The next expansion for Dungeons & Dragons Online isn't coming out until August 19th, but players who pre-purchase the expansion now will get immediate access to some of the new content.

Dungeons & Dragons Online is opening up pre-purchases in preparation for its latest expansion: Shadowfell Conspiracy. A dark presence looms over the prison city of Wheloon and evil lurks in the shadows. Prepare to go head to head with the evil Empire of Netheril as you uncover the mystery and danger in this next chapter of Dungeons & Dragons Online.

There are many tales in Dungeons and Dragons Online. In Return to Gianthold, the 17th expansion for Turbine’s veteran MMO, it starts with a betrayal between two powerful races.

Long ago, a dragon leader known as The Truthful One slew the Stormreaver, leader of the giants. Seizing the moment, he transformed himself into an undead dracolich, sundering the giants’ civilization. Though several ages have passed, the Stormreaver has returned, thirsting for vengeance on The Truthful one and seeking adventurers to lend their aid.

Dungeons and Dragons Online has been around for seven years! Erik Boyer, the Senior Producer for DDO, took to the threads to wish everyone a Happy DDO Birthday. While there he gave a state of the game with what has been added recently before getting into what is yet to come.

February 19th was the release of the eagerly anticipated "Update 17" patch for Dungeons & Dragons Online.

Dungeons and Dragons Online is going through its 17th update, containing a brand new Heroic story with an Epic difficulty version in the Ruins of Gianthold. During a great war, when the giants and the dragons fought, they agreed to truce to protect their home, Xen'drik. The Truthful One, leader of the dragons, betrayed the giant ruler known as the Stormreaver, turned himself into a dracolich, and cursed the giants forever.

But now the Stormreaver is back. What does this mean? Why would this happen? Players will discover for themselves in the ruins.

Julian "Mirai" Williams

Turbine is releasing the latest expansion for Dungeons & Dragons Online (DDO) this week with Menace of the Underdark. We had first been told of the expansion and its setting with the last content update, update 13, but this time we had a walkthrough with Executive Producer Fernando Paiz and a chance to view a lot of the content that is to be released on Monday. Interested in seeing what surprises await players in the Forgotten Realms? Read on!

A month back during PAX East, I got the opportunity to interview Turbine's Fernando Paiz on Dungeons & Dragons Online's Menace of the Underdark (MotU) expansion, set to launch June 25th, 2012. Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance for some hands-on experience with the content so, when guided developer tours were being set up, I made sure to get in line. Joining me for this particular tour was DDO's Senior Producer Eric Boyer, as well as Design Director Ian Currie, so read on for my first experiences with DDO's Menace of the Underdark!

Turbine confirmed a lot of things for excited DDO players today. Not only is the beta taking off May 10th, but it's exclusively to people who pre-ordered. That gives you who haven't less than a week to catch up. It's okay - I'll wait. Just hurry up.

The Menace of the Underdark expansion wouldn't be very menacing without monsters, so here you go - a gallery full of them. Meet the Monsters! The dire bear, the Green Dragon, the draegloth, the drider, the bebilith, the purple worm, and the werewolf!