Just three months after the inaugural launch of the online trading card game Legends of Norrath, Sony Online Entertainment has announced that Forsworn, the first expansion for the online strategy game, is currently in development. Based on legendary MMOs EverQuest and EverQuest II, Forsworn is scheduled to launch Tuesday, December 18, 2007. LoN Oathbound was released late this past Winter and has already hosted more than 300,000 matches to date. “The instant success of the game’s first set, Oathbound, led to the decision to release Forsworn before the end of this year. Forsworn will continue to provide players with high-quality gameplay and a rich storyline that enhances a compelling stand-alone game or the already seamless experience from within the worlds of EverQuest and EverQuest II,” said Scott Martins, Director of Development, SOE.

“Forsworn expands the Legends of Norrath experience with something for everyone. We’re particularly excited about kicking off the Legends of Norrath Championship Series in early December. With a total prize pool in excess of $100,000, this series adds another viable element of competitive play to the game.”

Developed at SOE’s Denver studio, Legends of Norrath is the first online trading card game based on and playable from within SOE’s popular franchise EverQuest, as well as from a free stand-alone client. Launching from a menu within either MMO or using a free SOE Station ID (available at tation.com) in the stand-alone client, players can challenge opponents on their game server and across other EQ and EQII servers.

Forsworn, the second release in the Legends of Norrath storyline, features enhanced multiplayer support that allows team-based 2v2 games, as well as cooperative multiplayer “raid” games against powerful AI opponents. Forsworn introduces 235 new, artistically stunning game cards, with new gameplay and multiplayer options, as well as an updated client with new content and bonus features for all registered users. Forsworn also boasts 22 additional loot items each for EQ and EQII, including player mounts, potions, clothing and spells.

Available in both 58-card digital starter decks and 15-card digital booster packs, Forsworn cards will be available via digital download from SOE’s Station Store. The digital starter decks (58 cards) will be available for US$10, with digital booster packs (15 cards) selling for $3.

In addition to AI opponents and player versus player combat, Legends of Norrath is the complete online card gaming experience, featuring numerous casual and tournament game lobbies with three tournament formats in which to compete. Tournaments range from smaller on-demand tournaments all the way up to the Legends of Norrath Championship Series events, with a total prize pool in excess of US$100,000.

Starting in December Legends of Norrath players can test their strategic skills and throw down in the Legends of Norrath Championship Qualifier tournaments. Running monthly, each of these events will have no entry fee and will feature a prize pool of approximately US$5,000. Winners of these monthly qualifier events will receive an automatic entry into the Legends of Norrath Championships at Gen Con Indy 2008 in Indianapolis, where they will compete for cash and prizes in excess of US$100,000.

Starting November 17th, Legends of Norrath players can also start their own tournaments or enter other player-initiated tournaments 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. These eight-player events feature a variety of play formats including Constructed Deck and Booster Draft formats. In Booster Draft, players can open several packs of cards and only play with the cards drafted for their deck– a pure test of calculated skill. Scheduled tournaments for larger numbers of players are set to run each week so that players can compete in tournaments with several hundred players at a time.

Monthly loot tournaments pit individual player skill against each other as they compete for promotional cards, sealed packs and loot to be used in EQ and EQII. Just for entering, players will receive a special loot and promo card that can only be obtained through such Loot Tournament events. Players who place well can win additional prizes such as packs, promotional cards and/or loot.

To get started, players can download the client for free, test their skills against AI and real opponents, and then head over to the tournament lobby to play. Tournament eligibility limited and subject to official rules. Residents of certain territories are ineligible to participate in LoN tournament play. See the EULA for details. For a schedule of events, rules and further details see the LoN Events Page or the LoN Tournaments webpage.

For more information, visit legendsofnorrath.com.