http://kotaku.com/5284548/dungeons-and-dragons-online-goes-free

The Eberron Unlimited upgrade for Dungeons and Dragons Online is coming this summer, bringing new quests, a new class, a cash store, and a higher level cap, all while introducing a new free-to-play business model.

The gates to Eberron will swing wide this summer, as the Eberron Unlimited upgrade transforms Turbine's DDO from a subscription-based massively multiplayer online game to a free-to-play one, relying on VIP subscriptions and the new DDO store as dual sources of income. Free players will be able to join the game, create characters, and level all the way up to 20, the new, logical class limit for a Dungeons and Dragons game. Limitations included having to pay for specific races and classes, limited chat, auction, and mail capabilities, and access restricted to the city of Stormreach and its immediate vicinity.

Paying a monthly fee for VIP status grants you unlimited access to all of these features, as well as full customer support, with free players limited to automated support only.

Free players will still be able to use the new DDO store, however, accumulating points equal to their levels to spend on special items, which the official website likens to being paid to play. Players can also spend their cash money on upgrades, which is a feature that I feel kills the Dungeons and Dragons experience completely.

Being able to pay for new equipment using funds from outside of the game is the same thing as getting free items and experience for being the girlfriend of the Dungeon Master. I suppose technically that's in keeping with the grand tradition of the tabletop game after all. This DM just happens to have a lot of girlfriends.

Check out the offical website for more information on the new free-to-play Dungeons and Dragons Online.

Its about time!!! This could possibly save this game from the ...

Oh ...wait ...it has a retarded subscription model.

Well, that model worked for Hellgate London so I dont see anything ...

Oh ...wait ...you can buy gear from the Cash Shop.

Yep, just kill this game already. It was a failure from the beginning and the sooner this gets shut down the sooner a real D&D MMO can be made.

I would recommend everyone read before assuming it's true F2P. It's limited w/Item Mall and optional monthly fee for all access. The limitations include class/race and even higher level content. Although this isn't a bad thing for DDO IMO.

was it really doing that bad that had to go this route.

I played it, it was ok, just not my thing, to group heavy back then.

The D&D IP was a real Diamond,  just a shame that the diamond is broken and full of flaws. Turbine cant cut it clean, without ruined it.

If they really wanted to do something to help the game.  They would:

A) Close down DDO (no offense to DDO fans)

B) Tell WOTC that it will be based in Forgotten Realms or no game

C) Make the game less instanced

D) Make sure ALL the classes people are looking for are there

E) Spend at least 3 months to 6 months on collecting info from D&D fans (include those that like BG1, BG2, IWD, and any other game that made use of the D&D rule set system in last 6 to 7 years)  It should be a game for D&D fans, not random MMO gamers looking for a quick fix.

Originally posted by apocalance

I would recommend everyone read before assuming it's true F2P. It's limited w/Item Mall and optional monthly fee for all access. The limitations include class/race and even higher level content. Although this isn't a bad thing for DDO IMO.

This is the best for D&D in online version anyone could do! No more problems with player numbers, the game is group - oriented...

What they did is basically (very basically speaking) adding a "Free to play" option. If you pay subscription, you get many additions. After reading all I could about this, on various sites and ddo.cm, it doesn't look like anything game braking at all.

And there will be updates as always - I bet each Module some quests will be for F2P buddys, and some for "paid" or "vip" restricted (depends how you call it).

Not only you can pay subscription to get all, even NOT paying at all can get you all this - completing achievements IN GAME while playing will give you the benefits of a paid subscriber. Or the one who spent money without having sub to have it all faster.

This is revolionary. And just like buying new adventures for D&D pnp game, you will be able to buy or maybe even "achieve" them.

wow lol.. lets make it free, then limit everything thats is in game, then secretly add itemshop, which is still only made for p2p players, f2p can use it,, but its bassicly useless

so in the end we have never ending limited trial, normal game with p2p and itemshop

WOW , how messed up is that..

Originally posted by Smikis

wow lol.. lets make it free, then limit everything thats is in game, then secretly add itemshop, which is still only made for p2p players, f2p can use it,, but its bassicly useless

 

so in the end we have never ending limited trial, normal game with p2p and itemshop

WOW , how messed up is that..

Re-read my post, or read more from source ; ).

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Originally posted by apocalance I would recommend everyone read before assuming it's true F2P. It's limited w/Item Mall and optional monthly fee for all access. The limitations include class/race and even higher level content. Although this isn't a bad thing for DDO IMO.

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Yeah. I read these limitations and was like "wth?". They're failing at the F2P model, too.

The name "Unlimited" and their repeated use of that word in their description of the game is VERY misleading.

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Originally posted by Roin If they really wanted to do something to help the game. They would: A) Close down DDO (no offense to DDO fans) B) Tell WOTC that it will be based in Forgotten Realms or no game C) Make the game less instanced D) Make sure ALL the classes people are looking for are there E) Spend at least 3 months to 6 months on collecting info from D&D fans (include those that like BG1, BG2, IWD, and any other game that made use of the D&D rule set system in last 6 to 7 years) It should be a game for D&D fans, not random MMO gamers looking for a quick fix.

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Also, I agree with everything that's said ^ here. Forgotten Realms was the obvious choice, but it seems that the suits wanted to use DDO as a marketing tool for their new product / setting. Somehow, that reminds me of creating a game to tie in with a new movie, and I'm sure that DDO had several box sales in the beginning as well.

All F2P games have things you can buy with real money. Why are people acting surprised about this?

DDO will simply be the best F2P game available. It was already one of the best P2P MMOG's.

Its going to be hilarious to see all the non-native english speaking F2P fans try to figure this one out!

Originally posted by Xiaoki

Its about time!!! This could possibly save this game from the ...

Oh ...wait ...it has a retarded subscription model.

Well, that model worked for Hellgate London so I dont see anything ...

Oh ...wait ...you can buy gear from the Cash Shop.

Yep, just kill this game already. It was a failure from the beginning and the sooner this gets shut down the sooner a real D&D MMO can be made.

 

I agree. Start over. Let's see a reall MMORPG based on Dungeons and Dragons.

Originally posted by Aganazer

All F2P games have things you can buy with real money. Why are people acting surprised about this?

DDO will simply be the best F2P game available. It was already one of the best P2P MMOG's.

Its going to be hilarious to see all the non-native english speaking F2P fans try to figure this one out!

Oh yeah!! 

"WHAT? I am supposed to... to... THINK in this game?? But... mommy!"

Or should I say, mummy (the one causing mummy curse, and mummy rot )

Originally posted by Ihmotepp

I agree. Start over. Let's see a reall MMORPG based on Dungeons and Dragons.

Okay here it is! NWN Online coming 2011

Originally posted by paulkaid

wow so crazy, this news is great :D

I will most likely give this game a spin again when it is f2p. For me, this announcement is good news also.  

Originally posted by Aganazer

Originally posted by Ihmotepp

I agree. Start over. Let's see a reall MMORPG based on Dungeons and Dragons.

 

Okay here it is! NWN Online coming 2011

But not by Bioware .

My direct post to regards to the original posting:

I remember playing D&D right at the release and I never thought it was a bad game. The graphics were decent, very reminiscent of Everquest to me. I really did enjoy the way the dungeons were organized throughout the game. The only reason I never played this game longer was because of the payment requirement. There are games that are good, UNLESS you have to play a monthly subscription for them because then of course you check the file cabinet in your head of other games you could be paying the same price for.

I'll happily check out D&D once this release is all ready to go, not like I'm paying anything. :o)

Thanks for the heads up!

Last year, I was really interested with what I saw in Champions Online. However, most of the recent information didn't impress me so much, and I don't know why.

Because of that, I'm a bit worried about Cryptic Studios working on NWN online. :(