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Tags: Alan Miranda; Beamdog; Neverwinter Nights; Neverwinter Nights: Darkness over Daggerford; Ossian Studios
Darkness over Daggerford is a well-known module for Neverwinter Nights released back in 2006 by Ossian Studios, the indie RPG studio led by former BioWare producer Alan Miranda. The story behind Darkness is that it was originally meant to be an official module sold by BioWare as part of their 2004-2006 premium module program. Unfortunately for Ossian, the program was cancelled by Atari before the module was done. They finished it anyway and released it for free later that year - though not before Atari inexplicably agreed to allow one more premium module, Wyvern Crown of Cormyr, to be sold. Ossian would be screwed again two more times after that, first with the cancellation of their Scars of Betrayal add-on for The Witcher and then with the pointless years-long delay of their Mysteries of Westgate expansion for Neverwinter Nights 2. In 2013, they released a mobile RPG called The Shadow Sun which never made it to PC. Since then little has been heard from them, though we know that Alan Miranda had some involvement with the development of Beamdog's Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear.
It's that association which probably led to yesterday's surprising announcement that Darkness over Daggerford is back, now as an official module for Beamdog's Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition. It's an enhanced version, featuring new music, portraits, voice overs and "nearly 500 gameplay improvements". Here's the announcement from Ossian's website:
Quite the moral dilemma, isn't it? On one hand, it's another example of Beamdog profiting from another developer's work, one which opens the door to more "paid mods" in the future. On the other hand, it's long-awaited justice for a talented indie studio who never got the break they deserved. The new enhanced Darkness over Daggerford is available on Steam for $10 as a DLC for Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition, with a 15% discount until next week. The original version will remain free on the Neverwinter Vault, so that's nice.
Darkness over Daggerford is a well-known module for Neverwinter Nights released back in 2006 by Ossian Studios, the indie RPG studio led by former BioWare producer Alan Miranda. The story behind Darkness is that it was originally meant to be an official module sold by BioWare as part of their 2004-2006 premium module program. Unfortunately for Ossian, the program was cancelled by Atari before the module was done. They finished it anyway and released it for free later that year - though not before Atari inexplicably agreed to allow one more premium module, Wyvern Crown of Cormyr, to be sold. Ossian would be screwed again two more times after that, first with the cancellation of their Scars of Betrayal add-on for The Witcher and then with the pointless years-long delay of their Mysteries of Westgate expansion for Neverwinter Nights 2. In 2013, they released a mobile RPG called The Shadow Sun which never made it to PC. Since then little has been heard from them, though we know that Alan Miranda had some involvement with the development of Beamdog's Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear.
It's that association which probably led to yesterday's surprising announcement that Darkness over Daggerford is back, now as an official module for Beamdog's Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition. It's an enhanced version, featuring new music, portraits, voice overs and "nearly 500 gameplay improvements". Here's the announcement from Ossian's website:
Introduction
In August 2006, Ossian Studios released its first game: Darkness over Daggerford. Originally slated to be a an official Neverwinter Nights Premium Mod released by BioWare, it was cancelled when the premium mod program was unexpectedly shut down a few months earlier in May. The Daggerford team pressed ahead anyhow, finishing the module and releasing it for free, taking the Neverwinter community by complete surprise. The game promptly broke download records on the NWVault, won several awards for its outstanding quality, and praise from thousands of fans.
Almost 12 years later, on June 1, 2018, Ossian finally finished what it had originally set out to do: complete Darkness over Daggerford as it had been envisioned. Released by Beamdog as an official premium module for Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition, the game has been remastered with new music, new portrait art, lots of VO, and most importantly almost 500 fixes, improvements, and some complete overhauls based on all the feedback and critiques players had posted over the years. This level of care and polish was added over the course of many months, with the ultimate goal of giving players the best possible gameplay experience. We hope you enjoy playing it!
- Alan Miranda
Darkness over Daggerford Enhanced
Developed by Ossian Studios, this new enhanced version of Darkness over Daggerford updates the award-winning former premium module with a host of gameplay improvements, new music, voice over, and portrait art.
The Duke of Daggerford has been mysteriously killed, a new power has taken over the town, bandits rove the Trade Way unhindered, and mysterious things stir in a fabled ancient citadel, yet all is not as it seems. A darkness is fast descending upon this sleepy town near Waterdeep - will you be able to stand against it?
Explore the walled town of Daggerford and recruit up to two daring companions to join you as you venture into the surrounding region of the Sword Coast to unlock dangerous secrets, combat hidden foes, and find a stronghold to call home. Lock blades with some of the most powerful and infamous organizations the world of Faerûn has ever known in this grand, 25+ hour Dungeons & Dragons module.
Features:
Buying the enhanced edition of Darkness over Daggerford helps to support Ossian Studios’ goal of bringing you more great Dungeons & Dragons adventures!
In August 2006, Ossian Studios released its first game: Darkness over Daggerford. Originally slated to be a an official Neverwinter Nights Premium Mod released by BioWare, it was cancelled when the premium mod program was unexpectedly shut down a few months earlier in May. The Daggerford team pressed ahead anyhow, finishing the module and releasing it for free, taking the Neverwinter community by complete surprise. The game promptly broke download records on the NWVault, won several awards for its outstanding quality, and praise from thousands of fans.
Almost 12 years later, on June 1, 2018, Ossian finally finished what it had originally set out to do: complete Darkness over Daggerford as it had been envisioned. Released by Beamdog as an official premium module for Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition, the game has been remastered with new music, new portrait art, lots of VO, and most importantly almost 500 fixes, improvements, and some complete overhauls based on all the feedback and critiques players had posted over the years. This level of care and polish was added over the course of many months, with the ultimate goal of giving players the best possible gameplay experience. We hope you enjoy playing it!
- Alan Miranda
Darkness over Daggerford Enhanced
Developed by Ossian Studios, this new enhanced version of Darkness over Daggerford updates the award-winning former premium module with a host of gameplay improvements, new music, voice over, and portrait art.
The Duke of Daggerford has been mysteriously killed, a new power has taken over the town, bandits rove the Trade Way unhindered, and mysterious things stir in a fabled ancient citadel, yet all is not as it seems. A darkness is fast descending upon this sleepy town near Waterdeep - will you be able to stand against it?
Explore the walled town of Daggerford and recruit up to two daring companions to join you as you venture into the surrounding region of the Sword Coast to unlock dangerous secrets, combat hidden foes, and find a stronghold to call home. Lock blades with some of the most powerful and infamous organizations the world of Faerûn has ever known in this grand, 25+ hour Dungeons & Dragons module.
Features:
- An expansion-size adventure with 25+ hours of gameplay
- Use the world map to venture across fifteen areas along the Sword Coast, each brimming with unique adventures.
- Establish and customize your stronghold to discover new quests
- 12 new music tracks
- 12 new character portraits
- New voice over for main characters
- Nearly 500 gameplay improvements over the original!
Buying the enhanced edition of Darkness over Daggerford helps to support Ossian Studios’ goal of bringing you more great Dungeons & Dragons adventures!
Quite the moral dilemma, isn't it? On one hand, it's another example of Beamdog profiting from another developer's work, one which opens the door to more "paid mods" in the future. On the other hand, it's long-awaited justice for a talented indie studio who never got the break they deserved. The new enhanced Darkness over Daggerford is available on Steam for $10 as a DLC for Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition, with a 15% discount until next week. The original version will remain free on the Neverwinter Vault, so that's nice.
