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DDO Update 3 goes live, Turbine releases new screenshots
Dungeons and Dragons Online released Update 3 earlier today, something we at Massively have been anxiously awaiting since our tour last week. Fans of the game have been anxious too, reading through the patch notes and checking out the buzz on the Lamannia forums while they waited for update day to arrive. Well, that day is here, and Stormreach Harbor is frozen over and crowded with players sliding and falling on the ice, while others farm Ice Tokens, check out casual mode, and gather groups for the new quests. If you haven't patched yet, Turbine has given us a little something to pass the time while you wait for your game to update: a series of new screenshots from the Delirium quest. Take a look at the gallery, and check out our developer tour for some insider hints while you wait. Have fun, and have a drink at the Sleeping Spell in on us! %Gallery-84604%
Massively's tour through DDO Update 3
Recently, we posted information about the current release notes for Dungeons and Dragons Online Update 3, the latest in a series of updates from Turbine since Dungeons and Dragons Online went free-to-play last summer. The update is scheduled to go live on February 3rd, and is only the tip of the iceberg for Turbine's plans, including six content updates for 2010, with a new one added every two months. For now though, Update 3 offers more than enough to keep players very busy exploring all of the new surprises that it brings. The team at Turbine was kind enough to take us on another extensive tour of the new content, and since we are kind as well, we decided to share it all with you! Follow along after the cut to see all that Turbine has in store for DDO.
Dungeons and Dragons Online releases notes for update 3
Turbine is planning the next update for Dungeons and Dragons Online, and while it's not set to launch for a few more weeks, the current release notes are up for players to take a look at now. The next update will bring about some very welcome changes, such as the removal of level sigils, new free content in the form of four new dungeons, and the addition of casual difficulty mode for solo players and small groups. On the other end of the difficulty scale, The Vault of Night adventure pack will offer epic difficulty for level 20 players, making it the latest adventure pack to get the epic treatment. Level 20 players will also want to revisit Kruz the Reincarnation Trainer -- he's expanded his repertoire and learned a few new tricks. Of course, this is just a very small sampling of the coming updates for Dungeons and Dragons Online. As with updates one and two, the notes are very extensive (particularly with regard to enhancements and spells) and make changes to everything from table-dancing NPCs to quest mechanics. Read through the full release notes for yourself, and we'll see you in update three!
DDO Unlimited rolls out second major update
Turbine is rolling out its second large update for Dungeons and Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited, which includes a substantial new Adventure Pack entitled Dreaming Dark. If you're interested in finding out more about the new questing content, we have some hands-on experience with Dreaming Dark and the plot surrounding the Plane of Dreams and its many dangers. There's plenty more in this new update, however, including many new DDO Store items and improvements. Turbine is even adding special holiday items like snowballs. In addition to that, players can celebrate Festivult, where every treasure chest has the potential to drop festival coins. Free dungeons and adventure packs are all potential Festival coin carries, so nobody gets left out. Coins are turned in to the Festivult Jester, who'll exchange them for gifts crafted specially for the season from House Ghallanda and House Cannith. Sounds like good times in DDO Unlimited. Who doesn't enjoy finding extra loot in their treasure chest? Well, assuming it isn't junk loot, of course!
Dungeons and Dragons Online developer tour: The Dreaming Dark
Back in October, the kind folks at Turbine invited us along on a tour of Dungeons and Dragons Online's Update One, where we enjoyed an introduction to the newest Adventure Pack: "The Path of Inspiration." This month, we got the same treatment for the Update Two, which is scheduled to arrive later this month. If you enjoyed the Inspired storyline, you'll love this one. The Path of Inspiration introduced us to the Plane of Dreams, and this time we'll revisit the area in the culmination to the storyline that we began in Update One. This new Adventure Pack -- The Dreaming Dark -- is named for the creatures controlling the Inspired cult. We defeated the citizens of Dar Qat in Update One and now it's time to take on their masters. Follow along after the jump to explore The Dreaming Dark with us in this exclusive early dev tour.
Turbine releases DDO screenshots of Drow race
Any DnD fan is going to be familiar with the Drow, and it's pretty much a given that they would be a playable race in Dungeons and Dragons Online. If you're not familiar with them, Turbine has given us a series of beautiful screenshots with a closer look at the Drow. The official site has a history of the Drow as well, if you are hoping for a bit more background: Most drow choose a life of adventure out of necessity, given the dangers of their homeland. Still, they greatly desire personal power, and many drow take up the mantle of adventurer seeking to satisfy their ambitions. Most drow follow the evil scorpion-god Vulkoor, though exposure to the cultures of Stormreach has brought a few of them to less malevolent deities. If these screenshots are enough to get you interested in checking out the Drow race further you can explore more of their story and the prerequisites for unlocking them as a playable race, as well as inherent abilities and enhancements on the DDO site. %Gallery-78640%
Turbine announces the winners of the Broctober contest
Back in October, DDO Unlimited announced a fun little contest looking for responses to their (in)famous Broccoli vs. Beholder video. First prize was 5,000 Turbine points and the coveted title "Gweater Dwagonmark of Fwiends". (No, seriously. That's a great title.) Second and third place winners received Turbine points and a "Dwagonmark of Fwiends"title as well. The results are in, with the winning "Broccoli vs. Wraith" video keeping the Turbine staff in stitches with the expressions on Broccoli's face and the farcical chase through the corridor and doorways. Congratulations also to second place winner Korin Geholtz for showing us Broccoli's attack on Stormreach, and Zac C.B./Sioyin Chua for Broccoli vs. Ham with bonus points for great music. Korin Geholz also gave us an additional treat by giving Tasty Ham his very own Facebook page. Congratulations to all of you from Massively, and thanks for the laughs!
DDO: Unlimited Shan-to-Kor adventure pack trailer
Turbine has released a video for the Shan-to-Kor adventure pack, which is aimed at level four and above players. The dungeon -- which lies deep beneath the marketplace -- is nothing too grandiose or epic, certainly not on the level of Dol Guldur, but these videos serve as a nice way for interested DDO: Unlimited players to get a preview of content before they commit to buying it in-game through the DDO Store. We wonder if there's a way for Turbine to incorporate these videos into the actual game itself, or at the very least to offer an external link for easy viewing. That may be asking too much, although since they keep making these it seems pretty logical to us. Check out the video after the break.
Breakfast Topic: The Madness of Multiclassing
So a reader recently asked us a question: Why doesn't WoW allow multiclassing? It's a staple of many a Pen and Paper roleplaying game, and certain MMOs, such as DDO Unlimited, do offer it as an option. Why not WoW, our read wished to know.Honestly, it's all about balance. Games like Dungeons and Dragons are generally built from the ground up to support multiclassing. Each class has its synergies, and multiclassing its own rules, and there's a limited frame in which they work which works with the whole concept of multiclassing. With WoW, you have 10 separate classes so minutely balanced that even the slightest outside influence can shift the balance of power in class representation and role. With millions of players, each of them expecting to be able to fulfill a certain role and be competitive with everyone else, and each class balanced around a very specific set of skills and equipment, adding multiclassing to WoW would require such an extensive redesign that it would make Patch 4.0 look like a hot fix.
Choose my Adventure: Meet Fahryn Brygo
It's always so exciting to get started in a new game with this series, and this week we officially kick off our time with Dungeons and Dragons Online. You voted earlier this week for the elements of my character creation, and I am happy to say that my new character is alive and well, and eager to begin his journey.I've already discovered that this Choose my Adventure will need to be done a bit differently than the previous two, as I am almost completely unfamiliar with this game. What I have played was back during Module 7, and much of the game has changed since then. The voting will be less reliant on polls, and more on comment discussion. So follow along after the jump for a brief introduction to our newest adventurer, and where he will go from here.
Choose my Adventure: Dungeons and Dragons Online
Join me as I brave my way through lands unknown in an adventure dictated entirely by you, the Massively readers! Vote for everything from game played to character creation to ultimate goal and watch it unfold in a series of journals and galleries here on the site. Then, as the ultimate goal is reached, we'll do it all over again in a new game!Last week we ended our Lord of the Rings Online edition of Choose my Adventure with the retirement of Gibbi the Hobbit in his very own hobbit hole. This week, the votes have been counted and it appears that Dungeons and Dragons Online will be the next game in which I'll spend the next two months. I'm excited to make my way through DDO, especially since it's the first game in this series that I haven't played beyond level 10, and it will also be fun to try it out since it has re-released as a free-to-play. So follow along after the jump for a set of polls that will determine character creation and play style throughout my adventures in DDO: Unlimited.
Turbine reveals DDO and LotRO YouTube channels
Turbine announced today that they have set up dedicated Youtube channels for Dungeons and Dragons Online and Lord of the Rings Online. They added something special for fans on the Lord of the Rings Online channel and uploaded the videos from LotRO's "Beyond the Shadows: Making of the Game" in HQ.This is a treat for LotRO fans, as the Beyond the Shadows DVD was only available by purchasing the special edition of The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar in 2007. The video series begins with Executive Producer Jeffrey Steefel giving an overview of the game's intro cinematic, and continues with five more videos discussing creation and design of everything from monsters to weapons and armor.The Dungeons and Dragons Online channel doesn't disappoint either, offering up community videos and information on some available adventure packs. Both channels look to be off to a great start, and with Turbine taking the time to split them from the official Turbine channel, it should be worth clicking the subscribe button.
DDO store specials this weekend
Turbine's free-to-play DDO Unlimited is offering weekend specials to their players in their online store now through Sunday, October 4th. Players can spend their Turbine Points on goodies for their characters including XP buffs, heals, cosmetic changes, and new adventures.Twenty percent discounts are being offered in several different categories: Heal potions and heal rods -- Heal your character for 2-39 HP per use. Siberys spirit cakes -- Bring yourself or an ally back to life with full spell points and partial hit points. (Full hit points as well with Greater Siberys Spirit Cakes). DDO fans looking for something new to do can check out the discounted adventure packs, offering several levels to choose from, and varying numbers of quests. A twenty five percent discount is available on some nice cosmetic, loot, and XP items: Loot and XP boosts -- Get a 10-20% XP bonus for 3-6 hours, or a +1 level bonus to treasure chests for 3-6 hours. All regular and exclusive hair dyes -- Choose from 31 different colors (31 flavors?) to give your character a new look. Players who have been saving their Turbine Points may find this a good weekend for a shopping spree, and anyone who has been thinking of giving the game a try may find this an ideal time to make the plunge!
Engage your DDO groove in this Sorrowdusk Isle video
Turbine's DDO: Unlimited is without a doubt a bold and creative move in the MMO industry, and so we like to pay attention to their content packs for the game -- especially since we know there are those of you out there who're gaming on a budget.This video for Sorrowdusk Isle does a very good job of visually conveying what you'll get with your purchase, but somehow the music feels, um, well wrong. The techno-inspired beats aren't bad, it's just odd when watching warriors slay monsters feels a little too much like a rave from the early 90s. Then again, who're we to judge? Maybe that's the next Adventure Pack: The House of Trance Jungle.Check out the video after the break, and feel your foot tap to the beat.
The Digital Continuum: Conflict evolution
Conflict is at the core of just about everything. This is particularly true of MMOs, and why almost each and every single one of them is driven by conflict of some variety. For the most part that conflict is or results in combat, and as we all know, combat is probably the one thing you do most in your game of choice.So where's it all headed?
New DDO Unlimited video and screenshots show off the "Demon Sands"
Today Turbine released new screens and a video of the Demon Sands adventure pack. As one of the many revamps that took place with the launch of Dungeons and Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited last week, this area got a major make over. Designed for characters level 10 and up, the adventure pack includes: 10 unique dungeons The Demon Queen 12-man raid 68 wilderness quests The Zawabi's Refuge outpost. This adventure pack, along with many others, can be purchased through the DDO Store unless you are a VIP member (i.e. monthly subscriber), then it's included, as are all adventure packs. But the question remains, is it worth it for the free-to-play players? Check out the screens and video after the jump to help you decide. You may also find our Common Questions for new DDO Players and Round Up Of DDO Articles on Massively useful.%Gallery-73154%
Common questions for new DDO Unlimited players [Updated]
Having spent the last few days in Turbine's newly-Free To Play DDO Unlimited, I asked and answered the same handful of questions a brain-numbing number of times. To spare the chat channel on your server the spam, I've listed many of the most common ones here. If the questions keep popping up while you are adventuring on Korthos, feel free to help out with the answers in the General or Advice chat channels.Why can't I play a Drow/Warforged/Monk/Favored Soul? Monk class/Warforged race: These can be bought either individually through the DDO store or gained automatically with a monthly subscription. Favored Soul class/Drow race: These can be earned by free-to-play players through Favor Points earned by completing quests. They can also be purchased outright from the DDO store. Drows that are purchased through Favor Points are only unlocked on that server. Why can't I get past level 4? Is leveling capped for players who are not paying?All players, paying and free to play, can level up to 20. To get past four, free-to-play players can loot certain Sigils from chests in dungeons and select them as rewards. These Sigils will get you past the current leveling checkpoint. The Sigils are also available in the DDO Store. Paying players don't need Sigils to advance at the level checkpoints so they don't have to pass up the other good loot in the chests for them.How do I switch weapons on the fly?Drag your weapon icon from your inventory to your hotkey bar. Then click on that hotkey when you want to swap weapons. If you have more than one item you want to swap out (for example: sword and shield for bow) you can use the Weapon Set slots in the Inventory panel. Drop the items into the slots that make a set, then drag the icon with the green border down to your hotkey bar. (Thanks commenter Baburnama!)
WRUP: Your cheating heart edition
Now, I ain't saying that a few of us might be cheating a little on WoW. Nope. I'm not saying that at all. Hank Williams Senior might be saying that, but certainly not me. I'm not saying anything. But what Hank Williams Senior pointed out is that it seems like everyone on your intrepid WoW.com staff is doing something a little different this weekend. If they're not checking out the newly freemium DDO Unlimited, then they're levelling an alt, doing some PvP on a vile disgusting Belf, or otherwise going a little outside the lines of their accustomed relationships. Mostly, it's DDO though.Take a moment, check out what the staff is up to this weekend. Don't forget to leave a comment at the end, so that we know what you are playing. Adam Holisky: (@adamholisky) -I must not fear.Fear is the mind-killer.Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.I will face my fear.I will permit it to pass over me and through me.And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.Only I will remain.I'm going to level my Lock. Alex Ziebart: (@aziebart) - Continuing to gear up my Paladin for Retribution raiding. When I'm not doing that... well, either more work or Champions Online. Yes, that's right. I'm cheating on WoW. Wanna make something of it?
The Daily Grind: Are you checking out DDO?
Yesterday saw the open launch of Dungeons & Dragons Online Unlimited, and from what we hear the stampede of players headed for Turbine's servers to check it out caused a bit of a hiccup. As it's tied to the monstrous name in Pen & Paper gaming, there is definitely a bunch of interest in seeing just what has changed in the game since its early days. That said, we wanted to ask you if you'd gotten a chance to check out Turbine's re-imagined take on the tabletop favorite of so many? Did you give the new Dungeons & Dragons Online a whirl? Now that it has a F2P option, will you be spending time doing some dungeon crawling in DDO?
DDO Unlimited launch day round-up
Dungeons and Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited releases today, so we put together a little round-up of our best guides for this new content. Maybe you're confused on how the new DDO Store will work, or have heard rumors about what aspect of the game is truly free-to-play. We have you covered! Massively's DDO Unlimited developer tourLove can sometimes be a fickle thing, but I'm pretty sure that I love what Turbine has done with the DDO Store in Dungeons and Dragons Online Unlimited. I'll admit that initially I was a little concerned with the concept of an in-game store, but after playing with it at bit and asking some questions my fears have pretty much melted away. Massively Speaking Episode 57: DDO with Jerry SnookMassively Speaking Episode 57 returns this week with an entire episode dedicated to Dungeons and Dragons Online and their recent announcement about going free-to-play. Shawn is joined by DDOCast host Jerry Snook as they discuss the ins and outs, good and bad of a 3-year-old game going F2P. The pros and cons of free to play Dungeons and Dragons OnlineDungeons and Dragons Online going free to play is undoubtedly an awesome announcement. But exactly how awesome of an announcement is it? Yesterday we were all over the announcement, covering the basics of what can be expected with this changeover from subscription based to free to play. But now, I'd like to break that down even further, and really look at the changes in an in-depth manner. DDO goes F2P: An interview with TurbineAs the news hit yesterday concerning Dungeons and Dragons Online going free-to-play, many MMO gamers collectively rejoiced, while others didn't. The idea of this hybrid business model is wonderful for those who have yet to experience DDO, as it now gives them a chance to play the game as long as they'd like, with no level cap restrictions for absolutely no cost. This means no credit card info changing hands, no commitments to a monthly fee and the implied need to "get your money's worth" and no real need to quit the game if you can't afford it. But it can't be that easy, can it? Well, there's a slight catch.
