Lineage II

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Lineage II: The Chaotic Chronicle (Korean:리니지 2) is a fantasy massively multiplayer computer role-playing game (MMORPG) 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 1st-half 2005 data, Lineage II has approximately 2.25 million subscribers worldwide, the second most popular MMORPG in the world. It falls behind World of Warcraft, which currently has more than 6.5 million active subscriptions and is the largest MMORPG in the world.

Contents

Overview

Lineage 2 screenshot of an elven character

Players create a character as their avatar in the game's medieval-style virtual world called Aden. They can choose from five typical fantasy races: Human, Elf, Dark Elf, Orc or Dwarf. You 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 first-person 3D graphics over its predecessor. The game uses the Unreal engine produced by Epic Games.

Chronicles

A large-scale update is done in Lineage II every half of a year. 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.

Open Beta Test \"Prelude\"

After the closed beta test ended, massive numbers of users poured in at a surprising rate during the open beta test's first day. Frequently during the beta test, especially in Japan, NPCs did not spawn correctly because of the massive number of users.

Chronicle 1 : Harbingers of War

Chronicle 1 was released in July 2004, officially adding siege warfare to the game. Taking a castle allowed the owners to tax the city/town that the castle controlled, allowing them to tax up to 15%.

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, Coliseum, Alligator Island, Field of Whispers, Field of Silence, Great Dane of Justice, 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 your progress later in the game (once you're a high level player). Seals are items dropped by mobs that when turned in, will give you Ancient Adena. Ancient Adena is another level of the Economy in L2 and will allow you to purchase items you wouldn't 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 Necropoli that only participants in the competition can access. For one week you compete and get as many seals that you can for your side and turn most of them in. If your side wins after the week you will be given exclusive access to the Catacombs/Necropoli and the losing side will be locked out. During this period you can also exchange your seals for Ancient Adena. There is also a part called the Festival for which you and a party of at least 5 people enter a room and kill monsters (also called mobs) until a time limit is up. This part of the Seven Signs also contributes to your score in the Seals competition. The writer has yet to get involved in this part of the 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 you to add another class to your character after level 75.

Chronicle 4: Scions of Destiny

Scions of Destiny is the newest Chronicle released in Korea, 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 [link]. 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

New changes are made in Chronicle 5:

CLAN:

Clan reputation System for Clan Growth

-Clan reputation can be earned through Clan Academy, Clan Warfare, Clan Hall Battles and Clan Quests

-Clan Reputation can be used to increase the level of the clan, which then unlocks various clan skills and items depending on rank.


 Clan Academy

Clans Level 5 and higher are able to found 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. More changes are made by clan level. From 5 level and higher a clan member can get a clan title*. (Not the title function)

SKILLS:

New and changed skills. About 48~50 skills added for levels 60+. Refinement of ineffective, underused skills.

SKILL NAME CLASS DESCRIPTION

Pain of Sagittarius Hawkeye/Phantom Ranger Converts HP to MP
Might Mortal Plains Walker/ Abyss Walker Increases success rate of vital attacks
Totem Spirit Hawk Tyrant Increases player's cirtical rate and power while decreasing defense and magical resist
Wide Attack Warlord/Destroyer Launches a pole attack while increasing the number of affectable targets
Banish Unholy Paladin Puts nearby demon and undead enemies in a state of fear and at a a low chance eliminates them
Demon Blade Dance Bladedancer Decreases the p.atk and m.atk of surrounding enemies
Summon Cursed Bone Necromancer Summons Cursed Bone. Requires Dark Parchment
Arcane Disruption Warlock Decreases the casting speed of nearby enemies
Mana Storm Bishop/Overlord Burns the MP of nearby enemies
Erase Bishop/prophet/elder/shillien Elder Blows away enemy(Monster/summon)

This is the next Chronicle. Information is in Korean-only. Details need to be translated to English.[link]

Races and Classes

Humans

Humans in Lineage II are similar to Humans in the modern world. Humans currently have the greatest dominion in the world and the largest population. They are considered to be the most balanced of the races and have the largest number of available classes.

Human Fighters

Warriors: The warrior class is an advanced class of the human fighter who pursues physical power, usually focusing on strong swordsmanship skills. Human warriors may choose between becoming either a Warlord or a Gladiator after reaching advanced levels. Unlike Knights, they are not members of the military.

*Warlord: The Warlord is more proficient against a group of enemies than against a solo opponent.

:*Dreadnought

*Gladiator: Gladiators are the most powerful one-on-one fighters, and can deal out extraordinary amounts of damage to a single opponent.

:*Duelist

Knights: Human knights receive military training from a government or another organization. The basic equipment is a one-handed sword and a shield. Human knights may choose between becoming either the holy Paladin or the equally unholy Dark Avenger.

*Paladin: Paladins use the power of the holy gods for protection of party members and to defeat the undead. Paladin magic may be used for defense or to heal.

:*Phoenix Knight

*Dark Avenger: Unlike the Paladin who uses mostly white magic, the Dark Avenger uses black magic. Their magic is offensive rather than defensive, and includes status-changing and damage-reflecting spells. They can also summon a Dark Panther to aid them in battle.

:*Hell Knight

Rogues: Rogues are Fighters who consider agility more important than raw power — and profit more important than honor. Rogues rely heavily on ranged attack weapons and prefer a small sword, bow and light armor. The main tasks of a Rogue include reconnaissance, scouting, spying, and assassination, though they may be hired as archers. Rogues may choose between becoming either Treasure Hunters or Hawkeyes.

*Treasure Hunter: The Treasure Hunter can move silently and uses a dagger to backstab enemies.

:*Adventurer

*Hawkeye: The Hawkeye prefers the bow over all other weapons. Hawkeyes have the fastest attack speed of all archers and a balance of power and critical between the Phantom Ranger and the Silver Ranger, yet have the lowest running speed and evasion.

:*Sagittarius

Human Mystics

Wizards: Human Wizards divide the magical forces in the world into the four elements, light, and darkness. They can use middle level elemental magic, black magic and summoning magic.

*Sorcerer: The Sorcerer uses elemental magic to case offensive spells from a distance.

:*Archmage

*Necromancer: The Necromancer uses dark magic to raise the dead and deal damage to others.

:*Soultaker

*Warlock: The Warlock can summon creatures to fight for him and supports them through defensive magic.

:*Arcana Lord

Clerics: Clerics are Human Mystics who borrow the power of the gods to perform miracles. While they often belong to religious organizations, some of them refuse to ally themselves with any one religion.

*Bishop: The Bishop is a holy person who uses magic to resurrect the dead, to heal, and can oppose the undead. If necessary, he will engage in hand-to-hand combat to protect himself.

:*Cardinal

*Prophet: The Prophet uses protect magic to boost allies and weaken enemies.

:*Hierophant

Elves

Elves are more dextrous and intelligent than the other races, but they are physically weaker. They tend towards the defensive classes and are unable to use dark magic.

Elven Fighters

Elven Knights: Elven Knights are different from human Knights in their heightened agility and their ability to cast healing magic. In addition, they have a very fast movement speed.

*Temple Knight: Temple Knights use summoning magic in addition to their normal attacks.

:*Eva's Templar

*Swordsinger: Swordsingers use battle songs to aid their allies with healing and defensive magics.

:*Sword Muse

Elven Scouts: Elven Scouts use daggers and bows and their primary weapons. They also possess healing magic.

*Plains Walker: The Plains Walker is similar to the human Treasure Hunter in that he can backstab his opponents. Plains Walkers can use their magic to increase their running speed.

:*Wind Rider

*Silver Ranger: The Silver Ranger is similar to the human Hawkeye and uses a bow as his primary weapon. Unlike the Hawkeye, a Silver Ranger possesses healing magic.

:*Moonlight Sentinel

Elven Mystics

Elven Wizards: Elves are limited to the elemental and summoning magics.

*Spellsinger: Spellsingers deal primarily in water magic, though they can use other forms of elemental magic.

:*Mystic Muse

*Elemental Summoner: Elemental Summoners use other creatures to fight for them. They summon elemental creatures and support them with defensive magics.

:*Elemental Master

Elven Oracles: Like human Clerics, elven Oracles are Mystics who perform miracles using the power of the gods. As they worship different gods, their spells are different.

*Elven Elder: Elven Elders support their allies through defensive magic, though may also use the power of the gods to smite the undead.

:*Eva's Saint

Dark Elves

Dark Elves have higher strength and intelligence when compared to humans. They tend towards the offensive classes and use dark magic.

Dark Fighters

Palus Knights: Palus Knights are Dark Elf Fighters that possess skill both with a sword and with the offensive magics.

*Shillien Knight: Shillien Knights use elemental, summoning, and dark magics in addition to normal combat skills.

:*Shillien Templar

*Bladedancer: The Bladedancer can use two swords and can raise the skills of his party through dancing. A Bladedancer also uses elemental and dark magic to harm enemies.

:*Spectral Dancer

Assassins: Assassins are similar to the human Rogue class, but they use magic to enhance their damage.

*Abyss Walker: The Abyss Walker specializes in assassinations and other silent methods of killing.

:*Ghost Hunter

*Phantom Ranger: The Phantom Ranger has a higher attack strength when compared to other archers, and he can also use magic to hex his opponents.

:*Ghost Sentinel

Dark Mystics

Dark Wizards: Dark Wizards can use elemental, summoning, and dark magics.

*Spellhowler: A Spellhowler can use elemental and dark magic to kill enemies from afar.

:*Storm Screamer

*Phantom Summoner: The Phantom Summoner summons spirits to attack his enemies in battle. He can boost his summoned creatures through defensive spells.

:*Spectral Master

Shillien Oracle: Shillien Oracles are Mystics who use the power of the god Shillien to perform miracles. They have different spells from the Oracles of humans and elves.

*Shillien Elder: A Shillien Elder specializes in support magic.

:*Shillien Saint

Orcs

Orcs are the strongest of the races and are resistant to many negative effects, but their actions are the slowest. In addition, they have a fairly simple class tree.

Orc Fighters

Orc Raiders: Raiders are similar to Warriors, though their skills are more dependant on raw strength than their human counterparts. Unlike Monks, they use weapons.

*Destroyer: Destroyers use heavy weapons to defeat their opponents.

:*Titan

Monks: Monks are members of the Order of Paagrio and practice Tangsu. Their attacks are rapid and they fight with hand-to-hand weapons, though they may also use magic to augument their skills. In combat, they wear light armor.

*Tyrant: Tyrants have access to offensive combat skill that increase the damage done to their oppopnents,that stun, that slow or do massive damage too.

:*Grand Khavatari

Orc Mystics

Orc Shamans: An Orc Mystic is known as a Shaman. They can bless and heal their party and clan members and also curse their enemies. They also dabble in physical combat.

*Overlord: The Overlord is a Shaman who founds their own clan and supports it and their alliance with magic. They use area of effect attacks to curse their enemies.

:*Dominator

*Warcryer: The Warcryer is a Shaman who can cast chants that give power to his party members.

:*Doomcryer

Dwarves

Dwarves are similar to humans, but they are limited to the fighter class. As fighters, they aren't focused on defeating enemies, but are more interested in acquiring resources, trading and crafting.

Fighters

Scavengers: Scavengers are fighters who travel the world to collect materials for crafting.

*Bounty Hunter: The Bounty Hunter uses his combat skills to collect rare items.

:*Fortune Seeker

Artisans: Artisans create items using the materials gathered by Scavengers. When they do enter combat, they summon machines to assist them.

*Warsmith: Warsmiths are able manufacture many items, including siege weapons.

:*Maestro.

Private servers

By the second half of 2004, the official Lineage II server code was leaked and a significant number of private servers appeared. One illegal modification of the official client allowed a player to connect to non-official servers. L2J, an open source server emulator, was forced to shut down their server advertisement portion of their website, as many ads were for servers made with stolen files.

Prominent private servers now have populations reaching into the thousands, and play on these unofficial servers is free. Additionally, NC Soft released the server software legally in the fall of 2005, removing any issues of legality. Most servers have some or all of Chronicles 1, 2, and 3 implemented, many have added much of Chronicle 4, and others are preparing for Chronicle 5. The gameplay is commonly altered by upping the experience rates, the monetary drop rate, and the item drop rate, making higher-quality gear easier to obtain. While there are bugged mobs and items, wipes, and many other instances of instability, the severity of this varies from server to server.

External links

Official

[Lineage II official site]

Non-official

[Lineage II Stratics] Fan site
[L2Guru] Community forums
[L2J] Lineage 2 server emulator
[L2WH] Drops database
[Lineage 2 guide] at StrategyWiki
[Lineage II: The Chaotic Chronicle] at MobyGames

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All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.

SKILL NAME	CLASS	DESCRIPTION
Pain of Sagittarius	Hawkeye/Phantom Ranger	Converts HP to MP
Might Mortal	Plains Walker/ Abyss Walker	Increases success rate of vital attacks
Totem Spirit Hawk	Tyrant	Increases player's cirtical rate and power while decreasing defense and magical resist
Wide Attack	Warlord/Destroyer	Launches a pole attack while increasing the number of affectable targets
Banish Unholy	Paladin	Puts nearby demon and undead enemies in a state of fear and at a a low chance eliminates them
Demon Blade Dance	Bladedancer	Decreases the p.atk and m.atk of surrounding enemies
Summon Cursed Bone	Necromancer	Summons Cursed Bone. Requires Dark Parchment
Arcane Disruption	Warlock	Decreases the casting speed of nearby enemies
Mana Storm	Bishop/Overlord	Burns the MP of nearby enemies
Erase	Bishop/prophet/elder/shillien Elder	Blows away enemy(Monster/summon)