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Neverwinter Nights: Hordes of Underdark

Bioware's latest add-on...

Here it is, Bioware's first self-penned expansion pack in a good few years. Ever since the ass-busting length of the Throne of Bhaal expansion for Baldur's Gate II came out I've been curious to see whether the Canadian RPG giants would ever make such a huge campaign again. Well, Hordes of the Underdark is big in so far as the amount of new content that it brings to the Neverwinter Nights world. As well as providing a longer experience than most games that get released these days (it took me over 25 hours to get through the campaign), it's stacked with new objects, tilesets, creatures, spells and feats. That sits well with me as not only do I just not have the sort of free time I had a few years ago but it means that all but only the most easily bored will get through to the end of this thoroughly entertaining campaign.

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The main selling point of this pack is that for the first time players will be able to reach epic levels and beyond with the limit cap set at a daunting level 40. The Epic level rules from the 3rd generation of the D&D rules allows characters to assume near god-like powers. Which, to me, is half the point of fantasy and a reason why the level-grind of MMORPGs with its constant player-cide from angry rats has never been much of a draw. So in Hordes of the Underdark you can indulge yourself in delusions of grandeur while enjoying what is in my opinion the finest tale Bioware have done since they completed the story of Bhaal.

If you've slogged through the previous expansion you can import your character and enjoy recognition for your heroic deeds in defeating the evil of Undrentide. Throughout the expansion references to your deeds in Undrentide will crop up, and as the game gets near its end some surprising revelations about the happenings in the city of Neverwinter in NWN will have wound themselves into the plot. You can even expect to see a few old familiar faces. If you bypassed SoU you can start a new character off at level 15. Both ways of starting the game will let you play around with the six new prestige classes that make their debut in HotU.

For this adventure you have answered a call from the city of Waterdeep for stout adventurers to help the city fight off a Drow invasion. The story wastes no time getting into the action and the plot quickly develops into a pleasing web of intrigue, despair and brooding menace. The first chapter of the game will have you venturing beneath the city into the mazes of the Underdeep, a sprawling dungeon in the classic D&D sense. Created by a mad wizard the dungeon is well stocked with traps, monsters and treasure, and will give you a good opportunity to familiarise yourself with the new additions to your fighting arsenal.

This time round you can recruit two henchmen as well as summon a further two other creatures. While control of your henchmen is still down to the AI you can outfit them as you see fit. And what a difference it makes being able to equip your wizard's friendly tank with that massive broadsword you just found, or your thief with some very stealthy armour that a Drow gave its life to defend. Your henchmen will even make good use of items you place in their backpacks. So, for instance, the bard Deekin will use the daily charges of that fancy harp you found, while other characters will make pretty good use of the equipment you entrust them with. While it still is nowhere near as good as having the full party control we can only hope will be a feature of Neverwinter Nights 2, it does a good job of dealing with criticisms that NWN was a rather solitary affair. Unfortunately your henchmen still have a propensity to examine their finger nails while you are stuck in a life or death struggle, but this is a rare enough occurrence for it to be forgivable. And while romances are still a possibility between biblical couples there's no need to listen to every thought of your henchmen as they no longer each have their own side quests to complete.

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1. The druids could already turn 'Red Dragon' Form at level twenty in the original campaign. It's not a new feature and please don't say it is. I know becuse I have complained that you can't get the camera around them originally exept for in expan. Packs later. I don't have 'Hordes of Underdark' yet but I have heard rumors of Aribeth's Cousin or twin sister or something of the like, could someone pleas clarify? I am a big aribeth fan and would like to see her back. ^_^

   Anon Monday, 18 October 2004, 13:39:59

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11. Hi I was just wondering, about the henchmen in HotU, Asides Deekin, can any of the other's follow your PC into the next chapter? Example : Sharwynn, Linu, Daelan, Tomi.

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