Turbine has announced that the first expansion for Dungeons & Dragons Online will officially launch on June 25, 2012. Called "Menace of the Underdark", the expansion will bring a higher level cap, new adventure packs and the Druid class into the game.

The main chunk of content in Menace of the Underdark will be comprised of three new adventure packs: the King's Forest, the Underdark, and the Demonweb.  While these adventure packs will be premium content intended for players level 20 or higher (the new cap is 25 in Underdark), you won’t have to be level 20 to begin your adventures in the Forgotten Realms. Of course, the DDO items are free for you to choose. The ‘Web of Chaos’ storyline introduced today with the launch of Update 13, which serves as a pre-requisite to entering the new Forgotten Realms hub city of Eveningstar, will be available at base level 16. Eveningstar itself will also feature new (scaling) challenge quests for players in the level 15-25 range.

Even if you aren’t completely hot on all the new storylines, Underdark’s introduction of the fan-favorite Druid class will offer players the opportunity to experience Dungeons & Dragons Online’s existing breadth of content in an entirely new way.  The Druid is a shape-shifting class with access to a number of new and unique spells, as well as arcane and healing magic. Currently, Turbine is confirming Druids will be able to take on the wolf and bear forms, though there may be more by launch. I was able to play around in wolf form briefly as part of our tour, and I can say it looks to be a promising change of pace. You’ll gain access to a number of new abilities while in animal form... However, if you’d rather stay in your own skin, you’ll also be able to command a variety of animal companions that you can level up and customize ddo power leveling from our site.