Okay, so I bought L2 about 4 months before C2 comes out and played it anywhere from 8-10 hours a day. Got up to level 46 With my Gladiator before other things in real life came up and I had to deal with them and am just now getting back into the game. After renewing my credit card every few months to keep my char (I heard NCsoft keeps your char for 6 months with your account disabled) I finally figured Id get back in the game. Holy crap, I had no idea things changed so much. My clan is no longer (-=THC=-), and half the places I see on the map never existed when I left. I mean, where do I start? I've been reading and reading and reading but still have questions. Hopfully someone can answer these..
(Although Im on the Erica server, I realize every server is different but any info is appreciated)
1) whats the avg level in the game now? When I left everyone was in D gear, some C and little B. Now it seems everyone has B and A gear.
2) Is it just me, or does it seem easier to level now? I swear, I was lucky to get a level a day back in C1. Yesterday I got 2 levels, and today 1 and It didnt seem like I really played a whole lot.
3) For some reason, when I level now, I dont have enough skill points. Before, this was rarely a problem, but I seem to be WAY behind now when training for my skills. Am I crazy?
4) do you think as many people are playing now as when C1 was out or less? If more or less, why do you think?
5) Is it any better when partying to get xp? It was much easier before to solo if I wanted to level versus partying. Of course, it was alot more fun partying with my clan.
6) How come I dont see as many clans as before and the ones I do see are level 4 or 5? I would like to get back in a clan around level 2 or 3 and do the clan quests.
7) After hunting the last few days, I have a butt load of books and items that I really have no *idea* how much they are worth. Is there any up to date info anyone has about the going rate for items? I was kind of hoping to join a clan again and donate all my items. I tried looking in giran but things are crazy. For instance, one person is selling quick Heal pots for 150k, another for 350k. Another thing is people crafting things. I saw one person crafting CSS for 25 adena each, and next to them was 2 others, one was charging 50 adena, the other 100 adena. (i do like the fact I can now have someone make my CSS instead of buying it) I cant fathom spending hours walking around getting prices for all the books and other items I have from grinding.
8) are there still alot of Pkers that hang around the newbie grounds like there used to be? that got old quick for the new players and it made me wonder if they were going to even stick around and keep playing the game.
9) can someone explain the recommend option? I chatted with someone and they recommended me, and I recommended them, but the next day I was at 0 recommendations again. Do they reset every day or every logoff?
10) When the login screen pops up to start the game, I get the message "error loading keyboard security file". What does this mean? I assume it has something to do with game guard? Im running WinXp X64 so Im thinking thats the problem but I dont know. Also, when picking rendering options is HDR A lower than B which is lower than C or is A the highest HDR rendering?
Thanks in advance for anyone that can help answer my questions. It seems like I almost liked the game better when It was simple. It seems like there are so many things now to do and learn. It really sux in a way. Of course, I feel bad for anyone starting the game at this point. What a friggin nightmare that would be. I understand they did alot to help newbies, but talk about being overwhelmed.
1: 42. It is the answer to life, the universe and all the rest, so it must be 42. The average of actively played chars is probably above 60.
2: Yes, it is easier.
3: Yes, you are crazy. Do something crazy, like dying a lot and you will have enough SP.
4: I think more people play now, cause the hardware was updated since C1, but the servers show a heavier load.
5: Party is faster than solo, unless you are a *cough* nuker. The prolly fastest setup is a 2-3 people team (without melees, they are only used as signposts)
6: There is no benefit for being in a small clan, especially not with C5 coming. Clans do evolve and all serious clans that are around for some time are lvl 5.
7: Average price on all books is 50k. But if you got 20 of one kind in your inventory, you can estimate, how many people need to buy them... noone, right. Just sell them to the NPC store. And if you are unwilling to spend time on the market, you have to pay the price you see and live with the fact, that you could have saved millions around the next corner.
8: It depends. Every now and then, there is one, but it is hardly a constant threat.
9: It is absolutely useless. That is all explanation needed. (You loose a set number per day. 2, 3 or 4 depending on the class changes you did)
10: sorry, your elapsed time for getting constructive answers ran out. Please insert more coins for more answers.
1)True average is probably at the very bottom of A grade. So avg level for long time players is probably 62. The lowest of the long time players I see are in B grade, and the dedicated are in the 70's or subclassed/Hero. (Boxed nuker/archer & buff/healer combos) Don't worry to much about being lower than average though...given the steepness of the grind and the reroll effect when you subclass there will be plenty of people in the 40-60 level ranges for you to party.
2) Yes, yes it is easier. It will get even a little easier yet in C5 with instant HP/MP pots.
3) Depending on your class and level, you will either have a plethora of SP or a complete lack. This can change everytime you go to a new skill range. Buy the basics and what you use the most, and there will be some skills you can ignore until you have a surplus of SP again.
4)I think the numbers are actually pretty stable at the moment. You always get a few people leaving, starting new or even returning because they got tired of the 'other' games and L2 still has something to draw them back with. Perhaps a few less than when C1 first hit, but more than were playing C2/C3. (This is probably more server dependent than anything.)
5)The higher level you go, the harder it is to solo, thus the easier it is to XP in a group. At lower levels a duo or Trio gets you the best XP/Time ratio. The higher you go, the more people you tend to need to XP at a constant rate, thus the two slopes tend to level out and meet in the high 60's low 70's. (mob levels)
6)Most clans that stick around a long time will be higher level by default...that doesn't mean that their numbers are as high as when they were L3 though! Overtime clans will grow and shrink or reform, thus many of the people may still be around, they just don't have the same clan name anymore. Often the clan leader gets caught up in real life issues and has to leave the game for some time. The clan may not want to disband, but the only way for them to stay together is to reform under another name. (This is changing a bit in C5)
7)My advice is to stick it all in the WH and wander around Giran for a few weeks to get a feel for price ranges. Once you think you have a idea how things are and where they are going, then NPC or setup shop with your junk. If your running out of WH space I recommend dumping/selling the spellbooks first.
8)Windmill hill and the lands south of it outside Gludin and the Area outside Dion and in the Execution Grounds are about the only 'Hot' spots for Reds these days. The guards in the newbie lands keep most reds away from them. (Of course Floran may sport a few reds too..) You may see a clan red or two..but I've found them pretty **** rare. (Gank war reds.)
9)Recommend just turns your name blue. It is used mainly as a courtesy these days to say thank you. (At least among legit players) You get a set number to hand out and that number regens a few each day, and at the same time any recommends you have goes down by a few each day. (varies by class change) So if your in town and friendly Buffer XYZ gives you WW and other buffs, hitting the reccomend button is one of the things people do to say "ty".
10)Yes its gameguard. It means the keyboard interrupt driver didn't load thus GG can't guaruntee your Pass can't be stolen by a trojan/virus that scans the keypresses. But then again, if your running a X64 version of Windows, likely the low level (driver/kernel) malware and viruses out there won't run either.
Lastly, the A/B/C etc options have nothing to do with quality exactly. They are different 'methods' of applying the "HDR" lighting. (A bit like the difference in various Anti-Aliasing methods. eg Multi sampling versus super sampling.)
I'll only really get ito the spellbook question because I store two warehouses full of them for my clan.
It's just like anything else in the market, some are worth a lot, and others around 50-75k. It all depends on not only the rarity of the book, but also how hard it is to get it. For some reason on Kain greater heal and greater group heal go for 150k or more even though it drops rather easily under Ivory Tower.
For example Guidance and Deathwhisper are needed by prophets and shillen elders. They drop off the trees in enchanted valley, high hp mobs with MANY resistances. I hunted them for at least a full level and got 2 DW books and 1 guidance. If I were to sell them they'd go for 300k if not more.
Now Kai the cat, Soulless, and Unicorn Merrow drop quite easily off the Liagma's in Cruma tower. (the mana draining balls on floor 2). However almost NO ONE goes there any more so when I spent 2 levels up there and acquired a ton of them, people were still more than happy to pay 100k for them. So it all depends.
But of course most that you have in a crazy abundance should just be shopped to the NPC.
thanks to all for your answers, especially PainAmplifier. I cant remember the last time I got such clear, concise answers in any forum I frequent, let alone a videogame one.