Expansion Pack

[Cz]

Nakomis beat us to posting this on the bulletin board, for slightly embarassing reasons which I do not want to talk about , but here is a little extra info about the Expansion Pack (EP):

Official word
Just to make absolutely sure: yes, the article is genuine, not a hoax. Some people still ask me about that . Also, we were told there would be an official statement on Monday regarding the EP. So please don't e-mail us to death with questions during the weekend. We'll get you the info.

Playing and paying
Just clarifying this, since we do get questions about it: You will still be able to play AO without the EP. And you will not have to pay two monthly fees (or a double monthly fee) to play with the EP.

Patches and content
We will not stop working on improving AO due to making the EP. We're working on content, fixes and other stuff for the existing version, and will continue to do so.

That's what I had for now. We'll be back with more later.

[Cz]

We sent out a press release on the Expansion Pack just now. It is attached to this post, but here is the core of 'stuff' going into the package:

Feature Highlights
New Areas
The two main additions will be the Shadowlands, a collection of many playfields, and the floating city of Jobe.

Profession Specialization and Perks
At certain stages in a character’s development, any profession may choose specific areas of specialization. They will keep all existing abilities, while branching off into more specific skills.

As part of the profession specialization, “perks” can be gained in several steps. Some will affect skills and abilities, while others give special abilities. The final list is expected to be quite extensive.

New Breed Variations and Graphic Effects
New breed variations will be modifications of existing breeds and improved graphics effects will enhance the look of buildings, monsters and terrain.

New Armor and Other Items
In addition to new armor options, players will be able to upgrade the quality of existing items.

We'll keep you updated, but right now we're not inclined to divulge too many details. Stick around.