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Lineage II

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Lineage II
File:LineageIIbox.jpg
Developer(s)NCsoft
Publisher(s)NCsoft
Level Up! Interactive Brazil
EngineUnreal Engine 2.0
Platform(s)Windows
ReleaseOctober 12003 (South Korea). April 282004 (N.America)
Genre(s)MMORPG
Mode(s)Multiplayer

Lineage II: The Chaotic Chronicle (Korean:리니지 2) is a fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), for the computer and sequel to Lineage. It has become very popular since its October 1, 2003 launch, reporting 1.5 million subscribers worldwide in September 2004. According to the April 27, 2006 press release by NCsoft, Lineage II has over 14 past subscribers worldwide, and somewhere between 1 and 2 million current subscribers..[1] Lineage II requires a $15 USD monthly fee to play.

Overview

File:Shot00011.jpg
Lineage 2 screenshot of an elven character

Players create a character as their avatar in the game's medieval-style virtual world. Humans, Elves and Dark Elves start off in the Kingdom of Aden while Dwarves and Orcs start off in the Kingdom of Elmore (A more northernly section of the map). Players can choose from either fighter or mystic professions at the start, except for Dwarves which are only able to select the fighter profession. This choice acts as an archetype for later profession options.

Players have a variety of things they can do for fun in the game. They play alone or as part of a group to fight monsters and complete quests for new skills, experience points, and items. Player versus player (PvP) is a significant portion of the game. The game provides many social/politic/economic aspects which are developed through the community and by the actions in-game of single players. Lineage II features siege warfare like the original. To make sure PvP stays under control, the design includes a Karma system that provides negative consequences for killing other players when they are not fighting back.

Lineage II features greatly improved third-person 3D graphics over its predecessor. The game uses the Unreal 2.0 Engine developed by Epic Games.

Chronicles

Chronicles are a large-scale update to Lineage II done every half of a year, they are free expansions to the game that every subscriber must download in the form of a patch. As the "Chronicle" number advances, a new story develops. There are major game alterations each time with the current "Chronicle update", and the game balance was greatly changed in every case so far. Each chronicle also adds a great deal of content to the game, including new skills, quests, areas and items, some chronicles also increase the level cap.



"Prelude"

Lineage II went live in North America on April 27, 2004. All open beta players were required to purchase a copy of Lineage II to obtain a CD key to activate their previously used account. The purchase included the payment for the first month of gameplay. Prelude was the first time a monthly fee of $15 was being charged.

There was no change in game mechanics between open beta and prelude.

Chronicle 1 : Harbingers of War

Chronicle 2 : Age of Splendor

In Chronicle 1, when a clan successfully won, there was not much gained from the siege other than reputation and pride. After Chronicle 2 was released in December 2004, a manor system was added. New parts of the map were added as well, such as the water city of Heine, Devastated Castle, Tower of Insolence, the castle of Innadril, the Aden Coliseum, Alligator Island, Field of Whispers, Field of Silence, and others.

Chronicle 3 : Rise of Darkness

With Chronicle 3, released May 2005, comes a new twist to the L2 universe called the Seven Signs. The idea behind this twist is to pit two factions (Dusk & Dawn) against one another in a competition for Seals, this competition is voluntary but to not join will hinder progress later in the game (once one is a high level player). Seals are items dropped by mobs that when turned in, will give players Ancient Adena. Ancient Adena is another level of the Economy in L2 and will allow players to purchase items they would not normally have access to from normal channels. The addition of the Seven Signs competition brings with it a large number of dungeons across Aden called Catacombs and Necropolises that only participants in the competition can access. For one week players compete and get as many seals that they can for their side and turn most of them in. Winners will be given exclusive access to the Catacombs/Necropolis and the losing side will be locked out. During this period players can also exchange their seals for Ancient Adena. There is also a part called the Festival for parties of 6 or more. The party enters a room and kills monsters (also called mobs) until a time limit is up. This part of the Seven Signs also contributes to scoring in the Seals competition.

Other notable changes are that castle owners now have access to a Wyvern (Dragon) that they can fly around Aden. Wyverns also have a fire breath skill. It should also be noted that they are very expensive to spawn and keep alive while in use. A Grade armor/weapons have also been added as well as a subclass system that allows players to add another class to their character after level 75.

Chronicle 4: Scions of Destiny

Scions of Destiny was released on February 8, 2006. It features expanded content in the form of new territories, enemies, summons, equipment, and a system designed to reward diligent, high level players that are victorious in a tournament in which they contend with other players in single combat. For additional information on Chronicle 4- Scions of Destiny please refer to [2]. It includes more information about everything that will be added after the update. It is also updated with information about the updates on the Korean beta. This expansion was released by NCSoft's North American counterpart on their Public Test Server on the 8th of January, 2006.

Chronicle 5: Oath of Blood

The Chronicle 5 expansion was released September 6, 2006. Clans received a makeover. The player level cap was raised to 80. New siegeable castles were added into the towns of Rune and Schuttgart. The Demonic Sword Zariche was added. Visit the Official Website for a full list of changes in this expansion.

Clan reputation can now be earned through Clan Academy, Clan Warfare, Clan Hall Battles and Clan Quests. Clan Reputation can be used to increase the rank of the clan to unlock clan skills and items. Clans of rank 5 and higher can create academies for the purpose of training and developing clan members. Members that complete their second class transfers through the academy receive commemorative items and increases the clan's reputation. Clan members of level 5 and higher can obtain a clan title. Clans can now have a maximum of 140 players, compared to the previous 40 players; accordingly, alliances can now only have 3 clans, instead of the previous limit of 12.

Roughly 50 skills were added for levels 55+ and the function of certain skills were refined.

An extensive new crafting system was also introduced based on Life Crystals farmed from raid bosses, which can be traded to NPCs for items.

Interlude: The Chaotic Throne

The name of the next Lineage 2 expansion was made public on October 12, 2006. Named "Lineage 2: The Chaotic Throne", it is being referred to as an Interlude rather than another Chronicle, setting a new course for the Lineage 2 legacy. [3] The release date is announced to be on North American PTS (Public Test Server) on March 8th and go live in April 2007. [4] Interlude went live on Korean servers in December 2006.

Roughly 60 skills will be added, 51 of those are for levels 76+ and 9 for levels 55+. The function of certain skills will be refined.

Features : Interlude consists of many new features, one of the biggest being fortresses. Fortresses are known to be simular to castles but for lower level clans. Other things include masks, weapon refinements, and additional hunting zones.

Characters

Characters act as a player’s avatar within the game. Players are afforded up to 7 characters per server. As characters kill non-player character (NPC) monsters, they accumulate experience and skill points (SP). As experience points accumulate, the character levels. In Chronicle 5, the level cap has been set at 80. Players purchase and then upgrade their character’s skills using SP. A character may only be deleted if not a member of a guild, or clan. The process of deletion usually takes six to seven days.

Subclasses

Upon completing the appropriate quests after reaching level 75, a player may choose add subclass to their character. This subclass starts at level 40. Limitations are put in place on what subclass one can choose. Dark and Light Elves may not choose a class from their opposing race. Overlord and Warsmith cannot be chosen by any class. In addition a player may not choose a class that matches their main class (a Dark Avenger may not become a Paladin, likewise a Treasure Hunter may not become a Plainswalker). Once a subclass has reached level 75, you may choose another. A character may hold a total of three subclasses.

Players are able to switch between their main and subclasses through the appropriate NPC. Once the class has been changed, the character’s attributes switch to those of chosen class. However inventory, quests, recommendations, PvP and PK scores carry over.

Noblesses

When a character’s subclass has reached level 75, they are eligible to become a Noblesse. Upon completing the necessary quest, they receive bonuses, such as a crown, more teleportation options, and certain Noblesse-only skills and abilities. They can set a title for themselves without clan. A character must be a Noblesse in order to compete in the Grand Olympiad and become a hero. The first Quest can be accepted at level 50

Heroes

Heroes are Noblesse characters who have competed in and won the Grand Olympiad. There is a limit of 31 Heroes at any time. Only the character's main class will receive the title. Heroes receive special weapons and abilities; in addition, they may speak globally to their entire server. They also receive a glowing aura so that they stand out against other characters.

Pets

In Lineage II, a player can obtain a monster that becomes their pet through the completion of quests. Unlike other summons or magic, as long as certain conditions are met, a pet will not be bound by time limitations, nor will it be dismissed by force. These pets can also hold items in their inventories while they are called, including weapons and armor that can be equipped by the pet.

There are four types of adult NPC pets: Wolf, Hatchling, Strider, and Wyvern. There are also three types of Baby Pets: Baby Buffalo, Baby Cougar, and Baby Kookaburra.


  • Wolf 15lv

Wolves display great agility. Since it tends to have low physical strength, its owner should raise it with care while the pet is of a low level so that it will not die.

  • Baby pets: Buffalo, Kookaburra and Cougar 25lv

Baby pets eat Baby Spice pet food and possess lower combat ability than other pets. Speak to the Pet Managers of Dion Castle Town, Giran Castle Town, and Gludio Castle Town to begin the quests for these baby pets.

  • Dragon: Hatchling 35lv

A Hatchling has the appearance of a baby dragon and can be evolved into a Strider. The quest to obtain a hatchling is much more difficult to fulfill than the quest to obtain a Wolf. Unlike a Wolf, a hatchling comes with various distinct characteristics. There are a total of three types of Hatchlings. Each type has its own unique abilities and skills.

  • Hatchling of Twilight: The Hatchling of Twilight has no special skills, but quickly becomes a Strider well-suited for transportation.
  • Hatchling of the Stars: The Hatchling of the Stars is similar to a mystic, casting two kinds of magic. This Hatchling uses the skills Bright Burst to damage the target, and Bright Heal to restore its own HP.
  • Hatchling of Wind: The Hatchling of Wind is similar to a fighter. This Hatchling uses the skills Wild Stun, which damages the target and has a chance to stun, and Wild Defense, which increases the Hatchling's P. Def and M. Def.
  • Dragon: Strider 55lv

When a hatchling attains level 55, the hatchling can evolve into a strider through fulfilling a quest. Speak to Wiseman Cronos of Hunters Village for information about the path to obtain a strider. A strider uses the same name as the hatchling from which it has been evolved. During the change, however, experience and other abnormal states, hunger gauge, level, etc. will all be cancelled and re-initialized. Once a hatchling gets evolved into a strider it cannot be changed back into a hatchling. A strider can be summoned at any time and from anywhere by using the appropriate item to summon it.

  • Dragon: Wyvern 75lv

The lord of the castle can ride a wyvern freely throughout the sky. Wyverns can only be ridden by speaking with the Wyvern Manager at the uppermost floors of the castle. To ride a wyvern, one must be riding a strider when speaking to the Wyvern Manager. B-grade crystals are required. Wyverns, like other pets, need to be continuously fed with wyvern food. If they are not fed, they will be forcibly unsummoned and players will be returned to the closest village. Specific clan halls also allow access to a wyvern.


Pets can use pet equipment and Beast Soulshots or Beast Spiritshots.

Private servers

In 2004, the official Lineage II server software was leaked and a significant number of private servers appeared. Modification of the official game client allowed players to connect to non-official (aka private) servers. However, some private servers, such as L2J, require only modification of the hosts file in the player's operating system, leaving the client unchanged. L2J, an open source server emulator, which operates under a GNU License, is an alternative to the official applications.

Some private servers have populations reaching into the thousands. Playing on private servers is free, although many are supported by donations from players.

After the initial Prelude and Chronicle 1 file leaks, the official software was modified by the use of Assembly Language, Hexadecimal Editing and DLL hooks to support the clients and features of later Chronicles. These modified versions of the Chronicle 1 software were called "Hybrid".

Currently, it is common for private servers to be found hosting Chronicle 4. The game play is commonly altered by boosting the experience rates, the monetary drop rate, and the item drop rate, making higher-quality gear easier to obtain. Many servers also feature unique "twists" which keep them apart from the rest.

In 2006, the Lineage 2 Chronicle 4 Private Test Server files were leaked and sold to private server owners. Figures as high as $15,000 US were being asked, but it's not confirmed if anyone paid for this, as the files were later leaked from the sellers and made publicly available. The C4 applications require a 64-bit microprocessor architecture to run.

As of 2007, the community created server files for Chronicle 5 have reached a useful level of accuracy. Private servers based on these files are getting more and more popular in the private server community.

PostPacific and RageZone are currently the prime development communities for the official Lineage 2 software.

The GameSites200 Lineage 2 Section, Hopzone and Games top 100 are the main places of competition, where each server competes for user votes to rank itself among the top servers. Currently these sites contain very inaccurate vote results, as there is an ongoing epidemic of "proxy voting" (ie cheating).

NCsoft Involvement

On November 16, 2006, the private server L2Extreme was shut down by the FBI.

On November 20, 2006, NCsoft issued an official press release on their involvement with the FBI raid, verifying its validity. Additionally, the news was posted on the official Lineage 2 website.

On November 21, 2006, NCsoft began sending out Cease and Desist warnings to many private servers or their hosts.

Botting

Like many MMORPGs, Lineage II has been the target of botting, in which an external program is used to simulate the actions of a player. Such activity is prohibited and is a bannable offense, though seemingly rarely enforced. Nevertheless, players continue this practice, since the player is able to leave his/her computer and the bot will continue doing what it has been programmed to do. Some of the most well-known bots are L2Walker and Superman (formerly known as L2Wind). There is a conspiracy theory, based on fine coding, numerous features and versatility of those programs (surpassing the official game client by far), that developers of Wind and Walker were/are in league with NC Soft itself. Sometimes proven botted characters are subject to disrespect and rejection by the certain part of the community. But this tendency got terribly weakened lately, legit players having definitely become a minority.

Apart from easing some of the more mundane aspects of gameplay, botting can also be used as a way to generate Adena (Lineage II currency) which is then sold for real world cash. This phenomenon, Economy Interaction, is quite controversial and is common in most of today's large MMORPGs.

Controversy

Since the game's release in late 2003 there has been an overwhelming number of "farmers", Players who play the game as a full time job to "farm" the game's currency and resell it for real money. These "farmers" play the game in 24 hour shifts and use third party programs such as L2Walker and Superman in direct violation of NCsoft's EULA (End User License Agreement) to maximize profit.

Despite the long voiced concerns of players NCsoft has failed to curb the black market on cash for adena, a failure that much of the L2NA community regards as the number one reason for Lineage 2's declining customer base.

The problem has gotten so bad that end game bosses that were originally intended to be killed only by large groups of skilled players are now "farmed" by adena sellers using anywhere from fourteen to one hundred automated bot clients, making those bosses unavailable to even the best organized groups of normal players. As of Chronicle 5, however, these 'raid boss farmers' have declined or outright disappeared due to the significantly increased difficulty of these end game bosses.

Equipment or a developed character by itself that would take a normal player literally years of hard work to get can now be bought in ten minutes for a few hundred dollars via the black market, making the entire point of leveling up and working for gear meaningless.

However, some see botting as a way to counteract the excessive buying of adena which already floods the market. As more people bot their characters, or farm for adena, there is a surplus of items to match the demands of the affluent characters who seek to make personal gains at any price.

Players have accused NCsoft of allowing the black market to thrive due to the massive amount of money paid each month for "farmer" accounts. NCsoft contends that it is doing everything in its power to curb this activity.

Current

As of the 5th chronicle, NCsoft has released a weapon called "The Demonic Sword Zariche". This sword is very powerful, but is also temporary: it is destroyed once its "health" has run out. The sword is found as a random drop from a slain enemy. The developers have said that they are willing to see if this sword will help stop botting because of the strength that it possesses, but players use the sword only for powerleveling. Early indications suggest that NCSoft thinks it is helping; a second demonic weapon has been planned for the Interlude release.

Bugs and security flaws

Security experts and hackers find Lineage II to be less than perfect. There are numerous exploits of the game systems, including an infamous html-bug that allows in some instances to skip the quests to the reward step without actually travelling and/or fighting any monsters, or access distant NPCs via any NPC near.

As it is true for Teon server at least, in late Chronicle 4 an influx of over-enchanted powerful (and popular) weapons could be seen. Suspiciously, they seem to have cost their proprietors less than their armor gear. Some believe those weapons to be "drawn", i.e. spawned by exploiters bypassing the game mechanics, then sold for cheap prices.

It may become a tradition that Public Test Servers of soon-to-be-released Chronicle updates are brought down due to hacker's activities. Both Chronicle 4 and Chronicle 5 tests got abused by some individuals. In one case it was a great spree of unbelievably high-enchanted (up to +65535) weapons spawned and dropped. Both times the hacker's character possessed combinations of different skills, impossible according to the game rules. Chronicle 5 PTS incident was soon followed by long unscheduled official site, servers and boards maintenances. All account passwords had been reset, too. Whether that had connections with the hack is not known for sure though. Subtle exploiting in the similar manner might account for the above-mentioned overenchanted weapons, too.

Awards

  • Expansion of the Year (Chronicle 5: Oath of Blood), Stratics Central Editor's Choice Awards 2006[5]
  • Honorable Mention, Game of the Year, Stratics Central Editor's Choice Awards 2006[6]

Official

Non-official*

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