounder without structure and discipline." The old guard; suave and sophisticated, but fiercely brutal and uncompromising in their crusade against darkness. Proudly tracing their royal lineage back to Babylon, the Templars are the lions of the secret world. When they roar, everyone listens. Old Europe is theirs, and the Templars' marble hall dominates the old London borough of Ealdwic - historic capital of the secret world. It's not just a show of strength. Nothing is just for show with the Templars. At the forefront of the war against darkness, they decide for themselves what counts as darkness. Never backing down from a fight. Never forgetting a grudge. They have tradition to uphold. For thousands of years they have been single-minded in their mission to obliterate evil in all its forms. Where angels fear to tread, the Templars kick down doors. As a soldier of the Templars, you will benefit from their military might. They have hoarded vast occult libraries and the hard-won knowledge of battles throughout time. Their traditional magics, the old mysticism of sorcerers and priests, of life and death, are powerful still. And the loyalty between Templars may be old-fashioned, but it is absolute. You will not stand alone.[/QUOTE] [video=youtube;H82MhvKo8bo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H82MhvKo8bo[/video] [IMG]http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/secretworld/images/9/98/Topbox-society-dragon.png/revision/latest?cb=20120417210448[/IMG] [QUOTE]"The Art of Chaos" Manipulators and conspirators, the Dragon have survived for millennia by playing their enemies against each other. Since before the first empire, through the aggression of the Mongol Khans and the ebb and tide of political change, a whisper in the right ear, a strategic assassination, alliances carefully crafted and broken - and the world eventually bends to the patient will of the immortal Dragon. With a spiritual and philosophical approach to the secret crafts, as an acolyte of the Dragon you are taught to listen, shown how to teach others, and expected to respect the balance of the universe and to be humble in the face of fate. Yours is not the path of force, though force is often needed to clear the path. Few know of the Dragon and their long history, and that is how the Dragon want it. You are invisible but pervasive, silent but all-knowing, and when the other secret societies have decimated each other, you will rebuild the world from the ruins of their arrogance. The dragon is too easily underestimated, but those who do so live to regret it - or die before they get the chance. "Change requires chaos, and chaos is ours to orchestrate." Unknowable instigators of change, through quiet violence they create tiny ripples that grow into sweeping tsunamis. A whisper of a rumour of a shadow, this Asian group is the most secretive of societies. With no fixed territory or structure, the Dragon have dissolved and reformed throughout history. They believe that a closed, controlled society is a sick society. Only through collapse and rebuilding, the natural chaos of life, can the world be in harmony. Recently, they have taken root in a nameless district of Seoul, Korea. To an outsider, their strategies are incomprehensible. Fractal patterns, chaos theory, random numbers, unrelated events. The Dragon understand that there is no pattern, only acts of great change to be committed. From a whisper to an explosion, they divine that an incident here, a disappearance there, can change the course of everything; acupuncture applied to a paralysed planet. In the order of the Dragon, you are given the entire cosmos in potential. They have practiced martial and mental arts attuned to the true harmony of the world. The most dangerous and unpredictable of magics bend to the wills of those who are dangerous and unpredictable. In the approaching dark times, things will never be the same again. You are in the Dragon's element.[/QUOTE] [video=youtube;tYOYy8bmNf8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYOYy8bmNf8[/video] Character Progression: [QUOTE]No Classes or Levels Experience a game that has no classes or levels. Truly freeform character customization allows you to create the alter-ego that you want to play. Choose from hundreds of different powers for your character without ever having to re-roll, completely eliminating the need to follow a set path of progression throughout the game. Choose the powers, the weapons and the clothing that you want to use.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE]Play How You Want to Play The Secret World does not force you down a set path of progression. You are free to do anything you want at any time. If you ever get tired of doing missions or slaughtering demons, why not return to your secret society and perform tasks for them so you can rise up in their order? Do so, and you will unlock even more powers, weapons, and even unique uniforms. And, of course, untold secrets![/QUOTE] Decks: [QUOTE]Decks are optional, pre-suggested templates of complementing abilities. There are eleven unique decks for your faction, representing the various specialisations they have taken up to combat darkness—and each other. In addition to the benefits of a deck’s ability synergies, completing a deck will give the character a suit matching the deck's theme. It can be worn by claiming it in the Deck window, and then going to the Dressing Room on your character [/QUOTE] [URL="http://yokaiblog.wikidot.com/guides:faction-decks"]Additional Info about decks[/URL] [QUOTE][URL="https://www.tswdb.com/builds"]However, if you are not content with the pre-suggested decks you can always get yourself a custom build.[/URL][/QUOTE] Content Updates (Issues): [QUOTE]All major updates to The Secret World are called Issues. Every Issue from #5 and up can be bought in the Item Store. Issues #1 to #4 are included with every purchase of the game. New content updates for The Secret World are continuously being made. These Issues offer tons of high quality content in the form of fresh missions, deep stories, Auxiliary Weapons, brand new types of action and much much more! [URL="http://www.thesecretworld.com/news/the_secret_world_issue_1_july_2012_unleashed"]Issue #1, July 2012: "Unleashed"[/URL] [URL="http://www.thesecretworld.com/news/issue_2_digging_deeper_now_live"]Issue #2, August 2012: "Digging Deeper"[/URL] [URL="http://www.thesecretworld.com/news/issue_3_the_cat_god_now_live"]Issue #3, Halloween 2012: The Cat God[/URL] [URL="http://www.thesecretworld.com/news/issue_4_big_trouble_in_the_big_apple_is_out"]Issue #4, November 2012: Big Trouble in the Big Apple[/URL] [URL="http://www.thesecretworld.com/news/issue_5_the_vanishing_of_tyler_freeborn_is_out"]Issue #5, December 2012: The Vanishing of Tyler Freeborn[/URL] [URL="http://www.thesecretworld.com/news/issue_6_the_last_train_to_cairo_is_live"]Issue #6, March 2013: The Last Train to Cairo[/URL] [URL="http://www.thesecretworld.com/news/issue_7_a_dream_to_kill_is_live"]Issue #7, June 2013: A Dream to Kill[/URL] [URL="http://www.thesecretworld.com/news/issue_8_the_venetian_agenda_is_live"]Issue #8, November 2013: The Venetian Agenda[/URL] [URL="http://www.thesecretworld.com/news/issue_9_the_black_signal_is_live"]Issue #9, June 2014: The Black Signal[/URL] [URL="http://www.thesecretworld.com/news/issue_10_nightmares_in_the_dream_palace_is_here"]Issue #10, December 2014: Nightmares in the Dream Palace[/URL] [URL="http://www.thesecretworld.com/news/issue_11_reaping_the_whirlwind_is_live"]Issue #11, May 2015: Reaping the Whirlwind[/URL] [URL="http://www.thesecretworld.com/news/issue_12_to_the_dark_tower_below_is_here"]Issue #12, August 2015: To the Dark Tower Below[/URL] [URL="http://www.thesecretworld.com/news/issue_13_trail_of_shadows_is_live"]Issue #13, December 2015: Trail of Shadows[/URL][/QUOTE] [IMG]http://massivelyop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/TSW.jpg[/IMG] [url]http://www.mmorpg.com/the-secret-world/news/2017-relaunch-announced-at-investors-meeting-1000043373[/url] [url]http://massivelyop.com/2017/02/27/the-secret-world-is-being-relaunched-in-2017/[/url] Additional Links: [URL="http://www.thesecretworld.com/"]Official Site[/URL] [URL="http://store.steampowered.com/app/215280"]Steam Store Page[/URL] [URL="http://www.tswdb.com/"]TSW Database[/URL] [URL="https://www.tswdb.com/miscellaneous/the-secret-world-beginner-guide"]TSW Beginners Guide (TSWDB)[/URL] [URL="http://www.tsw-rp.com/"](Unofficial)TSW Roleplay Portal[/URL] [URL="http://tsw-rp.com/forum/m/5359865/viewthread/7897503-how-do-i-get-started-in-tsw"]Beginners guide to roleplaying (TSW-RP)[/URL]

Oh boy. TSW does a lot of super cool stuff and I'd be very happy to see it take off again, especially if those 'major improvements' come out good.

If the story content is going to be available to all for free, how will it affect existing players like myself who have already purchased most or all existing story content?

I'm interested to see what these "major improvements" to combat are going to be. I really liked TSW's world and story but the combat was just so boring and repetitive.

Oh hey, I remember this from Ross's Game Dungeon.

If they're going to improve the combat, hopefully they're going to make enemies a lot less spongy in the process. 'cause that was one of the main problems the combat had, that it was slow and you didn't deal all that much damage even if you optimized your build. Save the sponginess for big-time enemies that justify the number of hits you have to land, like the big bad bosses.. If they make THAT improvement to the combat, I am SO going to join this party.

[QUOTE=SteakStyles;51922665]If the story content is going to be available to all for free, how will it affect existing players like myself who have already purchased most or all existing story content?[/QUOTE] Rumors indicate that people who have already purchased both the base game and the issues will get compensation. Then again these are all rumors so feel free to take it with a grain of salt. edit: I highly doubt that funcom would screw vets over. I just hope that they'll give us some decent cosmetic item like a mount or weapon mould and/or a title.

[QUOTE=ironman17;51922688]If they're going to improve the combat, hopefully they're going to make enemies a lot less spongy in the process. 'cause that was one of the main problems the combat had, that it was slow and you didn't deal all that much damage even if you optimized your build. Save the sponginess for big-time enemies that justify the number of hits you have to land, like the big bad bosses.. If they make THAT improvement to the combat, I am SO going to join this party.[/QUOTE] The combat/gearing was honestly my only problem with the game. Everything else was great and I'd definitely go back if they made the combat feel better.

I really liked the story aspects of the game when I was younger, hopefully this revamp is significant because the combat was so bland it stopped me from playing.

I hope they also found a way to improve PvP. When I last played roughly a year ago every PvP mode except "everybody gets a reward for staying the whole round Team DM", aka Shambala was deserted unless it happened to be tied to a daily challenge. As someone who had spent most of his PvP "career" learning the ins and outs of "persistant territory control", aka Fusang Projects, this was very disappointing.

I just hope they don't affect the free form ability system. It's like a staple of Funcom games at this point and it's fun.

Better combat, and character customization so not everyone looks nearly the same, is what this game need

Here's the update that we've been waiting for: [video=youtube;7FJu4q_wDb4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FJu4q_wDb4[/video] [QUOTE]Funcom is excited to announce that their acclaimed story-driven game The Secret World will be relaunched this spring as Secret World Legends, a shared-world action RPG with completely revamped combat, a newly designed progression system, and updated visuals. The game’s full collection of missions and mysteries will be free to play, with over 100 hours of mature storytelling and surprises. Players can sign up for Secret World Legends’ beta, which arrives today, at beta.SecretWorldLegends.com.[/QUOTE] [URL="http://steamcommunity.com/games/215280/announcements/detail/616272184662184850"]Source[/URL] [QUOTE]What is Secret World Legends? We are relaunching our acclaimed story-driven online game The Secret World (TSW) as Secret World Legends, a shared-world action RPG with revamped combat, updated visuals, and newly designed progression systems and quest flow that is completely free to play.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE]One major difference is that the game is free to play for everyone. But just as importantly, Secret World Legends has updates befitting a modern-day action RPG. This includes a redesigned combat system to make action feel more natural, more intuitive systems to interact with, enhanced visuals, an improved flow of quests, and improved structure of the early game for new players.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE]Will all content from The Secret World be available in Secret World Legends at launch? Secret World Legends will relaunch with the original eight adventure playfields, scenarios, and dungeons available immediately. In the time following the relaunch, we will release Tokyo, Nightmare Dungeons, Raids, and the rest of the content that is currently live in The Secret World.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE]What happens if I have an active subscription on TSW when the transition occurs? After you have linked your account, your old TSW subscription will roll over into Patron Rewards Program time in Secret World Legends.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE]Will the old version of the game be playable? Yes, the TSW servers will still be available to play. You will not be able to launch TSW via Steam though. If you are currently playing on Steam and want to continue after the launch of Secret World Legends, you can do so at: [url]https://register.thesecretworld.com/account[/url][/QUOTE] [QUOTE]Do I need to create a new character to play Secret World Legends? Yes, everyone will begin Secret World Legends with a new character. Secret World Legends makes some major changes to itemization and character progression that aren't compatible with the old game.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE]What happens to my old TSW character? They'll continue to live on the old TSW servers, so you'll still be able to log in and play them. You will not be able to play them on the new Secret World Legends server though. It’s a new experience and fresh start for everyone.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE]What happens to all my stuff? We are implementing a system to transfer over some vanity/store items from TSW to Secret World Legends. More on this will be released as we get closer to launch.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE]What about my bonus points, Funcom points? After you have linked your account, there will be an option to convert your Funcom points to the new Aurum. Bonus points will remain in TSW and can be used on the old server.[/QUOTE] [URL="https://secretworldlegends.com/faq/"]Secret World Legends FAQ[/URL] [URL="https://secretworldlegends.com/#community"]Official Site[/URL] [editline]29th March 2017[/editline] [QUOTE]Letter from the Producer 29 MARCH - COMMUNITY MANAGER (ANDY B) Dear Secret Worlders, Throughout these past five years, the team here at The Secret World has been so incredibly proud of the stories we’ve been fortunate enough to bring you, our community. That this world we share together has come so far is a testament to your passion and enthusiasm, for which we will always be thankful. Today we’re writing to you to announce that The Secret World will be relaunching this spring as Secret World Legends, a shared-world action RPG featuring over 100 hours of story-driven quests and revamped gameplay and progression systems that will be completely free to play. Years ago, we made the decision to remove the mandatory subscription from The Secret World so that more players could explore the incredible universe we were building. Secret World Legends is an extension of that philosophy, one which removes the hurdles for everyone to experience the mature storylines and uniquely challenging quest design that have set this game apart from day one. Just as importantly, a dedicated relaunch gives us the opportunity to update the game in ways befitting a modern-day action RPG. This includes redesigning the combat system to make action feel more natural, making systems more intuitive to interact with, enhancing the game’s visuals, and improving the flow of quests overall, as well as the structure of the early game for new players. You’re probably wondering how these changes will personally impact you and the game you’ve come to know so well. First and foremost, given the sweeping extent of the changes being implemented, Secret World Legends will reset story progression for anyone who joins, offering a fresh start for all players. This will not erase your progression in The Secret World though! Secret World Legends will exist on a different server than The Secret World, meaning you will still be able to play your old character on The Secret World server. But we hope you consider starting anew in Secret World Legends to experience all the new content and updates coming to the game. We’ve made some major improvements to the game and server, so Secret World Legends will have its own client. You can have both Secret World Legends and The Secret World installed on the same computer and play either game at any time. If you’re intrigued by Secret World Legends but don’t want to leave behind the things you’ve worked hard to attain in The Secret World, worry not: a free transfer process will allow you to move vanity items like Mounts, Pets, Vehicles, and other customizations that have been purchased through the item store from The Secret World to your characters in Secret World Legends. We’ll have more information on this process and which items will be transferable as we get closer to launch. In addition, if you’re currently part of our Membership program, you can copy your membership from The Secret World to Secret World Legends. Any remaining time on your membership will turn into Patron time in Secret World Legends. If you are a Grand Master and link your account, you will be a Patron for life! We’ll have a lot more information on what to expect from Secret World Legends for you soon, including a series of dev diaries and AMAs from the team working on the relaunch, so stay tuned for announcements on those in the coming weeks. We’re also excited to announce that closed beta for Secret World Legends begins today, which you can sign up for HERE! The Secret World would not have been possible without the dedication of players like you, and we want to continue hearing your thoughts as we shape Secret World Legends. We hope you’ll join us on this next step in the adventure. Sincerely, Scott Junior Executive Producer Secret World Legends[/QUOTE] [URL="http://steamcommunity.com/games/215280/announcements/detail/616272184662195465"] Source[/URL]

What a strance way to do it :v: I suppose all new characters will be nice for those early dungeons though.

Colour me intrigued... I was part of the closed beta tests for TSW waaay back when and played it through til they introduced the Aegis System in the Tokyo expansion. That killed my interest in the game because it made my build (pure, one-weapon elementalism) totally useless despite it having worked for everything up until then. Not to mention that the effects for it just seemed... I dunno, ugly? Lazy? And the whole system seemed like a pointlessly overcomplicated way of making enemies difficult without making them more interesting. Tried to get back into it a while after that, but then I remembered how godaweful the UI and character creation was and we gave up at the first hurdle. Might be worth checking out again when they relaunch it, would be nice to see if they fixed up all the rough patches because it's got a lot of great aspects to it.

While it seems like they're gonna overhaul a lot of the game mechanics, I feel like this video is still relevant if only to compare the old versus the new upcoming content: [video=youtube;YciQn3gFwvM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YciQn3gFwvM[/video] But hey! At least the game isn't gonna die anymore, and another game that gets to live will always make Ross happy.

I [I]love[/I] The Secret World and I can't wait to play with a bunch of new players.

As long as they did something about the combat. It was so dull I couldn't play the game for more than a couple hours before giving it up

Here are some snippets from the [URL="http://www.mmorpg.com/secret-world-legends/interviews/roman-amiel-on-making-secret-world-legends-better-than-the-original-1000011652"]MMORPG.com interview[/URL]: [QUOTE]MMORPG: Why the shy away from the MMO term to “Shared World RPG”? Is the game still an MMO where you play with thousands of others at once, or is it more “solo” and closed off a la Destiny? RA: We think one of the strengths of The Secret World was its story and settings. As a Shared World RPG, we have reduced the maximum amount of players that can enter a playfield. While adventuring, you will still meet a few strangers here and there, but the focus is on you, and your friends if you choose. You are following your character's story, your experience won't be affected by hundreds of other players nearby trying to kill the same monster. Agartha has been redesigned to be even more of a central hub to the game. You will be able to meet with hundreds of other players and group up before going on your journey. Read more at [url]http://www.mmorpg.com/secret-world-legends/interviews/roman-amiel-on-making-secret-world-legends-better-than-the-original-1000011652/#5h5QPI6W97p2cUX1.99[/url][/QUOTE] [QUOTE]MMORPG: What sort of improvements are you making to the visuals? RA: We have made improvements to visuals like character models, character heads, combat effects/animations, lighting in playfields, and we've increased view distance in some playfields. Keep in mind these are improvements, not a generational jump in graphics. We are still using the original graphics engine. Read more at [url]http://www.mmorpg.com/secret-world-legends/interviews/roman-amiel-on-making-secret-world-legends-better-than-the-original-1000011652/#5h5QPI6W97p2cUX1.99[/url][/QUOTE] [QUOTE]MMORPG: Combat – tell us what’s different this time, and how it will play? RA: We have expanded on the functionality for the reticule system that was implemented in TSW. In addition, we have changed how weapons work, added unique elements to each weapon, and updated the active and passive abilities. Overall combat should feel more action oriented than it was in TSW. Read more at [url]http://www.mmorpg.com/secret-world-legends/interviews/roman-amiel-on-making-secret-world-legends-better-than-the-original-1000011652/#5h5QPI6W97p2cUX1.99[/url][/QUOTE] I'm guessing that the new combat system will be similar to TERA's. I'd be more than happy to have that if that's the case. However I actually am a bit salty over the fact that vets or the ones who own all the issues won't get anything special. Still though, can't wait to play it.

I liked TSW but as everyone stated, and Ross Scott couldn't have said it better, the combat system is shittastic. If it's improved I'm sure I will jump right back in.

I didn't mind the combat because everything else was so good. Except some parts of Egypt. By the way, all hail the Dragon.

Funcom just released a new video. [video=youtube;OxYICjyFRJY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxYICjyFRJY&feature=youtu.be[/video] Apparently the game is getting released on june 26th.

Yesssss, The Secret World forever ruined me when it comes to MMOs. I just can't bring myself to care about the quests in other MMOs that are just text walls and basic objectives. The bountiful cutscenes and dialogue and interesting characters really made me fascinated in the world. As far as the combat I really hope they improve it or just make it less of a long slog to get through.

Yeah. The Secret World was the only MMO where I actually wanted to pay attention to what was going on in the quest rather than just skip through all of the dialogue to get to the action. In TSW the story is part of the action.

Here's some CBT footage: [video=youtube;XvHvcF0-pk0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvHvcF0-pk0[/video] Game's getting released on the 26th of june.

[QUOTE=AhoyMate;52278912]Here's some CBT footage[/QUOTE] There's a lot of interesting stuff there, really curious about those weapon mechanics, and I dig those ui changes. Gotta say I'm a little bit worried about having 'classes' and the focus on currency though. I liked the wheel in the old game, and now you have to buy access to new weapons with a tradable currency that you can buy with real money? Don't want to jump to conclusions but every game that has a buyable currency usually has the in-game method of gaining it be as tedious as possible to encourage spending. It doesn't help that every time I've checked up with the game over the past year or so, a lot of the new content was tied to enormously grindy challenges (which I just didn't have the time for). I get the feeling that earning useful quantities of this currency will require an awful lot of grinding. Having said that, TSW is a game that really achieved being different and good in a surprising way, so maybe I should have a little more faith.

[QUOTE=Menien Goneld;52279311]There's a lot of interesting stuff there, really curious about those weapon mechanics, and I dig those ui changes. Gotta say I'm a little bit worried about having 'classes' and the focus on currency though. I liked the wheel in the old game, and now you have to buy access to new weapons with a tradable currency that you can buy with real money? Don't want to jump to conclusions but every game that has a buyable currency usually has the in-game method of gaining it be as tedious as possible to encourage spending. It doesn't help that every time I've checked up with the game over the past year or so, a lot of the new content was tied to enormously grindy challenges (which I just didn't have the time for). I get the feeling that earning useful quantities of this currency will require an awful lot of grinding. Having said that, TSW is a game that really achieved being different and good in a surprising way, so maybe I should have a little more faith.[/QUOTE] I actually like the changes that they've made. The progression wheel was quite confusing for new players and the combat was horrid. And yeah I agree with you on tradable currency thing, I guess we'll have to wait and see.

They released a video about the updated combat: [media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgMWQ1tAJ_g[/media] I never played the original TSW so I don't know how it compares. To veterans, what do you think of it.

I like the concept of different mechanics per weapon as opposed to each one having builders and spenders. My only issue is that I feel like it's still a bit weightless. I can sorta look past it though. Also I'll miss my skill wheels.

[QUOTE=Fish_poke;52301470]I like the concept of different mechanics per weapon as opposed to each one having builders and spenders. My only issue is that I feel like it's still a bit weightless. I can sorta look past it though. Also I'll miss my skill wheels.[/QUOTE] Skill Wheels will be dearly missed. :saddowns: