The setting of the game takes place on small, hollow “rock-realms” known as Shards. There are multiple shards in the known civilization, which create an organization known as the Enclave of the Five Sacrifices. Two of these shards are dense and heavily populated, while the other two have been settled, but still have a more “frontier” feel to them.
There are numerous other shards, both small and large, which float within the confines of the magical Deadspell Storm. Some are known to a few of the Enclave's elite, while others are almost certainly myths grown out of the struggle to survive in the aftermath of the war which shattered the Ancestor World.
Character Creation
Character creation in TCoS aims to provide people with a broad range of unique options for their characters. Currently, there are two races with multiple body times to choose from for each. All clothing and gear is highly customizable, allowing you to choose what is essentially the exact same character look as another person, but is still vastly in clothing style, color, and appearance.
The color palette that is available for customization is broad, with a great deal of control afforded to things like your avatars skin color, tattoos, clothing, and hair. The goal is to create as many options as possible in order to allow the player to create a character they are pleased with and who looks like a unique individual, instead of a cookie cutter character.
Skills are another highly customizable aspect of the game, so even from the start, not every new character can do the same things. This is the customization that is the basis for the entire skill system and becomes more complex over time. By allowing players the ability to decide what they want to do, it keeps the game interesting and doesn't form an overly-defined “mold” for each class.
Skill System
The skill system in TCoS is level based, with emphasis on skill customization. While your character levels, you gain new abilities, and not every individual is stuck with the same choices. The way a player enjoys playing will be catered to with the skill deck system. At each level, you'll receive your choice of skills, which you will then need to decide which ones your character will need. By putting together a skill deck, you have a finite number of choices of which skill to use at any given moment. If you choose only offensive melee skills in a given tier of your skill deck, you'll only have the ability to use offensive melee attacks when that tier is active. The number of skills available in any given tier, as well as the number of tiers themselves is set to increase as your character levels.
PvP & Death
Currently, there are plans for more than one type of PvP combat to be available within the game. Arena battles which have been stated to be far different from those offered in World of Warcraft will be present, in addition to the world PvP which will be present throughout the shards in the game.
The developers are taking a serious stance against both griefers who use PvP as a means to annoy their fellow players, and carebears who claim they'd rather play on a server where PvP isn't present. TCoS is being developed with PvP in mind as a feature of the game, not an afterthought or a second priority. It will be balanced right alongside PvE combat and will hopefully bring something to the table for both sides of the PvP argument.
As such with PvP, there will always be death. Currently, there are no plans to include a death penalty in either PvE or PvP combat within the game. There will be a “travel time” penalty of a short amount, assuming you want to return to the place of your death. The developers are instead putting in a system which rewards good playing and not dying.
This system will provide benefits over time for those who play in a skilled manner and are capable of surviving any encounters. As such, short periods of time will provide the player with minor benefits, while a longer period of play without death will provide greater benefits. With this system in place, it will be quite desirable to survive and be cautious, as the benefits from doing such will be quite rewarding.
Flying Solo
Just as any other MMORPG, TCoS encourages interaction between players. There are multiple levels of advancement in the game, with contributions from individuals help the group as a whole. Sometimes, working together will be the only possible way to accomplish goals within the game, and in some cases, it will require a large number of players.
However, the developers realize people don't always have the time or will to dedicate working with others. They've incorporated plenty of opportunities for those who would like to remain solo and enjoy that style of play. Certain things will remain difficult if not impossible for solo players to complete, but the advancement of your character isn't tied to a group. There are quests which are suited for individuals, as well as encounters that are well matched for the solo player.
