Dungeons & Dragons Online has enjoyed a pretty positive trend since re-launching the game in a free-to-play/p2p hybrid model with "Eberron Unlimited".

Just recently, Turbine has even launched the game's first major update, and a number of adventure packs. As a result of the recent popularity the game has experienced Turbine feels a new server is in order for DDO, and has launched the new server "Orien" today! There is a caveat, however. Orien is only available to new characters, character transfers are not currently available on the new server.

Read the full announcement here.

Great news & further confirmation that the new financial model is reaping tangible success.

I applaud their decision to make the server not be transferable to initially also, new server people starting off on an even pegging (as far as their virtual possessions at least) should be good for helping to create a native community on the server.

No server transfers is the best thing I have heard from any company in a LONG time.  That means people creating new characters on this server can determine their economy on their own.  Not have it rediculously inflated by people who have any number of highest tier characters who do not care how tough it is to get X amount of platinum in X amount of time.

I think this will be one of the most popular if not THE most popular server among the new players in their game.

It's making me want to resubscribe and make a toon there myself.  This is such a good game and it's so completely different from everything else out.

If you haven't tried DDO yet, Download the free trial and give it a go.  Those first 16 sublevels levels might be the game you've been looking for and OH YEAH, they are FREE!

I think this is a very smart move by Turbine, making this new server for new characters only. I love what they have done with DDO since the swtich to this new hybrid model they are using. I know they have taken a lot of abuse for the "failure" of DDO in the past, but now with its rebirth, they are only getting high remarks.

Good job DDO. An older game needing to open new servers is always a positive sign.

I think I'll be rerolling a character on this server.

Interesting read. With so many MMO's announcing the continuous closure of some of their servers, its interesting to see one that is actually opening a new one this far into its life cycle.

I think the time of sub based mmo's is slowly drawing to a close. With the success of games like Guild Wars, the upcoming launch of Guild Wars 2, and the news that games like Global Agenda will also be using a hybrid style model, it seems gaming companies are realizing the $15 a month sub is no longer a viable option in order to remain competitive.

I don't think it's the monthly sub which puts people off, I think it's the initial outlay of buying a game in what is a risky sector of the gaming market.

Being free to play opens a game up to players finding out at no expense exactly what the game is like first hand & allowing them to decide if it's worth investing money in. DDO has seen subs rise 40%, the game's quality speaks for itself now and many are trying the game out risk free, deciding they like what they have played & go ahead & get a sub because of the many advantages the sub brings to what they already were enjoying.

F2P can work well, but I think it wont be the only solution in the future, not all games are going to be as well suited to it as DDO is, the playtime charged as a per hour model is something as yet untried in the west (as far as I am personally aware) but I can see a brave developer trying it out sometime soon.

More choice is good.