Dungeons & Dragons Online is opening up its normally VIP-only Cormyr server to all for a limited event period. The new 64-bit server opens up today and will also offer a chance to get Year of the Dragon gifts you may have missed and access to the server-exclusive Lanterns in the Mists event.
Cormyr will be open today after maintenance through April 16th, for about 83 days of access to all. During this nearly 3-month period, anyone can play on this fresh start server. Cormyr originally opened back in October, and is the first 64-bit server for DDO, an effort to offer a few more modernized options, better performance, and smoother gameplay.
Lanterns in the Mists is a Cormyr-exclusive event, set to run through April 15th. The open access period is many people's first opportunity to play through it. The event is flavored with The Mists of Ravenloft, which are spreading across the planes. There are mysterious shapes in The Mists and some people are beginning to disappear. This is the premise for the event, and you'll be able to grab the The Curse of the Five Fangs quest to get started.
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With the free access event, there are also some special bonuses to get everyone rolling new characters on the server started. Today through January 28th there's a 5% buddy boost XP, so team up with others to make the most of it. There's also a 50% boost to Lantern durability through February 18th.
As for the second chance at Year of the Dragon gifts, starting today, Cormyr will offer a chance to collect one of the items every week. Since access to the server is free during this time, it's a good opportunity if you missed any of the gifts during their original release.
Today, on Cormyr and other servers, also begins the Snowpeaks Festival. Running through February 6th, there is a new Champion type, Scourge of the Snowpeaks, rewards, and the potential to win Frozen Keys to access the Snowpeaks themselves and the challenge that awaits once inside.