Neverwinter's Fury Of The Feywild Update Dated, Detailed

There are finally some useful details about Neverwinter's "first" content pack. As we knew it's called Fury Of The Feywild, but other than that they were tight-lipped. Now we know that it's adding a new area, races, weapons and items, more enemies, and so on. And it's out on the 22nd August, and will be freeeeee.

The new area is a wood called Sharandar, and you're not going to believe it! They're enchanted! First RPG to add some non-enchanted woods wins a special prize. But the denizens of these woods, the Sun and Moon Elves, will now be playable characters, with their own sets of everythings.

You see, some naughty Fomorian Giants are attempting to seize an Elven outpost in said woods, and this simply won't do! You must jolly well stop them and their antics. And... oh, you know what - as much as I've loved playing Neverwinter, I can't bring myself to explain the nonsense of the story surrounding all this. So, here's the guff from the website. I challenge you to read it all the way through without either barfing, or weaving flowers through your hair and racing to the nearest circle of stones:

"Sharandar. Once the heart of the moon and wood elf kingdom of Iliyanbruen, it was nearly destroyed by invading hordes of orcs long ago. Though the war was won, the Iliyanbruen people were scattered. A few wood elf communities survived in what is now known as Neverwinter Wood. Meanwhile, many of the moon elves used powerful magic to transport much of what remained of Sharandar to their ancient homeland in the Feywild.

In the Feywild, the Iliyanbruen were confronted by the same creatures from the Feydark who forced their ancestors to flee to Faerûn long ago. Fomorians, cyclops, redcaps, and trolls dominated the forests of the Feywild, and only after many battles were the elves able to secure New Sharandar for themselves.

Centuries later, the Feywild has aligned with Faerûn once again. Descendants of the original Iliyanbruen elves of New Sharandar have returned to reclaim their legacy. Venturing through the fey crossing between worlds, they seek the ruins of old Sharandar and the elven kin they left behind.

But now the forces of the Feydark have returned. Led by King Malabog, the fomorians seek to destroy New Sharandar and seize control of the fey crossing into Neverwinter Wood. The Iliyanbruen elves are besieged, and need allies in their fight against Malabog. Will you answer the call to battle?"

There are some new features attached to all this. Pets are now to be upgradeable, meaning that you don't have to abandon an early pet you've grown fond of - for the cost of Astral Diamonds of course. There's something they're calling a "meta-quest", where you join forces with Iliyanbruen elves against that chap Malabog. And the Foundry is receiving an update to make building locations significantly easier, with drag-and-drop options. A couple of new professions (weaponsmithing and artificing), new gear, and new enemies finishes it all off.

Of course, being F2P there are ways to spend vast amounts of money on all this too. Orderable now are the Knight Of The Feywild Pack at a mad $60 (but $150 value they say, based on their own made up prices), of the Feywild Starter Pack at $20. The former gets you the Moon Elf race (little bait and switch there - perhaps the Sun Elves will be available to all?), as well as a unicorn mount (no speed mentioned), a Sylph companion, then clothes and enchantments and a whopping 600,000 Astral Diamonds. The latter scores you a measly Portal Hound companion, some ring, some bag, and a rando-pack. Neither is of course in any way necessary for playing the new content.

There it all is. Unquestionably a great lump of new content a couple of months into full launch, and mostly properly free.