So, now that the dust is settling and Chronicle 4 has been launched for our North American and European service I figured it was time to drop in and give you guys an update on what's been going on and what's to come. Most of this you folks are already aware of, but I always like to think it's nice to summarize.
First and foremost, we were very glad to make the C4 client and update available by more means than ever before. The additions of Fileplanet's support as well as the release of the Chronicle 4 CD set helped to make this one of the smoother transitions we've had yet in terms of getting the rather large update into you, the players', hands. As we move forward and begin looking off into the distance at C5, we will try to make even more means available. We do not want the update sizes to be prohibitive to players getting into the game, so we will stay dedicated in making sure there are always viable means of acquiring them.
I'm also very pleased with the results of the PTS test cycle that has just concluded. Once smoke cleared and the boost program was underway, testing was the most effective we've had yet, and we see the PTS as a rousing success, efficiently testing both high end content and stress-testing serveral crucial technical elements. More than anything, I'd like to extend a hearty "thank you" to everyone who participated in the C4 PTS test for making it what it was.
Also, please enjoy the remainder Chaos Week as the sun sets on this incarnation of the PTS. :)
On the new player front, we have been seeing a steady increase of accounts over the past few months. You may also be aware of the marketing and PR campaigns we currently have underway helping to draw in even more. We've started an advertising push on a number of sites and are quite happy with the renewed exposure. We will continue to refine and develop our marketing strategy as the game goes along. We intend to keep using every means necessary to bring in new players and keep the lands of Aden thriving and populous.
Just in case the idea of more players makes you fearful of full servers, don't sweat it. We've upgraded our server hardware and are now more capable of supporting the influx of players we've been seeing.
I'm also pretty darn sure that you all have noticed the website redesign. The web team really did an excellent job and we're all quite happy with the results.
On the topic I'm sure many of you are interested in, we've been continuing our efforts to combat the use of 3rd party software and sale of virtual property. Since I first spoke to you about this in mid-September we've kept our effort consistent and continued to update and upgrade our methods of detection and punishment. I had stated in the past that I would not give a specific number again regarding the amount of accounts we terminate in our various policing programs. I will still not give a specific number, but as an update, we have banned over 21,000 accounts since my last letter to you on September 16th. We remain committed to combating players who do not abide by the EULA and will continue to do so. The support team works long and hard to make the game fair for the players who abide by the rules, and as we continue to push forward, they become more effective almost by the day.
As well, I'm pleased to say that we are continuing to push forward with more and new events in 2006. In 2005, the event team made great strides in developing new and more dynamic in-game and live events for the players of Lineage II. Our goal is to continue to provide fun and entertaining events in 2006 as well. We've taken heed of both the cheers and jeers of the past events, and the team is continuing to refine their procedures to please as many players as possible without disrupting the game for others. These include new event types you've not yet seen. I will remain cryptic as to the nature of what's to come, but we hope you all enjoy it.
Also, I've noticed that there has been a lot of confusion regarding the remnant text in the server selection menu referring to "Relax Servers" and "Non-PVP Servers." These were launched in Korea due to circumstances that do not exist in the North American or European territories. The text was to be removed, but slipped into the final C4 build for launch. Rather than delay the C4 launch to have this removed at the last minute, I made the decision to proceed with it still in place until our next build. I sincerely apologize for any confusion this may have caused, but as of right now there are no plans to add an additional "relax server" or "non-PVP server" to the North American service.
I think that just about covers what's been going on. We're all glad to see Chronicle 4 on the live servers and we certainly hope you all are enjoying it. I'll try to keep popping by to let you know what we're up to. I may be slow to respond to this thread, as I still have much work to do, but I will try to check back frequently. Thanks for being a player of Lineage II and thanks for your time to hear me ramble on.
I personally have to thank you for the update. I very much appreciate this type of thing and am always interested in current as well as future "happenings" of any game I play.
Thanks for the update Rust, but I would like a small amount of clarification on this:
These were launched in Korea due to circumstances that do not exist in the North American or European territories
What exactly are the special circumstances in Korea which forced the creation of relaxed and non pvp servers which do no exist anywhere else? I can't imagine that its lack of player demand or interest, and if its not some odd type of forced curfew either. So again, what are these special circumstances?
Also, I've noticed that there has been a lot of confusion regarding the remnant text in the server selection menu referring to "Relax Servers" and "Non-PVP Servers." These were launched in Korea due to circumstances that do not exist in the North American or European territories.
Sorry Adam, you seem like a nice guy but this is corporate speak and rubbish - you just aren't interested in doing it because you (and NCsoft over time) continues to fail to see the substantial benefits of releasing a relax server.
Let me make this 100% clear for you: a relax server would allow the Lineage product in the Western market a chance to break away from its perennial designation in the gaming community as a boring niche Korean grind game, and more importantly tap the single biggest gamer segement available - the casual gamer.
I just don't understand what is wrong with you guys, the mistakes and general shortcomings made in marketing Lineage 2 since it release have been staggering. You have the existing code to leverage for a relax server, and all the benefits associated with it, yet you just choose to let it sit there and do nothing.
And subsequently, your quarterly earning reports will always measure L2 subscriber increases in hundreds and if your lucky low thousands... instead of the much larger numbers you could be posting.
Sorry Adam, you seem like a nice guy but this is corporate speak and rubbish - you just aren't interested in doing it because you (and NCsoft over time) continues to fail to see the substantial benefits of releasing a relax server.
Insert just about any suggestion that someone feels strongly about and you might see how unfair a statement this is.
21k accounts. o_O Momma... That means about 21k complaint and hate mails. :) The following decision just manifested in my mind: I never ever want to become a mmo GM. :p
A post like this doesn't fix problems... and it would be wrong to assume it. But: There already are enough game out there where you cannot even talk to a GM when you try really hard... here you can write directly to the big boss. :p Many players appreciate that. So... looking forward to your next report Rust. ;)
Hmmm would it be enough to justify a non-pvp server to have 2000 western L2 players... angry L2 players dressed up as orc destroyers... visit the Korean l2 headquarters and... *use imagination here*? :p
I really don't know why those relaxed servers should only be justified by special conditions. If it was me to make the decisions I'd go with whatever got me the most subscribers. :p
If it was me to make the decisions I'd go with whatever got me the most subscribers.
The problem is that you don't know which will bring the most. And, once you setup the server, it may fall flap on its face. What then? Kill the server and piss off the remaining players on it? It's an expensive decision...
Hm only problem I see is that the relaxed servers would be too popular... leading to everyone who does not fit on there complaining that the rates on the other servers must be raised as well.
Insert just about any suggestion that someone feels strongly about and you might see how unfair a statement this is.
I know what you are trying to say, but your application is invalid - you don't know the history I have with NCsoft representitives trying to push the many benefits of a relax server for the western L2 service. And here is the kicker - I wouldn't even play on one, I just appreciate its potential.
Put simply, NCosft lacks the motivation, self-belief, and fundemental marketing strategy to make a relax server happen, and be successful. This is not my opinion, its simply a reflection of being a close observer of how they have marketed the game since its release here - even with the C4 marketing there has been nothing done to address the core issues that have relegated L2 over here as that niche grind game.
There is no downside to a relax server, outside of the initial startup costs inherent to bringing another server online. All you have to gain are the benefits.
I'll go out on this note: when considering how best to market, position and run the L2 service in the western market, both the short-term and the long-term view must be factored. The short-term benefits of a relax server are the increase in subscriber numbers through targeted marketing of the concept to its intended base, the casual gamer. An example of the long-term is the eventual release of Lineage 3. It is a sad probable reality that L3 is already going to suffer the same fate as L2 did over here - a small, but loyal subscriber base, completley failing to tap the wider market because perceptions are not being changed now about its ability to appeal to a casual or more progressive gamer raised on WoW and the likes.
A relax server, along with more strategic and targeted marketing, goes a long way to trying to change the perceptions the gaming community holds re: the Lineage brand.
So much of this issue is about self-belief, and having people who can make it happen. And from what I have seen, this is where NC falls down - unlike other more progressive developers/publishers like SOE and Blizzard they are just not adpative and aggressive enough in taking advantages of opportunities to grow their flagship brand in the west.
I could write pages and pages on this, I have a long background in marketing and consulting and while I'm hardly perfect, it is sometimes easy to see as an external interested party where the potential for change would benefit a company.
And in the case of NCsoft and the Lineage 2 product, its in the use of more effective marketing and repositioning within the MMO space, including the introduction of progressive services such as a relax server.
If it was me to make the decisions I'd go with whatever got me the most subscribers.
The problem is that you don't know which will bring the most. And, once you setup the server, it may fall flap on its face. What then? Kill the server and piss off the remaining players on it? It's an expensive decision...
For what its worth, you have highlighted some of the issues I have with the way that NCsoft handles its marketing. What you said above would never happen if a company folowed marketing 101 - you first gauge the demand, using a variety of techniques, then make an appropriate decision on wether to roll the product/feature.
There has been no attempt by NCsoft to publicly poll this issue - and to be effective, it would need to be both internally and externally focused. In other words, poll both existing Lineage players, and the wider gaming community.
Its really not that hard, in fact it would be a very interesting debate to spark in the community - almost a "way to counter the influence of progressive MMOs like WoW that are designed from the ground up to cater for a broader spectrum of players" when you have a game like Lineage 2 that unfortunately doesn't have that luxury, being built as a 1.5 generation MMO with simpistic Korean design principles (read: grind).
A relax server provides an effective way to counter that "natural" disadvantage that MMOs like Lineage 2 have competing against more modern games like WoW.
Insert just about any suggestion that someone feels strongly about and you might see how unfair a statement this is.
I know what you are trying to say, but your application is invalid - you don't know the history I have with NCsoft representitives trying to push the many benefits of a relax server for the western L2 service. And here is the kicker - I wouldn't even play on one, I just appreciate its potential.
Put simply, NCosft lacks the motivation, self-belief, and fundemental marketing strategy to make a relax server happen, and be successful. This is not my opinion, its simply a reflection of being a close observer of how they have marketed the game since its release here - even with the C4 marketing there has been nothing done to address the core issues that have relegated L2 over here as that niche grind game.
There is no downside to a relax server, outside of the initial startup costs inherent to bringing another server online. All you have to gain are the benefits.
I'll go out on this note: when considering how best to market, position and run the L2 service in the western market, both the short-term and the long-term view must be factored. The short-term benefits of a relax server are the increase in subscriber numbers through targeted marketing of the concept to its intended base, the casual gamer. An example of the long-term is the eventual release of Lineage 3. It is a sad probable reality that L3 is already going to suffer the same fate as L2 did over here - a small, but loyal subscriber base, completley failing to tap the wider market because perceptions are not being changed now about its ability to appeal to a casual or more progressive gamer raised on WoW and the likes.
A relax server, along with more strategic and targeted marketing, goes a long way to trying to change the perceptions the gaming community holds re: the Lineage brand.
So much of this issue is about self-belief, and having people who can make it happen. And from what I have seen, this is where NC falls down - unlike other more progressive developers/publishers like SOE and Blizzard they are just not adpative and aggressive enough in taking advantages of opportunities to grow their flagship brand in the west.
I could write pages and pages on this, I have a long background in marketing and consulting and while I'm hardly perfect, it is sometimes easy to see as an external interested party where the potential for change would benefit a company.
And in the case of NCsoft and the Lineage 2 product, its in the use of more effective marketing and repositioning within the MMO space, including the introduction of progressive services such as a relax server.
Kyo
couldn't of said it better.
Whats going to sell more?
A) A store that only sells toothpaste?
B) A store that sells toothpaste, toothbrushes, electric toothbrushes, floss, Mouthwash, teeth whiteners
Really, if a game wants to increase subscriber base, increase the differences in the servers. LOOK AT TEON for crying out loud. How come the most recent server has the highest population? Different siege hours. Just that example alone shows how much potential there is in simply changing a couple rules on each server.
thanks for your update rust. great to read. its nice to hear that your banning on botters is going on, too. sometimes it takes weeks until bot trains disappear, but it happens so grats on this work, too. i think there are only who large wishes L2 European players will have now:
make a another europen time based server located in europe (lags?/latency)
make server transfers possible
with this actions you will see that alot more european players will join the l2 market. (dont forget: europe has alot of people...)
finally one wish for myself: please make new chronicle to add content for players who dont play 6+ hours every day. C4 is a very nice addon, new regions, HDR rendering, some quests but other content is not useful for 90% of the servers.
have a nice day from a weather full of sun and snow from austria :)
Also, I've noticed that there has been a lot of confusion regarding the remnant text in the server selection menu referring to "Relax Servers" and "Non-PVP Servers." These were launched in Korea due to circumstances that do not exist in the North American or European territories. The text was to be removed, but slipped into the final C4 build for launch. Rather than delay the C4 launch to have this removed at the last minute, I made the decision to proceed with it still in place until our next build.
I'm sorry but this is ludicrous...you somehow managed to fix all these bugs reported on the PTS but cant remove a few links without "delaying the release until the next build"...we arent morons rust...any changes must include a de-compilation and recompilation(new build)
Comparing Tooth Brush store isn't nice way to compare Server Upkeeping etc.
Tooth Brush store can buy many stuff into shelves and they don't have sucha upkeep cost as servers does.
Having Tooth Brushes in shelve doesnt make you lose of money if it stays there few weeks/months and then sells. (If it doesn't sell you shouldnt buy it.)
But upkeep costs of server is a bit more than upkeep cost of Tooth Brushes etc. You dont have to maintaince your Tooth Brushes.
So basically you can have Tooth Brushes lying around even its low interest, but having server lying around with low(?) interest makes it bad option.
I wouldn't go into relax server as then i would consider what Raid events to participate or Sieges etc. And i wouldn't have chance to have over night shops, as i would need to calculate hours to make it fit to my playing.
I'm sorry but this is ludicrous...you somehow managed to fix all these bugs reported on the PTS but cant remove a few links without "delaying the release until the next build"...we arent morons rust...any changes must include a de-compilation and recompilation(new build)FIX YOUR SOFTWARE...dont just release the buggy POS you were given from korea like you DID.
It is not that hard to imagine this happening. Probably the people who build the login interface where busy elesewhere. They had to chose between updating other bugs or remove this harmless one. Don't forget that they allready printed the CD's for sale, made copies to fileplanet, the PTS and update servers.
About the subject of having a relax server.
I would instantly go to a relax server (preferably enforced non PvP) if one appeared. Sure it is nice to have a higher level character.on the life. But it is less then satisfying of having to compete against hardcore players and cheaters.
Great writeup, Rust, thank you it clears alot of things up.
I am glad to hear that you're stepping up the fight against illegal use of L2, but if you are so, it might really be a good idea to look into making new servers, since the current old servers, while you combat 3rd party use, still have alot of the top players who have achieved their power, wealth and position through illegal means. This would kind of blankslate the new servers and put players on more equal grounds.
Also, I would like to ask again that you sincerely think about making a true European server. Currently we only have a pseudo one, and I am sure it scares off some european players when they see ping of 150-300 to a supposed european server (because its located in the US). A European server should really give the reverse benefits of an american server (european=bad ping, americans=good ping).
You are one of the only major MMORPG that doesn't have a true European server.
Comparing Tooth Brush store isn't nice way to compare Server Upkeeping etc.
Tooth Brush store can buy many stuff into shelves and they don't have sucha upkeep cost as servers does.
Having Tooth Brushes in shelve doesnt make you lose of money if it stays there few weeks/months and then sells. (If it doesn't sell you shouldnt buy it.)
But upkeep costs of server is a bit more than upkeep cost of Tooth Brushes etc. You dont have to maintaince your Tooth Brushes.
So basically you can have Tooth Brushes lying around even its low interest, but having server lying around with low(?) interest makes it bad option.
I wouldn't go into relax server as then i would consider what Raid events to participate or Sieges etc. And i wouldn't have chance to have over night shops, as i would need to calculate hours to make it fit to my playing.
wow, if your so **** technical, replace toothbrushes with apples and the "assorted goods" store with all kinds of fruit. People take things too **** literal. Fruit will have an upkeep because they need to be changed on a regular basis if not sold.
Hm only problem I see is that the relaxed servers would be too popular... leading to everyone who does not fit on there complaining that the rates on the other servers must be raised as well.
That could be a problem, granted.
Cal
The solution is that make your account can't play both relaxed server and regular one. Make it 15 hours a week limit so hard core fans won't come.
I think these Producer updates should be semi regular, because I love hearing from the people feeding the hamster in the wheel that powers this marvelous little machine. Couldn't hurt to have a more intimate relationship with your userbase. I mean.. not.. intimate intimate. o.O
But, like, you know.
And if you guys would friggin' come to Wizard World Texas like you should have, I could sit with you and buy you an alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage of your choice! I'd love to shoot the breeze.
I sincerely apologize for any confusion this may have caused, but as of right now there are no plans to add an additional "relax server" or "non-PVP server" to the North American service.
I would strongly recommend that you examine the possibilities of either server type and reconsider. Seems I'm not all by my onesies in support of them.
Considering the amount of people that flood the PTS with up rates and such, along with trying new content etc..., I would *think* other server types would be flocked to as well. But what do I know, I'm just a paying sucker.
Support for a Relaxed-Server is actually very, VERY strong. There are many casual gamers out there who would love to have a server where they can actually feel like they're keeping up with their friends, even though they only get a few hours here and there during the week to play. Just look around at the forums. There have been discussions about such a server since this board started. Those, in turn, were carried over from the OLD boards.
So, how can you say that there is no need for those types of servers? That the required circumstances for those sorts of servers do not exist in a Western market? I'm sorry, but lots of players are married, with children, and work full-time jobs. I would call that a reason for a relaxed server, just by itself!
There is clearly the need and customer base for high rate server. I am sure NCSoft knows it. I just can't figure our why they do not want to do it. And players who oppose this idea never gave us a legitimate reason. Does it bother you if I am 78 on a different server?
Maybe it will be too popular so that hight rate server will be full? Just open a second one if that is the case. Maybe they fear the that low rate customers may be upset and quit? Could be, but only a few. But that won't taint the repution of the game. They will certainly gain more customer that they lose.
We've upgraded our server hardware and are now more capable of supporting the influx of players we've been seeing.
Hi RustNC, i play on Teon server, i´m player/customer of this game since 1 year.
Since the weekend i have to try log more than 30mins to get in the game, along with a lot of friends. Yesterday i was unable to play.
Where exactly is the server upgrade? Server hit the cap again in only 1 week? What was the server upgrade? 100MB more? Half of Teon is unable to log in. Again.
I was 2 months in that way, playing after hours of trying to log after come from my work. No more. I cancel my account right now if this happen again.
3 days since this issue and still no oficial response. Like the last time.
Please as producer would be nice and necesary if you make a declaration about why and when this stuff gonna be fixed for endure, not for 2 ghost weeks and later more of the same problems.
Well, i found a way to work around this Teon always-on-and-off problem : i created 3 other characters on another server (namely Erica), i guess thats the only way to be able to play Lineage whenever i feel like it, i gave up on thinking that i could always access Teon when i wanna play :eek:
Well although is a copy and paste response, better than nothing.
Since the C4 was supossed to be the solution of this issue, a lot of people include myself are getting out the nerves with this. I dont want to back to the C3 Teon server pain, that time i was very close of leave and i like this game a lot.
I really hope this can be solved soon. Please keep people informed.
There is clearly the need and customer base for high rate server. I am sure NCSoft knows it. I just can't figure our why they do not want to do it. And players who oppose this idea never gave us a legitimate reason. Does it bother you if I am 78 on a different server?
Maybe it will be too popular so that hight rate server will be full? Just open a second one if that is the case. Maybe they fear the that low rate customers may be upset and quit? Could be, but only a few. But that won't taint the repution of the game. They will certainly gain more customer that they lose.
It will absolutely taint the reputation of the game.
There is clearly the need and customer base for high rate server. I am sure NCSoft knows it. I just can't figure our why they do not want to do it. And players who oppose this idea never gave us a legitimate reason. Does it bother you if I am 78 on a different server?
Maybe it will be too popular so that hight rate server will be full? Just open a second one if that is the case. Maybe they fear the that low rate customers may be upset and quit? Could be, but only a few. But that won't taint the repution of the game. They will certainly gain more customer that they lose.
It will absolutely taint the reputation of the game.
Vote NO to a relaxed searver.
imo there should be boosted rate servers. There SHOULD be different servers with various siege times, No PvP servers etc for the players who wish for this.
Boosted rate servers=leveling faster to the top=seen it all=nothing more to gain from this game=ending your subscription=no more money for NCSoft from you...
Boosted rate servers=leveling faster to the top=seen it all=nothing more to gain from this game=ending your subscription=no more money for NCSoft from you...
Am i wrong?
Depends on how you view the game.
Is the game about grinding or about PVP?
If its about the grind.. yeah you're done, cancel your account.
If its about PVP, sieging, clan politics, being a hero... then no... even at top level it wouldn't be over.
This would only really impact the most hardcore. The majority of players aren't even close to the new cap or even having a sublcass.
As a request to the NCStaff...
Could you post the current breakdown of levels on the servers? The percentage of characters in each level bracket? I'm just curious at to what the % of the server is level 70+ or has subclasses, etc.
Boosted rate servers=leveling faster to the top=seen it all=nothing more to gain from this game=ending your subscription=no more money for NCSoft from you...
Am i wrong?
That is something I would like to know as well though I doubt NC would share that information.
Depends on how you view the game.
Is the game about grinding or about PVP?
If its about the grind.. yeah you're done, cancel your account.
If its about PVP, sieging, clan politics, being a hero... then no... even at top level it wouldn't be over.
This would only really impact the most hardcore. The majority of players aren't even close to the new cap or even having a sublcass.
As a request to the NCStaff...
Could you post the current breakdown of levels on the servers? The percentage of characters in each level bracket? I'm just curious at to what the % of the server is level 70+ or has subclasses, etc.
Boosted rate servers=leveling faster to the top=seen it all=nothing more to gain from this game=ending your subscription=no more money for NCSoft from you...
Am i wrong?
Remember, there is a time limit to play on those servers. So you will never level too fast. You will not need to worry that you can't keep up with your clan members. It helps reduce farmers also.
Boosted rate servers=leveling faster to the top=seen it all=nothing more to gain from this game=ending your subscription=no more money for NCSoft from you...
Am i wrong?
Remember, there is a time limit to play on those servers. So you will never level too fast. You will not need to worry that you can't keep up with your clan members. It helps reduce farmers also.
Baloney. I only play a couple of hours a day and I've leveled a couple of new toons up pretty fast. I'd be maxed out in a couple of months, tops.
Boosted rate servers=leveling faster to the top=seen it all=nothing more to gain from this game=ending your subscription=no more money for NCSoft from you...
Am i wrong?
Remember, there is a time limit to play on those servers. So you will never level too fast. You will not need to worry that you can't keep up with your clan members. It helps reduce farmers also.
Baloney. I only play a couple of hours a day and I've leveled a couple of new toons up pretty fast. I'd be maxed out in a couple of months, tops.
You'd be at max level in a couple of months at 2 hours per day?
So... max level after 180 hours of gameplay? Please explain how to do this because I'd love to know and I'm sure there are others that would love to hear how this can be done.
Boosted rate servers=leveling faster to the top=seen it all=nothing more to gain from this game=ending your subscription=no more money for NCSoft from you...
Am i wrong?
Remember, there is a time limit to play on those servers. So you will never level too fast. You will not need to worry that you can't keep up with your clan members. It helps reduce farmers also.
Baloney. I only play a couple of hours a day and I've leveled a couple of new toons up pretty fast. I'd be maxed out in a couple of months, tops.
You'd be at max level in a couple of months at 2 hours per day?
So... max level after 180 hours of gameplay? Please explain how to do this because I'd love to know and I'm sure there are others that would love to hear how this can be done.
You did see up above where it talks about boosted rates, right?
Boosted rate servers=leveling faster to the top=seen it all=nothing more to gain from this game=ending your subscription=no more money for NCSoft from you...
Am i wrong?
Remember, there is a time limit to play on those servers. So you will never level too fast. You will not need to worry that you can't keep up with your clan members. It helps reduce farmers also.
Baloney. I only play a couple of hours a day and I've leveled a couple of new toons up pretty fast. I'd be maxed out in a couple of months, tops.
You'd be at max level in a couple of months at 2 hours per day?
So... max level after 180 hours of gameplay? Please explain how to do this because I'd love to know and I'm sure there are others that would love to hear how this can be done.
You did see up above where it talks about boosted rates, right?
Its only a 30% boost on a relax server.
Okay, so you can hit max level in 234 hours? I'd still like to know how you can manage this feat.
Boosted rate servers=leveling faster to the top=seen it all=nothing more to gain from this game=ending your subscription=no more money for NCSoft from you...
Am i wrong?
Remember, there is a time limit to play on those servers. So you will never level too fast. You will not need to worry that you can't keep up with your clan members. It helps reduce farmers also.
Baloney. I only play a couple of hours a day and I've leveled a couple of new toons up pretty fast. I'd be maxed out in a couple of months, tops.
You'd be at max level in a couple of months at 2 hours per day?
So... max level after 180 hours of gameplay? Please explain how to do this because I'd love to know and I'm sure there are others that would love to hear how this can be done.
You did see up above where it talks about boosted rates, right?
SirE - I like you , but on the issue of a relax server you have very little idea what you are talking about.
I have raised noblesse toons 76+ and I can guarantee you, piddly 1.3x rates hardly make a difference at all to people's overall levelling speeds. At higher levels in this game experience required to level measures in the hundreds of millions, requiring multiple hundreds of hours gameplay to get through it to reach end game content (hero system really). You think a 30% improvement in xp per mob is going to change that to the point you can reach max level in a couple of months? lol... Do the maths if you like, there are plenty of sites out there with the raw xp requirements per level.
What about all the travelling, various quests, arena/coliseum matches, the pvp, the sieges? They will all take away from people's time limit each month.
There is no debate: if you factor a 30 hour time limit, then that means progress will be way, way slower, not faster. The 1.3x rates have little to do with it.
The majority of people on this forum do not understand what a relax server is (as implemented in Korea on Iana), and subsequently most debate concerning it is misguided and flawed.
THe purposes of a relax server lie way outside of expanded rates, the 1.3x is simply used to ensure players are able to consume chronicle content at a rate planned by the developers.
Boosted rate servers=leveling faster to the top=seen it all=nothing more to gain from this game=ending your subscription=no more money for NCSoft from you...
Am i wrong?
Remember, there is a time limit to play on those servers. So you will never level too fast. You will not need to worry that you can't keep up with your clan members. It helps reduce farmers also.
The farmers issue is also another big problem that i didn't want to touch in the first place..But since you noticed it i can say this:
The only solution (and i mean ONLY) to that problem is the TOTAL redesign of the game "mathematics" ...
What do i mean by that?
Imagine a Lineage 2 game with totally different drops percentage and frequency, at least 3 times more adena drops and a boost on EXP.
Who would ever need the farmers ? (i suppose you are talking about "automated" farming, right?)
BTW, if the relaxed server matter we are talking about, is all about 30% more EXP, then it will not make any noticeable difference at all.... x1.30 rate... doesn't make any real difference comparing to x1 rates...
When i speak about boosted servers, i speak for much greater rates...
Insert just about any suggestion that someone feels strongly about and you might see how unfair a statement this is.
I know what you are trying to say, but your application is invalid - you don't know the history I have with NCsoft representitives trying to push the many benefits of a relax server for the western L2 service. And here is the kicker - I wouldn't even play on one, I just appreciate its potential.
Put simply, NCosft lacks the motivation, self-belief, and fundemental marketing strategy to make a relax server happen, and be successful. This is not my opinion, its simply a reflection of being a close observer of how they have marketed the game since its release here - even with the C4 marketing there has been nothing done to address the core issues that have relegated L2 over here as that niche grind game.
There is no downside to a relax server, outside of the initial startup costs inherent to bringing another server online. All you have to gain are the benefits.
I'll go out on this note: when considering how best to market, position and run the L2 service in the western market, both the short-term and the long-term view must be factored. The short-term benefits of a relax server are the increase in subscriber numbers through targeted marketing of the concept to its intended base, the casual gamer. An example of the long-term is the eventual release of Lineage 3. It is a sad probable reality that L3 is already going to suffer the same fate as L2 did over here - a small, but loyal subscriber base, completley failing to tap the wider market because perceptions are not being changed now about its ability to appeal to a casual or more progressive gamer raised on WoW and the likes.
A relax server, along with more strategic and targeted marketing, goes a long way to trying to change the perceptions the gaming community holds re: the Lineage brand.
So much of this issue is about self-belief, and having people who can make it happen. And from what I have seen, this is where NC falls down - unlike other more progressive developers/publishers like SOE and Blizzard they are just not adpative and aggressive enough in taking advantages of opportunities to grow their flagship brand in the west.
I could write pages and pages on this, I have a long background in marketing and consulting and while I'm hardly perfect, it is sometimes easy to see as an external interested party where the potential for change would benefit a company.
And in the case of NCsoft and the Lineage 2 product, its in the use of more effective marketing and repositioning within the MMO space, including the introduction of progressive services such as a relax server.
Kyo
I am with him.. Very well put. Even I understood what you said..
10x xp server like PTS would be VERY popular and you guys should give it serious thought. I dont see what difference it makes, we still pay to play.
It makes all the difference. The game was not designed so that a Hardcore gamer can level his toon to max in a month Look at Big Boom Bug in C3). They wont be able to keep up with the content. They have the same problem with illegal servers where drop rates are 30x etc. You cant even finish quests without having leveld 2-3 times.
The biggest problem with a relaxed server that I see is that within
6 months 90% of the population will be max level. If the PTS was any indication.
There would have to be serious change to quests etc. Which would change the content drastically.
10x xp server like PTS would be VERY popular and you guys should give it serious thought. I dont see what difference it makes, we still pay to play.
It makes all the difference. The game was not designed so that a Hardcore gamer can level his toon to max in a month Look at Big Boom Bug in C3). They wont be able to keep up with the content. They have the same problem with illegal servers where drop rates are 30x etc. You cant even finish quests without having leveld 2-3 times.
The biggest problem with a relaxed server that I see is that within
6 months 90% of the population will be max level. If the PTS was any indication.
There would have to be serious change to quests etc. Which would change the content drastically.
At 2x rates there wouldn't be that problem of the majority outlevelling content, it would make the consumables per mob cost lower so soloing wouldn't be has bad on the bank account and it would reduce the farmer issues by increasing the number of materials in the system due to the better drop rates. Um... sounds like it pretty much corrects alot of the problems with the original game.
Granted the relaxed server suggestion is just a 30% boost in Xp and a 50% boost in adena so I don't think it'd be as drastic and that server would definitely be far far behind every other server.
The only solution (and i mean ONLY) to that problem is the TOTAL redesign of the game "mathematics" ...
What do i mean by that?
Imagine a Lineage 2 game with totally different drops percentage and frequency, at least 3 times more adena drops and a boost on EXP.
Most drops on existing servers will never happen. And I do not think it is the solution. It only maks items more expensive. I have two suggestions, one, you can't control your level by letting the guard to kill you. If guard kills you, you will be thrown to the farthest town, not just the spot you die. Another realistic way to reduce farming is limited play time on relaxed server. If a farmer can only farm for 30 hours instead of 24x7 hours a week, it won't be worth the monthly fee. To reiterate my idea, your account can't play on regular server any more once you decide to play on relaxed.
I am sure there is a way to adjust the exp rate and time allowed so relaxed player can level at the same rate as regular players. Actually my guess is that if exp is 30% extra and time limit is 30 hours (in town hours do not count). Players will level slower, not faster than regular servers. Don't you agree? Remember, not everybody can use their 30 hours efficiently, if at all, especially on a RELAXED serer.
Webpage at launch was very nice and job extremely well done.....but!
It was during this conversation that I finally got to ask Ornery, one of the PTBs in North America, some questions. I was a little disappointed to find out that he was not planning on packaging game data for distribution to community sites, which is something that I have been pushing for. I can understand why they’d rather publish the information directly themselves but that doesn’t change the fact that it would be nice to have some benefits of being an official affiliate site beyond interviews. I think packaged game data makes sense that way we don’t have to write tools to parse the information off of the official site. I also conveyed to him that while I believe the community will be understanding if no drop or monster information is published until after C4’s NA release, we will not be forgiving if NCNA does not publish the information within a reasonable timeframe (say a month) of C4’s release and if necessary, I’ll lead the charge with torches lit. He seemed a little uneasy at that prospect so hopefully we'll see that come to fruition.
It has now been a week since C4's launch and no word or evidence of game data being added to the NA site like it was on the Korean site so I have gone down to my local hardware store and purchased a pitchfork and tikitorch.....next week...the sharpening!
I am relatively new to this game, as I have only been in a couple months. I have played quite a few MMORPGs, however. I would like to add my support for a "relaxed server" but more, I'd like a non-pvp server for the US. I love this game, though I am not a huge fan of PvP and while I understand that PvP is a large part of what this game is based on, I want to PvP by choice, and not have over-powered PK'ers running me into the ground whenever they feel like it. Sometimes I'd like to have the ability to turn off PvP and just quest or hunt for a while without constantly looking over my shoulder. Last week a pair of highly powered PK'ers killed me many times and I became VERY frustrated, as I had no chance to kill 2 players so highly leveled wielding bows and I couldn't run far before I was dead anyway.
I was excited when I read the non-pvp notes and eagerly looked for this non-existant server. I hope a North American non-pvp server becomes a reality and not just a typo. :P
Webpage at launch was very nice and job extremely well done.....but!
It was during this conversation that I finally got to ask Ornery, one of the PTBs in North America, some questions. I was a little disappointed to find out that he was not planning on packaging game data for distribution to community sites, which is something that I have been pushing for. I can understand why they’d rather publish the information directly themselves but that doesn’t change the fact that it would be nice to have some benefits of being an official affiliate site beyond interviews. I think packaged game data makes sense that way we don’t have to write tools to parse the information off of the official site. I also conveyed to him that while I believe the community will be understanding if no drop or monster information is published until after C4’s NA release, we will not be forgiving if NCNA does not publish the information within a reasonable timeframe (say a month) of C4’s release and if necessary, I’ll lead the charge with torches lit. He seemed a little uneasy at that prospect so hopefully we'll see that come to fruition.
It has now been a week since C4's launch and no word or evidence of game data being added to the NA site like it was on the Korean site so I have gone down to my local hardware store and purchased a pitchfork and tikitorch.....next week...the sharpening!
I'm also pretty darn sure that you all have noticed the website redesign. The web team really did an excellent job and we're all quite happy with the results.
was going to say something about this a month ago and forgot. S grade gear added to the equipment lists, color of soul crystals for weapon SAs, and pics for armors and weapons as they look on every avatar. <3 the changes, and ty. only thing i think is missing is the level of crystal needed for weapon SAs.