| ESRB:Dungeons & Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited Previews: Update 3 Preview
MMORPG.com's own Jaime Skelton recently participated in a preview of Update 3 for Turbine's Dungeons and Dragons Online. Today, she files her report.
By Jaime Skelton on January 26, 2010
The free to play version of Dungeons and Dragons Online has been online for four months now, and millions of players have visited (and revisited) the world of Eberron. The re-envisioned MMO has gotten several awards since, including MMORPG.com's Best F2P MMO of 2009. "We're so excited by the way the game has been received by the press," said Fernando Paiz, DDO Unlimited's Executive Producer.
On February 3rd, Update 3 will go live on DDO's servers. This update is the first that has been designed after the free to play model began, as Updates 1 and 2 were mostly complete before the business model transition. Players will see a great response to their feedback to the new F2P model in this update, and some significant changes make Dungeons and Dragons Online even friendlier for the free-to-play player.
One of the problems with the new free to play model for DDO was that despite being familiar, there were some things that were confusing, even arguably not living up to the free-to-play ideal. One of the main complaints surrounding DDO's new model was the leveling sigil system, in which F2P players had to obtain a special item - the aptly-named leveling sigil - before the end of every four character levels in order to level further. Update 3 removes this sigil system entirely, allowing players unrestricted, non-gated access from level one to twenty. This removes confusion on the soft level cap that some new players were confused about. It also eliminates the need for players to run through content they've experienced just for a chance to get one of the sigils in the first place.
Solo and small group players will also be pleased to find that solo difficulty has essentially been replaced by "casual difficulty." This new difficulty is available on all quests except raids and solo-only quests, and is catered to players who like to go through quests alone or with a small group, and find normal difficulty a bit too much. This change increases playability and access to the game, considering the number of players, like myself, who play with family or a small group of friends.
The new update also adds the first free high-level content pack. This is another milestone, as previously, free quests and adventure packs were only available until level 11 for free players. "We want to support the free player experience," Fernando said. "Our philosophy is not to save the good stuff for only saved content." The DDO team want to make it clear that they will no longer being offering only premium content with their updates.
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To that point, this update introduces four free high level dungeons, from CR (Challenge Rating) 13 to 18, covering the span of levels all the way to 20. If you were to write a survival guide for the new quests being released, it would include sections on beholders, black dragons, hambies and clambies (more on this later), and kobolds, just to name a few of the many encounters that players will experience. I had a chance to experience two of these new dungeons first-hand: Delirium and Mired in Kobolds.
Delirium sends you into an inn near the Tower of the Twelve, which was an area that previously had little in it. Now, it has unfortunately been infested by guests from Xoriat, the Plane of Madness. The first thing players run into inside is a group of beholders "relaxing" at the bar. Players will then have to drink them under the table in a drinking game. This is just start of the many "mad things" in the dungeon. As you explore, you'll have to deal with varying levels of insanity, including food in the kitchen coming to life as "hambies" and "clambies" (that's ham and clam zombies).
Those who have played, hassled, and frustrated over tile puzzles, as most have, will get a great deal of satisfaction and laughter as they near the end of the dungeon. Personally, I couldn't stop laughing at the end-boss long enough to do something useful to end its life, and I am sure many players will enjoy the first play (and many replays) through this humorous, secret-filled dungeon.
I also got a look at Mired in Kobolds, a CR 13 dungeon where free players get to experience a few new things, including high level kobolds. The design behind this dungeon, and the others being introduced, is that the difficulty ramps up as players go further in. They will receive rewards for their trouble even if they don't finish all of the challenges, however. As players go through the high-leveled kobold camps, they will find crystals. If they can figure out the secrets of those crystals, they can, in turn, use those crystals to their advantage throughout the rest of the dungeon. Players will also find it a good idea to have good ranged and jumping abilities handy here as well.
Mired in Kobolds also offers the first dragon that free players will face hand-to-hand; an optional end boss that requires more thought; and the endless amusement of sending kobolds rocketing into the sky and to their doom. Even during the demo, teamwork was quite imperative, especially when facing off against a dragon. All of this coming from an instance that's a fairly straight-forward, though still exciting, dungeon experience.
The other two dungeons included are In the Demon's Den, which pits players against a marilith sorceress, and Acid Wit, which sends players in against the ever popular troglodytes. Players will also find that a new event, the Risia Ice Games, has been added in honor of the Winter Olympics. This event will allow players to ski-jump high in the air over the Harbor, and participate in ice skating events by the Harbor Lighthouse and House Phiarlan's tavern, collecting ice coins which players can use to craft unique ice themed rewards. Another event to celebrate Stormreach's fourth birthday will be introduced toward the end of February.
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The designers have also made some graphic overhauls in Stormreach, especially in the Marketplace. It makes Stormreach a cleaner, more visually appealing area. A new nighttime mode, which takes place for 20 minutes out of a three hour day cycle, brings stars to the sky and new lights to the streets of Stormreach. The result is stunning, whether it's a lit House banner, the soft glow of lanterns hanging across a street, or a ship alight as it flies through the sky (a la Spelljammer, to those who remember).
Veteran players will also be pleased to experience Vault of Night, the first adventure pack released for DDO, on Epic Difficulty, with new rewards (including Red Dragon Scale Armor), to quest for. This marks the second adventure pack to receive the Epic Difficulty makeover. Two new types of reincarnation have been introduced as a DDO Store exclusive as well, allowing players to fully respec existing characters, including multi-class choices.
Update 3 brings a lot of massive changes to the game, both in expanding the free-player experience and in introducing brand new content suitable for all players. These changes show that the DDO Unlimited team is showing they listen to player feedback and are willing to make the game more enjoyable for free-to-play and subscription players alike. As this is update is the first created after the F2P business model transition, all things point to DDO Unlimited continuing to build upon its 2009 success well into 2010.
Interesting read....thanks.
Good to see they're getting rid of the leveling sigils concept.
As a rule, I don't play on Lam. but alot of nice things are coming.
Nice, to read.
What I would see for DDO next:
Thank you for the info, Jaime. I had read the official site release, but this is far more detailed. I am happy to hear the sigils are being removed (as a pre-order DDO subscriber who has come back to play a bit more, this was the biggest obstacle).
I am most confused by the need for the "casual" mode. When I played before I was always with decent guild groups, so maybe I really don't know how Normal scales as the CR increases (?) but from what I've experienced in the last few years, with just a LITTLE bit of careful play, Normal mode is VERY solo-able - and with a decent hireling match-up now, even MORE so. Anything easier than Normal designed for a group must be easy indeed.
Any idea if a "Casual" dungeon will scale to the actual number of persons entering? So if one goes in it is equal to the current "Solo" and if two go in it goes up a bit more, but even a full party never reaches "Normal" ? (Can I put it another way: what the hell? Even ludicrously bad PUGs can destroy Normal level dungeons. Are they expecting the Farmville crowd to be logging on to DDO?)
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For anybody who didn't notice it, they did a restructure on points prices yesterday. The VIP (full sub) account is now officially the worst deal in the game. Buying points and claiming modules permanently is how I'll do it. Forget about the XP potions and other timed consumables, but "owning" access account-wide to STK for about $2.50? Yes please.
This seems like a great update for free players, not so great for VIP players.
True, but I'll continue my VIP account, as DDO deserves my support.
This game has held my interest longer than any other.
I've always liked the D&D game, though it never really captured me. It doesnt have the great number of races and classes i need to find an MMO immersive, if they had it i wouldn't mind subscribing or paying for some of it. The mana system just irritates me to no end. I hate having to conserve my power until i find a shrine, though it does add the tactical side.
Perhaps I'll try again - I am a casual player and quit in frustration because I was unable to complete the quest where you had to protect a gem from 14 bandits. In fact, I downloaded the game 2x and hope the new 3rd update will address this problem with an easier, casual mode.
Larry if you do try it again, send me a PM on here and I"ll come on and help you with that quest. Choose whatever server, I'll roll a new character if I have to. I can show you how to solo that one on solo and normal mode in whatever class you want (even caster, solo'd it with a wiz a couple nights ago on Elite with a cheap fighter hireling, and it could be done without the hireling with charm person). Once you're comfortable with the controls it should flow pretty easily.
The mana system is one option out of two that would have both probably irritated you. In pen and paper D&D you don't have mana (which your message seems to indicate you know) but you do have spell preparation. No matter how you did it (generic mana pools vs. certain # of spells per circle prepared and ready to blow) you've got to expect they'd put a limit on how many spells could be cast before resting. Personally I would be happy to see them convert over to setting very specific spell preparations.
Also as for not having enough class variation, considering you can have either really great or really wrecked characters due to the flexibility of multiclassing, as well as a ton of choices in specialization through enhancement, I really don't think you're being fair here. In that respect it has more "classes" than any MMO I can think of, as flexible as the player cares to make it.
True, but I'll continue my VIP account, as DDO deserves my support.
This game has held my interest longer than any other.
Agreed. With 20+ characters, it would cost too much at the beginning to get what I have right now. And we have bills.
I havent played DDO much lately but this update will bring me back! My biggest complaint about DDO is the lack of "casual" content after lvl 12 but now with some new quests and the casual difficulty this issue will be solved.
I still have my VIP sub open since I want to support DDO because its a great game.
They certainly seem to be upgrading the F2P content, must be due to all the players who are not putting any money into the game voicing their concern. :)
I also noticed this gem:
“Solo and small group players will also be pleased to find that solo difficulty has essentially been replaced by "casual difficulty."
Will we be pleased? What difficulty level will they introduce next, “playerable by your three legged dog”? There must be someone out there who finds “casual difficulty” too hard, we need that persons cash, lets dumb the game down even more!
I understand your "dumbing down" sentiments, but really, it doesn't affect the game for anyone but the player choosing the easier difficulty, I expect that it just serves to engage them & feed them into harder difficulty levels later once they have improved rather than get stuck & discouraged.
After all we can't all be highly skilled dungeon crawlers, I consider myself experienced & skilled yet there are players who put my skills to shame, a good game can cater to both the elite & the lesser skilled, just because someone isn't very good at a game shouldn't necessariy mean they can't enjoy it if the game caters for it, after all I expect that lesser difficulty = lesser reward, so who loses out? nobody.
Wow, finally someone who has similar opinion
. Well said. I'd like to add more, but you've said everything I wanted to. Agreed completely.
Plus, I've played House Kundarak quest on Casual (and I consider myself rather good player), and it was really fun, not dumbed down from what I've seen. I've failed because I went in expecting easy run, and that I didn't need to prepare even a bit. I was wrong
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Here's video from Lamannia, Casual difficulty:
www.youtube.com/House_Kundarak_Quest
wow! - Great changes..
I really must get back into this game!
I was worried that going F2P meant that DDO wouldnt probably receive as much attention, but it seems to be getting even more!
I dont even mind paying some money now that I can see improves are continuing. Just hope they do EU server or something. I've no issue playing with america's but sometimes it takes ages to find a group :(
Turbine amazes me the amount of free content they throw into this game.
While I agree with races, there isn't any MMO, to my knowledge, that has so many choices in terms of character "classes" (templates).
Each class has many different feats and enhancements, leaving more room than a wowish clone. For example you can have 2 rogues of the same level standing one next to the other having a totally different build and purpose.
Now when you start digging into multiclassing there's quite no limit, such as most players can be lost in the process, not really knowing what to take at what level, or how to min/max specific type of characters.
On top of that add the fact that the choice of a race can have a huge effect on your template with the races feats and enhancements.
About power I think that system is much better than cast, cast cast., sit, eat food, rinse and repeat. Or a real PnP D&D system in which after you cast your 3 magic missiles you are left with your feather fall spell in front of a nasty mob, this because you only learn 3 MM.
I am very pleased to see that DDO is continuing to try and be the best game it can be. As someone who was online on Day 1 of "Head Start" access, I've returned to the game over and over throughout the years. Once F2P was announced, I was sure that it would be the death of DDO.
I'm now once again a player, as a VIP, with several RL friends playing on both F2P and P2P accounts. Great article, thanks for the info!
Epic. that is the difficulty that appears to be comming.
http://compendium.ddo.com/wiki/Weapon:Epic_Sword_of_Shadow
On one hand there's a new difficulty geared towards players who have a hard time with video games yet on the other they're creating something crazy enough for players to potentially develop their characters into deities with some of this "epic" loot.
Such a shame, to me, that the game went F2P. With the addition of the item shop and the ability to "buy" in game advantages with real life money, I just left and never looked back. Maybe someday - especially considering the recent lawsuits involved with Hasbro, WoTC and Atari having rights to future D&D games... maybe someday we'll see a regular good 'ol properly done sub-fee 4th edition D&D online game. Now THAT I would play. And pay for, gladly. (Heck, I pay for D&D insider and that's $10 a month - it's Wizards of the Coasts 4th edition D&D DM and gamer tools.)
I know everyone likes to gush about how going F2P "saved" DDO and perhaps it did, but I guess I'm just one of those people in the minority that doesn't feel like paying F2P - er, I mean "Pay to Prosper" games like DDO.
What? you refuse to play out of principle ? Strange that.. most people play a game because they enjoy it. I played on p2p and played f2p.. I honestly cant see whats changed much, apart from having more friends, better graphics, better combat, more stuff to do.. and oddly, less lag (graphical and network)
Its not just that f2p has saved DDO and brought many more new players, its also improved in ways that it couldnt have on the p2p model.
So your reason is highly dubious... and anyone here can pick through your argument.
what your ineffect saying is that you'll only play a game if its rediculously over priced and doesnt get updated. lol.
Im not actually sure what this means... I took it to mean that solo was being made more challenging! It specifically says that the new casual difficulty will be for solo AND small group... so if a difficulty was once meant for one person, and is now meant for 1 person or a small group... that indicates to me that solo is being given some added challenge.
In any case, if they are making it easier your saying this is a bad thing?.. I dont understand how. More and more players want to be able to log on and do something on their own.. its the way of the mmo industry. I certainly dont have time in my life to stand waiting hours to get a group.
Im not actually sure what this means... I took it to mean that solo was being made more challenging! It specifically says that the new casual difficulty will be for solo AND small group... so if a difficulty was once meant for one person, and is now meant for 1 person or a small group... that indicates to me that solo is being given some added challenge.
In any case, if they are making it easier your saying this is a bad thing?.. I dont understand how. More and more players want to be able to log on and do something on their own.. its the way of the mmo industry. I certainly dont have time in my life to stand waiting hours to get a group.
With dungeon scaling casual with one person will be the old solo mode. They are not adding difficulty to solo, basicly now you can take friends on the old solo so anyone can waltz through what used to be a harder and more thought provoking MMO.
Making it easier can be a bad thing. DDO used to be a challenge and for those who like a challenge the game was fun.Now finding the fun and challenge is not the same. Its still fun for m, but not the way it used to be. Not every game has to cater to the same I want to solo crowd. DDO used to be group focused, now it the same antisocial game as many others. Easy to solo so people fail to learn group dynamics and fail easy quests at higher levels, leading them to complain about normal difficulty being too hard leading to casual difficulty. What is next? Log in and get your end reward? Raid loot in the DDO store? Soon your Credit Card will allow you to buy a multi timed True Rezzed fully raid gearded level 20(I am kidding, I hope) .
I'm guessing that "Casual" was added because "Solo" didn't allow you to use hirelings. This way a caster without charm person or a non-selfhealing type can do the "Solo" missions more easily.
"Epic" only refers to levels above 20, correct? So it would only be available on dungeons with a normal CR of 18+ ?
Not only this. Previously "Solo" option was disappearing about 6th-8th level of dungeons. Now, Casual offers more streamlined solo / casual play up to level 20. Of course, loot and XP is pretty laughable, so no real good player would choose "Casual" as his "lite" option.
So I don't see the reason for all this whining. I'm happy this this new diff, and I'm a good player who knows what to do.
Excuse my not being able to play on Lamannia [it wrecked my Live install when I tried it, deleting both then re-installing Live worked but I'm not trying Lama again!] but does that mean that now ALL quests have a "Casual" option???
If so, SWEET!
I play either solo or duo with a [now] 6yr old, so some of the level 6-8 quests have been fails on Normal [at level - once 1-2 levels above, they are doable].
Any info on "Epic"? Does it refer to level 21 and up as it does in PnP?
First question - yes, all the way up to 20 : ). With some exceptions with "solo-only" quests, but they are few.
No, epic Levels may come in future. Epic is the new difficulty of some hardest dungeons, with better rewards etc. Good for "lite" gamers.
PS: Install Lammania in different folder, then it won't mess anything up
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Thanks for the info!
I did and it did! [It DID mess up the original install, that is :( ] I think it was the way it set the program pointer - BOTH installs ran the Lama version. I may try again by just copying an install from my other machine and then updating lama via TDM. <fingers crossed>
Thanks for the info!
I did and it did! [It DID mess up the original install, that is :( ] I think it was the way it set the program pointer - BOTH installs ran the Lama version. I may try again by just copying an install from my other machine and then updating lama via TDM. <fingers crossed>
Good luck : ). Somehow, for me both installs work fine, with 2 separate Turibne Download Managers.
Here's the best Update 3 Preview I've seen yet:
www.massively.com/2010/01/28/massivelys-tour-through-ddo-update-3/
Worth checking out.
Ok well , let me start off with this.
First , its a F2P game now , before it was F2P , it was premium pay only for everything. Lets remember this is a game that was not developed from F2P models. Which also means that it has a premuim MMO feel to it and everyone can get that for free now which is great.
Second , there is not another MMO out there that can provide the variation of classes that this game can with its multiclassing abilities.
Far as the games addition of casual play instances , if you ask me , it sounds like all they are doing is relabeling solo , with the word casual because it looks more appealing to more frustrated players even though the content will probably be equally as difficult as solo was. They may have some solo instances still that only allow one person in but I'm guessing that all they did was change the name and allow for more than one person to enter the same challenge of a solo instance.
From a veteran MMO aspect , I honestly dont know how in the world that any class could not solo all the solo quest. Even if I had never ever touched a MMO and jumped into DDO because it was free , I would still be able to finish all solo instances at least up to around level 4 without much problem. If I could not then I should not be playing any MMO period , like ever.
Far as MMO's go , DDO might not be the best looking but there is one thing you get from DDO that no other MMO offers with its PVE in today's market. The ability to make a instance hard on purpose for higher gains and better loot rewards. Even most mmo's that have an elite setting are still a joke for challenge or the loot table for the challenge is a joke.
As far as DDO gos , I honestly dont think there is another MMO that is as different as the rest of the MMO's out there. It actually makes YOUR class and how you build it , very important to do certain things. Which can either go really bad or really good. There are even instances that can almost require you to have a certain class to be successful at it. Its pigeon holing I know but thats what made games that have tons of memories cemented in my head like EQ , DAOC , and DDO stand out , all the times that a grouped needed a good druid to do this ( task ) and they sent me a tell cause they knew I was a good druid and no other class could do what I do. Individuality is what makes games memorable . Add to that , hard challenging content that requires a well skilled group , not to mention doing those sort of instances nightly and building a name for yourself and walla , you got EQ , DAOC , or DDO as the game to play for that.
Not to mention the fact that DDO incorporates complex puzzles and traps and secret passages all through its instances makes it hella fun. Its not just kill the next 50 mob's = grat'z l3wt. Its also not just kill 20 mobs then boss , then 20 more then boss with nothing in-between either , there are traps , secret doors , hallways , places to fall you cant get back out of with hidden treasure , as you go through the entire instances. Its actually fun as hell if you ask me compared to the generic mob kill grind fest you get in WOW , EQ2 , and various tons of other MMO's.
Oh and there is enough content that you really dont need to run the same quest over 10 times , you can do all the quest on all difficulties ( which is 4 ) for the favor it gives you and then stop at that point and move to the next quest and never get bored with any one quest. Its fun.
Good post overall, but about that fragment - DDO in Update 3 will look simply amazing. If you've not seen it yet, prepare to be amazed. AAA+ looks, for certain.
If update 4 brings a mac client... I'd love to play!
Use an emu, or buy a PC.