Neverwinter (video game) free-to-play

  Neverwinter (video game)

 Neverwinter is a free-to-play massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by Cryptic Studios and released by Perfect World Entertainment for Microsoft Windows in 2013, Xbox One in 2015, and PlayStation 4 in 2016. Based on the fictional Forgotten Realms city of Neverwinter from Dungeons & Dragons, Neverwinter is a standalone game and not part of the previous Neverwinter Nights series.[7]

Contents

1 Gameplay

2 Plot

2.1 Characters and setting

2.2 Story

3 Development and release

4 Modules

5 Reception

5.1 Microsoft Windows

5.2 Xbox One

5.3 PlayStation 4

6 References

7 External links

Gameplay

Players can become one of eight Dungeons & Dragons character classes and form groups of up to five player characters (PCs). Neverwinter was originally based on a modified version of the Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition rules set. This includes the use of healing powers and action points, the latter of which is implemented through a system referred to as dailies, allowing a player to perform a special ability by accumulating enough action points through combat. A player-created content system codenamed "Foundry" allows players to create their own stories and quests.[8]

It's not an MMO in the sense that there aren't zones with hundreds-and-hundreds of people. You are not fighting for spawns. There's a very strong storyline throughout the game. So it's more of a story-based game closer to things like Dragon Age or Oblivion, which we really try to follow.

— Jack Emmert, [9]

On October 5, 2011, it was announced that the gameplay of Neverwinter would be re-structured into a free-to-play MMORPG with extra items and other advantages available for purchase for an as yet unannounced fee.[6][10]

In August 2014, the Tyranny of Dragons module was used to bridge the narrative gap between the game and the then recently released 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons.[11] Many of the subsequent modules would have ties to 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons storylines, such as Elemental Evil, Storm King's Thunder, Tomb of Annihilation, Ravenloft and Undermountain.[12][13] In April 2019, all eight classes received varying levels of balance and adjustments and each class was renamed to align with 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons.[14]

Characters and setting

The setting of Neverwinter takes place in a time when the eponymous city is plunged into chaos after the disappearance of the last Lord of Neverwinter. In the aftermath of the Spellplague and a Primordial Fire Elemental's almost destroying Neverwinter, as seen in the novel Gauntlgrym, the remaining citizens form factions and struggle for dominance over the populace as the dead begin to rise and attack "the city they once called home."[15] The player is investigating the Sect Crown of Neverwinter and trying to figure out what the skeletons and another mysterious group are looking for. 

The included locations are based on the novels Gauntlgrym, Neverwinter, and Charon's Claw. Players are also able to create whole new locations that may or may not conform to the lore on which the rest of the game is based. This content is clearly distinguished so as not to confuse users, and they are informed whether they are playing user-generated or official content.[10]

Story

Briefly assuming her pre-lich appearance, the Lich Queen Valindra attacks the soldiers of New Neverwinter, as new grounds are being built outside of the original city, which is being repaired. Valindra's actions spark the Battle of the Bridge, in which Barrabus the Gray (formerly known as Artemis Entreri) and Drizzt Do'Urden are rumored to be present by gossipers at a pub in the shattered town of Luskan.

 Each soldier tells his own story of the battle until one soldier reveals that Valindra's attack was going badly until the blue dragon, Fulminorax, a leader in the country of Thay, helped her escape. The soldier finishes by asking the people where they will be and what they will be doing when the dragon attacks again.[16]

After their ship was sunk by a dracolich, adventurers help a nearby militia of Neverwinter against Valindra. While not confronting her directly on the Sleeping Dragon Bridge, the heroes fight a Harbinger, a huge humanoid undead, then go to Protector's Enclave to tell a Sergeant about what happened. For their valor, the adventurers become the Heroes of the Sleeping Bridge. 

Learning that the Nashers took advantage of Valindra's attack, the heroes track them to the Blacklake District. There they fight a chosen of Ghaunadaur and Nasher leader Karzov. With the Nasher Rebellion ended, the Heroes head to the Cloak Tower and defeat Vansi Bloodscar, an orcish commander from the Kingdom of Many-Arrows.

Development and release

Atari bought Cryptic Studios in the fall of 2009.[17] In late August 2010, Atari announced Neverwinter, to be developed by Cryptic Studios, with a release scheduled for late 2011.[18] They revealed that the game would coincide with a multi-media event revolving around the city of Neverwinter, including the release of four books (one already in stores), a co-operative board game and a Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game being released to promote the launch of the MMORPG.[19] In May 2011, Atari announced that it would be selling Cryptic Studios, stating that development of Neverwinter would continue as normal, but only for the time being.[20]

The game was first publicly displayed at E3 2011, where many details about the game were revealed.[21] The game was originally scheduled to be released as a cross media event coinciding with the release of a series of four books by fantasy author R.A. Salvatore and a tabletop game from Wizards of the Coast.[22] Laura Tommervik (Wizards of the Coast marketing team) explained the approach: "We use Neverwinter as the connective tissue across multiple product categories. The transmedia campaign is an opportunity for fans to experience the brand however they choose to".[13]

"The near 18 million players amount to 775 times the population of Neverwinter".

"Players have died 202 million times".

"The deadliest dungeon is the Temple of Lostmauth".

The most popular race is humans followed by Tieflings.

The most popular class is Great Weapon Fighter followed by Trickster Rogue and Hunter Ranger.

63 million monsters have been killed including more than 6.5 million dragons.[30]

Modules

Neverwinter has released multiple updates to the game called modules.[12]

Module Release Date Game Updates

Fury of the Feywild August 22, 2013 A new zone called Sharandar

New professions, loot, dungeons

A new campaign system[31][32]

Shadowmantle December 5, 2013 New Hunter Ranger playable class, new Paragon Paths, and a new dungeon

Added the Dread Ring Campaign

Added an Artifacts System and a Collections System[33]

Curse of Icewind Dale May 13, 2014 Added a PvP Campaign and two-faction open PvP zone

Added a PvE Campaign and two new adventure zones[34][35]

Tyranny of Dragons August 14, 2014 Bridges the narrative gap between the game and 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons[11]

Added Tyranny of Dragons Campaign

Added Scourge Warlock class and Dragonborn playable race[36]

Rise of Tiamat November 18, 2014 Expansion of the Tyranny of Dragons Campaign and added Well of Dragons zone

Added a new Paragon Path, a profession and new artifacts[37][38]

Elemental Evil April 7, 2015 Level Cap increased to 70 (previously capped at 60)

Profession maximum level increased to 25

Added Elemental Evil Campaign[39][40]

Strongholds August 11, 2015 Added Guild Strongholds and Stronghold Siege PvP[41]

Added a dragon flight co-op event[42]

Underdark November 17, 2015 Added Underdark Campaign which included a unique questline written by R.A. Salvatore[43][44]

The Maze Engine March 15, 2016 Added The Maze Engine Campaign and other campaign updates

A reworked Castle Never

Updated content and visuals to four returning regular dungeons and one returning epic[45][46]

Storm King's Thunder August 16, 2016 Added Storm King's Thunder Campaign[47]

Added a new dungeon and three new zones: Bryn Shander, Lonelywood, and Cold Run

Class Balance updates for three classes: Hunter Ranger, Guardian Fighter, and Scourge Warlock[48]

Sea of Moving Ice November 8, 2016 Added expansion to Storm King's Thunder Campaign

Introduced a new zone, travel options (like a kayak), artifact weapons, treasure hunt, a 10-player battle, and a fishing minigame[49]

The Cloaked Ascendancy February 21, 2017 Added The Cloaked Ascendancy Campaign

New adventure zone (The River District), new skirmish (The Illusionist's Gambit) and new artifact weapons

Return and redesign of Spellplague Caverns Dungeon[50]

Shroud of Souls May 2, 2017 Added expansion to The Cloaked Ascendancy Campaign

Added new Guild content and Stronghold structures[51]

Tomb of Annihilation July 25, 2017 Added Jungles of Chult Campaign

Added two new adventure zones: Port Nyanzaru and Soshenstar River

Added new end-game Dungeon: Tomb of the Nine Gods[52][53]

Swords of Chult October 24, 2017 Expansion to Tomb of Annihilation module

Added new five-player skirmish and a major update to the PVP system

Updated inventory management and refinement systems[54][55]

Lost City of Omu February 27, 2018 Expansion to Tomb of Annihilation module

Adds new zones and more endgame content[56][57]

Ravenloft June 26, 2018 Added Ravenloft Campaign

New adventure zone (Barovia) and a new endgame dungeon (Castle Ravenloft)

Added a day-night cycle[58][59]

The Heart of Fire November 6, 2018 Added Acquisitions Incorporated Campaign

Class balance updates and an overhaul to the profession system[60][61]

Undermountain April 23, 2019 Level Cap increased to 80 (previously capped at 70)

Added Undermountain Campaign

Added five adventure zones: Yawning Portal, Catacombs, Twisted Caverns, Wyllowwood, Terminus and Vanrakdoom

All eight classes received varying levels of balance and adjustments.

Each class was renamed to align with 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons.

Redesigned Companions System and rewards overhaul[62][14]

Uprising August 13, 2019 New gith playable race

A new PvP map and a new 10-player end game Trial against Halaster Blackcloak in his Undermountain lair

Fashion system overhaul[63][64]

Microsoft Windows

In 2013, Daniel Tack of Forbes wrote: "Neverwinter offers experiences for players that normally wouldn't play MMORPGs, and also provides a framework for core genre players. Looking for action and adventure in the world of Forgotten Realms? Neverwinter delivers."[72]

Stephanie Carmichael, for VentureBeat in 2013, wrote "Adventuring solo is easy, and you can almost ignore all the MMO elements going on in the background. [...] To speak to the MMO side of Neverwinter, adventurers always have plenty to do. You can waste a whole day just completing enough daily quests to earn Astral Diamonds (ADs), one of the main forms of in-game currency. [...] While you won’t have trouble acquiring most types of currencies, the value of Zen (the money you need to purchase all those fancy extras) is extraordinarily high. 

And you have no easy way to earn it. You either pay real money (about $1 per 100 Zen) or exchange ridiculous amounts of ADs for them. You can’t simply buy it with ADs, either. Players must offer them up for trade on the Astral Diamond Exchange, choosing how many ADs they’re willing to give for however much Zen. Then the players with the Zen decide whether that trade is worthwhile. [...] When it comes to balancing, Neverwinter suffers in two areas: companion level and PvP. [...] It may have its flaws, but Neverwinter is highly enjoyable and accessible to veteran, beginner, and casual players alike".[73]