A sneak peek at Update 24’s dungeons … and beyond

[Knockback]

Content designer Knockback here. I’ve worked on dungeons such as “Eyes of Stone,” “The Snitch,” “A Study In Sable” and the Thunderholme adventure area, and I’m here to update you folks on some of the things we’re currently building for DDO.

Upcoming dungeons in Update 24

Update 24 will be previewed on Lamannia starting this weekend, so now seems like a good time to unveil its dungeons. Get ready for some surprises!

First up in Update 24 is a new content pack, Heart of Madness. The plane of Xoriat is encroaching on Eberron once again and the result is three dungeons full of Xorian insanity. Both the Lord of Eyes and the Lord of Stone are back, as well as some other fan favorite characters. (Hint – one of the dungeons is named “Fashion Madness.”) The centerpiece of the pack is “Terminal Delirium,” the follow-up to two of our most popular dungeons. Once again you’ll be returning to the Sleeping Spell Inn, and once again you’ll be seeing—and be turned into—some very unusual things. Heart of Madness is CR 18 Heroic/26 Epic, and is a paid pack (450 Turbine Points; free to VIPs of course.)

Also coming in Update 24 is a Forgotten Realms dungeon themed to tie in with Wizards of the Coast’s Tyranny of Dragons (https://dnd.wizards.com/dungeons-and-dragons/story) storyline. You’ll infiltrate a Cult of the Dragon base while on the trail of the fabled White Dragon mask. “The Mask of Deception” is CR 16 Heroic/30 Epic, and is free to everyone.

Hey, what happened to Anauroch?

Earlier we had mentioned Anauroch as one of the places we wanted to go in 2014. Obviously that’s not happening.

Why the change? It’s tempting to blame it all on Xorian madness, but the truth is we’ve been listening to what excites you guys when it comes to D&D settings. We may still make it to Anauroch eventually, but don’t expect it any time soon. It’s a long, long walk from Cormyr. Instead of the blazing hot desert, we’re going someplace cooler instead.

Future plans and Update 25

So what kind of cool things led to the detour away from Anauroch? One of them will be coming in Update 25. Since The Haunted Halls of Eveningstar was received so well, we’ve decided to adapt another classic pen-and-paper module to DDO. Rather than blabbing on, I’ll skip right to the awesome part and give you five simple words:

The Temple of Elemental Evil.

Yep, we will be creating our own version of the original, classic Temple inside DDO. We’re very excited about adapting one of the most famous modules in Dungeons and Dragons history, and we hope you are too.

In the meantime, though, we have a date with insanity. Hope to see everyone this weekend on Lamannia for a preview of Update 24!

[LeoLionxxx]

Thank you for this! I was just recently wishing for more xoriat content!

I'm also glad Shadowfell stuff seems to be done and over with and the Cult of the Dragon brought into the spotlight - perhaps we can finally get some acknowledgment from the wizards for doing this.

I'll need to read up on this Temple of Elemental Evil - I've heard the name a couple of times. If it has both heroic and epic version, it could be used to draw in more of the tabletop community as they decide to explore it in 3D.


Overall, very excited to see this great stuff!

[DagazUlf]

I cannot even communicate my enthusiasm for ToEE. I've been running players through T1-4 for over 20 years now and this announcement just thrills me like no other Turbine announcement before.

[Blackheartox]

Temple of elemental evil?

Really?
I mean ty from the bottom of my heart for adding that amazing module to ddo.

Thank you, just simply thank you

[SirShen]

Thanks for the post.

Excited about The Mask of Deception quest and The Temple of Elemental Evil in U25.


Not into the madness quests only do the ones at level 17 because there is nothing else todo at that level. I dont even do the other set of quests at all, since they gimpped the reward rings to level 13 and you can get better rings from chests at a lower level. Will see what they are like on Lama but its doesnt excite me as much as the two above quests.

[bbqzor]

a new content pack, Heart of Madness. The plane of Xoriat is encroaching on Eberron once again and the result is three dungeons full of Xorian insanity. Both the Lord of Eyes and the Lord of Stone are back, as well as some other fan favorite characters. (Hint – one of the dungeons is named “Fashion Madness.”) The centerpiece of the pack is “Terminal Delirium,” the follow-up to two of our most popular dungeons. Once again you’ll be returning to the Sleeping Spell Inn, and once again you’ll be seeing—and be turned into—some very unusual things. Heart of Madness is CR 18 Heroic/26 Epic
Sigh. Just sigh. I hope this one has learned well the lessons of the others, and is accordingly less annoying. But instead I bet we get beholder to the face.


a Forgotten Realms dungeon themed to tie in with Wizards of the Coast’s Tyranny of Dragons (https://dnd.wizards.com/dungeons-and-dragons/story) storyline. You’ll infiltrate a Cult of the Dragon base while on the trail of the fabled White Dragon mask. “The Mask of Deception” is CR 16 Heroic/30 Epic
Sounds intriguing. If done well, instead of just done to cash in on the hype, this could be really cool. Be fun to check out.


we had mentioned Anauroch as one of the places we wanted to go in 2014. Obviously that’s not happening. Why the change? It’s tempting to blame it all on Xorian madness, but the truth is we’ve been listening to what excites you guys when it comes to D&D settings. We may still make it to Anauroch eventually, but don’t expect it any time soon
Somewhat disappointing, if only because a new large FR area held some interest for end game possibilities. Honestly though, that role could be filled by any number of things, all of which could easily turn out better. Quality of content is more important than location to me, so as long as its good stuff its all good. Just keeping us appraised, as in this post, is appreciated. Thanks.


Since The Haunted Halls of Eveningstar was received so well, we’ve decided to adapt another classic pen-and-paper module to DDO. Rather than blabbing on, I’ll skip right to the awesome part and give you five simple words: The Temple of Elemental Evil. Yep, we will be creating our own version of the original, classic Temple inside DDO.
You have chosen... wisely /holygrail. Let me say right now, the more large, epic, and well itemized this is... the better. Do NOT cut any corners. We can wait. Deliver some gold. Deliver it!

[Trillea]

You have chosen... wisely /holygrail. Let me say right now, the more large, epic, and well itemized this is... the better. Do NOT cut any corners. We can wait. Deliver some gold. Deliver it!

This.

A thousand times this.

This module has the possibility of being something not just great but truly epic. Please please please take your time and get it right. I will be waiting on lamannia to see it when it is there.

This is the first time in a LONG time that I have been this excited this early for an update.

Don't let us down, and we won't let you down!

[UurlockYgmeov]

The Temple of Elemental Evil.

ToEE!!! YES!!!

[InsanityIsYourFriend]

Heart of Madness. The plane of Xoriat is encroaching on Eberron once again and the result is three dungeons full of Xorian insanity. Both the Lord of Eyes and the Lord of Stone are back, as well as some other fan favorite characters. (Hint – one of the dungeons is named “Fashion Madness.”) The centerpiece of the pack is “Terminal Delirium,” the follow-up to two of our most popular dungeons. Once again you’ll be returning to the Sleeping Spell Inn, and once again you’ll be seeing—and be turned into—some very unusual things. Heart of Madness is CR 18 Heroic/26 Epic, and is a paid pack (450 Turbine Points; free to VIPs of course.)


Ohhhhhh boy I can not WAIT! While you guys are at it I am hoping for epic versions of Harbringer of Madness and Reign of Madness, and maybe a saga that connects em all.

[FranOhmsford]

Well I for one absolutely LOATHE Delirium and Acute Delirium!

In the Flesh is also amongst my least favourite dungeons!

So this doesn't excite me one bit!


I'd also like to know who has been clamouring for these quests {yes we see the odd person going on about how great they are from time to time on these forums but get in-game and put up an LFM for Acute Delirium and absolutely no-one will join!
They'll happily join once you get to Sane Asylum however!!!
Put up an LFM for In the Flesh on anything other than Elite and you'll have to open it up to 19s cos no-one will break their Streaks!
Put up an LFM for Delirium and Crickets {Put up one for Acid Wit however and you'll have a full group in no time that might just stay for Delirium afterwards!}.



Also: Why yet another Lvl 18 Pack?
We already have more than enough Lvl 17-19 content that doesn't get run!

Even a Legend can hit 20 with ease off Gianthold and Vale these days {Maybe taking in IQ but even that's not seeing the multiple daily LFMs it used to!}.
Once at 20 no-one wants to run Lvl 17-19 quests on Elite as they give less than HALF the XP of an Epic Normal VoN 3/4, Spies or Wiz King!

Another Lvl 16 quest isn't needed either - Lvl 10-12 is where we need new quests!



You're shooting yourselves in the feet by making every new pack both Heroic and Epic with High Level Heroic Versions.

Why would anyone run EE when they can get the Favour from HE? {This is also a problem with low level Heroic versions of Epic Quests but at least they don't come so close together and you might get a few people running both Heroic and Epic versions!}.

What's the point of running HE after that first Favour run when you can get 3 x or more the XP from Epic Normal {which we can now enter at Lvl 20!}.
What's the point of running HN or HH at all?
At least with a low level quest you've got the Newbies who might make use of the HH or HN difficulties.


Finally: You're looking at this Heroic/Epic Dual-Pack system the wrong way round - You're making Epic versions first and reducing for High Level Heroic versions.
This means that NONE of the Heroic quests added since Beyond the Rift has felt {lore and role-play wise} like a High Level Quest!
NOT ONE!

Eveningstar, The High Road, Wheloon, The Stormhorns - Every single one of these could easily have been placed between Lvl 7 and Lvl 12!

As for your Epic only Quests:
Study in Sable - Great Quest though it is could easily have been placed at Lvl 9 {Same as Shadow Crypt!}.
Schindylrynn - Lvl 10-12
The Demonweb - Lvl 17-19 {This is the closest but even then the quests are so short that it doesn't quite work.}

These don't FEEL Epic!

I haven't yet run Brothers of the Forge.


And for E-GH, E-3BC and E-Orchard:

E-GH - Standard upgrade for the quests {pity about Tor} and a Raid that was almost universally acclaimed - The Epic Explorer Zone though is terrible!
E-3BC was done pretty well {though I'm not enamoured with the Airships}
E-Orchard is a Mess!

[Krelar]

I like the idea of ToEE. I hope you do it a bit different from Haunted Halls though.

No one ever goes in and does the entire thing after the first time through, they take the shortest route to get to the end bosses.

I'd like to see each level of ToEE, or at least group of related levels, be it's own dungeon as apposed to one massive dungeon.

[FranOhmsford]

I like the idea of ToEE. I hope you do it a bit different from Haunted Halls though.

No one ever goes in and does the entire thing after the first time through, they take the shortest route to get to the end bosses.

I'd like to see each level of ToEE, or at least group of related levels, be it's own dungeon as apposed to one massive dungeon.

Yes please.

Haunted Halls was amazing soloing EN the first time through on the standard version BUT the extended version is just a Zerg run!

[Vasax]

The Temple of Elemental Evil.




Do not mess this up, this module should not be easy nor quick ( let's not forget the prequel (The Village of Hommlet) and sequel (Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil) ). So I'm not sure how much of those modules will find its way into the overall story. There are a multitude of dungeon levels and even things going on outside the actual temple before getting really into the mix. I can only hope for something a party can spend a few hours over all in and not get bored and solo'd on EE in less then 45mins.

The treasure! Did I just squeal?

While The Haunted Halls of Eveningtar is great, it's personally one of my favorites in DDO and very well done; but it's not perfect.

As for Anauroch, well, I really want Turbine to finish out the Netherese story arch, with Tiamat finally making a long awaited debut.

[Trillea]

I like the idea of ToEE. I hope you do it a bit different from Haunted Halls though.

No one ever goes in and does the entire thing after the first time through, they take the shortest route to get to the end bosses.

I'd like to see each level of ToEE, or at least group of related levels, be it's own dungeon as apposed to one massive dungeon.

This would be just fine with me as long as there is an in-quest continuation exit a-la the House D Depths Quests or the entrance to Spinner of Shadows after the Overlord quest in the E-star connection chain. I would be happiest though if you could not access the highest levels before running the lowest ones working your way up.

[phillymiket]

Awesome.

I can't wait :-D

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/913/oMzrJc.png (https://imageshack.com/i/pdoMzrJcp)

[Qhualor]

interesting that Xoriat is a fan favorite and not Anauroch. I think you guys are confused with xp/min Sane Asylum as the actual reason why its run. never have I been in a group doing it the "long" way or fighting Left Eye/Right Eye. good luck trying to get a group together to run the whole chain. it was easier before the xp curve change, but not now. personally not a fan of any of the Madness and Xoriat quests, but I do still run them. to be honest, not looking forward to more of them, but I will check them out of course since they would be new quests and who knows, maybe I would like them.

definitely looking forward to Tyranny of Dragons. that whole thing is just cool. personally think they should be level 15 quests because we have plenty of 16s. level 15 is the last heroic level range that needs a few more quests. when I IR, I end up farming Litany and Missing because lack of level 15 content. either way, its exciting to get Tyranny at any level range.

kudos on learning from the actual fan favorite Haunted Halls and continuing on with that idea.

ill be on Lamma for sure if 202 error is fixed this time.

edit: put in right quest name

[FranOhmsford]

interesting that Xoriat is a fan favorite and not Anauroch. I think you guys are confused with xp/min Lord of Eyes as the actual reason why its run. never have I been in a group doing it the "long" way or fighting Left Eye/Right Eye. good luck trying to get a group together to run the whole chain. it was easier before the xp curve change, but not now. personally not a fan of any of the Madness and Xoriat quests, but I do still run them. to be honest, not looking forward to more of them, but I will check them out of course since they would be new quests and who knows, maybe I would like them.

Sane Asylum not Lord of Eyes {LoE is the End Quest - Sane Asylum is the XP Quest}.

Yeah - I'll run them {I need the Favour} but there's no way I'll ever step into the Epic Versions!


Losing Anauroch however is a kick in the teeth!

[vengfarga]

Comrade Ohmsford has long and WELL represented the views of many brothers and sister of this commisariat.
However, we are concerned that the following intercepted exchange:

"Well I for one absolutely LOATHE Delirium and Acute Delirium!

In the Flesh is also amongst my least favourite dungeons!

So this doesn't excite me one bit!"

is failing to take into account the fact that we're getting THE TEMPLE OF ELEMENTAL EVIL!!!!1!!!!!
and as such a failing has occurred, it should require at least 10 seconds per minute of frowning, muttering and shaking of heads before resuming grinning like a loon and cheering based on the outside chance that this much beloved module might actually translate in a way we don't whinge about TOO much!

[FranOhmsford]

Comrade Ohmsford has long and WELL represented the views of many brothers and sister of this commisariat.
However, we are concerned that the following intercepted exchange:

"Well I for one absolutely LOATHE Delirium and Acute Delirium!

In the Flesh is also amongst my least favourite dungeons!

So this doesn't excite me one bit!"

is failing to take into account the fact that we're getting THE TEMPLE OF ELEMENTAL EVIL!!!!1!!!!!
and as such a failing has occurred, it should require at least 10 seconds per minute of frowning, muttering and shaking of heads before resuming grinning like a loon and cheering based on the outside chance that this much beloved module might actually translate in a way we don't whinge about TOO much!

Oh I'm all for Temple but it it's anything like Haunted Halls i.e. a Zerg Fest then No!

Again: Haunted Halls doesn't feel {Lore or Roleplay wise} like an Epic Dungeon!

If the Devs had put it at Lvl 6 it would be just as good if not better on the standard version {extended could have been placed at say Lvl 12.}.

Temple needs to be as good {if not better than} as Haunted Halls on the first exploration BUT it also needs to FEEL like an Epic Dungeon AND be much much better on subsequent runs!
I.E. NO ZERGING ALLOWED!!!

[Claver]

Heart of Madness.

The Temple of Elemental Evil.




Awesome News!!!

More Beholder Drunkeness!!!! For me, the Madness quests are some of the must fun and original quests in the game. I still make it a point to take my time in those quests and soak it all in.


And Temple of Elemental Evil was possibly the first D&D module I ever experienced. I hope you guys have giant halfling swallowing Frogs and a Cleric boss with black armor and slit helm with an eyeball emblem on his chest. 30some years later I want to payback that cleric for smacking me upside the head, repeatedly, with his mace.

[Dramentia]

I would like to see with the new content a re-work of Archmage tree. Unless you are Warforged or PM no one plays wizard. Archmage needs a familiar. And some kind of healing amp or something. Let us magically infuse potions like arti's or give access to healing wands. And maybe even let us make wands. I don't want to play a pm and I don't want to be warforged either. And unless you are one of the two you are not getting into raids. Hell you are lucky to survive regular quests. We need something to make a non pm non warforged wizard viable. The harper tree helps but come on give us something better. Everything bloody evades the arcane blast and bolts in higher levs. So make it more powerful and let us heal better at least.

[Oxarhamar]

Exactly what player feedback on Anaurock?

The same type of player feedback with Crystal Cove Augments that got scrapped because, a few players said "boo"?


Common man! let's have some surveys or at least threads for/against for this type of player content killing feedback so we can see that this is actually what the players want.

I might even go as far as to have an in game survey on log in for such things. In that case every active player gets a voice not just the few on the forums who are saying "boo"


Tell us please, how many players disliked or liked Anaurock?

[FranOhmsford]

Exactly what player feedback on Anaurock?

The same type of player feedback with Crystal Cove Augments that got scrapped because, a few players said "boo"?


Common man! let's have some surveys or at least threads for/against for this type of player content killing feedback so we can see that this is actually what the players want.

I might even go as far as to have an in game survey on log in for such things. In that case every player gets a voice not just the few on the forums who are saying "boo"


Tell us please, how many players disliked or liked Anaurock?

I'm on the forums every day and I haven't seen any concerted player feedback for OR against Anauroch!

This feedback isn't coming from the forums - It's not coming from In-Game - Where is it coming from exactly?

[scipiojedi]

Exactly what player feedback on Anaurock?

I might even go as far as to have an in game survey on log in for such things. In that case every player gets a voice not just the few on the forums who are saying "boo"


Tell us please, how many players disliked or liked Anaurock?

I agree, I think I'm the only one in my guild who reads the forums, so if it is like that across the database then devs are only getting input from a small fraction of the playerbase. In-game surveys I think would work well.

As to the new content: I actually really dislike the Harbinger of Madness chain but I did Acute Delirium once and enjoyed it. But anything that makes it so I don't have to repeat quests is good :) so keep the new content coming!
I haven't gone through Haunted Halls yet so I have no comment on that aspect.

[legendkilleroll]

Well I for one absolutely LOATHE Delirium and Acute Delirium!

In the Flesh is also amongst my least favourite dungeons!

So this doesn't excite me one bit!

You're shooting yourselves in the feet by making every new pack both Heroic and Epic with High Level Heroic Versions.

Why would anyone run EE when they can get the Favour from HE? {This is also a problem with low level Heroic versions of Epic Quests but at least they don't come so close together and you might get a few people running both Heroic and Epic versions!}.

What's the point of running HE after that first Favour run when you can get 3 x or more the XP from Epic Normal {which we can now enter at Lvl 20!}.
What's the point of running HN or HH at all?
At least with a low level quest you've got the Newbies who might make use of the HH or HN difficulties.


So anything that poses more challenge than others at level you dislike, i dont run the deliriums alot and havent had the harbinger pack for too long but the times ive Puged in the flesh at level elite has gone by without any problems

Hmm what? not doing EE for favor reasons, People will still do EE, if its tied to saga, even better

[Vellrad]

ToEE is terrible choice.

You couldn't have bought licence for an adventure THAT WASN'T ALREADY COVERED IN A VIDEO GAME?

First run of dungeon will aready be repetition, unless its entirely different.

[ToastyFred]

Will we need to make some Greater Ooze Bane weapons?

[Angelic-council]

Nine hells?... That's very cool guys. I hope.. one day we get to visit 7 heavens.

[ForgettableNPC]

Yes....YES!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3ALwKeSEYs

THE MADNESS APPROACHETH!
*Laughs maniacally*
Also, good, lv 18-20 range has been really lacking in quests.

Now if we could get a third part of the Droaam Storyline...

[Baal222]

I like Xoriat. beholders, for me, are very iconic of the D&D game. I don't know much about the temple of elemental evil, but it has me intrigued. Also, I get pushing back content, but I had the impression it was mostly done already? Are we still getting epic destiny revamps soon? And are we still getting intelligent weapons eventually? Cause those are the things I'm excited about.

[Angelic-council]

First, yes^2 for Temple.

Second, meh to the Xoriat stuff. I could take it or leave it.

Third, more dragons? Sure. I'll take that.

Overall, excited at this. Especially by ToEE. Yes. Don't forget Village of Hommlet pre-quest. Props to Vasax for mentioning it ^first.^

Running PnP ToEE was never ever ever a one-session run. It was so massive and daunting. When you finished it was after several sessions and multiple trips in and out of the place, and it meant something. That being said, ToEE could be its own saga, with at least 8-10 individual quests. Capstone could be a raid. Or maybe not.

I love HHoE but agree with all comments above. First time through is awesome. Every run after that is Zerg zerg.

More dragons and more undeads. Next update, more and more undeads :p how about celestial.

[Singular]

Please make the ToEE consist of several quests instead of just one large one.

:)

[FranOhmsford]

Also, good, lv 18-20 range has been really lacking in quests.

IQ+DD, The High Road, Stormhorns, Amrath, House Cannith, Murder By Night/The Riddle, HoX/VoD

How is that really lacking?

Plus: Apart from IQ/DD and the two E-Star quests these simply don't get run at level for Heroics anyway!

People are hitting 20 even on multiple TRs from GH/Vale/Spinner!

The Level 17s - Reaver's Refuge and The Second Madness Chain {with the honourable exceptions of Shroud and Sane Asylum for pretty obvious reasons!} get run even less!


P.S. There's 13 Lvl 18 Quests according to the DDO Wiki and 21 {TWENTY ONE} Lvl 19s!
There's also 14 Lvl 16s and 14 Lvl 17s
You know how many Lvl 15s there are?
TEN!
You know how many Lvl 12s there are?
ELEVEN!
13s?
TEN!
14s?
TEN!


And I'll say this again...Cos it seems to really need saying!

Lvl 17-19 Quests don't get run! {Well after the 1st time for Favour that is AND that can be done at Lvl 28!}.

[fmalfeas]

TASTE THE SPLENDOR OF XORIAT!!!

Thank you!!! Seriously, I run both madness chains every single life, no matter the build. (Some builds have to run on Normal because they're just not that buff, but still...) Xoriat stuff is my favorite stuff in Eberron. Gibbering madness, Abberations galore, braineating...and the eyes...they are watching you. Speak with your feet, if you want to save your sole!

[HatsuharuZ]

I'm very happy to see more Xoriat quests! I know it's silly, but I hope that you put armors/shields that druids can equip in these quests somewhere.

Or how about an Orb that looks like a large eyeball? :D

[nibel]

I'm really, really, REALLY happy to see a brand new Eberron chain added. Since MotU, all we had was epic versions of old dungeons, and Brothers of Forge. It being Xoriat related makes it even better. Thanks you. A lot.

ToEE is an interesting surprise, and while I am myself a casual player, I would like to implore you to make this quest as hard and harsh as possible. Harsh as in "will take the best players in the game a few weeks before first full dungeon completion". To avoid the zergrush that infested Haunted Halls, I would suggest a "miniboss secret counter" and miniboss random locations, so that only after defeating all minibosses, the big optional boss will spawn (also in a random location). You can keep the "quest final boss" concept of HH for quest completion and XP, but gate the real big loot behind something that requires a full search.


I'm on the forums every day and I haven't seen any concerted player feedback for OR against Anauroch!

I talk all the time about not adding anything Forgotten Realms related. Does this count?

[mudfud]

Content designer Knockback here. I’ve worked on dungeons such as “Eyes of Stone,” “The Snitch,” “A Study In Sable” and the Thunderholme adventure area, and I’m here to update you folks on some of the things we’re currently building for DDO.

Upcoming dungeons in Update 24

Update 24 will be previewed on Lamannia starting this weekend, so now seems like a good time to unveil its dungeons. Get ready for some surprises!

First up in Update 24 is a new content pack, Heart of Madness. The plane of Xoriat is encroaching on Eberron once again and the result is three dungeons full of Xorian insanity. Both the Lord of Eyes and the Lord of Stone are back, as well as some other fan favorite characters. (Hint – one of the dungeons is named “Fashion Madness.”) The centerpiece of the pack is “Terminal Delirium,” the follow-up to two of our most popular dungeons. Once again you’ll be returning to the Sleeping Spell Inn, and once again you’ll be seeing—and be turned into—some very unusual things. Heart of Madness is CR 18 Heroic/26 Epic, and is a paid pack (450 Turbine Points; free to VIPs of course.)

Also coming in Update 24 is a Forgotten Realms dungeon themed to tie in with Wizards of the Coast’s Tyranny of Dragons (https://dnd.wizards.com/dungeons-and-dragons/story) storyline. You’ll infiltrate a Cult of the Dragon base while on the trail of the fabled White Dragon mask. “The Mask of Deception” is CR 16 Heroic/30 Epic, and is free to everyone.

Hey, what happened to Anauroch?

Earlier we had mentioned Anauroch as one of the places we wanted to go in 2014. Obviously that’s not happening.

Why the change? It’s tempting to blame it all on Xorian madness, but the truth is we’ve been listening to what excites you guys when it comes to D&D settings. We may still make it to Anauroch eventually, but don’t expect it any time soon. It’s a long, long walk from Cormyr. Instead of the blazing hot desert, we’re going someplace cooler instead.

Future plans and Update 25

So what kind of cool things led to the detour away from Anauroch? One of them will be coming in Update 25. Since The Haunted Halls of Eveningstar was received so well, we’ve decided to adapt another classic pen-and-paper module to DDO. Rather than blabbing on, I’ll skip right to the awesome part and give you five simple words:

The Temple of Elemental Evil.

Yep, we will be creating our own version of the original, classic Temple inside DDO. We’re very excited about adapting one of the most famous modules in Dungeons and Dragons history, and we hope you are too.

In the meantime, though, we have a date with insanity. Hope to see everyone this weekend on Lamannia for a preview of Update 24!

Why are you, ( a mere developer ) and not an actual producer making this announcement?

[Claver]

I hope you guys have giant halfling swallowing Frogs and a Cleric boss with black armor and slit helm with an eyeball emblem on his chest. 30some years later I want to payback that cleric for smacking me upside the head, repeatedly, with his mace.

http://old-school.wdfiles.com/local--files/gallery%3Asystem/t1.jpg

[FranOhmsford]

I talk all the time about not adding anything Forgotten Realms related. Does this count?

You're not alone there BUT I don't believe the Devs have put Anaurouch on the back burner simply because some people hate the Realms.

Either that or Uska has far more clout with Turbine than any of us thought!

[Claver]

https://40.media.tumblr.com/a42cdd094bd5d5e28e5ed09e3a4f2f00/tumblr_n4bnzjZris1sb6iwko1_500.jpg

[Oxarhamar]

I'm on the forums every day and I haven't seen any concerted player feedback for OR against Anauroch!

This feedback isn't coming from the forums - It's not coming from In-Game - Where is it coming from exactly?

My guess would be in the original Producers letter that introduced the plans of Anaurock.

Either a few "boos" or not enough excitement about I just like the Augs in Cove

Still that's a small bit of players commenting on that thread.

[Oxarhamar]

Please make the ToEE consist of several quests instead of just one large one.

:)

ten thousand times this.

You beat me too it I was distracted by the deletion of Anaurock.


Haunted Halls is great but, give us more than one quest.


Take a look at Tangleroot.
Tangleroot has 2 conjoined instances with a total of 10 quests.

This is development time spend wisely build a dungeon then create different quests within. Many a pnp GM knows how to reinvent a new quest in an old dungeon the adventurers have already visited.


And before I forget STOP THE INSANITY with the BTA or BTC loot if it's not tradeable it's trash!

[nibel]

Also: Why yet another Lvl 18 Pack?
We already have more than enough Lvl 17-19 content that doesn't get run!

Even a Legend can hit 20 with ease off Gianthold and Vale these days {Maybe taking in IQ but even that's not seeing the multiple daily LFMs it used to!}.
Once at 20 no-one wants to run Lvl 17-19 quests on Elite as they give less than HALF the XP of an Epic Normal VoN 3/4, Spies or Wiz King!

Another Lvl 16 quest isn't needed either - Lvl 10-12 is where we need new quests!

P.S. There's 13 Lvl 18 Quests according to the DDO Wiki and 21 {TWENTY ONE} Lvl 19s!
There's also 14 Lvl 16s and 14 Lvl 17s
You know how many Lvl 15s there are?
TEN!
You know how many Lvl 12s there are?
ELEVEN!
13s?
TEN!
14s?
TEN!

Yep, 16-19 is oversatured. Put more spice earlier in the road.


Finally: You're looking at this Heroic/Epic Dual-Pack system the wrong way round - You're making Epic versions first and reducing for High Level Heroic versions.
This means that NONE of the Heroic quests added since Beyond the Rift has felt {lore and role-play wise} like a High Level Quest!
NOT ONE!

Eveningstar, The High Road, Wheloon, The Stormhorns - Every single one of these could easily have been placed between Lvl 7 and Lvl 12!

As for your Epic only Quests:
Study in Sable - Great Quest though it is could easily have been placed at Lvl 9 {Same as Shadow Crypt!}.
Schindylrynn - Lvl 10-12
The Demonweb - Lvl 17-19 {This is the closest but even then the quests are so short that it doesn't quite work.}

These don't FEEL Epic!

I have been talking since MotU was released that almost every quest in FR can be 20 levels lower and still fit perfectly within their lore (with the exception of Demonweb) and equivalent DDO quests. King's Forest chain? Equivalent to Khortos. Schildylryn chain? equivalent to STK. Druid's Deep? only animals and plant creatures as opponents. Easy level 6-ish. High Road? Sharn Syndicate equivalent. Heck, Vault of Night (a level TEN raid) feels more "epic" that both Thunderholme raids.

But we all know why those quests are not on level 10-15 range. It is because of Iconics.

[Calinthus]

After you're done perfecting that, maybe... Council of Wyrms????

[The_Human_Cypher]

You guys are great! I'm really excited about this new content. I think the majority of players enjoy the Xoriat quests, which is among the best content in Eberron.

Hopefully, the Temple of Elemental Evil quest will contain at least one sly reference to its video game predecessor. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Temple_of_Elemental_Evil_(video_game)

I do hope that Anauroch gets done at the end of 2015 or in 2016. That area would build on the Netherese story arc and would be a welcome addition to the Forgotten Realms content.

[noneill]

Awesome, Greyhawk comes to DDO, my dream come true!
Even if it is officially a FR version of TOEE , I know it is really Greyhawk.

Very excited about this and can't wait for more details.

[fmalfeas]

Eh, I honestly don't feel like anything with mobs called 'Netherese Arcanist' should be in heroic (at least change out those mobs). Why? Because Netherese Arcanist is a 3.5 Epic Prestige Class built around Epic Spellcasting. Like Elven High Mage. Netherese Arcanists cast spells like 'Proctiv's Move Mountain'. Yeah...MOVE MOUNTAIN. They first cast an epic spell to slice the mountain off, then use that one to make it fly. Then they turn it upside down, and put a city on top of it.

The Arcanist Kings of old were even scarier, but I don't think that the current Shar-warped Netheril has more than one of them left. Of course, there's a couple puttering around the Realms, doing very little other than amusing themselves with spell research and magic item/artifact creation.

[fmalfeas]

You guys are great! I'm really excited about this new content. I think the majority of players enjoy the Xoriat quests, which is among the best content in Eberron.

Hopefully, the Temple of Elemental Evil quest will contain at least one sly reference to its video game predecessor. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Temple_of_Elemental_Evil_(video_game)

I do hope that Anauroch gets done at the end of 2015 or in 2016. That area would build on the Netherese story arc and would be a welcome addition to the Forgotten Realms content.


Only one reference to that game is needed. The frogs auto-swallow paladins, every attack, and make them their primary targets.

[DANTEIL]

This is really great news to have! (and very interesting that it doesn't come from an Exec Prod) For me personally, it's a mixed bag.. the Delirium quests are not my favorite so I'm not terribly excited about revisiting those, but the Cult of the Dragon quest sounds cool.. and I'm super duper excited about the possibility of Temple of Elemental Evil in the future. also, I suspect I am in the minority here, but I hope that there is a way to allow lower level characters to experience this module.

[The_Human_Cypher]

Awesome, Greyhawk comes to DDO, my dream come true!
Even if it is officially a FR version of TOEE , I know it is really Greyhawk.

Very excited about this and can't wait for more details.

Good point about Greyhawk and TOEE. I think that having a DDO version of TOEE in the Forgotten Realms shows that Turbine has some flexibility in its IP with WoTC, despite what some players have suggested on these forums.

TOEE could be one very large quest that includes parts of the entire T 1-4 module series such as the Village of Hommlet. It will be interesting to see the final product.

[Braegan]

First, thanks for the update on things to come!

As far as more Xoriat quests, I am kinda meh about it until I see it. The ones in game currently are not my favorites so I do tend to skip them mostly. They are fun the first time or on a lark to run them, but not so much for repeatable content, IMHO. Of course these new ones could totally rock, so I'll hold back on judgment.

Regarding Anaurouch , not sure where you got feedback it wasn't wanted. I know a small vocal bit that hate the Realms, but they are the minority for sure.

As far as giving us more table top feel adventures like HH, I friggin love it! ToEE! Hearing this really makes me excited and can't wait to try it out. Please make it huge and epic!

[MisterTee01]

I’ll skip right to the awesome part and give you five simple words:

The Temple of Elemental Evil.



okay i am officially excited for this

[The_Human_Cypher]

Also related to the TOEE and Greyhawk: where will TOEE be placed in the DDO game world? Might we actually get to visit Greyhawk?!?!

[Oxarhamar]

Good point about Greyhawk and TOEE. I think that having a DDO version of TOEE in the Forgotten Realms shows that Turbine has some flexibility in its IP with WoTC, despite what some players have suggested on these forums.

TOEE could be one very large quest that includes parts of the entire T 1-4 module series such as the Village of Hommlet. It will be interesting to see the final product.

Interestingly enough if you talk the Mindflayer teleporter on the ship it mentions serving on a Spelljammer type ship (Easter egg?) but, with that lore DDO could go to just about any setting without restrictions.

[Sgt_Hart]

but the truth is we’ve been listening to what excites you guys when it comes to D&D settings.

Then Gimme My Ravenloft!


Future plans and Update 25

So what kind of cool things led to the detour away from Anauroch? One of them will be coming in Update 25. Since The Haunted Halls of Eveningstar was received so well, we’ve decided to adapt another classic pen-and-paper module to DDO. Rather than blabbing on, I’ll skip right to the awesome part and give you five simple words:

The Temple of Elemental Evil.

Yep, we will be creating our own version of the original, classic Temple inside DDO. We’re very excited about adapting one of the most famous modules in Dungeons and Dragons history, and we hope you are too.

In the meantime, though, we have a date with insanity. Hope to see everyone this weekend on Lamannia for a preview of Update 24!

And no greyhawk either?

[Hilltrot]

My copy of T1, T2 and T1-4 was read and reread so many times it fell apart to shreds. It's a good classic. Dungeon ecology is one of the primary reasons why it is a classic. Keep on the borderlands is another good example. DDO hasn't always done a good job with dungeon ecology - especially years 3-4.

The best i can see you doing with TOEE is something similar to Tangleroot. Keep on raiding the same dungeon, until you kill the final bad guys. You haven't done this recently, so I guess that would be ok. I don't see being able to team up with the "bad guys" to defeat the other "bad guys".

Another thing is that TOEE was meant for levels 1-8 . . . so you'll have to epic-size the dungeon.

If you're looking at deserts and want a blast from the past, might I suggest reading X4 and X5? A little less known, but popular enough to come back in X10. There's also I1-I4, but I never really like them too much. But they have more of an Egyptian feel.

Though honestly, I like The Pit. But maybe I'm sick.

[die]

Thanks for the update. Always appreciated. How many quest in update 24? I heard 3 . But I may not be reading your post right, I am seeing 2 new quests.-Doom

[LeoLionxxx]

Thanks for the update. Always appreciated. How many quest in update 24? I heard 3 . But I may not be reading your post right, I am seeing 2 new quests.-Doom

4 new quests - 3 in the new pack (with one presumably taking place in the same inn as delerium/acute delerium), and a f2p one in the forgotten realms.

[AbyssalMage]

The best i can see you doing with TOEE is something similar to Tangleroot. Keep on raiding the same dungeon, until you kill the final bad guys. You haven't done this recently, so I guess that would be ok. I don't see being able to team up with the "bad guys" to defeat the other "bad guys".

Please NO Tangleroot Clone!!! Freaking hate that series of adventures. I know people enjoy it but I have never understood why. I can barely handle Sorrowdusk Isle (http://ddowiki.com/page/Sorrowdusk_Isle) and that has the same basic set-up. Ruins of Threnal (http://ddowiki.com/page/Ruins_of_Threnal) is also another is the same vain although I think once they fix the level range of the adventures (*hint hint*) it will be better received. With the revamp to Coyle, I can't wait to watch him "die" a few times this life. The loss of xp will be worth it.


Another thing is that TOEE was meant for levels 1-8 . . . so you'll have to epic-size the dungeon.
Hopefully they adjust the level range (because they are listening to the players), maybe lower the level to 12-15 and mark it an Extreme Dungeon :)
But can't wait. Let's skip U24 and do U25. Doesn't sound like many people are too excited for more Xoriat crud.


Though honestly, I like The Pit. But maybe I'm sick.
Yup :p

[FranOhmsford]

Please NO Tangleroot Clone!!! Freaking hate that series of adventures. I know people enjoy it but I have never understood why. I can barely handle Sorrowdusk Isle (http://ddowiki.com/page/Sorrowdusk_Isle) and that has the same basic set-up. Ruins of Threnal (http://ddowiki.com/page/Ruins_of_Threnal) is also another is the same vain although I think once they fix the level range of the adventures (*hint hint*) it will be better received. With the revamp to Coyle, I can't wait to watch him "die" a few times this life. The loss of xp will be worth it.


Splinterskull is superior to Grey Moon/Cult of the Six in almost every way imaginable!

But the biggest difference is that Splinterskull doesn't require you to cross half the slayer zone to get to the questgiver between each d@rn quest!
Also: You can Teleport to Splinterskull - You can't to Cult of the Six! {not a problem for the early Grey Moon quests but a pain for the later quests!}.

[scipiojedi]

Hopefully they adjust the level range (because they are listening to the players), maybe lower the level to 12-15 and mark it an Extreme Dungeon :)
But can't wait. Let's skip U24 and do U25. Doesn't sound like many people are too excited for more Xoriat crud.



I don't think they can adjust the level range of the new xoriat quests, because I read it the new quests will continue the chain of the madness series, so they would have to make those lower level to be played BEFORE the new ones.

[FranOhmsford]

I don't think they can adjust the level range of the new xoriat quests, because I read it the new quests will continue the chain of the madness series, so they would have to make those lower level to be played BEFORE the new ones.

I'd be happy if they just made the new Xoriat Chain Epic only {Yes it would hurt me personally in my quest for 5k Favour on Lieuk BUT it would make more sense for the GAME!}.

There's literally no need for a Lvl 18 Heroic Version!

[Annex]

I absolutely hate Xoriat quests and will not run them again or buy any more, but cheers for players who enjoy such things. :)

The free quest sounds interesting. While not a fan of the Forgotten Realms, I have enjoyed most of the DDO quests associated with that setting.

My friends and I will definitely acquire The Temple of Elemental Evil.

I would like to join those players asking for more level 12(ish) quests. The Attack on Stormreach and Duergar quests are some of my favorites in the game. We almost always play catch-up against one evil force or another attempting to take over the world. Maybe the good guys can go on the offensive and catch the bad guys flat footed for a change?

[Cauthey_No_CCInfo]

Sounds fun.

But what say you to making the Harper Enhancement Trees unlockable via favor reward, or some other quest/feat of completion? Inquiring minds wanna know. Mainly because you alienated a bunch of folks by making this feature a straight money grab. Folks I enjoyed playing with.

Thanks...

[waryJerry]

All of this sounds good but I want to react to just one thing the devs have said: that is, that there is no "interest" in Anauroch. Whose interest or lack thereof are they referring to? Are they referring to the dev team, the good folks at Time Warner, or the players? There's a divide among players as to whether the team should be focusing on Eberron or Forgotten Realms content (I myself prefer the latter), but I just think that insisting that there's no player interest in Anauroch is ridiculous. Basically, the statement that there's no interest in Anauroch seems disingenuous to me.

[Hilltrot]

Will we need to make some Greater Ooze Bane weapons?

I hope not - considering a fungus is not an ooze.

[Draculetta]

The Temple of Elemental Evil.

Yep, we will be creating our own version of the original, classic Temple inside DDO. We’re very excited about adapting one of the most famous modules in Dungeons and Dragons history, and we hope you are too.


YES YES YES!!! Oh My! The only thing better than TOEE would be Ravenloft! (A guy can dream right!)

I'm going to have level! As I've been waiting for TOEE for ALONG time!

[Hilltrot]

Lvl 17-19 Quests don't get run! {Well after the 1st time for Favour that is AND that can be done at Lvl 28!}.

I always seem to find the group that wants to do Enter the Kobold. Yep just Enter the kobold - none of the other Reaver adverntures JUST ENTER THE KOBOLD!! WHY THE SAM H$^# DO PEOPLE ALWAYS WANT TO DO ENTER THE KOBOLD!

WHAT's EVEN WORSE IS THAT THEY SUCK SO BADLY THEY CAN'T EVEN COMPLETE THE THING!?



AAAAAAARRRRRGHGHGHGHGGGG!

[moo_cow]

Snip

I must say I am a little disappointed about the lord of stone area continuing, that seems to be one of the packs that isn't run as often. Hopefully it will be interesting but I never really like the whole xorian areas. I also was looking very forward to Anauroch but the temple of elemental evil sounds very cool. Update 24 with the continuation of the Tyranny of Dragons is very cool though.

[moo_cow]

Instead of the blazing hot desert, we’re going someplace cooler instead.


Some sort of mountain area perhaps?

[Cetus]

Everything sounds quite good. One thing sounds HORRIBLE

That's the CR 26 bit for all three in the new pack? What more, that turns out to be the paid one too?

Let me remind you that your ostensibly "endgame" pack last time contained quests that were soloed day 1. What do you think your CR26 nonsense will contribute to this game, exactly?

The fact that ToEE is announced and the other quest is CR 30 somewhat excites me.

[ForgettableNPC]

IQ+DD, The High Road, Stormhorns, Amrath, House Cannith, Murder By Night/The Riddle, HoX/VoD

How is that really lacking?

Plus: Apart from IQ/DD and the two E-Star quests these simply don't get run at level for Heroics anyway!

People are hitting 20 even on multiple TRs from GH/Vale/Spinner!

The Level 17s - Reaver's Refuge and The Second Madness Chain {with the honourable exceptions of Shroud and Sane Asylum for pretty obvious reasons!} get run even less!


P.S. There's 13 Lvl 18 Quests according to the DDO Wiki and 21 {TWENTY ONE} Lvl 19s!
There's also 14 Lvl 16s and 14 Lvl 17s
You know how many Lvl 15s there are?
TEN!
You know how many Lvl 12s there are?
ELEVEN!
13s?
TEN!
14s?
TEN!


And I'll say this again...Cos it seems to really need saying!

Lvl 17-19 Quests don't get run! {Well after the 1st time for Favour that is AND that can be done at Lvl 28!}.

Well, to be fair, I don't have half of the packs you mentioned, so I'm only speaking from my perspective.

It's just that I seem to have had the worst time trying to find quests in the lv 18-20 range last life, and that was only from since a month ago.

maybe it's just my bad timing...

[nibel]

I always seem to find the group that wants to do Enter the Kobold. Yep just Enter the kobold - none of the other Reaver adverntures JUST ENTER THE KOBOLD!! WHY THE SAM H$^# DO PEOPLE ALWAYS WANT TO DO ENTER THE KOBOLD!

WHAT's EVEN WORSE IS THAT THEY SUCK SO BADLY THEY CAN'T EVEN COMPLETE THE THING!?

Because EtK have a final boss that is extremely punishing to anyone without evasion, so they join parties expecting the rest of the party can solo him. It is a similar issue that I face when I run my once-a-life New Invasion.

Prey and Monastery can be easily soloed, so they don't need a party.

[jalont]

Everything sounds quite good. One thing sounds HORRIBLE

That's the CR 26 bit for all three in the new pack? What more, that turns out to be the paid one too?

Let me remind you that your ostensibly "endgame" pack last time contained quests that were soloed day 1. What do you think your CR26 nonsense will contribute to this game, exactly?

The fact that ToEE is announced and the other quest is CR 30 somewhat excites me.

What exactly have you seen that has led you to believe that the devs or the player base want to take the game in any other direction? If you think that DDO will be releasing anything challenging again, you're in for a bad time.

[EllisDee37]

The Temple of Elemental Evil.*faints*

The awesome, it overwhelms me!

[The_Human_Cypher]

All of this sounds good but I want to react to just one thing the devs have said: that is, that there is no "interest" in Anauroch. Whose interest or lack thereof are they referring to? Are they referring to the dev team, the good folks at Time Warner, or the players? There's a divide among players as to whether the team should be focusing on Eberron or Forgotten Realms content (I myself prefer the latter), but I just think that insisting that there's no player interest in Anauroch is ridiculous. Basically, the statement that there's no interest in Anauroch seems disingenuous to me.

The dev team probably scoped out the project and realized that it would require more resources than they had available to properly implement. I hope we get to see Anauroch by next year.

[axel15810]

Awesome announcements.

Also it's awesome to get more heroic level 18 content. Love that we'll have more content for level 18-20. I always felt the choices in that range were a bit light.

A little disappointed that there's no raid and no new endgame content this update (unless ToEE is a level 30 quest?).

[Full_Bleed]

Looking forward to seeing what the ToEE looks like in DDO.

I do wonder if we are going to get the satellite adventures.

I suppose that Evening Star can kind of fill in for Homlet, but the Moat House and Nulb do really set the story before delving into the temple.

I do hope they can capture the scope of the adventure.

[Infiltraitor]

Awesome. Just one thing.

A single adventure pack will sell for 450 turbine points.
A single sale of a good BTCOE item on the astral shard exchange can cost almost 200 shards, or about 1000 turbine points.

We've all heard about the mass layoffs going on at Turbine. Remember the bottom line.

[Alternative]

For the love of god, no more furniture excort quests! Who exactly was saying those are the favorites??

[kmoustakas]

Moar... xoriat...? You mean, you're actually gonna give me something I've been asking for?

I'm at a loss for words. Thanks! YAYYYYYYYY

[kmoustakas]

Sorry for the double post but are there any thoughts on making a bundle for the 3 xoriat packs like the landlubber pack?

[mikarddo]

Please make all the quests level 30. Thats much more needed than even more level 26 quests.

[pjw]

First up in Update 24 is a new content pack, Heart of Madness.

ToEE sounds great!

But, please tell me these won't be just epicified versions of the existing quests?

[pjw]

Awesome. Just one thing.
...
A single sale of a good BTCOE item on the astral shard exchange can cost almost 200 shards...

Most likely because of duping of shards. TP can't (afaik!) be duped...

[Arlathen]

Love the news :)

Temple of Elemental Evil was one of my favourite PC games, so it'll be great to go back to that setting. Thumbs up from me on that one!

A suggestion? Use the 'Depths of ...' House Deneith method of having a really long quest split into surface accessible multiple points. The players that want to run it as a mass '3 Hour' Epic Juggernaught can do so, while those who want to pick and choose which parts to run can also do so.

As for Xoriat ... bring it on! Don't forget an Epic Fang of Siberys please. Do I dare say Yalthoon is going to return? And Pykzel? I'm really glad Xoriat is being developed further, they were always interesting quests to journey through on a heroic TR for me.

Looking forward to this update.

[FuzzyDuck81]

Ahh ToEE, I'm looking forward to it already, though it's a bit sad too since that reminds me of what happened to poor Troika.. time to load up some of their stuff & have a nostalgia-fest i guess.

Xoriat should be.. interesting :) Much as I found parts of the quests frustrating at times, I definitely enjoyed them overall, love that craziness & silly stuff.

[soloist12]

You have chosen... wisely /holygrail. Let me say right now, the more large, epic, and well itemized this is... the better. Do NOT cut any corners. We can wait. Deliver some gold. Deliver it!

Spot on. Those points are key, and what made Haunted Halls well received.

[Revolted]

5 things:

1- Awesome, Temple is one of the greatest, so I'm pretty happy to see it on DDO. If you do it as great as HH it will be a blast.

2- I know that the fragments and tokens of the Twelve strangely disappeared from the new epic quests on Eberron (since GH they don't show up in any new content), probably because Eberron was invaded by a Forgotten Realms spirit that forgot about them (pun intended), but I kinda dislike all the groups running DA for tokens because while we're leveling from 20-28 only the oldest and lower level content drop them. I don't need anymore tokens in truth, but for a new player that want to get to lvl 28 to have to "grind" DA for them is sad.

3- I was kinda hoping for the Phaerimm, they're pretty cool (Return of the Archwizards, by Troy Denning proves my point!), make them in the future please, even if it's not on their natural habitat (maybe a stupid netherese brought a pack of them to a place near Cormyr to give chase to the wizards there, or to battle agains the Red Wizards of Thay (Please I want Red Wizards on DDO :P) )

4- Xoriat is cool, just make the quests more like Delirium, less like Sane Asylum :P

5- So no level cap increase for U24? Not that I want it, but that was the plan, IIRC

[Feralthyrtiaq]

Really <3 paying homage to the classics HHoE and ToEE...

Not a big fan of the Xoriat stuff personally and typically avoid a lot of that content.

Now then the booooo comes from the severe lack of good XP level 15 quests. Level 12 and level 14 quests are great for XP and level 13 quests are pretty good too. Level 16 quests can level you from 18 to 20 becaue the XP is pretty good with BB streak. However, with the exception of Litany and the hardly ever run In the Flesh the rest of the XP from level 15 quests is rubbish. The 3 level 15 quests added in Eveningstar helped a little bit but I try to be double capped before I take level 17, then run Litany skip Delirium and in the Flesh, complete the other lvl15 quests once then move on to 18.

I've seen others mention other level ranges that they feel are lacking in content but let's get real for a moment...it would be so flipping sweet to see a Level 15 heroic quest line with 3 or 4 quests and a finale with an Epic version as well.

Actually I was excited when HHoE was announced but was severely disappointed that there was not a level 15 Heroic version of that released :(

[Oxarhamar]

5- So no level cap increase for U24? Not that I want it, but that was the plan, IIRC

Level cap was pushed back long ago

[Jeromio]

Oh I'm all for Temple but it it's anything like Haunted Halls i.e. a Zerg Fest then No!

Again: Haunted Halls doesn't feel {Lore or Roleplay wise} like an Epic Dungeon!

If the Devs had put it at Lvl 6 it would be just as good if not better on the standard version {extended could have been placed at say Lvl 12.}.

Temple needs to be as good {if not better than} as Haunted Halls on the first exploration BUT it also needs to FEEL like an Epic Dungeon AND be much much better on subsequent runs!
I.E. NO ZERGING ALLOWED!!!

IMHO, Haunted Halls was perfectly done in terms of exploring vs zerging, and I really hope they make something similar out of ToEE.

The first times I did HH, I took it slowly, explored almost everything and enjoyed that a lot. Later, after having experienced everything inside and out lots of times, and only looking for loot and xp, I enjoyed grouping up with zerging parties.

I think it's excellent when Turbine caters for different play styles. Personally I enjoy both exploration and zerging, but for me there's a limit to how much I enjoy exploring stuff when I repeated it a certain number of times.

If you really don't want any zerging, and expect that zergers might turn up, just state "No Zergers" or "Flowersniffing" in your LFM. Your group = your rules.

[Revolted]

Level cap was pushed back long ago

True, forgot about the Producer's letter from July :)

[Wizza]

Is ToEE the ONLY quest coming for Update 25? Kinda similar to HH and the 2 Raids that we had with Update 21? Because if so, I'd rather you make 4 quests instead of one big quest for Update 25.

[Lanadazia]

Both the Lord of Eyes and the Lord of Stone are back [...] Once again you’ll be returning to the Sleeping Spell Inn, and once again you’ll be seeing—and be turned into—some very unusual things.


as you said: once again... once again(!) the xoriat theme, and not even some new stuff but older content mixed up. we had lord of stone and lord of eyes. and a 3rd invasion in the same place? poor inn owner!

obviously i'm no friend of epified and re-used content.




Also coming in Update 24 is a Forgotten Realms dungeon themed to tie in with Wizards of the Coast’s Tyranny of Dragons (https://dnd.wizards.com/dungeons-and-dragons/story) storyline. You’ll infiltrate a Cult of the Dragon base while on the trail of the fabled White Dragon mask. “The Mask of Deception” is CR 16 Heroic/30 Epic, and is free to everyone.


YAY! i love that you give us content that has all of the 3 following criteria: 1. NEW! , 2. free yay!, 3. heroic AND epic
i like it exactly this way (must not be free though, but its always nice to show new people some good looking content, instead of ugly harbor quests!)



Hey, what happened to Anauroch?


nuff said.




but the truth is we’ve been listening to what excites you guys when it comes to D&D settings.

really? i don't know many people that actually like running acute delirium, also there isnt much LFM stuff going on. its a well designed quest and i like the slapstick and the "different" kind of quest. sadly most quests that require a little ammount of communication are not so popular

i don't get one thing: why did you push back an already announced theme, to replace it with something we already have?
there are a bunch of xoriat-themed quests out there. i understand that you want to satisfy your players and i'm fine with more xoriat, but why not doing the xoriat stuff in u25 and the new stuff in u24?
i'm concerned about the output of new quests we get in the recent few updates.
gh, necro4, 3bc and now lord of stone etc.

some say, it is a gain in content since its more stuff available in epic content / new loot
for me its whether old quests with higher numbers (like in gianthold) or its glamed up old quests, that are, in fact still old.
i like pretty much all of the available content. but i dont like stuff we already know mixed up into a new quest or revamped quests
i know you put alot of effort into this, and its appreciated. for the old players that have been around for 6 years some old stuff made up new is just not as satisfying as new content

don't get me wrong. i really appreciate all the work the turbine staff is putting in this game, and the actual revamped/epified/glamed up older quests are well done
i just prefer new stuff over something we already know well.

still i'm looking forward to this update!

[patang01]

Definitely looking forward to the Xoriat story arc. Hopefully we see some sort of Epic system that completes or 'Epifies' the heroic gear. Especially the armor. I'm very excited about the ToEE - hopefully this will be 3-4 quests in order to get the most out of the place and not one big quest that'll be ran once for exploration and zerged the rest of the time.
Hopefully there's a chance for you guys to complete all story arcs you started - such as Droaam. That would make a terrific low end Epic quest arc by confronting the hags in their own territory.

[Hilltrot]

Because EtK have a final boss that is extremely punishing to anyone without evasion, so they join parties expecting the rest of the party can solo him. It is a similar issue that I face when I run my once-a-life New Invasion.

Prey and Monastery can be easily soloed, so they don't need a party.

So, the EtK people are basically anti-social but willing to use other people like diapers to complete dungeons they can't do. All while insisting they are awesome and unwilling or unable to work with others on a team. Ok, that makes sense now.

[Talon_Moonshadow]

free to VIPs of course.)



Of course. ;)

Proud and happy VIP here....





Temple of Elemental Evil! Wooo Hoooo...

Sad that it will be a loot run the day after it gets released. :(

[Yalinaa]

I have all packs except Restless Isle and 2nd Madness chain... I was considering to buy them, 'cause I have enough tp, but neither of those quests are run... Maybe Sane Asylum is the lone exception.

On heroic levels nothing in the lvl 17-20 range is appearing on the LFM panel. I did like 9-10 iconic and a couple of heroic lives recently, and you can easily cap at the Vale quests, and usually can do IQ 1-2 after taking lvl 20 and activating your epic destiny.:)

There was zero (0) need for another lvl 18 heroic pack, show me just one person who runs High Road or Stormhorn on heroic!

The epic version will be lvl 26, but the real interesting thing there is the LOOT. I bet those quests won't be a part of any sagas, the xp / min won't be anything close to VON 3 / Wizking, so only the LOOT remains as a driving force to run the quests. Will the LOOT be better than epic Orchard items or Abbot raid stuff? I doubt it, so it looks like a do it once and you are done pack...

[Dragavon]

I think epic Xoriat quests is great news.

I have always liked xoriat based quests, ever since we got Xorian cipher in module 1. When level cap was 20 I liked to run the missing chain and later madness chain at least once a week for fun. But now after we got epic levels there was little reason to run them more than once for XP/favour. That we now get epic level Xorian quests is great news in my opinion.

If anything, I wish we could get all Xoriat based quests epicified, sp I could run them all when doing epic reincarnations :cool:

[FuzzyDuck81]

Ok, on break so had a chance to look into the tyranny of dragons thing... now i'm really, really hoping we get to see Tiamat in DDO - come on, she's THE iconic evil dragon of D&D!

[LordKalkin]

I like Xoriat. beholders, for me, are very iconic of the D&D game. I don't know much about the temple of elemental evil, but it has me intrigued. Also, I get pushing back content, but I had the impression it was mostly done already? Are we still getting epic destiny revamps soon? And are we still getting intelligent weapons eventually? Cause those are the things I'm excited about.

If the hire AI pass doesn't serve as a warning on intelligent weapons I don't know what would.

[CaptainSpacePony]

Once at 20 no-one wants to run Lvl 17-19 quests on Elite as they give less than HALF the XP of an Epic Normal VoN 3/4, Spies or Wiz King!

Another Lvl 16 quest isn't needed either - Lvl 10-12 is where we need new quests!



I agree with the quoted text.

[LordKalkin]

Please do not release another set of ludicrous power creep loot that relegates thunderhome and eOrchard stuff to the dustbin. Try to understand the frustration level of the entire player base when this is done.

[Claver]

For the love of god, no more furniture excort quests! Who exactly was saying those are the favorites??

Me. These are favorite quests of mine I make a point to run on every character and every TR. I want quests that are original and unlike other quests already in the game - preferably something with slightly different game play, distinct visuals, strong story and maybe a small dose of humor and an optional puzzle.

I find Acute Delirium novel and fun. It was innovative for its time.

- First mimic in the game
- Quest with Sorcerer Apprentice like marching furniture
- A flying "Airship" assembled from beds
- First quest in game where you fight on an "airship"
- First quest in the game where you fight inside a monster (Giant Beholder)
- Crazy endboss dialog


For those who don't care for Acute Delirium or other Madness quests - what is your complaint?

- Too Silly?
- Too difficult on elite @ level with BB?
- Poor xp per minute?
- Unsatisfactory named loot?
- Unimaginative?
- Too similar to all other quests?
- Repetitive grind mechanics?


What is your criteria for the quests the Devs should be making?

[Uska]

While excited a little you will probably ruin it in my eyes.

1. It should be greyhawk and if it's in the realms it's ruined for me I don't do the realms Eberron would be as almost as big an insult to it but no so much I would try it if not for 2.

2. You will make it end or near end game when it shouldnt be and then evening you made it in greyhawk I wouldn't be likely to touch it

[Uska]

interesting that Xoriat is a fan favorite and not Anauroch. I think you guys are confused with xp/min Sane Asylum as the actual reason why its run. never have I been in a group doing it the "long" way or fighting Left Eye/Right Eye. good luck trying to get a group together to run the whole chain. it was easier before the xp curve change, but not now. personally not a fan of any of the Madness and Xoriat quests, but I do still run them. to be honest, not looking forward to more of them, but I will check them out of course since they would be new quests and who knows, maybe I would like them.

definitely looking forward to Tyranny of Dragons. that whole thing is just cool. personally think they should be level 15 quests because we have plenty of 16s. level 15 is the last heroic level range that needs a few more quests. when I IR, I end up farming Litany and Missing because lack of level 15 content. either way, its exciting to get Tyranny at any level range.

kudos on learning from the actual fan favorite Haunted Halls and continuing on with that idea.

ill be on Lamma for sure if 202 error is fixed this time.

edit: put in right quest name

Hated the idea of another desert especially one in the realms and haven't touched the Haunted Halls agsin I hate the realms.

Yeah i don't hardly touch the Delrium or any of the associated quests


Hated the idea of Tryanny of dragons happening here but mainly due to realms connection
They haven't said much about the up coming update that exites me except the Temple which I am sure they will make it so I have no desire to,play it

[Uska]

Oh I'm all for Temple but it it's anything like Haunted Halls i.e. a Zerg Fest then No!

Again: Haunted Halls doesn't feel {Lore or Roleplay wise} like an Epic Dungeon!

If the Devs had put it at Lvl 6 it would be just as good if not better on the standard version {extended could have been placed at say Lvl 12.}.

Temple needs to be as good {if not better than} as Haunted Halls on the first exploration BUT it also needs to FEEL like an Epic Dungeon AND be much much better on subsequent runs!
I.E. NO ZERGING ALLOWED!!!

Temple should be true to its roots and not be an epic level dungeon heck they should even put a level cap on it. It should have an Epic feel to it yes


The more I think about what they will probably do to it the madder I get.

[Uska]

Exactly what player feedback on Anaurock?

The same type of player feedback with Crystal Cove Augments that got scrapped because, a few players said "boo"?


Common man! let's have some surveys or at least threads for/against for this type of player content killing feedback so we can see that this is actually what the players want.

I might even go as far as to have an in game survey on log in for such things. In that case every active player gets a voice not just the few on the forums who are saying "boo"


Tell us please, how many players disliked or liked Anaurock?

I loathe Anaurock beyond belief

[Loromir]

Yeah - I'll run them {I need the Favour} but there's no way I'll ever step into the Epic Versions!




If they make some useful loot and maybe build on the old madness upgrading system...then maybe there might be some Epic Replay value....Before MOTU, a few items from the Madness quests were quite useful, and still are at the lvl 15-20 range (Parasitic Breastplate that is upgradeable, Bow of Sinew, Turbulent Epee to name a couple). Give us Epic versions (ML26) of these items and you might see people running these quests.


I'm excited about the next 2 updates.

[Uska]

I'm on the forums every day and I haven't seen any concerted player feedback for OR against Anauroch!

This feedback isn't coming from the forums - It's not coming from In-Game - Where is it coming from exactly?

I have posted I hated it since it was first mentioned for a couple reasons

1. It's in the realms

2. Another desert we really need another one?

[Loromir]

I'm on the forums every day and I haven't seen any concerted player feedback for OR against Anauroch!

This feedback isn't coming from the forums - It's not coming from In-Game - Where is it coming from exactly?

I am betting that Anauroch was too big of a project for the staff currently allocated to DDO. Just my speculation.

[Uska]

I'm really, really, REALLY happy to see a brand new Eberron chain added. Since MotU, all we had was epic versions of old dungeons, and Brothers of Forge. It being Xoriat related makes it even better. Thanks you. A lot.

ToEE is an interesting surprise, and while I am myself a casual player, I would like to implore you to make this quest as hard and harsh as possible. Harsh as in "will take the best players in the game a few weeks before first full dungeon completion". To avoid the zergrush that infested Haunted Halls, I would suggest a "miniboss secret counter" and miniboss random locations, so that only after defeating all minibosses, the big optional boss will spawn (also in a random location). You can keep the "quest final boss" concept of HH for quest completion and XP, but gate the real big loot behind something that requires a full search.



I talk all the time about not adding anything Forgotten Realms related. Does this count?

Me to and just look to my sig to see how I really feel about the realms

[Uska]

http://old-school.wdfiles.com/local--files/gallery%3Asystem/t1.jpg

I remember that module and how long we had to wait for it to continue.

[Uska]

You're not alone there BUT I don't believe the Devs have put Anaurouch on the back burner simply because some people hate the Realms.

Either that or Uska has far more clout with Turbine than any of us thought!

:)

OOOH fourm title Uska The Bane of Anaurouch

[Uska]

Only one reference to that game is needed. The frogs auto-swallow paladins, every attack, and make them their primary targets.

It needs to swallow bard and barbs as well

[Uska]

Also related to the TOEE and Greyhawk: where will TOEE be placed in the DDO game world? Might we actually get to visit Greyhawk?!?!

That would make what is going to be a bitter pill for me easier to swallow but I don't see it happening.

[Uska]

I agree with the quoted text.

If the temple was at that range I might even be willing to break my no realms rule and play it.

[Paleus]

Since The Haunted Halls of Eveningstar was received so well, we’ve decided to adapt another classic pen-and-paper module to DDO. Rather than blabbing on, I’ll skip right to the awesome part and give you five simple words:

The Temple of Elemental Evil.

Yep, we will be creating our own version of the original, classic Temple inside DDO. We’re very excited about adapting one of the most famous modules in Dungeons and Dragons history, and we hope you are too.


Excuse me while I go get a change of pants because that just made my day way too much.

[Saekee]

Thx for update--very exciting! I love the other quests you designed and the Lordsmarch chain are among my favorites.
The Xoriat quests are some of the most challenging and bizarre--should be interesting; not sure premies will buy it unless 'shinies' are very good.

I still pee a little in my pants when I hear that deep beholder groan. Well my next TR might need to be a KofC or Pale Master...

[memloch]

I do like the quest choices. I would prefer that the heroic versions be lower. I find that I am bored of the quests in the lvl 9 - 12 range and would love some new content.

[Bargol]

I was saving TP to buy update 24's pack....now I know I can save them a little longer until update 25.

Xoriat really? I think you have the data wrong. They are probably the least favorite quests, and only run for xp/min on the ones you can invis zerg.

I always skip them unless I really need xp at those levels.

[silisav]

Kudos for ToEE. I eagerly await for this!
Its a shame you pushed back Anauroch. I was really excited about this and I hope it becomes implemented soon.

Xoriat is kind of meh... So I really hope it is worth getting it but I doubt it ...

As other people said previously you need to release more lvl 10-13 quests or boost the xp of the available ones because it is really tough to get xp at that point. Quests over lvl16 on the other hand are overly saturated.

[Monkey-Boy]

Moar... xoriat...? You mean, you're actually gonna give me something I've been asking for?

I'm at a loss for words. Thanks! YAYYYYYYYY

If they made the other Madness packs epic it'd be even more amazing.

[PsychoBlonde]

I cannot even communicate my enthusiasm for ToEE. I've been running players through T1-4 for over 20 years now and this announcement just thrills me like no other Turbine announcement before.

It's a cool module, but in original format it was Greyhawk, not Forgotten Realms. Are they going to refit it for the Forgotten Realms? Mentions of Zuggtmoy are going to be a bit weird in FR.

[PsychoBlonde]

If they made the other Madness packs epic it'd be even more amazing.

Epic Hound of Xoriat?

[PsychoBlonde]

Kudos for ToEE. I eagerly await for this!
Its a shame you pushed back Anauroch. I was really excited about this and I hope it becomes implemented soon.

Xoriat is kind of meh... So I really hope it is worth getting it but I doubt it ...

As other people said previously you need to release more lvl 10-13 quests or boost the xp of the available ones because it is really tough to get xp at that point. Quests over lvl16 on the other hand are overly saturated.

10-13 is some of the fastest and easiest exp in the GAME because that's when you run Shadow Crypt and Vault of Night flagging, not to mention Red Fens, Dreams of Insanity, Sands sides, Tempest Spine, the Vault of Night RAID, etc. So this is plain nonsense.

[Blackheartox]

If the temple was at that range I might even be willing to break my no realms rule and play it.


Dont know why some people are so against realms.

I like them and personally im sad that they cant get licence for neverwinter and baldurs.
A robot free world with proper storyline when d&d wasnt tainted.

[catouse9]

I am so excited for the Temple of Elemental Evil- That was a hard module back in the day.... really really hard!

[The_Human_Cypher]

Ok, on break so had a chance to look into the tyranny of dragons thing... now i'm really, really hoping we get to see Tiamat in DDO - come on, she's THE iconic evil dragon of D&D!

This f2p Cult of the Dragon quest (CR 30!) for Update 24 is an encouraging sign that we will eventually see a Tiamat raid or story arc completing with Tiamat. Why else would they have made this quest?

[The_Human_Cypher]

While excited a little you will probably ruin it in my eyes.

1. It should be greyhawk and if it's in the realms it's ruined for me I don't do the realms Eberron would be as almost as big an insult to it but no so much I would try it if not for 2.

2. You will make it end or near end game when it shouldnt be and then evening you made it in greyhawk I wouldn't be likely to touch it

I mentioned in an earlier post in this thread that TOEE might HAVE to be in Greyhawk. Where would the quest be placed in the Forgotten Realms and still have accurate lore for that part of the DDO World? Turbine and WoTC don't want to mess up their Forgotten Realms campaign area with inaccuracies as everything has been lore appropriate so far.

WoTC will also probably let Turbine take only so many liberties with its IP. We may instead to access the Greyhawk universe via a 'Beyond the Rift' type pre-quest or entrance - one that doesn't have to be flagged for before entering.

[The_Human_Cypher]

It's a cool module, but in original format it was Greyhawk, not Forgotten Realms. Are they going to refit it for the Forgotten Realms? Mentions of Zuggtmoy are going to be a bit weird in FR.

I think DDO may - or at least they should - create a mini-Greyhawk universe in which to place TOEE so that the Forgotten Realms campaign world remains consistent. I'm not sure if WoTC would even allow Turbine to place TOEE in the Forgotten Realms.

[catouse9]

Dont know why some people are so against realms.

I like them and personally im sad that they cant get licence for neverwinter and baldurs.
A robot free world with proper storyline when d&d wasnt tainted.

the temple of elemental evil is in GREYHAWK not the realms!
But i agree i too would prefer a robot free fantasy world but i undstand why everyone plays bladeforged now-It really shoudl freak out the realms folk though i would think?

[Uska]

Dont know why some people are so against realms.

I like them and personally im sad that they cant get licence for neverwinter and baldurs.
A robot free world with proper storyline when d&d wasnt tainted.

Because they are boring and exist

[Lare]

I loved temple of elemental evil. Since it was originally a Greyhawk mod does this mean we will be traveling to greyhawk

[Uska]

I mentioned in an earlier post in this thread that TOEE might HAVE to be in Greyhawk. Where would the quest be placed in the Forgotten Realms and still have accurate lore for that part of the DDO World? Turbine and WoTC don't want to mess up their Forgotten Realms campaign area with inaccuracies as everything has been lore appropriate so far.

WoTC will also probably let Turbine take only so many liberties with its IP. We may instead to access the Greyhawk universe via a 'Beyond the Rift' type pre-quest or entrance - one that doesn't have to be flagged for before entering.

I hope your right and I also hope it isn't ruined by being made epic level

[Uska]

the temple of elemental evil is in GREYHAWK not the realms!
But i agree i too would prefer a robot free fantasy world but i undstand why everyone plays bladeforged now-It really shoudl freak out the realms folk though i would think?

They aren't robots and they retrofitted the forged into the better they were nuked and forgotten realms

[arcane_nite]

this is so awesome! I hope they use the entire adventure.

[The_Human_Cypher]

I loved temple of elemental evil. Since it was originally a Greyhawk mod does this mean we will be traveling to greyhawk

If dev time and art resources are slim, DDO can even put the entrance to Greyhawk / TOEE in the Hall of Heroes. All the devs would have to do is create a door.

A player entering the Hall of Heroes Greyhawk portal would walk out into the Village of Hommlet (created from Eveningstar art resources), get the quest in a tavern in Hommlet or elsewhere (I don't remember what happens in the module) and then walk up the road to TOEE.

If the devs and art department have more time, they can put the entrance to Greyhawk / TOEE behind some shrubbery near Eveningstar and then the players are magically transported to Greyhawk a la 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.' :) Or players can touch the monolith from '2001' and then be teleported to Greyhawk. :)

A separate Greyhawk world should be made not only to keep everything lore consistent but also to pave the way for 'White Plume Mountain' / 'Tomb of Horrors' being released as the classic module in 2016 / 2017.

[Oxarhamar]

I loathe Anaurock beyond belief

Sorry Uska. One players prejudice against all things realms doe not equate to feedback representative of the player base.

[old-school]

Exactly what player feedback on Anaurock?


Common man! let's have some surveys...

I might even go as far as to have an in game survey on log in for such things. In that case every active player gets a voice ...




This is one of the best suggestions I have read on these forums in years! IT geeks are all about the data, and an in-game survey mechanism should be child's play to create and implement. Give ALL players the option of providing feed back, then give us the results. You could have something as simple an optional survey available at the end of every quest, asking players to rate it on a scale (1-5?), with an option to turn the survey off for all quests if they don't want to be bothered. Then we could see how players really feel about a quest, not just if they are zerging it for XP. My initial impression was that the "player council" was a means for that, but I for one, have no idea who these folks are, what they are being asked, or what they are saying.

Brilliant, just brilliant...and if you are not on the player council, you should be...

[The_Human_Cypher]

This is one of the best suggestions I have read on these forums in years! IT geeks are all about the data, and an in-game survey mechanism should be child's play to create and implement. Give ALL players the option of providing feed back, then give us the results. You could have something as simple an optional survey available at the end of every quest, asking players to rate it on a scale (1-5?), with an option to turn the survey off for all quests if they don't want to be bothered. Then we could see how players really feel about a quest, not just if they are zerging it for XP. My initial impression was that the "player council" was a means for that, but I for one, have no idea who these folks are, what they are being asked, or what they are saying.

Brilliant, just brilliant...and if you are not on the player council, you should be...

Any normal company has a customer feedback form. Turbine may not have anyone to read the results, however.

[Silverleafeon]

,,,,,We expect these to be something you’ll see in the first half of 2015. We’re pushing out the level cap for now to make sure we have plenty of questing to support your journey through the highest levels of DDO. Hitting level 30 will be a big milestone for DDO, and we want to put it out when the timing is right, and make sure its design keeps up with the way you, the players want to play DDO. ,,,

Cheers!
Athena “Vyvyanne” Peters
Franchise Director – Dungeons & Dragons Online

There seems to still be some confusion (due to DDO Wiki not being updated in the under development page).
The level cap is NOT being increased this December.

Sometime in 2015 would be likely but not guaranteed as per the above quote.

[HatsuharuZ]

For the love of god, no more furniture excort quests! Who exactly was saying those are the favorites??

That only happened once. -_-;

[Livmo]

You guys are great! I'm really excited about this new content. I think the majority of players enjoy the Xoriat quests, which is among the best content in Eberron.

Hopefully, the Temple of Elemental Evil quest will contain at least one sly reference to its video game predecessor. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Temple_of_Elemental_Evil_(video_game)

I do hope that Anauroch gets done at the end of 2015 or in 2016. That area would build on the Netherese story arc and would be a welcome addition to the Forgotten Realms content.

Here is another link with more info.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Temple_of_Elemental_Evil

I haven't tried the video game, but am excited the module is coming to DDO!

[Loromir]

Here is another link with more info.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Temple_of_Elemental_Evil

I haven't tried the video game, but am excited the module is coming to DDO!


I'm considering buying the video game just because of this announcement. It is currently $2.39 on http://www.gog.com/game/the_temple_of_elemental_evil

[painkiller3]

I mentioned in an earlier post in this thread that TOEE might HAVE to be in Greyhawk. Where would the quest be placed in the Forgotten Realms and still have accurate lore for that part of the DDO World? Turbine and WoTC don't want to mess up their Forgotten Realms campaign area with inaccuracies as everything has been lore appropriate so far.

or add "Temple of Elemental Evil" to one of the planescaller option. technically, Greyhawk isn't just a plane but couldn't the planescaller just be a supergenius who spent too much time hanging out near the Demonweb portal in Khyber? and when pressed about it, just have him say "No time to explain..." and start the quest.

[Certon]

ToEE?????

Right when I'm about to quit, you lure me back in... :P

[The_Human_Cypher]

or add "Temple of Elemental Evil" to one of the planescaller option. technically, Greyhawk isn't just a plane but couldn't the planescaller just be a supergenius who spent too much time hanging out near the Demonweb portal in Khyber? and when pressed about it, just have him say "No time to explain..." and start the quest.

Putting a door to TOEE in the Hall of Heroes would set the precedent for further campaign worlds being added to DDO like Ravenloft ('The Demiplane of Dread'), Spelljammers, Planescape, etc. with the Hall of Heroes as the Hub to the Planes. Making the entrance to Greyhawk an option from the Shavarath Planescaller in The Tower of the Twelve is also a possibility, but just not as good as the others. Whatever the devs decide to do for TOEE, just don't put the quest in the Forgotten Realms!

[SilkofDrasnia]

TOEE=goodness
Xoriat=manure


Would have preferred TOEE and Anauroch. Heart of madness I will not buy.


QFT

I was saving TP to buy update 24's pack....now I know I can save them a little longer until update 25.

Xoriat really? I think you have the data wrong. They are probably the least favorite quests, and only run for xp/min on the ones you can invis zerg.

I always skip them unless I really need xp at those levels.

[Uska]

Sorry Uska. One players prejudice against all things realms doe not equate to feedback representative of the player base.

Its feedback from me and those others who cant stand subpar D&D and I am not the only player even in this thread and before that didn't want realms or at least not another desert

[Uska]

Putting a door to TOEE in the Hall of Heroes would set the precedent for further campaign worlds being added to DDO like Ravenloft ('The Demiplane of Dread'), Spelljammers, Planescape, etc. with the Hall of Heroes as the Hub to the Planes. Making the entrance to Greyhawk an option from the Shavarath Planescaller in The Tower of the Twelve is also a possibility, but just not as good as the others. Whatever the devs decide to do for TOEE, just don't put the quest in the Forgotten Realms!

This

[Impaqt]

Xoriat, meh. Not that exciting to me.

ToEE... the potential is there, but I really hope its not another time sink like HH. I would much rather see it broken up into a few quests rather than a whole bunch of optionals.

[SilkofDrasnia]

Its feedback from me and those others who cant stand subpar D&D

You saying yourself and some of your freinds are to blame for us getting "heart of madness" instead of anauroch?

[Uska]

You saying yourself and some of your freinds are to blame for us getting "heart of madness" instead of anauroch?

No I would have railed against that as well but if it was a choice between any realms content and that I would choose heart of madness and just not play it. Yes I hate the realms that much if the game had started there I wouldn't have played it.

[SilkofDrasnia]

No I would have railed against that as well but if it was a choice between any realms content and that I would choose heart of madness and just not play it. Yes I hate the realms that much if the game had started there I wouldn't have played it.

So even though you would not play heart of madness you would have pushed for that over content others would enjoy just to be spiteful.

Gotcha.

To each their own I guess.

[Ralmeth]

Thanks for the update, and my thoughts are:
1) More Xoriat themed quests? Boooo! That's really disheartening:( I hate the Xoriat themed stuff and avoid them all as best I can.
2) The Eveningstar quest sounds cool, and I'm looking forward to checking it out.
3) Temple of Elemental Evil?!?!?!?! That is AWESOME!!!! Please go straight to update 25 and skip update 24 if you can.

[Severlin]

Some additional info:

~ The Xoriat dungeons are all new content.

~ The Temple of Elemental Evil, as a classic dungeon set in another world, with be accessed magically and directly. The epic version will be level 30, and the heroic version will start at level 7 as the original was level 1-8.

~ We won't be creating the villages as part of the Temple of Elemental Evil. Yes, it makes us sad as well. Our estimates of the time it would take to run that pre-content was very low, and the development time estimates were so high we didn't feel that the additional play experience would be worth pushing the update out by months.

Instead players will get right to the heart of the adventure.

~ The Temple is very large, and we want players to have a reason to explore it even on subsequent runs. We want to find a fun system to reward exploring the temple rather than just running the most efficient path to finish the quests, and plan on having some rewarding optional objectives that randomly spawn and give out good XP and treasure.

Sev~

[The_Human_Cypher]

Some additional info:

~ The Xoriat dungeons are all new content.

~ The Temple of Elemental Evil, as a classic dungeon set in another world, with be accessed magically and directly. The epic version will be level 30, and the heroic version will start at level 7 as the original was level 1-8.

~ We won't be creating the villages as part of the Temple of Elemental Evil. Yes, it makes us sad as well. Our estimates of the time it would take to run that pre-content was very low, and the development time estimates were so high we didn't feel that the additional play experience would be worth pushing the update out by months.

Instead players will get right to the heart of the adventure.

~ The Temple is very large, and we want players to have a reason to explore it even on subsequent runs. We want to find a fun system to reward exploring the temple rather than just running the most efficient path to finish the quests, and plan on having some rewarding optional objectives that randomly spawn and give out good XP and treasure.

Sev~

Thank you for the additional information on these updates. I'm glad that TOEE will be in Greyhawk, with the appropriate lore, even if there is nothing around the Temple. :) DDO should advertise the TOEE adventure pack like a mini-paid expansion: "Greyhawk comes to Dungeons and Dragons Online!" I'm just happy that everything will be lore appropriate.

If more Greyhawk content is added in the future, I hope that the devs take the time to create the Village of Hommlet as the beginning area for a small Greyhawk world and otherwise make an accurate Greyhawk section of the game.

[jalont]

Some additional info:

~ The Xoriat dungeons are all new content.

~ The Temple of Elemental Evil, as a classic dungeon set in another world, with be accessed magically and directly. The epic version will be level 30, and the heroic version will start at level 7 as the original was level 1-8.

~ We won't be creating the villages as part of the Temple of Elemental Evil. Yes, it makes us sad as well. Our estimates of the time it would take to run that pre-content was very low, and the development time estimates were so high we didn't feel that the additional play experience would be worth pushing the update out by months.

Instead players will get right to the heart of the adventure.

~ The Temple is very large, and we want players to have a reason to explore it even on subsequent runs. We want to find a fun system to reward exploring the temple rather than just running the most efficient path to finish the quests, and plan on having some rewarding optional objectives that randomly spawn and give out good XP and treasure.

Sev~

The current Xoriat quests in game are some of the most difficult in all of DDO. I really hope the new back follows this same route. Throw us a bone and make it challenging. Especially with this further announcement that seems to point to ToEE being aimed at casuals.

[shinobiguyver]

Some additional info:

~ The Xoriat dungeons are all new content.

~ The Temple of Elemental Evil, as a classic dungeon set in another world, with be accessed magically and directly. The epic version will be level 30, and the heroic version will start at level 7 as the original was level 1-8.

~ We won't be creating the villages as part of the Temple of Elemental Evil. Yes, it makes us sad as well. Our estimates of the time it would take to run that pre-content was very low, and the development time estimates were so high we didn't feel that the additional play experience would be worth pushing the update out by months.

Instead players will get right to the heart of the adventure.

~ The Temple is very large, and we want players to have a reason to explore it even on subsequent runs. We want to find a fun system to reward exploring the temple rather than just running the most efficient path to finish the quests, and plan on having some rewarding optional objectives that randomly spawn and give out good XP and treasure.

Sev~
You should make the Villages anyway and use the Temple of Elemental Evil adventure line as a new starting area.

[SilkofDrasnia]

Some additional info:

~ The Xoriat dungeons are all new content. yuck, yuck, yuck, can't stress this enough..yuck. I am so sure your data is wrong on how many people enjoy these quests.

~ The Temple of Elemental Evil, as a classic dungeon set in another world, with be accessed magically and directly. The epic version will be level 30, and the heroic version will start at level 7 as the original was level 1-8. Sounds good! Would like to see us get more access to "other worlds".

~ We won't be creating the villages as part of the Temple of Elemental Evil. Yes, it makes us sad as well. Our estimates of the time it would take to run that pre-content was very low, and the development time estimates were so high we didn't feel that the additional play experience would be worth pushing the update out by months.

Instead players will get right to the heart of the adventure. Sadness.... but it is better than nothing I guess.

~ The Temple is very large, and we want players to have a reason to explore it even on subsequent runs. We want to find a fun system to reward exploring the temple rather than just running the most efficient path to finish the quests, and plan on having some rewarding optional objectives that randomly spawn and give out good XP and treasure. Hmm will have to see how this goes.

Sev~

See replies in orange

[patang01]

Some additional info:

~ The Xoriat dungeons are all new content.

~ The Temple of Elemental Evil, as a classic dungeon set in another world, with be accessed magically and directly. The epic version will be level 30, and the heroic version will start at level 7 as the original was level 1-8.

~ We won't be creating the villages as part of the Temple of Elemental Evil. Yes, it makes us sad as well. Our estimates of the time it would take to run that pre-content was very low, and the development time estimates were so high we didn't feel that the additional play experience would be worth pushing the update out by months.

Instead players will get right to the heart of the adventure.

~ The Temple is very large, and we want players to have a reason to explore it even on subsequent runs. We want to find a fun system to reward exploring the temple rather than just running the most efficient path to finish the quests, and plan on having some rewarding optional objectives that randomly spawn and give out good XP and treasure.

Sev~

Sounds like a great compromise. I like haunted for the different optionals and their named items, but most of them are after you get to the end anyways. So one idea would be to make these optional pre-end, even if it can lead to people doing that part only, recalling, resetting and redoing it again. You could also consider creating items that needs assembly...meaning sorta like the old epic system where you find 3 pieces and assemble them for a complete item. But the pieces are all over the dungeon. In that way you have to explore more parts of the quest each time.

[Aelonwy]

I for one love the Xoriat themed quests and think its high time for some Epic Xoriat fun, so thank you devs.

As for no Anauroch, I'm a little sad, because I love the Sands of Menectauran and we could use some more desert adventures. But as far as that goes we could use more polar, snowy adventures, and more swampy adventures. Basically anything but city-sewers... there is no need for anything taking place in a city-sewer ever again.

As to Temple of Elemental Evil... I'm looking forward to it. I hope someday we get some Epic Shavarath, maybe with a section in the Archons area.

[DrawingGuy]

I actually enjoyed the Xoriat chains. They were more creative with more interesting objectives and stories and bosses. Only reason why they're not generally done is they're not XP runs is due to their more difficult mechanics and inefficient XP/min, and since they broke the no ML rings, no reason to do them for gear. Unfortunately no matter how interesting or great they make a quest, the only way that a quest becomes 'popular' is through gear or good XP.

I, for one, look forward to more creative quests, and hope that they have the gear and/or XP to make them 'popular' so I won't be going solo when I feel like running them.

[Loromir]

Some additional info:


~ ......, and the heroic version will start at level 7 as the original was level 1-8.


Sev~

This is great. Will give folks another incentive to forgo Iconics and roll up more classic characters.

On a side note...notice he said "....will START at level 7..." Could this mean it is more than just a single large encounter?

[Tarinia]

Hi Folks,

it seems, there are not many Forgotten Realms lovers in the Forum/ and or Player Council these days. Its a fact that the FR are the most popular and most played fantasy world in pen&paper gaming.
Far beyond Greyhawk or Eberron.
In the last update Eberron was embraced in many ways by the Devs. But serious- how many raids of the mark of death have you already run?
I seeked on the server Thelanis every 2 days since the start and found not even one pug! All the guilds I know (no raid guilds) dont run the raid and after the last FR realms raid were published,
they were run a 1000 times even today.

So what is the most popular contend? I think just bringing old content into epic is not the same as bringing something totally new like Anauroch- all the quests of the orchard running once is enough for me because they are not changed so much from heroic. But I like the new ones in the FR even today.

I like to see the madness quest the first time, but they are not really my favorite ones for doing them again...

Of course I know ToEE as pen & paper but its not really belonging into eberron or FR. There are so much other modules like Undermountain or Pool of radiance which fit much better to the world.
Why not creating waterdeep with the dungeon down there. There is a detailed map of the city already and many adventures running around this pearl of the realms.
I think the last work of the FR is really the best one, Turbine has done for a long time (haunted halls, underhalls, stormhorns..) and the should going this way not changing direction because of a smaller base of players wanting them too.
Otherwise all FR lovers have to go to neverwinter to explore their dream world more in the future.
Best regards
Tarinia

[Hazelnut]

I actually enjoyed the Xoriat chains. They were more creative with more interesting objectives and stories and bosses. Only reason why they're not generally done is they're not XP runs is due to their more difficult mechanics and inefficient XP/min, and since they broke the no ML rings, no reason to do them for gear. Unfortunately no matter how interesting or great they make a quest, the only way that a quest becomes 'popular' is through gear or good XP.

I, for one, look forward to more creative quests, and hope that they have the gear and/or XP to make them 'popular' so I won't be going solo when I feel like running them.

I'm still new enough to go on quests for the sake of the storyline.

[Tyrande]

Some additional info:

~ The Xoriat dungeons are all new content.

The previous Xoriat dungeons are all very cool story wise, and the quests enjoyable if running normal. Flying ship made of furniture. A mind flayer that loves art and beauty, etc.

However; some of them if ran under elite; its difficulty level were increased exponentially instead of geometrically; especially without good crowd control; or a PC willingness to play a Crowd Control character. The unlimited and constant respawning of the monsters were especially extremely painful in the behind, if you get my meaning.



~ The Temple of Elemental Evil, as a classic dungeon set in another world, with be accessed magically and directly. The epic version will be level 30, and the heroic version will start at level 7 as the original was level 1-8.

I have the single player PC game released 10 years ago. It looked like fun.



~ We won't be creating the villages as part of the Temple of Elemental Evil. Yes, it makes us sad as well. Our estimates of the time it would take to run that pre-content was very low, and the development time estimates were so high we didn't feel that the additional play experience would be worth pushing the update out by months.
Instead players will get right to the heart of the adventure.

Okay, but wouldn't this be a cut and paste of several other villages and changing the NPC names and building textures/names: like the Drow village from the Fens, the staging area of Necropolis or Delera's Tomb, or the staging area in Threnal? i.e. I don't envision a lot of new art and programming?



~ The Temple is very large, and we want players to have a reason to explore it even on subsequent runs. We want to find a fun system to reward exploring the temple rather than just running the most efficient path to finish the quests, and plan on having some rewarding optional objectives that randomly spawn and give out good XP and treasure.

Sev~

Okay, I hope its not just one quest, but several to different parts of the temple similar to the Khyber road/portals from the Stormreach Harbor to the Rift Between Worlds to Underdark and to Cormyr; with new monsters, arts, textures, AI, etc.

- Will the story extension from The Plane of Shavarath to the Archon area ever going to be planned in the future? How about other planes (http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20111017002155/eberron/images/0/00/3E_Cosmology.jpg)like Lamannia, Dolurrh, ? I personally feel sorry for Arraetrikos if he remained a munchkin...

- May be there should be a survey put out if people prefer Anaurock in the future or something else.

[EazyWeazy]

Some additional info:
~ The Temple is very large, and we want players to have a reason to explore it even on subsequent runs. We want to find a fun system to reward exploring the temple rather than just running the most efficient path to finish the quests, and plan on having some rewarding optional objectives that randomly spawn and give out good XP and treasure.

Sev~

Please don't make a rare item in a rare spawn. Fun is fighting and fun is pulling awesome loot. Learn from the mistakes of the past. :)

[Drevok]

thanks for the news.

XORIAT Chain OK. The missing chain is fun, the others fun for the first few times. Upgrade loot to epic is the main reason for me looking forward to this.

BTW if looking for other gains to continue, the droam sora kell should be on top of the list.

TOEE in Grey hawk. Wow, that is something awesome! although aren't doing hamlet quest, can you do a smallish Explorer area to represent the wilderness area around TOEE, with a few of houses and shopkeepers for hamlet?
ALSO as this is not Fr, please make it feel unique and greyhawkish.
can split into two? Similar to part two and three of Lord of dust chain? where can continue to next quest directly or take a break?
would prefer it as level 8 quest. for level 30, please make it quite different, and no epic level common rats, etc

[soloist12]

~ The Temple is very large, and we want players to have a reason to explore it even on subsequent runs. We want to find a fun system to reward exploring the temple rather than just running the most efficient path to finish the quests, and plan on having some rewarding optional objectives that randomly spawn and give out good XP and treasure.

Sounds good.

[Leclaire1]

First up in Update 24 is a new content pack, Heart of Madness. The plane of Xoriat is encroaching on Eberron once again and the result is three dungeons full of Xorian insanity...(Hint – one of the dungeons is named “Fashion Madness.”)...Also coming in Update 24 is a Forgotten Realms dungeon themed to tie in with Wizards of the Coast’s Tyranny of Dragons (https://dnd.wizards.com/dungeons-and-dragons/story) storyline. You’ll infiltrate a Cult of the Dragon base while on the trail of the fabled White Dragon mask. “The Mask of Deception” is CR 16 Heroic/30 Epic, and is free to everyone...The Temple of Elemental Evil. Yep, we will be creating our own version of the original, classic Temple inside DDO. !

My heart has been strangely warmed. There is so much good news in this post that I can hardly process it all. This is all simply amazing. I guess I'll have to quite a few of my tv shows to give more precious free time to play ddo soon, because this is quite simply magnificent. Lovely job devs.

[The_Human_Cypher]

Of course I know ToEE as pen & paper but its not really belonging into eberron or FR. There are so much other modules like Undermountain or Pool of radiance which fit much better to the world. Why not creating waterdeep with the dungeon down there. There is a detailed map of the city already and many adventures running around this pearl of the realms.
I think the last work of the FR is really the best one, Turbine has done for a long time (haunted halls, underhalls, stormhorns..) and the should going this way not changing direction because of a smaller base of players wanting them too. Otherwise all FR lovers have to go to neverwinter to explore their dream world more in the future.

I have suggested a number of times on the forums making the City of Waterdeep/Undermountain/Skullport the next major paid expansion - if we ever get one again. This area of the Forgotten Realms would be the prime place to expand out that campaign area, in addition to Anauroch.

[The_Human_Cypher]

Okay, but wouldn't this be a cut and paste of several other villages and changing the NPC names and building textures/names: like the Drow village from the Fens, the staging area of Necropolis or Delera's Tomb, or the staging area in Threnal? i.e. I don't envision a lot of new art and programming?

This was my thought as well. Even if the Village of Hommlet looked very similar to Eveningstar, it would be better than nothing. Changing some names and FR specific items like the stuffed owlbear and you have Greyhawk.

[soloist12]

Please don't make a rare item in a rare spawn. Fun is fighting and fun is pulling awesome loot. Learn from the mistakes of the past. :)

I disagree. I had all the awesome necro 4 loot in 2 days, and it was not fun - you need rare loot to some degree.

For me, fighting is fun and such, but I also like traps and puzzles, which have sorely been missing lately in new dungeon content.

[Uska]

So even though you would not play heart of madness you would have pushed for that over content others would enjoy just to be spiteful.

Gotcha.

To each their own I guess.

No the more realms they add the more people want and at least it would be non realms I just currently have no need for the xp I would probably play it at least once but I haven't touch any realms stuff except for the first batch a long time ago

[cdbd3rd]

..., and the heroic version will start at level 7 as the original was level 1-8.

...

Thank the Powers for that^^.

http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/hand-gestures/secret-handshake-smiley-emoticon.gif

[Uska]

Some additional info:

~ The Xoriat dungeons are all new content.

~ The Temple of Elemental Evil, as a classic dungeon set in another world, with be accessed magically and directly. The epic version will be level 30, and the heroic version will start at level 7 as the original was level 1-8.

~ We won't be creating the villages as part of the Temple of Elemental Evil. Yes, it makes us sad as well. Our estimates of the time it would take to run that pre-content was very low, and the development time estimates were so high we didn't feel that the additional play experience would be worth pushing the update out by months.

Instead players will get right to the heart of the adventure.

~ The Temple is very large, and we want players to have a reason to explore it even on subsequent runs. We want to find a fun system to reward exploring the temple rather than just running the most efficient path to finish the quests, and plan on having some rewarding optional objectives that randomly spawn and give out good XP and treasure.

Sev~

Well at least this makes me exited about the temple again thank you

[Uska]

Thank you for the additional information on these updates. I'm glad that TOEE will be in Greyhawk, with the appropriate lore, even if there is nothing around the Temple. :) DDO should advertise the TOEE adventure pack like a mini-paid expansion: "Greyhawk comes to Dungeons and Dragons Online!" I'm just happy that everything will be lore appropriate.

If more Greyhawk content is added in the future, I hope that the devs take the time to create the Village of Hommlet as the beginning area for a small Greyhawk world and otherwise make an accurate Greyhawk section of the game.

Yes please

[Oxarhamar]

~ The Temple of Elemental Evil, as a classic dungeon set in another world, with be accessed magically and directly. The epic version will be level 30, and the heroic version will start at level 7 as the original was level 1-8.

~ We won't be creating the villages as part of the Temple of Elemental Evil. Yes, it makes us sad as well. Our estimates of the time it would take to run that pre-content was very low, and the development time estimates were so high we didn't feel that the additional play experience would be worth pushing the update out by months.

Instead players will get right to the heart of the adventure.

~ The Temple is very large, and we want players to have a reason to explore it even on subsequent runs. We want to find a fun system to reward exploring the temple rather than just running the most efficient path to finish the quests, and plan on having some rewarding optional objectives that randomly spawn and give out good XP and treasure.

Sev~

Please give us multiple quests inside TToE.

To make an entire module into one huge quest even with optionals in Haunted Halls fashion is such a waste.

[Uska]

I actually enjoyed the Xoriat chains. They were more creative with more interesting objectives and stories and bosses. Only reason why they're not generally done is they're not XP runs is due to their more difficult mechanics and inefficient XP/min, and since they broke the no ML rings, no reason to do them for gear. Unfortunately no matter how interesting or great they make a quest, the only way that a quest becomes 'popular' is through gear or good XP.

I, for one, look forward to more creative quests, and hope that they have the gear and/or XP to make them 'popular' so I won't be going solo when I feel like running them.

They didn't beak the rings they fixed the no level on those rings is what was broken

[Uska]

I have suggested a number of times on the forums making the City of Waterdeep/Undermountain/Skullport the next major paid expansion - if we ever get one again. This area of the Forgotten Realms would be the prime place to expand out that campaign area, in addition to Anauroch.

Well they wouldnt get a dime from me on that I wouldn't even play it if it was free or if they paid me to do it

[thomassmith2]

I would like to see with the new content a re-work of Archmage tree. Unless you are Warforged or PM no one plays wizard. Archmage needs a familiar. And some kind of healing amp or something. Let us magically infuse potions like arti's or give access to healing wands. And maybe even let us make wands. I don't want to play a pm and I don't want to be warforged either. And unless you are one of the two you are not getting into raids. Hell you are lucky to survive regular quests. We need something to make a non pm non warforged wizard viable. The harper tree helps but come on give us something better. Everything bloody evades the arcane blast and bolts in higher levs. So make it more powerful and let us heal better at least.

I feel your pain. I've been hoping for something like this for a while. being able to add a few spells from other classes spell lists, including healing spells, to the wizard list would seem to fit the theme of an arcane researcher so maybe that might be an option as well.

[Oxarhamar]

Its feedback from me and those others who cant stand subpar D&D and I am not the only player even in this thread and before that didn't want realms or at least not another desert

Feedback of the few does not equal the feedback of the community.

Desicions backed on player feedback needs to consider the entire population not just the squeaky wheel.


I invite you do tally up how many on this thread are glad to see Anaurock go and how many are disappointed.

[The_Human_Cypher]

Here is an interesting question: since TOEE is in Greyhawk, to which patron will the quest's favor be allocated? Will the devs create a new patron such as The Followers of St. Cuthbert ('Cuthbertines') from the Greyhawk campaign?

[Braegan]

No the more realms they add the more people want...

Going by your statement they should release more Realms content then. Give the people what they want!

Sorry man, you are a very vocal minority when it comes to the Realms hatred. There are things I don't like in the game, but I am the minority in those cases so I have the decency of character to not complain about it, repeatedly.

[Braegan]

Some additional info:

~ The Xoriat dungeons are all new content.

~ The Temple of Elemental Evil, as a classic dungeon set in another world, with be accessed magically and directly. The epic version will be level 30, and the heroic version will start at level 7 as the original was level 1-8.

~ We won't be creating the villages as part of the Temple of Elemental Evil. Yes, it makes us sad as well. Our estimates of the time it would take to run that pre-content was very low, and the development time estimates were so high we didn't feel that the additional play experience would be worth pushing the update out by months.

Instead players will get right to the heart of the adventure.

~ The Temple is very large, and we want players to have a reason to explore it even on subsequent runs. We want to find a fun system to reward exploring the temple rather than just running the most efficient path to finish the quests, and plan on having some rewarding optional objectives that randomly spawn and give out good XP and treasure.

Sev~


Well, that seems to solve most of the concerns regarding ToEE.

Well Done!

[Oxarhamar]

Going by your statement they should release more Realms content then. Give the people what they want!

Sorry man, you are a very vocal minority when it comes to the Realms hatred. There are things I don't like in the game, but I am the minority in those cases so I have the decency of character to not complain about it, repeatedly.

And this is why an ingame survey to gather the opinions of the actual player base rather than just the small portion of players on the forum would greatly benifit in making these kinds of decitions.

[Loromir]

Sorry man, you are a very vocal minority when it comes to the Realms hatred. There are things I don't like in the game, but I am the minority in those cases so I have the decency of character to not complain about it, repeatedly.

In all fairness...this is a semi public forum, so he does have the right to speak his mind here...but that goes both ways. I for one like the FR stuff (And the Eberron stuff)...so I say if you want to develop more FR content, More Power to You.

[Oxarhamar]

In all fairness...this is a semi public forum, so he does have the right to speak his mind here...but that goes both ways. I for one like the FR stuff (And the Eberron stuff)...so I say if you want to develop more FR content, More Power to You.

It's true all players have a say.

But, the question has been posed to the Devs.

To what player feedback was this based?

[Braegan]

In all fairness...this is a semi public forum, so he does have the right to speak his mind here...but that goes both ways. I for one like the FR stuff (And the Eberron stuff)...so I say if you want to develop more FR content, More Power to You.

True, but there is a difference between speaking your mind and beating a dead horse. :)

[Uska]

Feedback of the few does not equal the feedback of the community.

Desicions backed on player feedback needs to consider the entire population not just the squeaky wheel.


I invite you do tally up how many on this thread are glad to see Anaurock go and how many are disappointed.

Tallying fourm opionon means less than nothing and I will protest what and how much I want I invite you to,do,the same

[Uska]

Going by your statement they should release more Realms content then. Give the people what they want!

Sorry man, you are a very vocal minority when it comes to the Realms hatred. There are things I don't like in the game, but I am the minority in those cases so I have the decency of character to not complain about it, repeatedly.

I don't care what you do I will protest how I want and when I want if someone is silent it will be taken as approval

[Oxarhamar]

Tallying fourm opionon means less than nothing and I will protest what and how much I want I invite you to,do,the same

Protest all you want I could care less.

Forum tally will show exactly the feedback the have been given by those on the forum, without a player survey this is the only play feedback the Devs have to base off.


What I care about is what are the Devs basing playing feedback on?

If it's based on a few players repeated protest over a majority of those who support the idea then there is a problem.

Stating you oppinion 100 times over the supporting opinions of other players still only counts as 1 players oppinion.

[jalont]

Hi Folks,

it seems, there are not many Forgotten Realms lovers in the Forum/ and or Player Council these days. Its a fact that the FR are the most popular and most played fantasy world in pen&paper gaming.
Far beyond Greyhawk or Eberron.
In the last update Eberron was embraced in many ways by the Devs. But serious- how many raids of the mark of death have you already run?
I seeked on the server Thelanis every 2 days since the start and found not even one pug! All the guilds I know (no raid guilds) dont run the raid and after the last FR realms raid were published,
they were run a 1000 times even today.

So what is the most popular contend? I think just bringing old content into epic is not the same as bringing something totally new like Anauroch- all the quests of the orchard running once is enough for me because they are not changed so much from heroic. But I like the new ones in the FR even today.



I don't think location or raid content has anything to do with the amount of times someone runs a raid. Loot decides how popular a raid will be. Story, setting and all of that don't matter at all after the first run through.

[SilkofDrasnia]

Well they wouldnt get a dime from me on that I wouldn't even play it if it was free or if they paid me to do it

Yes we know your siggy also very nicely sums up how you feel about FR, that's okay to each their own. Consider though many of us like FR and other "realms" and WOULD PAY and PLAY it!

Try not to let your minority complaint/hatred of FR lead you into believing you speak for the majority.


Protest all you want I could care less.

........


What I care about is what are the Devs basing playing feedback on?
.......

Indeed, I wonder if this is based off the players or the "council" which doesn't necessarily reflect what players want.

[jalont]

It's true all players have a say.

But, the question has been posed to the Devs.

To what player feedback was this based?

It's quite clear that player feedback is coming from the PC. And it's the best method. These forums are a mess and can't be taken seriously, and I have a strange feeling that in-game surveys would be a complete failure.

I know nothing about pnp, but what probably happened is they said, hey, PC, we got the rights to this awesome, popular DnD module. Would you rather that be next or Auronoch, and people on the council said heck yeah to ToEE.

It isn't some conspiracy. Sheesh.

[EllisDee37]

~ The Temple of Elemental Evil, as a classic dungeon set in another world, with be accessed magically and directly. The epic version will be level 30, and the heroic version will start at level 7 as the original was level 1-8.The only thing about level 7 is that there's no lack of level 7 content. Or level 8, for that matter, and definitely not level 5.

I suggest making it level 6 instead. Compare level 6 and 7:

Level 6
- Redwillow's Ruins
- The Bloody Crypt
- 1 Delera's walkup
- 8 lightweight F2P quests
- 5 lightweight P2P quests (tangleroot, sorrowdusk, 3BC)

Level 7
- Tear of Dhakaan
- Gwylan's Stand
- The Pit
- The entire Sentinels chain (Level 8 Spies is a walk-up)
- Half the Delera's chain
- 2 lightweight F2P quests
- 6 lightweight P2P quests (tangleroot, sorrowdusk, 3BC)

Neither level is particularly light on content, but 7 has a material advantage over 6 right now. 8 has more than either of them, and 5 has even more than 8. (Factoring in that you need twice as much xp to go from 8 to 9 as you do to go from 5 to 6.)

EDIT: My spreadsheet may have out-of-date info for a few of the quests (namely 3BC) but when I add up the base xp for all quests on normal, here's what I get for that range:

Level 5: 31,830
Level 6: 22,140
Level 7: 42,240
Level 8: 56,397
Level 9: 51,414

Level 6 is clearly lacking compared to its peers, while level 7 looks like it's already about right.

While compiling these xp totals it occurs to me that moving the first two Threnal quests from 8 to 9 would correct the imbalance between the two as well as fix the bravery issues with Threnal.

[FranOhmsford]

Well, to be fair, I don't have half of the packs you mentioned, so I'm only speaking from my perspective.

It's just that I seem to have had the worst time trying to find quests in the lv 18-20 range last life, and that was only from since a month ago.

maybe it's just my bad timing...

Tha's not because there's not enough quests in that lvl range but because people don't run the quests that are in that lvl range!

There are reasons for this:

1) People have learned over the years that it's a bad idea to take Lvl 19

2) GH, Vale and the Spinner Chain can get you to 1 xp away from Lvl 20 even on a 3rd Life

3) Once you hit 20 you're eligible to run E-VoN 3/4, E-Wiz King, E-Spies etc. which even on E-Norm give 3x the XP that any Lvl 17-19 quest gives on Elite!


IQ 1+2 and Murder By Night/The Riddle still get run a bit but the rest? Forget it!

[redoubt]

Thank you for adding brand new content.

The temple of EE sounds great, I really like Haunted Halls.

I'm not sure who finds the xoriat quests to be their favorite, but everyone is different, and while it is some of my least favorite content, I am glad it is new content and not rehashed old content. Though I would like to know how many of the new quests are reusing the sleeping spell inn? How many new maps are we getting?

[Oxarhamar]

It's quite clear that player feedback is coming from the PC. And it's the best method. These forums are a mess and can't be taken seriously, and I have a strange feeling that in-game surveys would be a complete failure.

I know nothing about pnp, but what probably happened is they said, hey, PC, we got the rights to this awesome, popular DnD module. Would you rather that be next or Auronoch, and people on the council said heck yeah to ToEE.

It isn't some conspiracy. Sheesh.

If it's coming from the PC then so be it but, the Devs need to site the PC for the decision not "player feedback" as they are 2 different things.

[Zzevel]

For the record this was 3 months before the announcement of Haunted Halls... from the 'What would you do if you were Producer' thread... They do listen




Start picking CLASSIC D&D Modules and implementing them into the game, bring D&D into DDO, a bit. This will bring back some of the D&D faithful who are unhappy due to the PtW or the PnP people who may not usually LIKE the MMO version of DDO...

And now from later in that same thread they listen again! Thanks Firepants :D


You have a license to use D&D material. USE IT. Give me the Temple of Elemental Evil or Scourge of the Slavelords. Not Joe Beefcake kills some incredibly resilient wolves on a pretty mountainside.

[Uska]

If it's coming from the PC then so be it but, the Devs need to site the PC for the decision not "player feedback" as they are 2 different things.

It would be hard to get accurate feedback from the players and you certainly couldn't use the forums to do it not really happy with a limited group like the PC having to much input either but then there is no ideal solution to the problem

[Uska]

Yes we know your siggy also very nicely sums up how you feel about FR, that's okay to each their own. Consider though many of us like FR and other "realms" and WOULD PAY and PLAY it!

Try not to let your minority complaint/hatred of FR lead you into believing you speak for the majority.



Indeed, I wonder if this is based off the players or the "council" which doesn't necessarily reflect what players want.

Not sure I know some of the PC are very pro realms and others not so much would be interesting if they let us know what they based the decision on/.

I know I don't speak for the majority as they likely have different tastes but popular doesn't equal good as there are plenty of examples of that I wont go into

[Uska]

It's quite clear that player feedback is coming from the PC. And it's the best method. These forums are a mess and can't be taken seriously, and I have a strange feeling that in-game surveys would be a complete failure.

I know nothing about pnp, but what probably happened is they said, hey, PC, we got the rights to this awesome, popular DnD module. Would you rather that be next or Auronoch, and people on the council said heck yeah to ToEE.

It isn't some conspiracy. Sheesh.

I disagree totally having a small group having to much to say is the worst idea they could use the forums wouldn't be a lot better but they would have a larger pool to draw opinions from at least.

[FranOhmsford]

For those who don't care for Acute Delirium or other Madness quests - what is your complaint?

- Too Silly? Yes
- Too difficult on elite @ level with BB? Way too difficult at level {Even the XP/Min Crowd won't run Acute Delirium at Level!}
- Poor xp per minute? Never have cared about XP/Min personally but see above
- Unsatisfactory named loot? Outdated named loot, the Ring Nerf didn't help either
- Unimaginative? Imagination isn't all it's cracked up to be - I'd say that these quests suffer from a surfeit of imagination
- Too similar to all other quests? This is one thing that can't be said about the Madness quests
- Repetitive grind mechanics? Well I consider running Sane Asylum 15 times to be a grind but that's a Player created issue not Dev created

Replies in Blue


What is your criteria for the quests the Devs should be making?

Well these are amongst my favourites after 4 years playing this game - The quests I'll happily run again and again and again:

Prove Your Worth {Heroic}
The Legend of Two Toed Tobias {Heroic}
Gwylan's Stand
Tomb of the Shadow Guard
Tomb of the Shadow Knight
The Xorian Cypher
Tomb of the Tormented
Tempest Spine
Relic of a Sovereign Past
Purge the Fallen Shrine
Chains of Flame
PoP

[poltt48]

First the madness line I like. Every time I run them it makes me laugh. But they are a rough set of quests try grouping last quest in the lord of eye line on elite at level with full group and your probly going to wipe. Just way to many beholders in that last room with the boss and tons of other trash for not being able to cast at all. But still like the lines. Hoping new one is still funny and tough but not to point where impossible at level have to do it 3 or 4 levels higher to have a chance. As for Temple of elmentle evil yes please lol. HH is by far my favorite dungeon in whole game over last 7 years I have played. That being said I agree with most TOEE should be multiple quests if not your just open it to zerg fest or people not running it if takes hours to run cause don't know who or what going to drop the loots. How huge a quest TOEE was in pen and paper should really be 4 to 5 quests if want to make it though whole thing. Make it like the depths where go though one quest to get to entrence of next quest witch leads to entrence of next quest and so on but still give a way to enter later quests without going though the others for people joining your in middle of the chain. Then each have there own loots and people will want to run the whole chain and will not become a zerg.

[Vengeance777]

Will the Temple of Elemental Evil have commentary like Haunted Halls? Would be cool to get Frank Mentzer's thoughts on the module he coauthored with Gary Gygax as we play it.

Also will we be getting Hommlet or just the Temple?

[Qhualor]

The only thing about level 7 is that there's no lack of level 7 content. Or level 8, for that matter, and definitely not level 5.

I suggest making it level 6 instead. Compare level 6 and 7:

Level 6
- Redwillow's Ruins
- The Bloody Crypt
- 1 Delera's walkup
- 8 lightweight F2P quests
- 5 lightweight P2P quests (tangleroot, sorrowdusk, 3BC)

Level 7
- Tear of Dhakaan
- Gwylan's Stand
- The Pit
- The entire Sentinels chain (Level 8 Spies is a walk-up)
- Half the Delera's chain
- 2 lightweight F2P quests
- 6 lightweight P2P quests (tangleroot, sorrowdusk, 3BC)

Neither level is particularly light on content, but 7 has a material advantage over 6 right now. 8 has more than either of them, and 5 has even more than 8. (Factoring in that you need twice as much xp to go from 8 to 9 as you do to go from 5 to 6.)

EDIT: My spreadsheet may have out-of-date info for a few of the quests (namely 3BC) but when I add up the base xp for all quests on normal, here's what I get for that range:

Level 5: 31,830
Level 6: 22,140
Level 7: 42,240
Level 8: 56,397
Level 9: 51,414

Level 6 is clearly lacking compared to its peers, while level 7 looks like it's already about right.

While compiling these xp totals it occurs to me that moving the first two Threnal quests from 8 to 9 would correct the imbalance between the two as well as fix the bravery issues with Threnal.

3 lives ago, or a month ago roughly, I did a regular heroic TR on my fighter. I did one and done on a 3+ life character with elite BB, 5% ship, 10% VIP, 5% VOM, 20% xp pot and tried the best I could to maximize xp including buying a rogue for trap heavy quests for more xp. Only killed mobs on my way to quests in wilderness zones. I had anywhere from 2.5 ranks to max xp banked at each level. I took 18 when I was a rank short of 19 and capped in Vale. I skipped Stealthy just because I don't like the quest, but I had so much xp banked I had to skip all of Necro 2, Xorian Cypher, Chrono and a couple others in low levels.

Even if you take away the xp pot, reduce the ship xp to 3% and skip random quests, you should have no problem with xp in low levels even on a 3+ TR.

[The_Human_Cypher]

Will the Temple of Elemental Evil have commentary like Haunted Halls? Would be cool to get Frank Mentzer's thoughts on the module he coauthored with Gary Gygax as we play it.

Also will we be getting Hommlet or just the Temple?

Just the Temple. See above.

[bennyson]

The Temple of Elemental Evil!??!?!?!

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!11!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[davmuzl]

~ The Temple is very large, and we want players to have a reason to explore it even on subsequent runs. We want to find a fun system to reward exploring the temple rather than just running the most efficient path to finish the quests, and plan on having some rewarding optional objectives that randomly spawn and give out good XP and treasure.

This sounds great. I really enjoyed exploring the haunted halls for the first time and it is really unfortunate that most of it is just ignored when people just go for xp and loot. It is the only problem the haunted hall have and it is good to spend time to make it better in the future.

[Neomarica]

Hi Folks,

it seems, there are not many Forgotten Realms lovers in the Forum/ and or Player Council these days. Its a fact that the FR are the most popular and most played fantasy world in pen&paper gaming.
Far beyond Greyhawk or Eberron.
In the last update Eberron was embraced in many ways by the Devs. But serious- how many raids of the mark of death have you already run?
I seeked on the server Thelanis every 2 days since the start and found not even one pug! All the guilds I know (no raid guilds) dont run the raid and after the last FR realms raid were published,
they were run a 1000 times even today.

So what is the most popular contend? I think just bringing old content into epic is not the same as bringing something totally new like Anauroch- all the quests of the orchard running once is enough for me because they are not changed so much from heroic. But I like the new ones in the FR even today.

I like to see the madness quest the first time, but they are not really my favorite ones for doing them again...

Of course I know ToEE as pen & paper but its not really belonging into eberron or FR. There are so much other modules like Undermountain or Pool of radiance which fit much better to the world.
Why not creating waterdeep with the dungeon down there. There is a detailed map of the city already and many adventures running around this pearl of the realms.
I think the last work of the FR is really the best one, Turbine has done for a long time (haunted halls, underhalls, stormhorns..) and the should going this way not changing direction because of a smaller base of players wanting them too.
Otherwise all FR lovers have to go to neverwinter to explore their dream world more in the future.
Best regards
Tarinia

Actually these days, I think Golarion is more popular. Which sucks because both of them are horrible kitchensink settings.

[FranOhmsford]

They didn't beak the rings they fixed the no level on those rings is what was broken

That was a Retcon Uska!

The Devs stated on multiple occasions back when Reign of Madness was introduced that those Rings were WAI!

It was a year or more before they were NERFED!

You won't find those quotes now because of two things:

1) The Forum Update
and
2) Any that survived that update were removed when the Nerf happened!

[FranOhmsford]

I know nothing about pnp, but what probably happened is they said, hey, PC, we got the rights to this awesome, popular DnD module. Would you rather that be next or Auronoch, and people on the council said heck yeah to ToEE.


This kind of targeted polling was one of my reasons for leaving the PC!

A one or the other situation where it's known beforehand that one of the two will clearly be the winner!

It's not that the Council don't like Anauroch!

It's that the Council is made up of Players who'd LOVE to see Temple of Elemental Evil in DDO!

Heck - I'd probably have voted for ToEE if given that choice BUT I wouldn't have been voting AGAINST Anauroch!


And it seems certain people have this idea that DDO has a whole slew of Deserts?

WHERE?

I see a dozen or more Forested Wildernesses
I see multiple Icy wastes!
I see ONE Desert!

And that ONE Desert is one of the most popular packs in DDO's history!

[FranOhmsford]

The only thing about level 7 is that there's no lack of level 7 content. Or level 8, for that matter, and definitely not level 5.

I suggest making it level 6 instead. Compare level 6 and 7:

Level 6
- Redwillow's Ruins
- The Bloody Crypt
- 1 Delera's walkup
- 8 lightweight F2P quests
- 5 lightweight P2P quests (tangleroot, sorrowdusk, 3BC)

Level 7
- Tear of Dhakaan
- Gwylan's Stand
- The Pit
- The entire Sentinels chain (Level 8 Spies is a walk-up)
- Half the Delera's chain
- 2 lightweight F2P quests
- 6 lightweight P2P quests (tangleroot, sorrowdusk, 3BC)

Neither level is particularly light on content, but 7 has a material advantage over 6 right now. 8 has more than either of them, and 5 has even more than 8. (Factoring in that you need twice as much xp to go from 8 to 9 as you do to go from 5 to 6.)

EDIT: My spreadsheet may have out-of-date info for a few of the quests (namely 3BC) but when I add up the base xp for all quests on normal, here's what I get for that range:

Level 5: 31,830
Level 6: 22,140
Level 7: 42,240
Level 8: 56,397
Level 9: 51,414

Level 6 is clearly lacking compared to its peers, while level 7 looks like it's already about right.

While compiling these xp totals it occurs to me that moving the first two Threnal quests from 8 to 9 would correct the imbalance between the two as well as fix the bravery issues with Threnal.


I regularly run E-BB one run and have done so on dozens of characters! {Yes I also max out the Slayer Zones up to and incl. Sorrowdusk!}

Even on 3rd Lifers I'm Hard Capped BEFORE I hit Lvl 7 Quests! {And I ignore Carnival completely!}

XP isn't the reason why we need more low and mid level quests - There's already plenty for XP requirements {IF You're VIP or own the majority of packs} all the way up to 28!

We need more low and mid level quests so people have CHOICES!

[Oxarhamar]

It would be hard to get accurate feedback from the players and you certainly couldn't use the forums to do it not really happy with a limited group like the PC having to much input either but then there is no ideal solution to the problem

I already suggested the ideal solution.

in game survey.

All players that actually play get a say as well as those who might not currently play could log in to fill it out.

Would reach the widest possible portion of the player base not just the forums, Twitter, or Facebook fans.

[Uska]

That was a Retcon Uska!

The Devs stated on multiple occasions back when Reign of Madness was introduced that those Rings were WAI!

It was a year or more before they were NERFED!

You won't find those quotes now because of two things:

1) The Forum Update
and
2) Any that survived that update were removed when the Nerf happened!

anyone who knows d&d and DDO knows those rings needed to be fixed and I know you know it as well

[EazyWeazy]

I disagree. I had all the awesome necro 4 loot in 2 days, and it was not fun - you need rare loot to some degree.

For me, fighting is fun and such, but I also like traps and puzzles, which have sorely been missing lately in new dungeon content.

I'm talking about putting in very rare spawns with very rare drop rates. Bad combo.

[Kwyjibo]

I know nothing about pnp, but what probably happened is they said, hey, PC, we got the rights to this awesome, popular DnD module. Would you rather that be next or Auronoch, and people on the council said heck yeah to ToEE.
It wasn't a choice...it was "here is some new stuff we're working on and we're looking for feedback on a couple of things."

[UurlockYgmeov]

Some additional info:

~ The Xoriat dungeons are all new content.

~ The Temple of Elemental Evil, as a classic dungeon set in another world, with be accessed magically and directly. The epic version will be level 30, and the heroic version will start at level 7 as the original was level 1-8.

~ We won't be creating the villages as part of the Temple of Elemental Evil. Yes, it makes us sad as well. Our estimates of the time it would take to run that pre-content was very low, and the development time estimates were so high we didn't feel that the additional play experience would be worth pushing the update out by months.

Instead players will get right to the heart of the adventure.

~ The Temple is very large, and we want players to have a reason to explore it even on subsequent runs. We want to find a fun system to reward exploring the temple rather than just running the most efficient path to finish the quests, and plan on having some rewarding optional objectives that randomly spawn and give out good XP and treasure.

Sev~

LOVE IT! love all of it! keep it coming!

[DANTEIL]

Thanks for the additional info!


Some additional info:

~ The Xoriat dungeons are all new content.

Meh :)


~ The Temple of Elemental Evil, as a classic dungeon set in another world, with be accessed magically and directly. The epic version will be level 30, and the heroic version will start at level 7 as the original was level 1-8.

YES!!! on the availability to heroic-level characters. My hope is that if you advertise this right, a lot of new players might be drawn to the game if they can run ToEE, and having it available at lower levels means that a broader range of players can experience it. Having an Epic version also helps fill the need for additional endgame/lvl30 content.


~ We won't be creating the villages as part of the Temple of Elemental Evil. Yes, it makes us sad as well. Our estimates of the time it would take to run that pre-content was very low, and the development time estimates were so high we didn't feel that the additional play experience would be worth pushing the update out by months.

Disappointing, but understandable.


Instead players will get right to the heart of the adventure.

~ The Temple is very large, and we want players to have a reason to explore it even on subsequent runs. We want to find a fun system to reward exploring the temple rather than just running the most efficient path to finish the quests, and plan on having some rewarding optional objectives that randomly spawn and give out good XP and treasure.

Sev~

I'm an explorer at heart, so this sounds awesome!

[FranOhmsford]

anyone who knows d&d and DDO knows those rings needed to be fixed and I know you know it as well

Lol - D&D never had Min Level requirements for ANY named Loot!

That is an MMO thing!

I was actually pleased that the Devs were putting at least a little bit of D&D back into DDO!

[LeslieWest_GuitarGod]

I will have to side with the Temple of Elemental Evil. Too many great pnp memories. New content is needed, well known module such as ToEE is a huge score and huge news, and if their is real challenge there, then this is going to be GREAT for the game!

Now my question is... can we get an official word if this will definitely be free of charge to VIPs??

[EllisDee37]

3 lives ago, or a month ago roughly, I did a regular heroic TR on my fighter. I did one and done on a 3+ life character with elite BB, 5% ship, 10% VIP, 5% VOM, 20% xp pot and tried the best I could to maximize xp including buying a rogue for trap heavy quests for more xp. Only killed mobs on my way to quests in wilderness zones. I had anywhere from 2.5 ranks to max xp banked at each level. I took 18 when I was a rank short of 19 and capped in Vale. I skipped Stealthy just because I don't like the quest, but I had so much xp banked I had to skip all of Necro 2, Xorian Cypher, Chrono and a couple others in low levels.

Even if you take away the xp pot, reduce the ship xp to 3% and skip random quests, you should have no problem with xp in low levels even on a 3+ TR.
I regularly run E-BB one run and have done so on dozens of characters! {Yes I also max out the Slayer Zones up to and incl. Sorrowdusk!}

Even on 3rd Lifers I'm Hard Capped BEFORE I hit Lvl 7 Quests! {And I ignore Carnival completely!}

XP isn't the reason why we need more low and mid level quests - There's already plenty for XP requirements {IF You're VIP or own the majority of packs} all the way up to 28!

We need more low and mid level quests so people have CHOICES!
I never said it was difficult to level, or that xp was lacking. What I said (and demonstrated) is that the xp distribution is unbalanced, with level 6 being light and level 7 being about right. Therefore it might be better to make it level 6 instead of level 7.

[Qhualor]

I never said it was difficult to level, or that xp was lacking. What I said (and demonstrated) is that the xp distribution is unbalanced, with level 6 being light and level 7 being about right. Therefore it might be better to make it level 6 instead of level 7.

there are some light xp level 6 quests, but my point is that low levels are already front loaded with xp. this will also depend on how much content you own, but making a new quest start at level 7 will only bring something new and fresh to run rather than some of the old content that haven't been updated with new stuff for a very long time. make it level 6, 7, 8, 9, or level 1. doesn't matter as it will only be something different to do and not because it should be inserted at a specific level range to offset the xp imbalance.

[FranOhmsford]

I never said it was difficult to level, or that xp was lacking. What I said (and demonstrated) is that the xp distribution is unbalanced, with level 6 being light and level 7 being about right. Therefore it might be better to make it level 6 instead of level 7.

But F2Pers and Premiums who've concentrated on getting High Level Packs have plenty of Quests to run to get to Lvl 7/8 - It's at Lvl 9/10 where things slow down for them!

So placing ToEE at Lvl 7 is perfect - It places it bang at Lvl 9 for BB!

IF those Premiums have already bought Necro II and VoN then even better!
Because now they get the OPTION to run something different rather than simply using TWO quests {and maybe Tempest Spine/VoN 5-6} to lvl from 9-13!

[LeslieWest_GuitarGod]

It's at Lvl 9/10 where things slow down for them!

This is very true. This is crazy good news.

Villages however should be made. Even if they are just backdrop.

[Grosbeak07]

Some additional info:

~ The Xoriat dungeons are all new content.

~ The Temple of Elemental Evil, as a classic dungeon set in another world, with be accessed magically and directly. The epic version will be level 30, and the heroic version will start at level 7 as the original was level 1-8.

~ We won't be creating the villages as part of the Temple of Elemental Evil. Yes, it makes us sad as well. Our estimates of the time it would take to run that pre-content was very low, and the development time estimates were so high we didn't feel that the additional play experience would be worth pushing the update out by months.

Instead players will get right to the heart of the adventure.

~ The Temple is very large, and we want players to have a reason to explore it even on subsequent runs. We want to find a fun system to reward exploring the temple rather than just running the most efficient path to finish the quests, and plan on having some rewarding optional objectives that randomly spawn and give out good XP and treasure.

Sev~

All good stuff.

And this is just the quests.

I'm also looking forward to Barbarian Changes, the new "event" that replaced mabar, the Level cap getting raised in 2015 and I'm sure you guys have a few more things in the pipe line.

[Gondandur]

Some additional info:



~ The Temple of Elemental Evil, as a classic dungeon set in another world, with be accessed magically and directly. The epic version will be level 30, and the heroic version will start at level 7 as the original was level 1-8.

Sev~

What about the actual impossibilty for new /first life characters who cannot access Evening Star before level 16 at least and only via quest chain passage to FR?
Will you allow ToEE direct access from Halls of Heroes (which would give a sense to its existance) ?

[SirShen]

anyone who knows d&d and DDO knows those rings needed to be fixed and I know you know it as well

Fixed yes but not to the point of them being worse then rings you can loot from chests, so for me they still need to fix them.

[dunklezhan]

Thanks for this. May even convince me to renew my sub in January. Maybe. I might just buy the packs if I'm still playing. Certainly enough to delay my decision to completely quit at christmas especially if any of this brings people back and honestly... it really might. The old guard often expressed love of eberron and greyhawk but markedly not FR in a lot of cases (yes I'm one, I know I know, confirmation bias). Xoriat are always crowd pleasers - they're always entertaining first time through, even if on balance some don't like them. So I'm pleased and hopeful for just a few more people to play with.

On ToEE. First I must say that HH was really impressive - but was something I only ever scratched the surface on because the first quest would take every group I was in a good 45 mins on its own and then optionals just never seemed to happen for groups I was in. That's very likely because I play for relatively short periods at a time, so by the time I got around to being of a level to run it and was online with other people? Everyone already had their loot, as usual, there were no groups going and what few guildies we had left didn't really want to run it as they'd had their opportunities to explore and get loot if they wanted.

So if ToEE is to use anything like a similar mechanic, can the 'completion' marker please be a little more time friendly? It can be difficult - the more difficult the better in fact. The HH boss battle is great and I find challenging in every group if they're on a skill-appropriate difficulty setting (for us, Hard). But it just shouldn't take so long to get there so you can start running the other interesting stuff (e.g. hh you could've done crest runs after the boss battle in order to unlock specific optionals, rather than doing them to unlock the boss himself and then just choosing optionals or not bothering at all). Its great first time through but it becomes a bit of a chore on repeated play throughs. Needs to be a bit snappier.

I do already have the ToEE turn based single player. Fortunately, I never got further than the first room of the temple nor played the PnP version or greyhawk, so I'm thankfully in a completely spoiler free zone as far as DnD lore goes which is lovely. It also means I have no nostalgia to rose tint the experience - so it better be good, you guys :)



On Xoriat: I for one love Xoriat content and I love when you finish off or continue Eberron storylines, so this is a double win for me. Someone really does just need to close that **** tavern though. Are 12 Scholars that desperate for somewhere to let their hair down so close to the tower? These people can planeshift, for heaven's sake! :)

So I am very pleased to hear that it is not only a return to Xoriat, but new material and new plot - not just an epic conversion. I'm frankly delighted that these are new heroic and epic quests, not just epic versions of existing heroics. Thank you. Really. Thank you.

If more Eberron storyline development is on the cards however, I for one would like to finish off the Shavarath and other planar stuff that was always tantalisingly hinted at at the planescaller in the 12. Though the Delkir are a real and present danger on Eberron itself, which is why I have no problem with the choice thus far. But more of the other planes storyline would be excellent please. After that, for the love of the Flame finish the droaam chain. Those hags need to be put down, and right proper.

Not to say I don't like the idea of epicifying things like the Titan raid and associated quests mind you, as you've done with GH and the excellent 3BC update - but that isn't actually continuing storylines as such, its a thinly veiled excuse for an epic version. Which is cool and all, cos I like all those quests and I prefer eberron to FR hands down. But I'd rather see true continuations and completions of outstanding plotlines.


So:

More heroic Xoriat plot with Epic versions (or vice versa)? Yes please. Thank you so much for doing some more new Eberron stuff.

ToEE: sounds great and I really really hope it works well, but I am decidedly neutral on whether its a good or bad module to begin with or how well it might convert. So I am yours to convince on that one.


Also - don't let this sudden wonderful urge for new content stop you hammering bugs like nails in an old floorboard though please. Hirelings are still completely messed up for example, which really hurts when you're a casual player on at times with low population/groups. Get all those bugged enhancements sorted.

And finally - CANNITH CRAFTING. ahem. thanks.

[jalont]

I never said it was difficult to level, or that xp was lacking. What I said (and demonstrated) is that the xp distribution is unbalanced, with level 6 being light and level 7 being about right. Therefore it might be better to make it level 6 instead of level 7.

I agree with this 100 percent. IF you're the type of person that only runs quests two levels over on elite, leveling from 8-->9 and 10 -->11 are where it gets tricky.

[Oxarhamar]

I agree with this 100 percent. IF you're the type of person that only runs quests two levels over on elite, leveling from 8-->9 and 10 -->11 are where it gets tricky.

Never had an issue running Eilte streak one and done at those levels.

And I skip a lot of content.

[Thar]

Some additional info:

~ The Xoriat dungeons are all new content.

~ The Temple of Elemental Evil, as a classic dungeon set in another world, with be accessed magically and directly. The epic version will be level 30, and the heroic version will start at level 7 as the original was level 1-8.

~ We won't be creating the villages as part of the Temple of Elemental Evil. Yes, it makes us sad as well. Our estimates of the time it would take to run that pre-content was very low, and the development time estimates were so high we didn't feel that the additional play experience would be worth pushing the update out by months.

Instead players will get right to the heart of the adventure.

~ The Temple is very large, and we want players to have a reason to explore it even on subsequent runs. We want to find a fun system to reward exploring the temple rather than just running the most efficient path to finish the quests, and plan on having some rewarding optional objectives that randomly spawn and give out good XP and treasure.

Sev~

xoriat... delierum part 3... ugh... why do you guys pick the stuff i hate the most... this ranks up there with heroic 3bc and orchard as quests i like to skip or run once for favor. what's next epic made to order or epicfy the existing challenges?

people wanted epic tempest spine... epic water works, even amarath expanded would have been better. Where is our player counsel? do we need to fire them?

TOEE... ok you are mostly forgiven... if it's done right.

where is the new raid?

Any new sagas?

[BDog77]

Looks like some great stuff to look forward to.

Also, knockback, just wanted to say, amazing job on Thunderholme! Looks just like I imagined a dwarven stronghold would look like, very well done!

B

[nibel]

In the last update Eberron was embraced in many ways by the Devs. But serious- how many raids of the mark of death have you already run?
I seeked on the server Thelanis every 2 days since the start and found not even one pug! All the guilds I know (no raid guilds) dont run the raid and after the last FR realms raid were published,
they were run a 1000 times even today.

Not a fair comparasion, because MoD does not requires as many runs as Thunderholme raids, or Shroud, or Cannith.

And just to throw the same argument around to show how ridiculous it is, remember when FoT was released and CitW became a ghost town? Well, FoT is in Eberron, so...


Please don't make a rare item in a rare spawn. Fun is fighting and fun is pulling awesome loot. Learn from the mistakes of the past. :)

I remember when Ioun Stones were random uber rare drops. It was awesome.

I remember when people get actually frustrated searching for a pink rust monster (http://ddowiki.com/page/Xachosian_Landwalker), but never stopped because the loot was awesome.

I remember people doing DQ 60 times for a Torc.

I remember people still doing VoN6 for a Sword of Shadows or its shard.

People like loot a lot. To the point of playing the game only for that loot. But one thing is making this loot "rare", and another is making it "gated to the point where casual players have no chance to get it". For the loot seekers that actually farm, both modes are comparable, but for casuals required farming is a serious drawback. Eg, I have zero interest in thunderforged weapons for this exact reason. Yet, I have an Eardweller because it popped for me while normal questing.

[Oxarhamar]

Snip "Update 24 will round out the year with new quests, new Festivult cookies, and a new event that centers on something we can all agree on: looting chests! We’ll be continuing our work on the Anauroch Desert (in the Forgotten Realms), planning for Sentient Weapons, and developing another Classic Dungeon like the Haunted Halls of Eveningstar. We expect these to be something you’ll see in the first half of 2015. We’re pushing out the level cap for now to make sure we have plenty of questing to support your journey through the highest levels of DDO. Hitting level 30 will be a big milestone for DDO, and we want to put it out when the timing is right, and make sure its design keeps up with the way you, the players want to play DDO. "

Looks like this is the confusion

The letter is later out by Update but, the future plans are all crammed into this bit with U24.

So do this mean we are still getting Anaurock in the future?

The Event will it be ready soon?

[Cetus]

Some additional info:

~ The Xoriat dungeons are all new content.

~ The Temple of Elemental Evil, as a classic dungeon set in another world, with be accessed magically and directly. The epic version will be level 30, and the heroic version will start at level 7 as the original was level 1-8.

~ We won't be creating the villages as part of the Temple of Elemental Evil. Yes, it makes us sad as well. Our estimates of the time it would take to run that pre-content was very low, and the development time estimates were so high we didn't feel that the additional play experience would be worth pushing the update out by months.

Instead players will get right to the heart of the adventure.

~ The Temple is very large, and we want players to have a reason to explore it even on subsequent runs. We want to find a fun system to reward exploring the temple rather than just running the most efficient path to finish the quests, and plan on having some rewarding optional objectives that randomly spawn and give out good XP and treasure.

Sev~

You need to make it worthwhile running on EE. Please don't make the same horrible mistake you made with haunted halls, where the quest can just get abused on normal, with all of the loot extracted from it.

Give it a 16 hour timer or something, encourage running alternate characters, EE-only loot - and you'll have a winner that lasts a tad longer than 48 hours.

[Theolin]

Some additional info:

~ The Xoriat dungeons are all new content.

~ The Temple of Elemental Evil, as a classic dungeon set in another world, with be accessed magically and directly. The epic version will be level 30, and the heroic version will start at level 7 as the original was level 1-8.

~ We won't be creating the villages as part of the Temple of Elemental Evil. Yes, it makes us sad as well. Our estimates of the time it would take to run that pre-content was very low, and the development time estimates were so high we didn't feel that the additional play experience would be worth pushing the update out by months.

Instead players will get right to the heart of the adventure.

~ The Temple is very large, and we want players to have a reason to explore it even on subsequent runs. We want to find a fun system to reward exploring the temple rather than just running the most efficient path to finish the quests, and plan on having some rewarding optional objectives that randomly spawn and give out good XP and treasure.

Sev~


I would much rather have a bunch of small adventures that can be done in 5-15 minutes than ONE gigantic one that is supposed to take hours. I rarely have time for a whole continuous hour at a time and practically never for more than that. I often can run 10-20 minutes need 10-20 minutes to go do something then can play again for a short time. So something like this would drive me nuts as I would want to play it but could not.

[vivarium]

...... dear god no.... if you guys screw up at the beginning hope you die quickly to the orb of annihilation quickly... much preferred the old name for it orb of silvery death and orb of golden death but meh... also roomate is screaming "By Kelemvors sanity WHY!!?" >_>

[Oxarhamar]

I would much rather have a bunch of small adventures that can be done in 5-15 minutes than ONE gigantic one that is supposed to take hours. I rarely have time for a whole continuous hour at a time and practically never for more than that. I often can run 10-20 minutes need 10-20 minutes to go do something then can play again for a short time. So something like this would drive me nuts as I would want to play it but could not.

This

Even thou I generally play 2-3 hours a night doesn't mean my time or my party members time does not get interrupted.

10 5 minute quests is 100 times better than 1 hour long quest.



If a quest is actually an hour long by players on live play time...
Will the XP be worthy of the time investment?
The loot will it be tradeable thus worth gathering more than just for ones self?
Otherwise it will be fun a few times and then die off.

[Oberon_Shrader]

I would like to first say that all the new content announced seems just great! Very much looking forward to it!

But...

I, for one (maybe of many), was looking forward to Anauroch as a continuance of or culmination to the Tyranny of Dragons campaign line. While I note that the Tyranny stuff hasn't been completely abandoned, it sure seems it's been put on the back burner (just 1 free quest coming out soon).

After so much work going into the campaign line and so many quests leading up to it, this is a shame.

It also leads me to wonder where the data suggesting people won't like this content comes from. I remember no survey, no official forum discussion or any other method used to collect this data.

The Player's Council is great, but it amounts to a focus group. The forums are great, but they amount to vocal minorities speaking out very loudly to push their personal agendas.

Good marketing practice will tell you that neither of those is enough to make an informed or correct decision by. In fact, drawing on data from the player base alone is also not enough.

The marketing and production team(s) should be using a broad variety of tools to collect data from within the player base as well as from potential players, whenever possible.

This should be done before making announcements for plans. And, like the class balance data, it should be made available for everyone to see; after all, what's the point of hiding it, unless it doesn't exist or decisions were made arbitrarily in disregard of said data?

That is, not clearly collecting data and then failing to share it sets up mistrust within the player base.

Similarly, announcing content too early and then backpedaling, for whatever reason (be it budgetary, negative feedback or producer vision changes) sets up a lack of confidence within the player base regarding the competence of decision makers and/or the adequacy of decision making processes.

That is, abandoning announced content is a bad idea, because once you announce something, that is tantamount to a promise. To maintain confidence, you have to follow through with promises.

Turbine, please, either give us some more direct method of input or share with us how this data was collected! Give us a detailed survey, please!

[Scrabbler]

For those who don't care for Acute Delirium or other Madness quests - what is your complaint?
Takes over 40 minutes for starting Beholder to finish his drinking sequence.

[fmalfeas]

...... dear god no.... if you guys screw up at the beginning hope you die quickly to the orb of annihilation quickly... much preferred the old name for it orb of silvery death and orb of golden death but meh... also roomate is screaming "By Kelemvors sanity WHY!!?" >_>

Just wait until someone talks them into releasing the mother of all famed dungeons...The Tomb of Horrors. As far as I know, it's not even on the drawing board, and I can already hear the wailing of players. Especially without access to herds of cattle.

[Cetus]

Sev, I am very surprised at the decision to launch more low level (CR26) content. I could have sworn that you guys were done with that phase, and would from now on churn out endgame stuff.

What happened? This is going backwards.

[nibel]

Takes over 40 minutes for starting Beholder to finish his drinking sequence.

On Elite it is a lot faster to purposely fail the drinking game and just fight the five beholders. Also, it is five beholders for MM.

[Aelonwy]

Protest all you want I could care less.

Forum tally will show exactly the feedback the have been given by those on the forum, without a player survey this is the only play feedback the Devs have to base off.


What I care about is what are the Devs basing playing feedback on?

*snip*

Since forum opinion is really only the minority of players that use the forums frequently and the Player's Council is only a minority of players (even if supposedly a wide range of playstyles etc) would it be possible for the dev's to put a question or poll on log-in, so that maybe once a week or once a month you log-in to the game and answer a player opinion question. At least on log-in would make sure that all players see it, and if they have an opinion about it may be motivated to share that opinion.

For example, on log-in:
Yes or No Would you like to see Anauroch in 2015?

or

How would you prioritize cosmetics, with 1 being most important and 5 being least? *1 *2 *3 *4 *5

or

Which class needs updated next (after barbarian)? *Artificier *Druid *Favored Soul (All 3 chosen for only having two enhancement trees.)

or

Which heroic pack would you like to see Epic-ed next? *Shavarath *Vale *Titan *None prefer ALL new content

[Uska]

Just wait until someone talks them into releasing the mother of all famed dungeons...The Tomb of Horrors. As far as I know, it's not even on the drawing board, and I can already hear the wailing of players. Especially without access to herds of cattle.

The temple has the tomb beat in all ways not that I hated the tomb but what truly made it magical was that it was unexpected and that can no longer be said I remember when it came I had no clue and our characters at the game club died in droves and we fought for the chance to be the next to,die