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The Secret World showcases NPC backstories

by Jef Reahard on Apr 28th 2011 4:30PM

Fantasy, Horror, Lore, MMO industry, New titles, News items, The Secret World

Funcom has just updated its website for The Secret World, and the info drop encompasses the backgrounds of some of the NPC characters we've been hearing about lately. Last week's interview with lead writer Dag Scheve clued us in to the fact that Funcom won't stand for any of its NPCs being lazy and falling into old mission-dispenser habits, and today's reveal gives us some more story-related insight.

We're introduced to the likes of a crazed journalist with a death wish, an assassin who didn't make the cut at Juilliard but did with the Illuminati, and a half-human half-demon member of the Dragon who serves a mysterious mistress, just to name a few.

While we don't know how the stories of all these individuals are interrelated, it goes without saying that we're looking forward to finding out. Head to The Secret World website to start your own journey of discovery.

Source: TSW website

Tags: characters, fantasy, funcom, horror, illuminati, lore, mission-terminals, mmo-story, npcs, secret-world, story, the-secret-world, tsw

Reader Comments (17)

Is this the Duke Nukem Forever of the MMOG world? :D

I'm hoping this game really focuses on using secrets, puzzles and coded message, that very intriguing concept. Odd thing I wonder about, are the weapons you can use confined to what faction your in? I also heard rumors of appearance tab, for complete customization, but that could have been a rumor.

@(Unverified) Actually there is no "armor" in the game. All the "gear" you pick up is solely for cosmetic purposes. You modify stats with body modifications. Think of it like APB in that you can wear whatever you want. There is no appearance tab.

@(Unverified)

That sounds fantastic! A disconnect between armour and stats sounds both pleasingly old-school and refreshingly new at the same time. I just wish they'd get this thing out the door, it sounds so awesome.

@(Unverified)

thanks for the info, I have to wonder what the rewards are, better weapons? I'm liking the idea, it never really made sense for a shirt to make a person smarter or stronger, with the except as a reward from a boss kill. MMO players, and gamers in general crave power. We all have dragonballz.

@(Unverified) That makes sense. Nike sneakers shouldn't protect me from a Dragon.

@(Unverified)

*DragonballZ complex

@(Unverified)

Unfortunately the no gear thing had a negative impact on COX. I think gear is important and provides a motivation factor.

@oxlar
I strongly disagree. Considering this is CoH's 7th anniversary, it couldn't have done all that much harm. And in fact, in CoH's case, it added to its cool factor, by not doing the same thing as every other mmo, where so many other people of the same class look terribly similar.

CoH's system wouldn't have made much sense with the traditional fantasy mmo gear looting. In more recent times, you could begin to cosmetically customize even the inherent equipment (swords, guns, etc.).. CoH is one game where no two heroes ever look alike, except by design. And that is definitely cool. It fits the superhero genre like a glove.

@(Unverified)

Oh, there WILL be gear, just not armor as we expect it in an MMO. Think talismans, jewelery, tattoos inked in with spells, etc etc etc. There still will be itemization, they are just separating combat bonuses from cosmetics altogether.

The Secret World looks great so far although someone at Funcom must be a wrestling fan because that guy in the middle looks strangely like the Undertaker. Hmm.... :)

@(Unverified) Really? I'd swear he looks like Van Helsing :P

You know there's nothing going on in the MMO world that day whenever you see these "NPC LORE REVEALED!" posts from games like TSW and TERA. As interested as I am in TERA's combat system, I doubt if many people give half a broken damn about NPCs to the extent that we'd rather hear about their family life before the second war or whatever the hell kind of lore unlock, than to hear about actual mechanics that will affect our play experience.

@NeverDeath I've left games due to bad lore.

This is one of the few games where the more I learn about the game the more I'm interested.

Besides GW2, TSW is defs one of the games on my radar. Totally refreshing to play an MMO that doesn't have stats tied to gear. Gear has never been and a motivating factor for me in playing or doing end game, hanging out with your friends or competing with players around the world is.

That's a little irrelevant to what I was saying, but rock on.

The Secret World showcases NPC backstories

Reader Comments (17)

Posted: Apr 28th 2011 4:33PM pcgneurotic said

Posted: Apr 28th 2011 4:49PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 28th 2011 5:11PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 28th 2011 5:21PM pcgneurotic said

Posted: Apr 28th 2011 6:24PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 28th 2011 6:37PM Vagrant Zero said

Posted: Apr 28th 2011 7:03PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 28th 2011 7:11PM oxlar said

Posted: Apr 29th 2011 1:55AM Haldurson said

Posted: Apr 29th 2011 1:29PM Nerves said

Posted: Apr 28th 2011 5:56PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 28th 2011 8:31PM paterah said

Posted: Apr 28th 2011 6:31PM NeverDeath said

Posted: Apr 29th 2011 9:01AM fallwind said

Posted: Apr 28th 2011 6:37PM Quarlo said

Posted: Apr 28th 2011 9:56PM Seldra said

Posted: Apr 29th 2011 1:10PM NeverDeath said

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