As you may have read, the Throne of Destiny Open Preview begins on June 22nd, otherwise known as tomorrow! I was lucky enough to be invited during the Press round and got in one long blast of play in the early morning before heading out of town. I'll share my adventure and answer the question everyone's been dying to know: what does the new hair look like?

I now present the three additional hairstyles (for new characters only):

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But I'm getting ahead of myself! First, I installed the game, then installed the latest version of DirectX (do this today to get yourself one step ahead!), then oohed and awwwed at the shiny new splash screen, then viewed the credits. Much to my surprise, I was in the credits!!! See? There I am, right under "The Rest of the Zone Team"!! *ahem*

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Ibn was obviously drunk when he put the credits together, because he goes off into this crazy rambling at the end, reminiscent of Jesse's Birth of Devilmouse episode. Those crazy Devs!!

Since I already had a Maggie the Jackcat on LC, the server whose character DB was copied, I didn't want to delete her and wait an hour to recreate her as a Viamontian, so I made me a new blue person! I made her a noblewoman and started her in Sanamar, the Viamontian starter city!

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I bypassed the Training Academy after checking out the new pop-up instructions, tool tips, settings, etc., then toured the city. I tried on some clothes; I bought some armor, and I paid my respects to the Red Bull of Sanamar!

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Anxious to see the world, I set off to explore the Halaetan Isles! I ran into old creatures and new, did my first quest, and had my first death! And second. And, er, third! Killed by a Penguin. How embarrassing! I took it out on the Thrungi, however! I think the mushrooms may be my new favorite death animation!

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I'd like to tell you what I found in the Shattered-Outlands, but, well, there are just some things you have to see for yourselves!