D&D Online expansion 'Menace of the Underdark' coming this summer

After six years in the market, Dungeons & Dragons Online will receive its first expansion pack, bringing fans to the famed Forgotten Realms. Menace of the Underdark comes out this summer.

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To celebrate its sixth anniversary, Dungeons & Dragons Online developer Turbine has announced the game will finally receive its first expansion. Publisher Warner Bros. Entertainment revealed "Menace of the Underdark" will be coming to the free-to-play MMO this summer.

Fans of the Wizards of the Coast universe will be overjoyed to hear the game will finally include the famed Forgotten Realms--easily the most popular setting for the Dungeons & Dragons series.

In addition to the "beloved Forgotten Realms setting," this summer's expansion will include increase the MMORPG's level cap, add a new Druid class, "and much more."

Turbine will also release Update 13 for Dungeons & Dragons Online, around the game's anniversary on February 22 [via Massively]. The update is set to add a cosmetic pet system. "We will also be introducing new challenge maps and a new storyline that will serve as a prelude to the [expansion] which is launching this summer," a Turbine spokesperson told Shacknews.

The update is set to be free, but "Menace of the Underdark" is set to launch as premium content. When asked for specific pricing details, a Turbine spokesperson said: "We don't have any more details on the expansion other than what we announced this morning. Stay tuned as we will be announcing more details about launch dates, pricing, etc. in the coming weeks."

A press release further detailed the "Menace of the Underdark" expansion's additions:

Journey to the Forgotten Realms: Experience the classic fantasy and adventure of D&D's most imaginative and renowned setting. Arrive in the village of Eveningstar and adventure through the surrounding King's Forest wilderness area where the citizens of the nation of Cormyr must unite to face a new threat to the Realms.

Brave the caverns of the Underdark: Come face to face with the Underdark Drow and Lolth, their Queen and goddess, as you explore this vast and twisted, subterranean world. Infiltrate the Drow stronghold of Shindylryn: the city of portals – where Lolth's forces work to further her schemes.

Attain Epic levels to 25: Forge your Epic Destiny and create a unique Epic hero with powerful character customization options as you advance beyond level 20 to epic level 25.

Play the Druid Class: Play as the all new shape-shifting Druid class! Wield nature's magic or transform into a powerful animal form with this classic D&D class.

Xav de Matos was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    January 19, 2012 3:00 PM

    Xav de Matos posted a new article, D&D Online expansion 'Menace of the Underdark' coming this summer.

    After six years in the market, Dungeons & Dragons Online will receive its first expansion pack, bringing fans to the famed Forgotten Realms. Menace of the Underdark comes out this summer.

    • reply
      January 19, 2012 3:17 PM

      Where's my Asheron's Call, Turbine?!?! I'd like an enjoyable skill/leveling system in an MMO again.

      • reply
        January 19, 2012 3:50 PM

        Its actually still going.

        They're going to be rolling out a combat skill overhaul this february, and theyve recently added Tumeroks to the playable races. Oh! They're also removing the racial bonuses, and giving everyone Arcane Lore and iirc 2 skill credits.

        I mean, there still is a problem of player count, but there isn't anything they can really do about it, what with player housing and all. But you could always try to get into it if you wanted to. I don't think you'll see another MMO like AC again, or if you do, it won't be for a very long time.

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          January 19, 2012 3:56 PM

          Wonder what it's like to work on that - it's not the high profile project for your company but it's still got a steady player base.

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            January 19, 2012 4:03 PM

            [deleted]

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              January 19, 2012 7:58 PM

              Actually I didn't stop playing AC until the WoW beta came around, and even then I didn't completely unsub until after WoW was actually released. IMO that was the big dent in AC's playerbase that hasn't come back since.

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