Funcom has published the second edition of community questions on their upcoming MMO, The Secret World, answered directly by Ragnar Tørnquist, game director for the title. TSW is one of the most highly-anticipated MMORPGs currently under development, with an avid and active community following every single detail released on it. Answers to the first set of player questions were answered last week, and a third installment is expected to be answered next Wednesday.
The responses this week mostly centered on TSW's skill-based character building, which is unique in that there will be no classes nor character levels. Here are some of the questions:
Q: Is the game still going to focus on a classless skill based system or will it be designed to have players focus on filling different rolls in a group? (Malkov)
A: Both. Players can create their own hybrids with any combination of powers, but it'll also be important to put together teams that can function as efficiently as possible. To that end, we're building combos that require the use of different powers by the various team members, making the choice of powers - and the composition of the team - into a sort of meta-game. I think players gravitate towards specific roles, regardless, but the beauty of our system is that you don't just have to be a tank; you can also be a damage dealer and a healer. You don't have to get stuck with one job. Of course, our monsters will also challenge players in new ways. If you play TSW like a purely class-based game, you might find yourself at a disadvantage.
Q: And of course this was mentioned already but 300% want to know HOW we will be obtaining skills. Will they be quest rewards, something we learn through grinding "proficiency points" to advance down a skill tree, or will they be something acquired with a WoW-esque "talent points" system? (Quanyin)
Powers are acquired in a couple of different ways, but mainly through purchase. As you gain experience points, you also earn the currency needed to procure new powers - though these powers vary in cost, of course, based on how powerful and unique they are.
Q: You've mentioned before that playing TSW will be like starting at the end-game, because there are no levels. Does this then mean there's no actual end-game either, because there will always be something new to achieve? (Kasama)
Yes and no. Of course there will be something like the traditional end-game content, since that's something players enjoy - be it PvP or PvE - but there will also be achievements (and other things) to keep players engaged for - hopefully - years and years. And that's not counting the content we'll be releasing post-launch. We have some extremely exciting things in store.
You can find the full Q&A on the TSW official forums.
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