Dungeons & Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited

Moby ID: 42998

Description official description

Dungeons & Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited is a free-to-download, free-to-play MMO based on the role-playing game of the same name. It is a re-branding of the initial version of the game Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach which was a commercial title. It was the ninth main revision of the game, following eight smaller module updates. This version of the game removes the purchasing cost and the subscription fee, and relies on microtransactions instead. It also increases the level cap to 20. The majority of the game is available for free, but certain elements need to be unlocked through gameplay or by purchasing Turbine points.

The game contains three tiers of players: those who pay nothing at all (free players), those who use microtransactions for additional purchases (premium players), and subscribers who pay a monthly fee (with optional microtransaction as well). Those who subscribe receive 500 Turbine points per month, can unlock all classes and races in the game, get access to all locations and adventure packs, have room for ten character slots and a shared bank slot, get priority on the login queue, receive full customer service and have high beta priority. For the two others types of players these features are not available, limited or need to be paid for, with further limits for free players. There were differences between the European and American versions, as in Europe it was published by Codemasters who continued to require a subscription fee and where the game was still called Stormreach. The game content however, is identical with the same reward. European players however have no access to the store as it does not exist in that version of the game. Players were also free to register the American version of the game to play for free.

You can team up with your friends to explore the city of Stormreach as well as islands, jungles, deserts, and even Shavarath, the Plane of Battle. The game has deadly dungeons where you need to disable traps, solve perplexing puzzles, and collect legendary loot. You can battle classic Dungeons & Dragons creatures like mindflayers, beholders, rust monsters, and powerful dragons using DDO’s action-oriented combat system.

On 25th June 2012 the game concept was altered extensively when the developers introduced content based on the Forgotten Realms D&D setting combined with commercial expansions packs. From then on the game was rebranded a third time as Dungeons & Dragons Online without a subtitle.

Groups +

Credits (Windows version)

800 People (716 developers, 84 thanks) · View all

Executive Producer
Senior Producer
Design Director
Engineering Director
Art Lead
Vice President of Product Development
Executive Director, Product Development
Producer
Associate Live Producer
Lead Systems Designer
Content Design Team
Systems Design Team
Game Systems Team
[ full credits ]

Reviews

Critics

Average score: 79% (based on 6 ratings)

Players

Average score: 3.2 out of 5 (based on 5 ratings with 1 reviews)

Not a bad effort for a D&D mmo

The Good
The biggest thing I liked about this game is that the developers really tried hard and it shows in the marvelous graphics, very detailed and imaginative game worlds as shown by features such as astounding architecture and really determined effort in the combat mechanics and overall combat environment. This game attains high marks in all categories. It is fun to play, fun to explore, the community is well-groomed, the animations are enticing and the characters, costumes and buildings and landscapes are beautifully designed. The lands of the game are a wonderful to explore and you will never see their like in the real world. In those ways, DDO is extremely immersive.

Also, you do feel the developers love and care for the game and its community. The developers do take the trouble to try to listen and respond to community concerns and regular festive events really add to the sense of fun in the game. I would also like to mention that stealth in this game is done extremely well. As a stealthy thief you really do have a fun time creeping round dungeons struggling not to be noticed, setting and removing traps. It is extremely atmospheric, challenging and dangerous if you like being a rogue character.

The Bad
The biggest thing I did not like about this game is the very weak PvP options. I understand that DDO is not a PvP oriented game but I feel more extensive PvP facilities would have been easy to implement. Perhaps the game caters too much to a younger audience which does not want to suffer or see the griefing of PvP. The other things I didn't like about the game were: The graphics are too bright and glossy and consequently blurred. After about 20 minutes playing my eyes would hurt. I also did not like how the animation for sidestep for characters was done. I found the character's faces somewhat wooden because everything else was so beautifully rendered, especially the costumes. I really expected the faces to have more expression.

I also do not like the instancing used for questing in the game. This is linked to the focus on a less hardcore gaming audience so perhaps I am not their target market. I much prefer a gameworld where the players themselves effect the environment in deep and immediate detail. Otherwise it just does not feel real. Finally, I do not like playing an archer where the arrows do not shoot very far. Many games do this and it defeats the purpose of an archer.

The Bottom Line
A very good and determined attempt at making an engaging D&D mmo which is true to its genre. The game does follow the rulebook of D&D as best as it can. However, DDO seems to be targeted at a softer a gaming audience who would prefer an easier casual gameplay style and who have little interest in PvP. Also, if you happen to like dungeons where the monster AI is tweaked to ensure they will hunt and kill groups of players, then DDO does make a good attempt at this.

Windows · by Hollyoake Addams (33) · 2011

Analytics

MobyPro Early Access

Upgrade to MobyPro to view research rankings!

Related Games

Dungeons & Dragons Online
Released 2012 on Windows, Macintosh
Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach
Released 2006 on Windows
Dungeons & Dragons
Released 1980 on TRS-80
Dungeons & Dragons Online: Starter Pack
Released 2013 on Macintosh, Windows
Dungeons & Dragons Online: Shadowfell Conspiracy
Released 2013 on Macintosh, Windows
Dungeons and Dragons
Released 1979 on TI Programmable Calculator
Dungeons & Dragons Classics
Released 2023 on Windows
Dungeons & Dragons Tactics
Released 2007 on PSP
Dungeons & Dragons: Heroes
Released 2003 on Xbox

Identifiers +

  • MobyGames ID: 42998
  • [ Please login / register to view all identifiers ]

Contribute

Are you familiar with this game? Help document and preserve this entry in video game history! If your contribution is approved, you will earn points and be credited as a contributor.

Contributors to this Entry

Game added by Jeff De Puy.

Game added October 29, 2009. Last modified March 11, 2024.