Asheron's Call: Throne of Destiny Q&A

Gamecloud has conducted an interview with Turbine's Alex Beckers about their upcoming Asheron's Call: Throne of Destiny expansion pack. Here's a taste:
Q: What other new gameplay features will be put into Throne of Destiny?

A: We've increased the maximum character level from 126 to 275 and added new forms of advancement for the most powerful characters in the form of Augmentation Gems. These Gems cost a great deal of experience but provide abilities and enhancements that can't be found anywhere else in the game.

We've also added a whole new system of Rare items which can be found and used by anyone. The most Rare items include incredibly powerful weapons and armor, but other Rare items include valuable crafting materials and enchantment gems.