D&D Daggerdale interview

D&D: Daggerdale will take place in one of the most popular, if not the most popular, Dungeons & Dragons-setting - Forgotten Realms. What is it about Forgotten Realms that sets it apart from other fantasy worlds?

Our choice to use the Forgotten Realms backdrop for our D&D game is mostly due to our love of that world. With its rich tapestry of creatures, history and lore, there is so much established and recognizable content for us to draw from and add to. It was pretty much a no brainer.

The fourth edition of the tabletop Dungeons & Dragons RPG was recently (well, relatively recently) released - do the new rules effect gameplay at all, especially when compared to older D&D hack'n'slash games like Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance?

BG: DA was a great title and Daggerdale really brings that solid blend of great action & deep RPG elements back into the mainstream. We are working very closely with WotC (Wizards of the Coast) to take the 4E rules and build it into a high intensity action experience that is further enhanced by its robust character development.

How will multiplayer look? Will it be viable for solo play as well, or will the player be losing out on much of the game if he/she plays alone?

Much like its tabletop counterpart, Daggerdale is a great multiplayer game allowing players to form an adventure party with their customized characters. Players can employ multiplayer strategies to the combat, working together as a group throughout the numerous quests in the campaign. That said however, soloing in Daggerdale is as much involved as the multiplayer experience is. Players will need to befriend a number of NPCs in order to gain their trust, and ultimately their aid, on the quest to stop the evil in Daggerdale.

How will player progression work, both online and offline? Can we, for example, use characters for both? Or are you tied into a linear storyline while playing?

Following the leveling system in the 4E as a guideline, the customized character the player creates can be used in both single player and multiplayer modes. There are critical quests that makes up the main narrative path but there are also optional side quests for those looking for additional challenges.

You are up for some competition when it comes to dungeon crawling in 2011 - Bethesda have their Hunted: The Demon's Forge coming out and gamers everywhere are hoping to see Diablo III this year. What will set D&D: Daggerdale apart from those games? How are you looking to help modernize the classic dungeon crawl genre?

As an action RPG, Daggerdale brings a lot of great gaming elements together seamlessly. It focuses on having the most fun in combat, during a skirmish or solo monster battles. The lengthy adventure is filled with plenty of quests, a plethora of weapons, armors and items, and numerous monsters and bosses. The experience can be played alone, locally with a friend or online with 3 other warriors for an all-out brawl. Plus, we have a few hidden surprises for D&D fans out there.