Neverwinter News

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When I left Cryptic Studios in 2016, I thought it was to seek new challenges and adventures – to prove that I could do more than just Cryptic. I had been there for sixteen years; I was one of its founders. I was the Lead Designer on City of Heroes/Villains, the Chief Creative Officer for Champions Online, the COO for Star Trek Online and ultimately the CEO when Neverwinter launched. Cryptic Studios was my very first job in the video game industry – and to be frank, when I first started, I really had zero clue of things outside my little corner. But most of all, after sixteen years at Cryptic, I’d become stale. I’d pretty much given what I could at that point, and I needed to go to school elsewhere to figure things out.

I joined Daybreak Games to oversee DC Universe Online, and a little later Lord of the Rings Online and Dungeons & Dragons Online, though to be fair to everyone, I think I learned more from them than vice versa! I even had a chance to work alongside the venerable devs on Everquest I and II – and boy, did they have stories! But not just that, everyone at Daybreak had brand new perspectives about how to make and operate games. I saw new game mechanics and types of content that I’d never seen before. I was humbled by how much was out there.

Cryptic Studios has been through just as many changes as I have. But the teams have held strong through the past few years and continued to put out great products. It’s amazing to see the games I helped develop, Champions Online, Star Trek Online and Neverwinter still thriving several years later. The teams are only one part of the equation: what’s made those games last is you – the player. Our communities always made the Cryptic games special.

Why am I excited to return to Cryptic? First, the team is still terrific. Many faces have changed, but the commitment to the players has remained steadfast. Second, I love these games. There were very few Cryptic employees who played any of our games more than me. Third, Arc Games has promised full support to make Champions Online, Star Trek Online and Neverwinter the best they can be. I believe in the team, the games and their players. Of course, there might be more to come…but that’s a story for another day!

I cannot promise results, but I can promise effort. I’m going to do everything I can to live up to the team’s and your expectations. I want to make sure that together we make our games flourish. If you’re a current player, THANK YOU! And if you’ve once played but are reading and simply curious, COME BACK! I’ll be actively getting feedback from all our various channels and even more importantly, I’ll be holding a LIVE Q&A session regularly. Anyone can get in and ask questions – the harder, the better (and yes, I regret nerfing Invuln Tanks – inside joke there). I’m planning on doing it quarterly, but that might change depending on demand.

Thank you for reading and I’m excited to be back at Cryptic! Looking forward to what this year will bring and beyond.

~ Jack Emmert, CEO of Cryptic Studios

Mark your calendars, adventurers! We will be hosting a live Q&A livestream with Jack on our Cryptic Studios Twitch channel next Tuesday, February 3 at 11:00am PT / 8:00pm CET, giving you a chance to hear more about his vision for the future of Cryptic Studios.

If you can’t make it for the livestream, don’t fret. There will also be an exclusive AMA with Jack on the Neverwinter subreddit (r/Neverwinter), next Wednesday, February 4 at 9:00am Pacific Time / 6:00pm CET where you ask questions, share feedback and engage in an open discussion about the road ahead. See you there!

[p]Greetings Adventurers! For the next 3 weeks you’ll be able to visit the Burrow Dawn Inn, and face the challenges brought forth by Portobello DaVinci and Respen Durothil![/p][p] [/p][p]Day of the Dungeon Master starts Thursday, January 15th[/p][p]Day of the Dungeon Master ends Thursday, February 5th, at 7:30 am PT[/p][p] [/p][p]Both Respen and Portobello are back, each with tasks to offer during this event. While Respen’s Dungeons will be available as random queues throughout the entire event, a new Portobello instance queue will unlock each week so be sure to check back regularly![/p][p] [/p][p]This event is an Appointment Event. Players can participate by completing a daily mission to run through one of Portobello’s dungeons. Once that is complete, they can continue to participate by running trials and tests inside the Burrow Dawn Inn or running a mission to participate in Respen’s dungeons. Dungeons during this event will function as skirmishes, removing the tank and healer role requirements.[/p][p] [/p][p]Rewards:[/p][p]Several rewards have been moved to other events or will be available in the Wondrous Bazaar while Day of the Dungeon Master is active.[/p][p]Rewards in Wondrous Bazaar during DotDM[/p][p]·       Owlbear Figurine[/p][p]·       The Natural Vanity Pet[/p][p]·       Adorable Pocket Pet[/p][p]·       Portobello’s Wand of Sight[/p][p]·       Intern’s Tunic[/p][p]·       Intern’s Slacks[/p][p]Rewards in Appointment Event Store[/p][p] [/p][p]·       Legendary Personal Beholder Tank[/p][p]·       Staldorf[/p][p]We look forward to seeing your many deaths and victories at the tabletop![/p]

[p]Neverwinter’s 32nd module, Red Harvest Part II – The Soul Collector, is now available! Delve deep into the Doomvault to stop Szass Tam’s Ritual of Ascendency.  [/p][p]In Neverwinter: Red Harvest Part II – The Soul Collector, the Lich has struck back and lashed out at the fleeing members of the Resistance in Tyraturos, despite the prior uncovering of Szass Tam’s plans for deification and rescuing the captured Celestial. Players will team up with Xuna, who seeks to rescue the missing Harper Tesser. The Hero of Neverwinter is tasked to return with Xuna to Tyraturos, rescue as many of the Resistance members as possible, and escort them to a place where they can continue their work. Szass Tam must be stopped before he completes his Ritual of Ascendency! [/p][p]Neverwinter: Red Harvest Part II – The Soul Collector introduces the following features: [/p][p]New Adventure Zone - Doomvault Remains  [/p][p]Hiding out somewhere beneath Thaymount, right under Szass Tam’s nose, Red Harvest II: The Soul Collector will allow players to explore what remains of Szass Tam’s dreaded Doomvault. Explore abandoned vaults, caverns, and never-before-seen Doomvault laboratories where the red wizards continue to engage in disturbing magical research and experiment on the unwilling! [/p][p]Dive into exhilarating challenges, defeat Named Encounters to unlock a portal to a perilous battle royale-style arena where the true threat must be faced whilst avoiding a deadly storm that shrinks the safe ground beneath your very feet. [/p][p]Beat the greatest Heroic Encounter yet: while The Soul Collector presents six new Heroic Encounters, none are as menacing as Rise of the Necrotitan. Forged from the fused flesh of massive zombie hulks, this towering Undead Colossus looms over the battlefield. Hold back the Red Wizards and their thralls before the Necrotitan awakes and becomes your worst nightmare.  [/p][p]New Trial – Soul Harvest  [/p][p]As the conductor of Thay and the orchestrator of the Rebellion’s demise attempts to ascend to godhood, it's up to you to finally bring Szass Tam's reign of terror to an end. Step into Szass Tam’s extra-dimensional Dreamvault - a desolate void where three distinct biomes stand as a reflection of Tam’s future domination of Faerûn. Prepare for a high-stakes trial of coordination, strategy and endurance, where only teamwork can halt the ascension of the Arch-Lich Regent of Thay.  [/p][p]You will also have the chance to dive into a new Battle Pass with great rewards, to experience returning upcoming events such as the Winter Festival, and much more. We’ll see you in Thay![/p]

Neverwinter’s 31st module, Red Harvest, is now available! Embark on a journey to Thay to aid the resistance against the Red Wizards.

In Neverwinter: Red Harvest, you will explore a brand-new Adventure Zone with a boldly designed map inspired by the critically acclaimed Dungeons & Dragons movie, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, depiction of Thay. A resistance movement is upon the land as Szass Tam, the formidable lich, and his wizard council, the Zulkir, ruthlessly rule over Thay, treating those excluded from the ruling elite with little respect. Luckily, an agent of the Harpers has been keeping a watchful eye on Thay and has discovered that Szass Tam has been machinating on a plan of such significance that it could place the whole of Faerûn under the yoke of Thay. Sergeant Knox once again calls on the indefatigable Adventurer to aid the Harpers and defeat Szass Tam and other Red Wizards of Thay!

Heroes who take on this epic journey to Thay will find plenty of new content in Neverwinter, including:

New Adventure Zone - Tyraturos, Tower District

• A new adventure awaits: Journey into the Heart of Thay! Explore a boldly designed map inspired by the Dungeons & Dragons movie depiction of Thay, where verticality plays a key role in shaping your experience. Traverse three sprawling neighborhoods and ascend a towering structure in the north, where power and danger collide and experience three thrilling story acts.
  

New Trial - Shackles of Divinity

• The Shackles of Divinity is a return to the epic, mechanics-driven boss battles that define Neverwinter’s most legendary trials.
  
• With three difficulty levels, every adventurer can test their strength:
  
• Normal Mode – Accessible to all and part of the Random Trial Queue.
  
• Advanced Mode – A steppingstone for mid-level players looking to push their limits.
  
• Master Mode – A relentless challenge for the most skilled adventurers, emphasizing mechanics over raw stats.
  

You will also have the chance to dive into a new Battle Pass with great rewards, to experience returning events such as the Summer Festival, and much more. We’ll see you in Thay!