New interview on mmorpg.com

seems like they starting to ramp up the advertising for interlude,nice to see some confirmation of the planned new race.

Here is the link (http://www.mmorpg.com/showFeature.cfm/loadFeature/1136) for the interview with Jae-Hyuk Han, the Lead Game Designer and Adam Davidson, the Producer of Lineage II North America/Europe. :)

Jae-Hyuk Han: "We are preparing a new race, which can be started by both existing and new players"

Arteias... please, for the love of Shilen, Arteias :D

Jae-Hyuk Han:
Though the gradual HP recovery earned some complaints from the players at the time of the update, it was a necessary measure to develop more intense battles in the game. Now, in the case of a battle at a dangerous place, a healer takes a better look at the party members and uses heal quickly.

Love for the healers ? Oo
Are they ill or something? Ok just have to wait for a better xp bonus for bigger parties and I will have a party! :)
j/k that sounds great :)

cant access that website from work >< somebody post it here for me please! :)

Now, in the case of a battle at a dangerous place, a healer takes a better look at the party members and uses heal quickly.

Dumbest. Answer. Ever.

Best Quote of the entire article:

MMORPG.com:
How goes the battle against the bots?

Adam Davidson:
It's going well. We've actually recently eclipsed over 100k accounts banned for this activity, just in North America, and our techniques and processes get more sophisticated and efficient as we move forward. They are a determined bunch, but we know that we are just as determined on our end and we plan to keep enforcing our User Agreement for as long we can foresee.

MMORPG.com:
Lineage II has undergone many changes since release; what are your plans for attracting past and new players back to the game?

Jae-Hyuk Han:
We are preparing a new race

usefull dorfs?

MMORPG.com:
How do you feel about Hero capabilities? Do you think they are overpowered, underpowered, or just right?

Jae-Hyuk Han:
I think it is just right. Skills and weapons for Heroes are privileges that "common" people cannot have. Hero weapons will remain as one of the best features in the game in the future.

MMORPG.com:
What changes between Interlude and the Chronicles - is the content different, or just the name? What will come after Interlude?

Jae-Hyuk Han:
In the previous Chronicles, we focused on general MMORPG content such as PvE, PvP, castle sieges, etc. Starting with Interlude, we are considering larger scale content based on the foundation that we have made so far.

Currently players can only compete over the castles within the server but we would like to upgrade this content to the next level. We would like to see nations competing and eventually servers competing. Our goal is to make a game that can give you joy and tears.

Of course, we will also be focused on content that can be enjoyed both by an individual or a party.

For storyline, we intend for Interlude to be the bridging link between Lineage II: The Chaotic Chronicle, and the beginning of a new chapter. Since the launch of Lineage II, players have seen vast changes in gameplay and visual style through the six massive updates. Interlude will build on this tradition by introducing players on an epic new adventure with new lands to explore, more monster and enemies to defeat, and new challenges to overcome.

MMORPG.com:
Any plans to improve clan halls, or add personal housing?

Jae-Hyuk Han:
Yes, we do have plans to improve clan halls by giving more merits for acquiring them. Players will be able to use or equip these new "merits" and we expect to see more people competing over the clan halls. We will focus on the contestable clan halls at first. For the clan halls, fortresses, and the castles that will be added afterwards, we plan to keep it as the main content that can be challenged by many clans.

Also, the personal housing idea has come up multiple times, and we will consider implementing it if we have more instanced zones.

MMORPG.com:
How goes the battle against the bots?

Adam Davidson:
It's going well. We've actually recently eclipsed over 100k accounts banned for this activity, just in North America, and our techniques and processes get more sophisticated and efficient as we move forward. They are a determined bunch, but we know that we are just as determined on our end and we plan to keep enforcing our User Agreement for as long we can foresee.

MMORPG.com:
Lineage II has undergone many changes since release; what are your plans for attracting past and new players back to the game?

Jae-Hyuk Han:
We are preparing a new race, which can be started by both existing and new players. It is difficult to discuss all the details; however, it will allow for a new style of fun, differentiated from the existing classes.

We are also planning content that combines PvP and PvE, where well-raised characters take an active part in. The content will allow all scales of clans from large to small to have a role to prevent the exclusive possession of castle by a few gigantic-scale clans.

MMORPG.com:
What changes have you seen in the community in the last three years? Is Bartz still the most popular server?

Adam Davidson:
There are constant shifts in these sorts of metrics, sometimes driven by events such as new servers or other time driven by the communities themselves. At different points, Kain, Teon and Franz have all had their moments in the sun as the most populated servers. In so much as the community as a whole, we feel that our players have developed a very strong sense of who they are and what the sub-communities they create for themselves are both within the scope of the game itself as well as in other places such as fansites and more general games related message boards and forums. The dedication and initiative our community shows is a constant and great reminder of who we're working for and who we want to make happy. We try to keep a tight ear to the ground. When a game is younger, there's usually a lot of differing approaches and mindsets of the sub-groups with your game's community, but as it ages you begin to see a bit more cohesiveness. That's not to say they see eye to eye on everything, but you do begin to identify bigger arteries of shared philosophy, if you will.

MMORPG.com:
How have the new changes to healing implemented in Chronicle 5 affected gameplay?

Jae-Hyuk Han:
Though the gradual HP recovery earned some complaints from the players at the time of the update, it was a necessary measure to develop more intense battles in the game. Now, in the case of a battle at a dangerous place, a healer takes a better look at the party members and uses heal quickly.

MMORPG.com:
Many MMOs are now using instanced areas - are there any plans to instance areas of Lineage II, for raid fights or quests?

Jae-Hyuk Han:
A special feature of our game is the persistent world, which we are always focusing on improving. However, an instanced area that can be used in a quest, boss battle, or event to add to the fun of the game and resolve some inconvenience for the players is in the process of being planned. The main part of our game is still the persistent world, and we plan to use instant area as a secondary element for fun.

ty for posting it! :)

We are also planning content that combines PvP and PvE, where well-raised characters take an active part in. The content will allow all scales of clans from large to small to have a role to prevent the exclusive possession of castle by a few gigantic-scale clans.

looks like the little guys might be able to have some time to shine as well! that is very nice to see :D

j/k that sounds great :)

What does "j/k" stand for ??? :eek:

Just Kidding

Oh ok !
I thought it meant "jkoster" :D :D :D

<whistles innocently>

usefull dorfs?

No sorry, it must fit in Lineage 2 universe. Your proposition is a bit too far-fetched.



-Woo my hatchling took a level!
-Grazzt!

Oh ok !
I thought it meant "jkoster" :D :D :D

Jkoster is awfully famous! :D

About time people started recognizing it.

j/k ;)

Celebrity is a mixed bag. It can be fun, but it can suck up a lot of your time. Not sure if I really want that.

But then, paparazzi in this game would certainly be a lot different than in real life.

I snorted at the thought of some guy running around after you taking screenshots :)

Hah.

I'd have to get a Brute Squad.

Tank: I'm on the Brute Squad.
Paparazzi: You are the Brute Squad.

I used to have an entourage... then I passed by jkoster.

A special feature of our game is the persistent world, which we are always focusing on improving. However, an instanced area that can be used in a quest, boss battle, or event to add to the fun of the game and resolve some inconvenience for the players is in the process of being planned. The main part of our game is still the persistent world, and we plan to use instant area as a secondary element for fun.

It's good to know that they are planing to add this, but will keep it on a down low! Like how it's used for the Festivals and the dementional gap.

Is Bartz still the most popular server?
At different points, Kain, Teon and Franz have all had their moments in the sun as the most populated servers.

Yeah thats right Bartz....your time has come, Prepare to meet your end by the hands of Kain!

Hah.

I'd have to get a Brute Squad.

Tank: I'm on the Brute Squad.
Paparazzi: You are the Brute Squad.

Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father prepare to die.

:D

Loved that movie.

I'm curious though, in the interview they said about a new race. Of course from patch notes, and posts from players having access to the Korean test server we've not seen any new race in interlude. I guess this means they will be adding a new race in one of the next big updates?!

It was probably the best interview so far from any NCsoft person for their answers. Not everything was given the basic "we cant discuss that at this time" or just a water downed answer that could of been answered by someone who only played the game for a week.

Like the question about the clan halls. In the past that probably would of been answered something like "there are plans for them, but we cant talk about any of it now".

Good answeres from both NCsoft reps imo.

It was probably the best interview so far from any NCsoft person for their answers. Not everything was given the basic "we cant discuss that at this time" or just a water downed answer that could of been answered by someone who only played the game for a week.

Like the question about the clan halls. In the past that probably would of been answered something like "there are plans for them, but we cant talk about any of it now".

Good answeres from both NCsoft reps imo.

I completely agree. Quite frankly, we deserve "this" type of interview from now on. :mad:

(did that sound forceful? I was trying to sound forceful :eek: )

booooring
seriously they should let me ask the questions :P

Yeah! Give them the question! Torture them! We want to KNOW!

I completely agree. Quite frankly, we deserve "this" type of interview from now on. :mad:

(did that sound forceful? I was trying to sound forceful :eek: )

Not at all. It sounded a little bit like you were begging.

MMORPG.com: Lineage II has undergone many changes since release; what are your plans for attracting past and new players back to the game?

Jae-Hyuk Han: We are preparing a new race, which can be started by both existing and new players. It is difficult to discuss all the details; however, it will allow for a new style of fun, differentiated from the existing classes.

We are also planning content that combines PvP and PvE, where well-raised characters take an active part in. The content will allow all scales of clans from large to small to have a role to prevent the exclusive possession of castle by a few gigantic-scale clans.

I really wish I could remember the source. But does someone remember them saying that the new race might be an NPC race, that was enemy to everyone? And would go to seiges and such.

Whatever it was from, the second part of what I quoted made me think of it again. and the part about mixing PvP and PvE reminds me of Aion. It is gonna have an NPC race that will exsist to balance the power of the two player classes.

I wonder if L2 is gonna introduce a variation of that theme.

Maybe a hybrid. A race you can play, and use in some manner to help you fight large alliances.

You wouldn't happen to be thinking of a different game? I think Aion has PCRace vs PCRace vs NPCRace... or maybe a different game.

Well I mentioned Aion. And Aion's PvPvE system.

There is certainly a small possibility that I was looking up Aion info and Interlude info and mixed them in my brain. But I'm almost possitive that there was a video or article a while back that made a comment about the new race being an NPC race.

I have since tried to find the info again with no luck, and wouldn't have bothered to bring it up. But the fact that Jae-Hyuk-Han said that they are adding content that will combine PvP and PvE. And that the content will help all lvls of clans prevent a few gigantic alliances from owning all the castles. Makes me think I did infact read/hear about an NPC race.

Now the question is, did they decide to make a new class and an NPC race(or whatever it will be). Or are they infact somehow one in the same. Which could work in several ways.

Yikes I don't even think I tried last time I searched. I found it in no time.

I did infact read about an NPC race. It was in an initial preview of the Chaotic throne. Heres the link (http://www.l2guru.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56076). And here is a cut-out of what I read:

# National Wars
National wars will be larger in scale that castle sieges
# Air Ships
New technologies to be used in national warfare include air ships. Air ships will be used to transport armies when striking at full force.
# Marine, Aerial Combat
Plans are made to add battles on sea and in air.
# New NPC force introduced
Large battles aren't only against players. The new NPC race will be enemy to all.
# Cross-server National wars
Wars against nations on other servers are in production
# Claim your honor
Participating in national wars will bring you honor and riches.
# The outcome of national wars define your server
National wars will affect the entire server. If the war is lost, the town of the warzone will be unusable. If the war is won, the rewards will take the form of new dungeons or new shops.

But then following the preview is an interview. The interviewer asks "What happened to the new race?" to which the interviewie responded "We don't have any further announcements prepared on a new race."

So I'm guessing they are gonna do both.

Should be interesting

Wow, I'll be interested to see how that will be. Should be very interesting.