New Neverwinter RPG coming in 2011

Good news for fans of Dungeons and Dragons on their PCs - a new Neverwinter RPG is coming in 2011.

Atari is teaming up with veteran MMO maker Cryptic Studios to deliver a new Neverwinter (not nights, just Neverwinter RPG for PC next year. The game's going to be 'inspired' by the upcoming series from Forgotten Realms writer, RA Salvatore, creator of the beloved (and since endlessly copied) character Drizzt do-Urden.

"We're beyond thrilled to develop a brand new version of Neverwinter. It's been years since the original became a gaming icon and we're honored to work with such a great franchise," said Jack Emmert, Cryptic Studios' COO. "We've been working closely with Wizards of the Coast and R.A. Salvatore to create an authentic D&D adventure filled with compelling fiction and exciting gameplay."

The new game's set in Neverwinter City, of course, though the city's in a power vacuum following years of upheaval (probably player character related - they're never good for regular government). Players will be able to choose from five classic D&D classes, and the game's based around the classic five-player party system. Players will be able to choose computer-controlled comrades, or hook up with other players online for full co-op play.

The game will also ship with a player-content generation system, so far tentatively titled Forge.

Neverwinter's set to ship in the fourth quarter of next year, and will be a PC exclusive. The new book from RA Salvatore, Gauntlgrym, will be out this October, and previews events from the game.

We lost many a long day to playing the original Neverwinter Nights in co-op mode, though never really got into the sequel. There's no finer moment than a room of people on the one network all spot the same trap... the one trap that the guy playing in the next room doesn't.

Happy days. Got any good RPG memories of your own? Share 'em!

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24 Comments

Dasa Aug 24, 2010 1:06 PM	only 5 classes and not made by bioware this will be nothing like nwn so i guess time will tell if they can make a decent original game or if they are just cranking out another cheap diablo clone
sUpEr gEEk Aug 24, 2010 1:13 PM	Great thanks a lot Hawkeye another thing to pre order for 2011.
Acintai Aug 24, 2010 2:28 PM	what Dasa said +1
Ihsan Aug 24, 2010 2:30 PM	I guess it was only a matter of time considering how similar 4th eds ruleset was to an mmo. The cash cow bandwagon jumpers Cryptic making it should probably be less of a shock... No offline play/required server login and Crytpic already stating that they're going to have "kooky plans" probably means all the missing classes and anything past the main plot are going to be DLC at release. At least with Salvatore there's at least some hope for a decent plot. We all know Bards are going to suck regardless...
SceptreCore Aug 24, 2010 2:47 PM	Never really got into the first one. I'd only play it if I was familiar with the first two.
Hawkeye Aug 24, 2010 2:50 PM	Salvatore's a hack! ahem I've got to admit, 4th Ed leaves me cold, so the idea of PC game based on it doesn't do much for me either.
Ihsan Aug 24, 2010 3:26 PM	Heh, I can't help but note the irony from today's Penny Arcade. http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2010/8/23/ Everyone always hates the new version.
Hawkeye Aug 24, 2010 3:42 PM	Haha! Brilliant! (though I've been playing DnD since the Red Box, so I think I've got a pretty good perspective on things!)
Harpy Queen Aug 24, 2010 3:57 PM	I agree with Dasa. I'd assume it's 4e based, which I haven't played so I can't say for certain, but I'm skeptical about it from what I've heard.
Elfarch Aug 25, 2010 1:54 AM	Will likely at least have a look at it, you never know how these things will turn out. Oh and just bye the bye, you're a johnny come lately to DnD Hawkeye. ;{D
Asmo Aug 25, 2010 10:47 AM	Well Ive been playing and running since the red box too. Mostly running. As a DM, I can say 4th edition is the best version of D&D they have made. I am never going back to running an earlier edition again, I will play in them, just never run them. Save or die sucks, for both sides of the screen. Looking forward to the game. I hope its good too.
omega Aug 25, 2010 11:27 AM	DnD 4e is the worst IMHO. Ive played since AD&D 2e and 4e is just like a flip-card game "I use my CardA power" with very little room for non-combat adventures (and no I dont meen pure RolePlay). Like sneaking into a castle as a Rogue - Ohh no I didnt take the At-Will sneak card so I cant sneak. Also the last R.A Salvatore Drizz(i)t novels "Transitions" sucked. No link between book 1-2-3. It was like 3 seperate stories. And book 3 was simply 'most' of Salvatores most iconic characters/enemies shoved together.
Hawkeye Aug 25, 2010 11:37 AM	I know a lot of people who dig 4E, but it's a real love or hate situation. 3rd Ed for me is the real sweet spot :)
20GOTO10 Aug 25, 2010 2:32 PM	I've been playing since 1986 D&D and I love the 4e. Good fun and more sense! Still reckon there's more and better stories out there to be told. Should give Cryptic the number for my old dM, talk about funny bastards... anyways another fucking Drizzt the happy drow...pleeeeez.
Ihsan Aug 25, 2010 3:19 PM	3.5 Ed > * Internet forum fight, go! I'm honestly not too phased over 4th Ed. It is very much too much like they're trying to attract the mmo crowd and did dumb down a lot of stuff needlessly and I do miss my low level TPK's, but it did address other things I had issues with. Weeee I'm a Wizard with a light crossbow for seven levels... "Transitions" did suck. It was just a lame attempt to bring all the stagnated characters together once last time before the hundred years jump to the evil 4th Ed inevitably killed them off anyway.
omega Aug 25, 2010 3:32 PM	quote "Transitions" did suck. It was just a lame attempt to bring all the stagnated characters together once last time before the hundred years jump to the evil 4th Ed inevitably killed them off anyway. /quote Actually Book 1 was set half in the future with all Drizzts non-elf friends dead and half in the past with them still alive - and had no indication of which chapter was in which time period. LOL @ "Wizard with a light crossbow for seven levels...". I cast my spell for the day. Please keep me alive (1d4+1 HP - AC11 [assuming Dex/Con is above 11]). crossbow twang YAY I have 2 spells. Ok they're cast. Please keep me alive (2d4+2 HP - AC11[assuming Dex/Con is above 11]). crossbow twang
Hawkeye Aug 25, 2010 4:04 PM	But a Wizard is more than just a life support mechanism for spells. They are sources of vast arcane knowledge and learning, and if all a campaign calls upon for a Wizard to do is fire off Magic Missiles and then twiddle their thumbs, well... you're doing it wrong :) Any good campaign should be about much more than combat.
Ihsan Aug 25, 2010 4:28 PM	Of course Wizards are more then that. They make awesome boat anchors. Whats that? The wizard is out of his two spells for the day? We'll we'd all better hide in this 5x5 room for the next six hours and pick our noses. I do hope the orcs in the next room don't come to investigate all that noise we made slaughtering their friends. Although if worse comes to worse, we could throw the Wizard at the orcs. What's the DC to use a Wizard as an improvised throwing weapon? You want RP? Fine, remember Hawkeye, you had this coming. I put on my robe and Wizard hat...
Hawkeye Aug 25, 2010 4:30 PM	In my campaign, over two and a half years of fortnightly gaming, we had two dungeon crawls... I don't think we're using the term 'RP' with the same meanings :)
Ihsan Aug 25, 2010 5:19 PM	Whats the point of having a sharp pointy stick if you don't stab other people with it at every opportunity?
518051 Aug 25, 2010 8:41 PM	I do so miss D&D, haven't had a session in 20 years - no one to play with. Second ed. for me, never even seen the newer editions. I get my rpg fix with Oblivion, but it's not the same as a proper boxed adventure with mad Archie as DM. Pen & paper FTW !!!
omega Aug 26, 2010 9:40 AM	Good the see the '20' was on top (assuming the pic was taken from a side view) "building up" the power of a Critical :). I remember back in the day spinning my d20 (and d12/d10/d8 [rest were too hard to spin]) and watching it for a good 40-60 seconds to stop spinning to see if I hit. Awesome fun waiting all that time and rolling a 1 (Critical Failure) - NOOOOOO!!!
mykl_c Aug 26, 2010 1:41 PM	O.o red box? Phft! n00bs. White box all the way. Too many rules get in the way, and life is more than a perfect combat system. Interactive/co-operative story-telling ftw!
Hawkeye Aug 26, 2010 2:40 PM	Right on, my Level 6 Elven Fighter/Wizard brother!

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