DDO Executive Producer Fernando Paiz addresses the community in this latest Letter to the Players. The letter discusses the boom in activity DDO has seen since the launch of the free-to-play model with Eberron Unlimited, and gets into details on Update 1, the game's first update since its relaunch.

Update 1 will allow players to create new characters at Level 4 which is known as "Veteran Status", which can be unlocked with 1000 favor, and a new Epic difficulty setting for the game's instanced dungeons.

Launching alongside Update 1 will be a new high-level adventure pack called "The Path of Inspiration," which pit players against a nefarious cult that is kidnapping Stormreach's citizens and trapping them in the plane of nightmares. The new pack will also feature a number of new environments, monsters, and gameplay elements.

Also mentioned in the letter is an upcoming feature known as Reincarnation. Reincarnation will allow players some interesting options with their characters, ranging from anything to the long-demanded re-spec option, to allowing players some sort of end-game reroll.

Find out more on what's in store for DDO in the full letter.

I spent some time with my friends in DDO this weekend. Free definitely lowers the barrier to entry, and we had a pretty good time!

Have you tried out DDO since it went free-to-play? If so, how was your experience? Let us know in the comments!

It is only free if you are willing to grind out things to keep it free. It is the same game it always was, just with a different billing system. Nothing, really, has changed. It is still a decent game for what it does, but I still think it does not fit well with D&D concepts.

I am very glad to see the aggressive content development going on. The new character creation at level 4 will make it more fun for people to try out new builds, I imagine.

I have yet to actually ever try the game. I am less willing to try it now though with it being f2p. It would just seem like a hassle to go threw each pack n purchase ones that i won't even play. Maybe I am wrong but in the long run is not paying 13 a month better? I am not sure I am just asking so do not get all pissy :)

Originally posted by Trollo

I have yet to actually ever try the game. I am less willing to try it now though with it being f2p. It would just seem like a hassle to go threw each pack n purchase ones that i won't even play. Maybe I am wrong but in the long run is not paying 13 a month better? I am not sure I am just asking so do not get all pissy :)

You only pay for the packs that you want. And there's a lot to play to find out if it's something you'll like well before you have to pay a cent.

Originally posted by Trollo

I have yet to actually ever try the game. I am less willing to try it now though with it being f2p. It would just seem like a hassle to go threw each pack n purchase ones that i won't even play. Maybe I am wrong but in the long run is not paying 13 a month better? I am not sure I am just asking so do not get all pissy :)

You are wrong. It is not better for everyone. For example, DDO at best is a second MMO for me and I don't want to pay $13 a month for something i may only play a few hrs. So F2P is perfect.

The whole pay-for-content move is to attract those who are only willing to spend a little time in DDO but won't if it requires a sub.

And the strategy pays off for them. Just read all the stories about population going up the roof.

Well I've tried it now that it's F2P, and I'm currently considering subscribing I liked it so much.

If I can just find folks a little more regularly who want to slowly adventure through dungeons rather than blast through at 100 MPH, I'd consider it fun enough to subscribe. However, no matter what you put in your group description, the zergers still join your groups and rush through at breakneck speeds.
 

But I'm clearly an exception. Most players seem to want to zerg through the dungeons. So I think the game will be successful (though not so much for me).

Originally posted by PhelimReagh

Well I've tried it now that it's F2P, and I'm currently considering subscribing I liked it so much.

 

If I can just find folks a little more regularly who want to slowly adventure through dungeons rather than blast through at 100 MPH, I'd consider it fun enough to subscribe. However, no matter what you put in your group description, the zergers still join your groups and rush through at breakneck speeds.
 

But I'm clearly an exception. Most players seem to want to zerg through the dungeons. So I think the game will be successful (though not so much for me).

That was a problem that I had with the game/populace. I remember being asked to join a group for some popular run, I forget but it was in a jungle, had to enter a cave, well whatever it was.

In any case I couldn't keep up enough. Quite frankly they didn't even need me as they just blased through. All I did was follow, try to kill as much as I could and follow back to get the subsequent parts of the quest. The xp was good but I honestly didn't even know what I was doing as I didn't have time to read any of the quest. Just had to run to keep up.

I havent had much problem with "zergers" since I started playing on Cannith, but most of the  population there are new to the game so most PUGs Ive joined have been very good. But people zerging through quests can really destroy the fun in DDO sadly :(

Jerry from DDOcast.com posted a preview video of the new adveture pack which looks really cool: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M2h2NKRJWY

I tried DDO for the 1st time about 2 weeks ago, and was pleasantly surprised that the game is damn fun for me. I'm F2P still , and through doing the basic quests i found my copper sigil (spelling?), and have moved up to lvl 4.

I play on Canith server and found a great new player guild of like minded souls that are non zerg. Its been fun exploring the content with a guild of mostly newer players and a mix of f2p / premium/ vip players.

The F2P brought me in to have a look at the game. I'm an anti rmt / anti  f2p customer usualy, but im going to give the devs props because this new system in DDO is perfect for me.  I'm thinking of purchases that my guild will run, and maybe even a vip down the road...who knows.

As others have said this is the perfect 2nd MMO for many players like myself ( Eve 4 Life), and the model is perfect that that type of play. I must say again im pleasantly surprised.

I've played this game under both billing options and am currently using f2p.

I only spend a few hours a week in this game and it is cheaper for me to purchase content as needed than it is for me to  pay a flat rate. The game experiance itself is the same either way.

The zerging was the reason I never subscribed either. In the very first group I got into I was completely useless, same with the second, then I just stopped logging in and let my trial expire.

DDO is definately improving but still needs more charactor customization (four tanks standing next to each other with the same uber armor is boring).   I don't like zerging either.  If the earlier posters want a more slow moving easy guild send me a message (definatey not power gamers and look for easy to get along with mature decent gamers - although we have one power gamer and give him a hard time).   A note about zerging, DDO has done a little anti zerging with dungeon alerts/warnings that attract mobs.    Zerging has its uses if you are leveling a toon and that is your only goal.  So let people up front know you are interesting in seeing the dungeon not zerging or at least tell the leader you need help through because you are simply new to the dungeon and will simply not be able to keep up.   

One interesting new feature is the instances are now scaleable.   Makes soloing easier.

The F2P has made DDO really more into two communties. One that plays limited amounts and purchases  as little as they want  as they go   The other is like me where I pay $60 every six months. I play with people I know and I don't worry about where I go and how much time I have left on a timer I have to buy.  Both are fine ways to play.   Both communites exist side by side.

The new DDO  appears to be very sucessful for Turbine (are consoles next? Harry Potter rumor for  Turbine?).   My own guildees are wanting more servers to spread the many additions out.

And for the people who are anti F2P (and i understand your view)  look for this in other MMOs.   After all the pursuit of money makes the MMO wheels grind.

This last week I downloaded DDO and spent some time with it.   I probably wouldnt have bothered if it was still on the subscription model.  I played DDO in the beta ages ago, and came to the conclusion that I had problems with the environment, and the limited size of the world.  Most of those issues are dealt with now. 

Its a great way to spend some time in a D&D flavored world.   You just can't expect it to be balanced down to the oldstyle D&D 3.5 power level.  By level 2 your running around with a flaming weapon, all your items with other effects, +1 or +2 weapons, etc.  

It remains to be seen if I'll pay them any money for it though.  I figured I'd just play the F2P content until I got bored, see how much favor I have accrued and go from there.  

F2P was the best thing that could have happened to the game though.  Well done turbine, hope you can keep it balanced an keep making it work.

i have try to join many times  but it allways bounce me .

any help¿???

Originally posted by Trollo

I have yet to actually ever try the game. I am less willing to try it now though with it being f2p. It would just seem like a hassle to go threw each pack n purchase ones that i won't even play. Maybe I am wrong but in the long run is not paying 13 a month better? I am not sure I am just asking so do not get all pissy :)

There's more than enough stuff to do for free. If you subscribe, you pay 15 a month for unlimited stuff, but if that subscription runs out, then you're back to playing the stuff that is for free, and if you were having great fun with that Warforged character you were playing with, too bad. You'll have to either resubscribe or pay for the privelege to play with him again outright.

All said, if you pay to buy classes and modules outright, they are yours 'forever'. That is the path I'm taking. Unlocking a few premium adventures here and there, and eventually, you'll have it all, and be waiting on what's next to come out. :D

Don't let numbers quoted at you for how much it will cost overall for that method disuade you. Are you going to be playing all of those high-level quests at the beginning of the game? No, I think not. Buy a few here, buy a few there, just like you did in the days you were rolling characters with dice and subtracting damage with a pencil that hopefully had a good eraser. :D

And on a side note for the post above yours, the electronic version of a game is not likely to be like the realm of your imagination, i.e. pnp, anytime soon, so get over it. :D

Originally posted by PhelimReagh

Well I've tried it now that it's F2P, and I'm currently considering subscribing I liked it so much.

 

If I can just find folks a little more regularly who want to slowly adventure through dungeons rather than blast through at 100 MPH, I'd consider it fun enough to subscribe. However, no matter what you put in your group description, the zergers still join your groups and rush through at breakneck speeds.
 

But I'm clearly an exception. Most players seem to want to zerg through the dungeons. So I think the game will be successful (though not so much for me).

Zergers annoy me. I play at my own pace regardless, and am often left behind. I've learned to speed up a little, but I'll never pass up content I haven't already seen, and I'll never leave people behind.

Why the rush anyway? Where's the zerging fire? lol

I started playing DDO back during beta / headstart. As a long time subscriber I was not only annoyed, but outright infuriated that I had to repurchase everything that I feel I have already payed for. I bought the game when it launched for around 50$ (which only had 1/4 the content it has now) then I payed their monthly fees for years. But now that they decided to go "free to play" I have to re-purchase EVERYTHING that I have already payed hundreds of dollars for. I feel like I'm being punished for sticking around as long as I did. I will NEVER give turbine another dime for as long as I live. I feel they screwed me, and everyone else that stood by them from the beginning.

They should have gave the long time subscribers DDO Points equal to the amount of time they had subscribed to the game before it went free to play. Not just points based on their total favor. If you subscribe now, you get free points each month, but If you were a subscriber before they changed their business model... too f'n bad for you.

Thanks, for punishing your long time fans and rewarding the people that never gave the game a chance...

Jerks.

Originally posted by xevolutionx

I started playing DDO back during beta / headstart. As a long time subscriber I was not only annoyed, but outright infuriated that I had to repurchase everything that I feel I have already payed for. I bought the game when it launched for around 50$ (which only had 1/4 the content it has now) then I payed their monthly fees for years. But now that they decided to go "free to play" I have to re-purchase EVERYTHING that I have already payed hundreds of dollars for. I feel like I'm being punished for sticking around as long as I did. I will NEVER give turbine another dime for as long as I live. I feel they screwed me, and everyone else that stood by them from the beginning.

They should have gave the long time subscribers DDO Points equal to the amount of time they had subscribed to the game before it went free to play. Not just points based on their total favor. If you subscribe now, you get free points each month, but If you were a subscriber before they changed their business model... too f'n bad for you.

 

 

Thanks, for punishing your long time fans and rewarding the people that never gave the game a chance...

 

 

 

 

Jerks.

 

 

Hi xevolutionx,
 

Sorry you feel that way... did you realize you can continue subscribing just like always and have all the same stuff you used to? you can still come and go with a subscription if the F2P stuff doesnt work for you...

The only thing you're really 'out' is the $50 since they give away the client for free now and dont charge for the box. but if you dont want to buy dungeons permanently you can still get everything through the subscription!

I believe that going free was a relatively good thing... for those willing to pay at least a little bit. Buy some favor and unlock some extra modules. If you're not, than this game is not right for you, as the only way to play the game completely free is to create several characters on several servers and gain enough favor to unlock other modules that normally are not free. This could take a very long time and people playing only a few hours a week may not be able to do this until after several months of play.

The concept of the game was always very good, but the "Free-to-play" is either time-consuming or it costs money once or twice. I guess that would be no different from Guild Wars ($20 for a Game Key) or Lord of the Rings Online ($20 for the game).

F2p in DDO is nothing more then an extended trial...  I have been playing for over a week now and i have spend some real money in the store just to unluck the class i wanted and to try a mission pck/adventure. I am currently thinking about subscription..

Sadly as a european i have to play this game on US servers. I personally like their payment system...  In the end its just as expensive as any normal subscription game, but you deicde what you want to pay.

Most important, the game is fun. But since the game is so much different from any other mmo's (EQ and WoW clones) with true monster AI, i am having so much fun.

Seems turbine makes the true MMO's for us roleplayers, with depth and detailed stories.  Compared to Lotro, this games combat is so much more fun  And character development is really really deep..... Thats why i prefer it over the other Turbine game.

Originally posted by Lord.Bachus

F2p in DDO is nothing more then an extended trial...  I have been playing for over a week now and i have spend some real money in the store just to unluck the class i wanted and to try a mission pck/adventure. I am currently thinking about subscription..

Sadly as a european i have to play this game on US servers. I personally like their payment system...  In the end its just as expensive as any normal subscription game, but you deicde what you want to pay.

 

 

Most important, the game is fun. But since the game is so much different from any other mmo's (EQ and WoW clones) with true monster AI, i am having so much fun.

 

Seems turbine makes the true MMO's for us roleplayers, with depth and detailed stories.  Compared to Lotro, this games combat is so much more fun  And character development is really really deep..... Thats why i prefer it over the other Turbine game.

Under no circumstances should you attribute character development to Turbine. They took it all from Dungeons and Dragons rulebook version 3.5, which was the most in-depth one (even more so than 4.0, in my opinion, as the update made DnD character development much simpler). The stories are simply stories that could be created by Dungeon Masters using the board game. I do admit though that the AI programming is perhaps the best I've seen, other than something like Guild Wars (but only because of their rapid response AI).

Originally posted by lufta

Hi xevolutionx,
 

Sorry you feel that way... did you realize you can continue subscribing just like always and have all the same stuff you used to? you can still come and go with a subscription if the F2P stuff doesnt work for you...

The only thing you're really 'out' is the $50 since they give away the client for free now and dont charge for the box. but if you dont want to buy dungeons permanently you can still get everything through the subscription!

Yes, I am aware that I can continue to pay the monthly fee and play just like I used to. However, I don't think its fair that the long time players receive nothing for their dedication to a game which wasn't, but is now free.

Though I think it would have been generous for Turbine to allow long time subscribers to keep their character slots and content up to the point where they shifted from "Stormreach" to "Eberron Unlimited", I never expected it. Long ago I learned that game developers are not generous and I accept that fact.

What I feel would have been fair, is the 500 free points they give to current subscribers each month, to be retro-activly added to all previous subscribers for all the time and money they already invested into the game. 6000 points per year of active subscription time. Which is the same thing they get now. Veteran players were paying the same monthly fee for 1/2 the content they have now, why should they not receive the same rewards for their time and money as new subscribers?

What really pains me is the fact that I loved this game, I felt, and still feel that it has the most dynamic character development and the most interesting questing experience of any mmorpg I have ever played. Sure, there were things I wished were different, but Over all I felt its pros out weighed its cons. But to give the active subscriber base from before "Eberron Unlimited" next to nothing, while giving new subscribers an extra bonus for signing up, is both unfair and insulting IMO.

 

Originally posted by xevolutionx

Originally posted by lufta

Hi xevolutionx,
 

Sorry you feel that way... did you realize you can continue subscribing just like always and have all the same stuff you used to? you can still come and go with a subscription if the F2P stuff doesnt work for you...

The only thing you're really 'out' is the $50 since they give away the client for free now and dont charge for the box. but if you dont want to buy dungeons permanently you can still get everything through the subscription!

 

Yes, I am aware that I can continue to pay the monthly fee and play just like I used to. However, I don't think its fair that the long time players receive nothing for their dedication to a game which wasn't, but is now free.

Though I think it would have been generous for Turbine to allow long time subscribers to keep their character slots and content up to the point where they shifted from "Stormreach" to "Eberron Unlimited", I never expected it. Long ago I learned that game developers are not generous and I accept that fact.

What I feel would have been fair, is the 500 free points they give to current subscribers each month, to be retro-activly added to all previous subscribers for all the time and money they already invested into the game. 6000 points per year of active subscription time. Which is the same thing they get now. Veteran players were paying the same monthly fee for 1/2 the content they have now, why should they not receive the same rewards for their time and money as new subscribers?

What really pains me is the fact that I loved this game, I felt, and still feel that it has the most dynamic character development and the most interesting questing experience of any mmorpg I have ever played. Sure, there were things I wished were different, but Over all I felt its pros out weighed its cons. But to give the active subscriber base from before "Eberron Unlimited" next to nothing, while giving new subscribers an extra bonus for signing up, is both unfair and insulting IMO.

 

Eh veteran player got tons of free Turbine points depending on how long you have played... Dont understand what they could have done differenty. Give it all away for free?? But I guess some people are never happy. IF you like the game just remain a subscriber and you will get evrything you got before + even more.