However, Turbine has allowed players a “default”
option for each class, which sets their attributes and skills
automatically at character creation. Many of these default characters
are derived from entry level characters found in the core D&D
rulebook. If you’re unfamiliar with the D&D ruleset
(the 3.5 edition), make sure you chose the default option at first.
There’s nothing like trying to figure out the game with a
gimpy character.



Once you’ve gained a feel for how each attribute, skill, or
feat enhances your characters abilities, then go back and create the
character build that suits your preference. DDO is a game that almost
urges players to go back and create new characters, as more powerful
starting races and/or character build points can be unlocked through
doing favor-enhancing quests.



As perhaps one of the only “grind” aspects of the
game, doing favor quests can get repetitive, but the inevitable rewards
are fairly extensive. Upon reaching 450 favor, players will then be
able to unlock the Dark Elf race that has a whole variety of basic
starting abilities not available upon your initial character creation.
At 1750 favor, players can create a brand new starting character with
four extra build points, allowing for a character that has
exceptionally powerful attributes (original character creation only
allows for 28 build points).

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title="High Level Items"> src="/image/view/16209/preview"
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style="font-style: italic;">Turbine has done an
exceptional job of creating the detailed weapons and armor that
D&D players dream about.

But for those players who enjoy a solid dose of character
micromanagement, Dungeons
and Dragons Online has it in spades. Along with the
various character customization choices, you can choose between a
variety of armors, weapons, spells, and trinkets, all of which can
ultimately affect your character in some way. Those who excel at
micro-managing may have an upper hand in the game, but they may also
adversely change their character.



The Technical Stuff



From a visual standpoint, Dungeons
and Dragons Online still stands up to many of the games on
the market today. Although not as eye-popping as Lord of the Rings
Online, DDO certainly has the same feel as its successor and the
attention to detail, in some instances, is quite profound.



Armor and weapons, for instance, are extremely well done and are quite
unique in appearance and form. Each time you receive an upgraded piece
of equipment, you’ll feel that pleasant tingling sensation
that follows each in-game reward. Popping open each chest (which are
randomly generated through loot tables) is like opening a present on
Christmas day – sometimes you get socks, but when that new
set of armor drops into your lap, you can’t help but give a
little shout of joy.



On the audio side of things, most of the sound effects and music are
quite adequate and don’t detract from the experience,
although they typically don’t add much to the entire ambience
of the game either. However, the voice of the “Dungeon
Master,” which is just a fancy word for the narrator of the
game’s quests, can be entertaining and annoying all in the
same breath. After awhile, most players don’t even listen to
the narrator, especially on the third past through a particular quest.



Unfortunate Occurrences



Every game has its bugs when it first hits store shelves. Perhaps the
closest thing to a “flawless” launch of an MMOG
thus far in the 21st century has been Turbine’s own style="font-style: italic;">Lord of the Rings Online:
Shadows of Angmar, which seemed nearly bug-free upon
launch. This sort of perfection is almost a necessity in the modern
marketplace, yet developers continue to launch games prematurely.

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title="The Dragon's Vault"> src="/image/view/16208/preview"
width="200">

style="font-style: italic;">Beautiful vistas
are something that Turbine takes special pride in creating, even when
they're inhabited by huge red dragons.

However, even time can’t always heal things that are broken.
With two years of active gameplay under its belt, style="font-style: italic;">Dungeons and Dragons Online
still has a few very apparent and cosmetically inappropriate bugs that
nag at its heels. One of my favorites is the “Matrix
trick” that occurs whenever you fire any sort of ammunition
at an NPC or a breakable object. Instead of disappearing or
falling away, the arrow, dagger, or projectile remains motionless in
mid-air just before  the NPC or former box. This is most
noticeable when you’re playing through a dungeon and attempt
to break boxes with projectiles. Floating ammunition just seems a bit
silly.



It seems that other bugs continue to pester the system as well.
Oversized boxes, ladder bugs, and even some quest turn-in problems
continually pop their heads up in the game. Whether this is due to the
different combat and questing systems or caused by something else
entirely, it’d be interesting to find out why these sorts of
bugs come up and aren’t immediately squashed.



Defeating the Dragon



Yet even with these bugs, Dungeons
and Dragons Online still manages to create a truly epic
experience. Time and time again, fans of Turbine’s work have
commented that the developers at this studio really have a grasp on
what it takes to create those beautiful vistas that take your breath
away. This element is alive and well in DDO, especially when you first
encounter a monster of enormous proportions.



And the developers continue to increase this “epic”
feel each time they release a new Module. As we discussed in a href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/15348">recent
interview with the DDO devs, they’ll soon be
releasing their
next module, which hosts a variety of new enemies, including a
rampaging devil army. A whole variety of tremendous monsters
– dragons, maraliths, and more – are already in the
game and waiting for players to encounter them.



If it weren’t for the nagging bugs and the necessities of
sticking with the overbearingly intricate D&D ruleset, the
sheer potential for Dungeons and Dragons Online remains tremendous. Yet
even with some of these nagging problems, DDO shines as one of the more
ambitious MMOG projects to ever be released. With a bit of streamlining
and bug fixing, DDO could stand among the best of its gaming peers. All
of that aside, DDO is a stellar game for the anyone who's ever played style="font-style: italic;">Dungeons and Dragons.

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• Frenetic combat system
• Sticks to D&D ruleset
• Tremendous armor and weapon variety
• Quest-centric advancement

• Entirely instanced
• Overly intricate D&D rules
• Favor grinding
• Gameplay bugs

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(3.5 / 5 Hammers)

style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Ten Ton
Recommendation:

style="font-style: italic;">Dungeons and Dragons Online:
Stormreach
is the perfect game for the D&D aficionado. If you're
interested in
a MMOG with a alternate combat system DDO is the game for you.