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Neverwinter, not to be mistaken for BioWare's Neverwinter Nights that's also set in the Forgotten Realms, is almost ready for beta. Cryptic Studios and Perfect World have announced three beta weekends for the periods of February 8-10^th, March 8-10^th, and March 22-24^th. Previously, beta signups had been open on the Neverwinter official site, where Cryptic will presumably be drawing participants from.

For Dungeons & Dragons fans very eager to see how the MMO pans out, a Founder's program has been established to allow players to buy in a spot to the beta. Since the demise of the subscription MMO, F2P supported by crowdfunded founder's packs have become the popular model. One of the most successful examples to date is MechWarrior Online, which managed to rake in $5 million before the game ever left closed beta.

Currently, the Founder's program has three, very disparate tiers in pricing. Diehards can buy the "Hero of the North Founder's Pack" for $199.99, granting access to the Drow race (for Drizzt fans), five days VIP access to the beta before the beta actually begins, a Founder's title, among more than a dozen other awards. For those willing to pay standard retail prices, the "Guardian of Neverwinter Pack" is $59.99 and grants a unique direwolf companion, three-day early access to beta weekends, a Founder's title, and other awards. Those strapped for cash, but still wanting to buy into the beta can pick up the $19.99 "Neverwinter Starter Kit", which grants an Amulet of Protection, a Small Bag of Holding (12 extra inventory slots), and an Adventurer's Helper Pack that's filled with goodies.

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Catherine Cai was a freelance news writer for Tom's Hardware. She covered a variety of tech industry news, ranging from PC components to PC and console gaming.

14 Comments Comment from the forums

Netherscourge

I'm sooooo tired of the Forgotten Realms...
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shikamaru31789

Neverwinter looks like it might be ok, especially since it's launching as F2P. Cryptic may have screwed up launching STO as P2P, but STO was good enough at launch for a F2P MMO, and I suspect Neverwinter will be as well. Cryptic seems to be pretty good with their F2P model, there's nothing too gamechanging that you can buy with Microtransactions, though I do think they overcharge for certain things, but at least you can earn in-game currency that you can trade for currency for the Cryptic Store. I'll definitely give it a try, though I doubt I'll be buying any of these founders packs.
Reply
xaephod

Free to play but for $200 you can play 5 days early. :)
Reply
amk-aka-Phantom

NetherscourgeI'm sooooo tired of the Forgotten Realms...
Good for you, I'm not, gimme moar of it. Too bad that 4th edition threw it into chaos and killed off most major characters and destroyed the best cities of the North.

Yeah... Forgotten Reals MMO might be fun, but it'd be great to have a single player/LAN-capable NWN3 instead. With modern graphics and other bells and whistles.
Reply
theLiminator

I'm a Drizzt fan, but I don't want to pay $200 for it :(.
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theLiminator

I also wonder how it's gonna stack up against the elder scolls MMO.
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theLiminator

Sorry for the spam, but I'm also super excited for Star Citizen. GAH so much great stuff coming, crowdsourced games look like the future.
Reply
demonhorde665

you ahve got to be s---ing me they are charging 200 bucks for access to drow race .. in a forgotten realms game ... EPIC FAIL.
Reply
alidan

Can somebody correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't never winter nights one of the games that posted you could create your own campaign have your friends play through it and dungeon master it, or is that dungeon siege?

When these games came out I didn't have a computer capable of playing it and I think in some cases a computer at all.
Reply
First of all, the drow race is already free at launch, you don't have to pay for it...the Drizzt part is something separate that is a distinction in your Drow's background. Secondly, the $20 Founder option does not grant access to the beta weekends.
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