Q&A with Game Designer Etienne Fougerousse

MMORPG.com:

How will players experience the new Hoodlum system?  What tips can you give them?

Etienne Fougerousse:

This feature is dedicated to medium or high level players. Our aim was first and foremost to work on content for high level players. And players who will commit in the Hoodlums hunt will rediscover part of the game. On the one hand, because it will be necessary to find them, and they tend to hang around in remote places of the world, and not only in densely populated areas. It will thus be necessary to re-explore the World of the Twelve. On the other hand, also because these monsters will provide an entire range of equipment with unique effects: they will boost players’ spells and will thus allow new specializations or character’s builds. Strategists and other theory crafting amateurs are going to really enjoy that.

MMORPG.com:

Are there aspects of the system that might alienate other players?

Etienne Fougerousse:

Not at all. Everyone will eventually be able to challenge Hoodlums and reap the substantive rewards for their defeat. In fact, we think players will actually be looking forward to the new enemy content as they level.

MMORPG.com:

You have some plans for high level content with this patch, can you tell us about them?

Etienne Fougerousse:

We’re certainly working on new content in all areas of the game from both high-and low-level perspectives. Besides the new additions of Wakfu Island, Stasis Island and Sadida Forest (which have loads of new content in and of themselves) the other major new element in the August update will be Hoodlums. We think they are going to become a very popular part of the game and we want to get as many players to experience that content as we can over the course of the beta.

MMORPG.com:

Talk about the new lands for a minute, what separates the three new zones from the rest of the game?

Etienne Fougerousse:

I won’t say much about this but I can briefly present the new zones you will be able to discover: - The Sadida Forest is a new zone located in Bonta. To access it, the players will have to get together to fill the receptacle. You’ve got to earn your access to new creatures! - About Wakfu and Stasis Islands, their access will depend on the player’s alignment. It is said that strange doors have been discovered throughout the world… There might be a link between them?

MMORPG.com:

With all this expanding content, what would you say to new players joining the game for the first time?

Etienne Fougerousse:

Have fun! There's ever more things to get into with the introduction if the Stasis and Wakfu islands. The challenge of the Hoodlums once you level up a bit, but more than anything figure out what you want to do and do it! Run for office, save a species, become an outlaw or master craftsman, start a war or do it all.

MMORPG.com:

Can you give us the storyline behind the Sadida Forest and Stasis Island?

Etienne Fougerousse:

They are both very interesting islands from the scriptwriting point of view: - The Sadida Forest is the place where Sadida’s worshippers are concentrated. They worship the Tree of Life that they fervently protect. But this one could be threatened as we speak, as tensions are emerging within the Sadida people. The players will thus have a role to play in order to discover what’s going on behind all this… - About the Stasis Island, it’s quite difficult for us to talk about it: indeed, this place has to remain enigmatic for the players. It already contains elements to discover and revealing them would ruin the surprise. But keep in mind that this zone will reveal heaps of information and surprises in the future, like its homologue Wakfu…

MMORPG.com:

What is your personal favorite part of the patch?

Etienne Fougerousse:

There's a lot that went in to this patch, but I would have to say the Hoodlums. They're a cool new challenge that really keeps you on your toes. Before you engage in combat you really need to have different strategies down and be ready, because you never know what classes the Hoodlums will represent.

MMORPG.com:

What do the next few months hold for Wakfu?

Etienne Fougerousse:

Quite a bit. We'll be working on getting new character classes in like the Osamodas, Rogue and Masqueraider; the nation of Brakmar, which will give an even more diverse set of options to players when they start. Of course there will be plenty of game balancing and bug fixing going on. There may also be a few surprises in store, so keep an eye on Wakfu.com.