D&D Online gets DX10, Hirelings

By Oli Welsh Published 4 November, 2008

New starting experience too in Module 8.

Haven't checked in with this one in a while. Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach - Turbine's other MMO, alongside Lord of the Rings Online - is getting DirectX 10 support and some substantial new features in the update known as Module 8: Prisoners of Prophecy.

The update went live in the US yesterday. According to Codemasters, it will be released in Europe on November 13th, but we're going to tell you about it now, because something tells us another MMO might be keeping us busy on that day.

Prisoners of Prophecy delivers a DX10 engine upgrade to the game, improving the shaders for water, particle and lighting effects.

The most significant gameplay change will be the introduction of Hirelings. These "player-controlled NPC combatants" are intended to open up more of the game to solo players: each has a given class, level and personality. Players can contract one Hireling at a time, at their level or lower. The system will be introduced through live in-game events after Prisoners of Prophecy launches.

There will also be a "more story-based and friendly" introduction to the game, intended to make it more accessible. You'll be able to create characters without having to manually assign all their stat and skill points.

The Prisoners of the Prophecy storyline will also take high-level players through four new dungeons and three new wilderness areas.

We'll be revisiting Dungeons & Dragons Online soon to let you know how the game has fared in the two and a half years since its release.

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (5) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • thisisatempaccount #1 3 years ago

    In before all the "Omg this MMO's still alive?! LULZ" snark.

    Actually, I kind of AM surprised it's still alive, having heard absolutely squat from the gaming press since its release, and precious little even then (in fairness I haven't been out actively hunting for relevant coverage). So I welcome EG going back to check out how it's faring (obviously okay if we're a year in and they're still making new content).

    Now, if you folks could kindly see your way to throwing out a few free trial keys to we loyal advert-receptors in readerland, well, that'd be just swell, yessuh.
    Edited by 1 at 04/11/08 @ 12:57

  • iokthemonkey #2 3 years ago

    Unfortunately, Codemasters tend to do that with their MMOs. They put a big push around them at the release and when expansions come out but don't "play the game" the way Blizzard do and keep their games in the limelight, which is a shame, as LOTRO, for example, beats the pants of WoW in terms of depth, breadth and sheer fun, yet it doesn't even get a 20th of its subscriber base or the recognition it deserves, unless you happen to be a Blizzard Dev, in which case, it's the best "what shall we "borrow" next for WoW" MMO out there...

  • Lemming81 #3 3 years ago

    Dx10 before Conan. That's pretty funny! :)

  • iokthemonkey #4 3 years ago

    Dx10 before Conan. That's pretty funny! :)
    ---

    Not meaning to sound like LOTRO's bitch, but it's had DX10 support in for ages, too.

  • darc #5 3 years ago

    D&DO was really underrated IMO. The only MMO to date with any real depth. Problem, arguably: too much depth. The game just got too difficult too fast if you weren't a proper pen&paper d&d nerd grouping w/ other d&d nerds. More than me and my wife could handle on our own. But I really liked the instanced quests, and the way a real need for a variety of class was presented. Hirelings, if well-implemented, are a great idea.