Tech Blog

[#1]

As I get ready to hunker down for the Canadian winter, I look for good online games to play with my friends to tide us through the dark cold.

If it's free, generally I'll check it out. And if it's a free Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (MMORPG) I'll definitely check it out. Which is why I'm strapping on my +2 Leather Armor and striding boldly into the world of Dungeons & Dragons Online Unlimited (DDO).

Over the last few years my MMORPG group sessions were limited toGuild Wars (GW). Now GW wasn't free -- you bought the game and expansion packs, but due to the nature of the game you had to play online, and online play was free. That was one ofGW's main attractions for me. A quality fantasy adventure that didn't charge you $15 a month, just the base purchase price of the game or expansion.

Now, the business model has changed again for quality fantasy RPGs. Dungeons & Dragons Online Unlimited doesn't cost a thing to play. It's free. From the FAQ:

DDO Unlimited introduces an innovative new way to play - you can download and play DDO for free! For even more action and fun, you can purchase additional adventures, convenience items, and account services at your leisure from the new DDO Store. Can't get enough of DDO? You can even subscribe, becoming a "VIP", to get unlimited access to all of the game’s content.

But you don't have to, the game is fully playable in free mode. But what does free get you? A pretty robust and fun game if my experience playing the first few hours of DDO are any indication.

It's a beautiful game, yet seems familiar with lots of barrels and crates to search (a D&D standard).

The real fun in a MMORPG is doing the Multi-Player part. Get some friends and form an adventuring party and you're in for a blast as you cooperatively battle through dungeons and adventures together. The game has built-in voice chat too, which helps when can call for healing and you'd rather use your keystrokes and mouse clicks to run or defend. Nothing beats the shared experience.

The initial dungeons and puzzles are small and simple, just as they should be as you become more familiar with the game's controls. Speaking of which, if you've ever played any FPS or RPG with a standard control scheme, you already know how to move and interact in the world.  If you've not played a fantasy RPG yet, DDO is a great starting point.

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If the game does seem familiar that's because it was originally released in 1996 asDungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach - sold for $50 and had a monthly subscription fee of $15. It was a pricey game. But now, the only thing it costs you is time. Well worth checking out.

Message Edited by bgrier on 10-19-2009 11:36 PM

[#2]

Great post, Brad. I find the interface not as sleek and usable as WoW, but the environments and dungeons are more interesting.

[#3]

Thanks Johnn, and frankly, I can't say that I ever got engaged in WoW...seemed like too much sitting around and making things

Oh, and there's the monthly fee that I pay regardless of my usage.