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Chaos Theory: A guide to auxiliary weapons in The Secret World
With Issue #7 A Dream to Kill inching closer and closer, my anticipation for the new auxiliary weapon coming to The Secret World is reaching near impossible heights. I'll admit it: As a pyro at heart, I am giddy with the thought of wrapping my hands around a permanent flamethrower! And I'm certainly not alone in that sentiment, either. But an excitement for the new weapon doesn't diminish any of the current ones that are already in game; each auxiliary weapon -- the rocket launcher, the chainsaw, the quantum brace, and the whip -- is awesome in its own right with distinct skills and style. Is one right for you? Heck yeah! If you aren't taking advantage of an auxiliary weapon, you are depriving yourself of some extra oomph in your fights, not to mention an eighth active and passive skill on your hot bar. How do you know which one is better for you? Honestly, you needn't choose just one; as with regular weapons, you can earn all four. But with a hefty price of 35 SP per weapon, payable all at once, it's impossible to get more than one at a time. So which do you choose first? And then how do you go about getting it? This guide will give a general overview of the four current auxiliary weapons and the paths to acquiring them.
Chaos Theory: TSW's new PvP -- how do you like them Big Apples?
Back when you all sent me into The Secret World for Choose My Adventure, little did you know that someday I'd be in the driver's seat of Chaos Theory. Yet here I am! It was quite the stroke of luck (to say nothing of the behind-the-scenes plotting and the occasional subtle manipulations) that landed me here. I promise, I didn't break too many fingers wresting the keys away from Jef, so you'll continue to see him all over Massively. I am pretty sure he can type with a cast... Anyway, let's get down to business because there is so much that can be said about The Secret World and not nearly enough time to say it! So what's my debut column going to be? Well, truthfully, I was going to delve into a few points of the new Big Trouble in the Big Apple update. But once I started, the sheer magnitude of all the stuff just filled page after page after page. So instead, I relegated one aspect to a different column (be sure to check out Some Assembly Required on December 7th!) and retooled my focus here to just the new PvP experience. You've heard about what the changes are and how excited some players are for them, but how do they play out in day-to-day PvP life in TSW? Keep reading to see.
The Secret World's Big Trouble in the Big Apple raid is now live
Eldritch horrors are on the rise in The Secret World's latest update, Issue #4: Big Trouble in the Big Apple, which went live last week. And as of today, the issue's biggest draw and the game's very first raid, has hit the servers. The raid takes place in the heart of New York City, where a tentacled Lovecraftian creature is wreaking havoc on the city that never sleeps. The raid had initially been delayed because of bugs and a need for further testing but is now available. Massively posted a preview of the raid and the rest of the patch last week. P.S.: Bring your chainsaws!
The Secret World's NYC raid opens November 21st
When Funcom sprung the news about The Secret World's fourth monthly update going live (giving players less than a day's notice!), the studio said that one piece of the patch would be missing. Due to bugs, Big Trouble in the Big Apple's New York City raid needed a bit more time before it was ready. Now, one week later, the content is hitting the live servers. And again, the devs are giving short notice: Tomorrow, November 21st at 7:00 a.m. EST, the servers will be offline for the patch. After an expected three-hour downtime, folks will be able to log in and throw themselves at the game's first-ever raid experience. So grab your friends and get ready! Not sure if a raid is your style? Check out Chaos Theory for why this instance might appeal to more than just dedicated raiders.
Chaos Theory: Why you should be excited for The Secret World's Issue #4
Dayum. I have to say that The Secret World's Issue #4 update looks pretty funking sweet. Despite the tough times endured by the title over the summer and after the subsequent Funcom layoffs, all signs point to growth for the game and its dedicated players going forward. Join me after the cut for a peek at why I'm excited about the game's immediate future.
The Secret World Issue #4 hitting servers November 15 [Updated]
Anyone trying to log into The Secret World at 7:00 a.m EST tomorrow, November 15th, will find the game offline. At this time, Issue #4 Big Trouble in the Big Apple will be added to the game. After the server downtime (which is expected to be three hours), folks will be able to log in and experience TSW's first ever raid taking place on the streets of NYC as well as stage plays for other players in London's Albion Theatre. Other additions to this fourth monthly update include changes in PvP and a new chainsaw weapon. [Update: Devs posted an update noting they forgot to mention one little thing: "So, that announcement is also supposed to say clearly in big letters: BUT THE NEW YORK RAID WILL REMAIN LOCKED UNTIL FINAL TESTING IS COMPLETE."]
The Secret World shows off upcoming raid in New York City
In real life, the closest thing you'll find to an eldritch horror in New York City is a half-eaten gyro that's been left in the subway for a week. But in The Secret World, the next major update is bringing some much bigger horrors into the heart of NYC. A new video from the development team explains how players will take on the game's first raid when it goes live with the fourth patch, Big Trouble in the Big Apple. That's not all the update contains, however -- players will also be able to start up the game's second auxiliary weapon (the chainsaw) and indulge in creativity within London's Albion Theater. There's also a PvP overhaul incoming with new rewards, new vendors, and new battle modes. And even that just scratches the surface. For the full rundown of the patch's features, take a look at the lengthy preview video embedded just past the break.
Funcom overhauling Fusang PvP in The Secret World's Issue #4 update
The days of zerging Fusang missions for AP, SP, and black marks are numbered, according to Funcom's latest dev blog. The Secret World's senior PvP designer explains some significant changes heading our way in the game's Issue #4: Big Trouble in the Big Apple update. "[The] new reward scheme incentivizes conflict a lot more, since now you have to actually hold on to your objectives in order to gain rewards," writes Rasmus "Bjorndal" Harr. "This also means that zerging is discouraged, since you ideally need to have players spread out in several groups to be able to quickly react to events." Players will no longer receive black marks for completing Fusang PvP missions, and Funcom is also adding PvP vendors to the zone that sell upgrades for the turrets and custodians that guard each facility. Furthermore, the devs are implementing an underdog mission to assist undermanned factions as well as cross-dimensional Fusang battlegroups. That's not all, either, as Harr has plenty to say about matchmaking and currency changes. Read all about it at the official TSW website.
Funcom talks Secret World raid mechanics in new dev blog
We've been looking forward to The Secret World's New York City raid for a good while now, and Funcom has finally raised the curtain a bit via a newly published dev blog. Designer Graeme Lennon (whose previous work includes the Hell Fallen and Facility dungeons) is your guide, and he dishes on the long gestation period for the NYC content as well as some of the lore behind it. He also says that Funcom is trying to strike a balance between endgame challenge and accessibility, and "as a result, the statistical difficulty has not been balanced around full endgame gear." Lennon explains that the fight features significant mechanical complexity and requirements on par with TSW's tier-one nightmare mode instances. Read all about it on the game's official website.
