Originally posted by evilastro

Originally posted by PWN_FACE

I go straight to google without even attempting to solve the puzzles. I don't have any fun at all doing puzzles. They feel like work to me, probably because my jobs have involved researching stuff for a quite a while now. I play TSW for the story and atmosphere. I like the pve and playing around with the ability wheel. My verdict is still out on pvp, but Darkfall is coming out so I'm good for now. I have Chivalry as well, if I want some bloody hilarious pvp. 

 

So yeah, I'm glad they put the browser in game. I'm one of those people who uses it without a second thought.

Yeah same. As a scientist I do enough research during the day, I don't play video games to do more research.

 I find it interesting that those of us that admit to skipping straight to the walk through in posts have something in common. Real life job duties requiring research and problem solving. I wonder if that will be a common theme?

Originally posted by Crazy_Stick

 I find it interesting that those of us that admit to skipping straight to the walk through in posts have something in common. Real life job duties requiring research and problem solving. I wonder if that will be a common theme?

That's pretty interesting. Personally, I feel the opposite - I'm a software developer by day, so I spend most of my time solving problems, coming up with algorithms and such. I, however, love the investigation aspect of TSW and I only use walkthroughs when I'm absolutely stumped. Then again, I like puzzles in general - I like to do crosswords, play chess etc. 

It's weird and, to be honest, even somewhat depressing to see people considering thinking to be unpleasant or a chore - I guess that's a part of the reason so many MMOs (and games in general) are so dumbed down nowadays. TSW is pretty much the only MMO where the players actually have to use their brain cells (other than, in a different sense, maybe EVE) and I really appreciate that. 

EDIT: I realized my post sounds a bit harsh. I'm not saying anyone who doesn't like investigation missions is dumb or a bad person or anything like that, I'm just throwing a different opinion into the mix. :)

Originally posted by apocoluster

Originally posted by Senden
How big of a role in the game do investigation missions play? Downloaded the client but yet to start my free trial, will I likely get to have a dabble in them with moderate level of play in my three days trial? The feature sounds really good and I LOVE a good puzzle to solve.

They arent core story critical from what Ive seen (up to the beginnings of blue mtns) but offer the biggest xp rewards for solving them...the first time around.

They tend to tie up the loose ends of the storyline so it all makes sense. Like the one in Savage Coast where you find out that the themepark was built using a anima power generator.

Originally posted by Four0Six

Claiming to not use Google to aid in mission completion is the "New L33tism".

Sorry if I offended anyone, NO, Im not, since the one of the Kingsmouth investigation missions, not sure of the name, it's the onw with the SUV by the skatepark...REQUIRES you to use your ingame browser to go the a web page and search for a last name.......

 

Yup this is true and not forgetting the radio transmition frequency on the roof at the airport.

I call BS on anyone who says they have not been online or asked someone else.

I only really use them for Morse code and certian sound related ones. Being tone deaf, its nearly impossible to accomplish. For example the Egypt Crate password where you need to listen to the buttons being hit and figure out the pattern using that. Being tone deaf ment i wouldnt be able to get passed it.

Also using the ingame browser and using something like Unfair.co are 2 completely different things. Funcom has MADE websites for the game.

Originally posted by Crazy_Stick

Originally posted by evilastro

Originally posted by PWN_FACE

I go straight to google without even attempting to solve the puzzles. I don't have any fun at all doing puzzles. They feel like work to me, probably because my jobs have involved researching stuff for a quite a while now. I play TSW for the story and atmosphere. I like the pve and playing around with the ability wheel. My verdict is still out on pvp, but Darkfall is coming out so I'm good for now. I have Chivalry as well, if I want some bloody hilarious pvp. 

 

So yeah, I'm glad they put the browser in game. I'm one of those people who uses it without a second thought.

Yeah same. As a scientist I do enough research during the day, I don't play video games to do more research.

 I find it interesting that those of us that admit to skipping straight to the walk through in posts have something in common. Real life job duties requiring research and problem solving. I wonder if that will be a common theme?

Maybe. Honestly I play video games to turn off the thought processes that makes too much background noise otherwise. Get me out of work mode. So I tend to prefer action oriented games, rather than puzzle games.  My partner on the other hand has a pretty non-demanding job mentally, so likes to do puzzles, and then asks me for help hahaha.  

Although I still tend to theorycraft when making builds and choosing gear, and pull out the old spreadsheets for optimisation. Old habits die hard I guess.

Originally posted by grimal

I don't look up walkthroughs for this game.  Period.

So the above comment needs to be removed from this post because it's BS yourown admission.

The game is supposed to make you think and by cheating you are basically missing out on the whole experience.

Yet, if the puzzle just doesn't seem to make sense or seems broken, I will ask for hints in the hint channel.  But that's as far as it goes for me.

 

Edit: Actually, there was  one mission I did look through the walkthrough after spending a couple days on and just getting frustrated.  I found it incredibly difficult.

This is what i'm saying, anyone who claims they have not looked online is BS, plain and simple. Whether you have done it once or ten time does not matter, fact is you have done it.

There is nothing wrong in serching for a tip if it really is holding up your game.

Originally posted by evilastro

Originally posted by Crazy_Stick

Originally posted by evilastro

Originally posted by PWN_FACE

I go straight to google without even attempting to solve the puzzles. I don't have any fun at all doing puzzles. They feel like work to me, probably because my jobs have involved researching stuff for a quite a while now. I play TSW for the story and atmosphere. I like the pve and playing around with the ability wheel. My verdict is still out on pvp, but Darkfall is coming out so I'm good for now. I have Chivalry as well, if I want some bloody hilarious pvp. 

 

So yeah, I'm glad they put the browser in game. I'm one of those people who uses it without a second thought.

Yeah same. As a scientist I do enough research during the day, I don't play video games to do more research.

 I find it interesting that those of us that admit to skipping straight to the walk through in posts have something in common. Real life job duties requiring research and problem solving. I wonder if that will be a common theme?

Maybe. Honestly I play video games to turn off the thought processes that makes too much background noise otherwise. Get me out of work mode. So I tend to prefer action oriented games, rather than puzzle games.  My partner on the other hand has a pretty non-demanding job mentally, so likes to do puzzles, and then asks me for help hahaha.  

Although I still tend to theorycraft when making builds and choosing gear, and pull out the old spreadsheets for optimisation. Old habits die hard I guess.

You guys are in luck, there are so many game out there where you just kill ten rats and don't have to think about a thing.

Originally posted by dancingstar

Originally posted by Po_gg

Btw, if you use the ingame browser to Google up informations, it filters out the walkthrough / wiki sites... it's in the game for a reason :) so if you need some background information for a quest, you can use that and don't have to worry about spoilers.

Sorry, this is misinformation. Ingame browser defaults to the regular Google search page. A brief trial with two key words from the "Angels and Demons" investigation mission (the director's name and his security clearance level) produced the unfair.co guide as the 4th entry.

Someone once made a web site (tswsearch.com) with a search front end that *does* filter out such sites, unforutnately it appears to no longer exist. Adding

-TSW -"Secret World"

to your search terms will have the required effect.

My bad, I admit I didn't open the ingame browser for a while now... But in the beginning it definitely worked this way, we even tested it with lots of search phrases to see the different results, just out of curiousity :)

If it's giving back the same result as a regular google search, then it's pointless to have an ingame browser I think...

Edit: dancingstar's right. Just googled a mission ingame for testing, the first 2 pages were full with wiki, guide, walkthrough, etc. results... It sure makes tougher to search for infos spoiler-free from the game. FC should fix this...

Originally posted by Po_gg

Originally posted by dancingstar

Originally posted by Po_gg

Btw, if you use the ingame browser to Google up informations, it filters out the walkthrough / wiki sites... it's in the game for a reason :) so if you need some background information for a quest, you can use that and don't have to worry about spoilers.

Sorry, this is misinformation. Ingame browser defaults to the regular Google search page. A brief trial with two key words from the "Angels and Demons" investigation mission (the director's name and his security clearance level) produced the unfair.co guide as the 4th entry.

Someone once made a web site (tswsearch.com) with a search front end that *does* filter out such sites, unforutnately it appears to no longer exist. Adding

-TSW -"Secret World"

to your search terms will have the required effect.

My bad, I admit I didn't open the ingame browser for a while now... But in the beginning it definitely worked this way, we even tested it with lots of search phrases to see the different results, just out of curiousity :)

If it's giving back the same result as a regular google search, then it's pointless to have an ingame browser I think...

 

Edit: dancingstar's right. Just googled a mission ingame for testing, the first 2 pages were full with wiki, guide, walkthrough, etc. results... It sure makes tougher to search for infos spoiler-free from the game. FC should fix this...

I'll admit that if I were designing the puzzle system for TSW I would have kept the information needed to solve them entirely inside the game environment and might have favored more variety in types of puzzles offered. Frankly, most people playing the game can not solve Poe's "Gold Bug" code by hand and without the aid of tools accessed by means of Google just for example (if they wil admit it or not.) I would not have included an in game browser for Google searches but might have had an in game net like GTA IV for slim example..

That written, the game is what it is and I am not willing to request that Funcom change a thing.  Nothing will ever be perfect. Let people play as they choose, spoiled or spoiler free. I can sympathize with wanting to guard yourself from unwanted spoilers though and wish there was a toggle based filter letting you choose.

At launch, there were probably an incredibly small percentage of players who solved these puzzles by themselves.  The investigation missions are complex enough (requiring a very broad range of talents/knowledge to understand i.e music or symbology) that it was a community effort to solve.  Now that the game has been out, the mass amount of support from the community isn't as prevalent.  Personally, I solved the fist investigation mission solo (at the church).  The second one (from the same quest giver (digging deeper iirc)) was insane.  From this point forward, I will immediately go to a walkthrough for all the investigation missions, if I even decide to do them at all.

My opinion is biased though, I personally cant stand PVE content......no matter the MMO.

Originally posted by Crazy_Stick

I'll admit that if I were designing the puzzle system for TSW I would have kept the information needed to solve them entirely inside the game environment and might have favored more variety in types of puzzles offered. Frankly, most people playing the game can not solve Poe's "Gold Bug" code by hand and without the aid of tools accessed by means of Google just for example (if they wil admit it or not.) I would not have included an in game browser for Google searches but might have had an in game net like GTA IV for slim example..

Agree, and this is why they put the browser in, offering in-game help and tools for solving puzzles. It was a pretty nice idea actually, you solve mysteries just like you'd do it outside the game (similar to the ARG's, or the numerous webpages FC made for TSW, it connects the ingame world with the real world). And it worked because of the filters, for example if you searched gold bug, you got the text, Poe's wiki, cryptography pages, etc.

Now with the filter is gone, the gold bug search gives back lots of TSW guides and walkthroughs...

And agreed too, GTA IV ingame web is great (though very limited) and very funny :)

Originally posted by atuerstar
Never look at spoilers. For me this is the most enduring content in the game. Cheating through it cheapens the content and robs you of self satisfaction.

So you never asked anyone or looked up any codes ever while playing The Secret World?

Oh, I'll admit it - I'll look for online help if I'm stumped.  I do try to solve the investigation missions with a minimum of browser-time, but it isn't always possible for me.

I don't think there's any shame in that.