Interestingly enough, TCOS isn't a loot driven game. At least by standard comparisons; you choose your armor and weapons right from the get go.

SPOILER!

Weapons and armor have absolutely no impact on your stats at all. Instead, you're to slot Sigils in them, almost like the materia system from Final Fantasy 7, only without the angst driven, spiky haired hero to wield them. These Sigils can be moved to other pieces of equipment any time you'd like, so you won't find yourself debating over whether or not you should take your new, crappy looking, but much more uber shiny over your cooler, more badassy, but shittier current equipment. This feature will at least ensure that while everyone will be running around with the same epic tier Sigils by end game, they at least won't all look the same.

As far as my weapons load out, prior experiences told me that not only is a knife the best tool for killing bears, it's also the manliest. Presented with the choice of becoming a Warrior, Spellcaster, or Rogue, I decided that Rogue would best fit my bear stalking nature. My eagerness to hop right into the bush and start my unadulterated massacre of the local bear population was waylaid by the token tutorial phase. To prove that I was strong enough, and a bit crazy enough, to kill bears with only a knife, I was tasked with aerating straw dummies and crates. After dispatching these inanimate objects with extreme prejudice only a Rogue can exhibit, I was told to meet the captain. After waiving off my roguish wit and charm, the kind female captain reminded me that the ship we were traveling through time and space with was currently under attack by some weird looking creatures. I passed her my digits and deftly leaped to the deck.

Showing off my combat skills, and almost getting killed in the process, I made quick work of these assailants. By chance, or fate if that's your thing, we arrived at our destination shortly after. The captain smiled and told me that we were not meant to be, and I should hurry ashore to get on with the damn game.

Calystix the Bear Slayer had made his arrival, and he was hungry...for blood.

Bear blood.

Turning down quest requests left and right, I finally met the person I had been looking for. This man had a problem, a bear problem, and was looking for someone to help out. I gave him a curt nod and, grasping my blade, leaped into the woods to track down these godless killing machines to make things just a little bit more right in this world.