There's a ton of lore and history in Lineage 2, so many beautiful, majestic or scary places with a history behind them...yet mostly this game is grind..grind..grind...what l33t stuff does XX mob give...I want boss mob jewelry...etc.
Does anyone actually care about the background of the game? Does anyone even know anything about it at all? Apart from perhaps some sporatic knowledge amongst roleplayers?
This game may well have a rich lore behind it, but it definitely bears very little or no impact on the game itself because it is not integrated, with the exception of some quests that you have to read through really quickly to get to the next box. As a great lover of history, to me it's really a shame though, because if the lore was an interactive part of the game, would make it more than grind and power. Nor is your mind challenged in discovering the answer to a paradox or a puzzle. It just isn't there.
IMO that means that it is really of no significance, since it doesn't explain any anomaly, doesn't assist in accomplishing anything in the game, nor does it allow you to uncover anything interesting about the game's mechanics.
The only thing I have found a little useful, I suppose, is that for some reason the elves got mad at each other, so you can't sub a dark elf if a light elf, and vice versa. The only quest I have done that caused me to actually read and care about the history of anything in Lineage II lore was the one in the Forest of the Dead for the B grade Jewelry about the downfall of the Van Hellman's (sp?).
The game certainly does have a deep lore about it, which once you take time to investigate reveals that not only are things told from different perspectives, but sometimes misinformation is being directly fed to you as a character, in attempts to contradict and discredit what is known.
Even more interesting is the fact that L2:Japan has slightly more detailed information regarding the lore, and how certain things came to be.
L2 Vault has actually been given a translation of the L2:Japan lore information, and we are working on getting it up for viewing.
If you would like to watch our project grow, click here (http://l2vault.ign.com/static.php?page=lore) to see it in its current state. More will be added as it is formatted.
And of course, a great thanks to Azhri of Undomiel (from Devianne) for the translation work.
I think the back-story is very well done. If the game had been designed with a different playstyle and attracted a different playerbase, it might have mattered more.
I was in RP server on WoW, in a couple RP guilds. I think the people who were into RP there would have enjoyed the lineage world, but everyone I met there who had any experience with lin2 had really bad experiences with lin2 in beta or right at launch. Actually I did, too now that I think of it. It was impossible to appreciate the world and history when you're getting PKed nonstop.
I think the game is more of a PVP game nad less RP. If you take the game for what it is and stop trying to make it something it is not you might actually enjoy the FUN of the game. If you want more to read go find a good history book, if you don't want to be PK'd start up a game of solitare.
Lineage 2 is a perfect mix of everything a gamer could want.
There's a ton of lore and history in Lineage 2, so many beautiful, majestic or scary places with a history behind them...yet mostly this game is grind..grind..grind...what l33t stuff does XX mob give...I want boss mob jewelry...etc.
Does anyone actually care about the background of the game? Does anyone even know anything about it at all? Apart from perhaps some sporatic knowledge amongst roleplayers?
Just seems sad really.
It's disappointing to me, too.
There's a compelling history behind the creatures and races of the game, conveyed well in both the art style and dialogue from NPC's. I have zero interest in roleplaying, and I still find it easy to get caught up in in the ominous environments.
That's the nature of these kinds of games, I guess, and the sort of people they attract. So much work goes into making the game's appeal both aesthetic and cerebral, and it sails right over peoples' heads.
I think the game is more of a PVP game nad less RP. If you take the game for what it is and stop trying to make it something it is not you might actually enjoy the FUN of the game. If you want more to read go find a good history book, if you don't want to be PK'd start up a game of solitare.
Actually, as a PvP game, it falls fairly flat. The requirements for PvP take quite a long time to reach (fairly), especially for the new player, and the penalties associated with open PvP are rather restricting and, in fact, discourage PvP to a great degree.
As far as making the game for something that it is not... once the Devs decide what sort of game this is, let me know. Is it a fast-paced PvP game between ranged classes? Is it an epic fantasy battle between good and evil? Is it a tax shelter for RMT service companies? Is it a UR2 vehicle? Is it a typical Korean grinder?
Seems no one can really make up their mind.
Lineage 2 is a perfect mix of everything a gamer could want.
You almost owed me a new monitor with that, I almost snorked coffee on it.
I never cared much for lore and backstory in games. If I'm playing a singleplayer RPG or adventure game or something, then I might enjoy learning as much as there is to know about the backstory to get a better sense of immersion.
If I'm playing a multiplayer RPG, even if it has a rich and involving backstory, I just click every button that says "next", "accept", and "ok" after just skimming through the dialogue to get only the necessary information. It's just not what I look for in games.
Of course.. good, rich, involving lore is always better than the opposite. People like me who don't care much about it won't mind if it's there, and the overall quality of the game goes up a couple notches if the lore I *do* read up on is good and doesn't make me go "lol what?", like in some mmo's.
There is a ton of stuff that I learned while doing quests and if you take a look through the quest text that is posted on the guides they've done at fansites like Stratics (http://lineage2.stratics.com/content/library/quests/) you can learn a lot of the lore.
The lore is good in this game but it's spread out a bit through several quests generally. I've been trying to piece it together, which to me makings good reading when it's all been consolidated.
Does anyone actually care about the background of the game? Does anyone even know anything about it at all? Apart from perhaps some sporatic knowledge amongst roleplayers?
No, no and no.
If the lore was presented in a way that was actually engaging to the player, then I think we'd all be more interested. As it currently stands, however, the lore is something you have to go out of your way to read (or at least waste time reading stuff that really doesn't progress you in a quest or in the game.)
If they took a page from the books of single-player RPGs, I think we'd all feel differently about the lore. (I.E. we might actually care.)
Explain what you mean, Listof? About taking from single-player RPGs. I know in those I tend to skip through them quickly once I have the gist of what is being said.
I wouldn't call myself a role player anymore and I like it a great deal.
I'm a fan of real life literature and history as well, so that may be why. But an interest is an interest.
I wouldn't say that you ALWAYS have to go out of your way to learn more about it (unless you consider reading out of the way), since many of the most important quests contain the most key parts of the lore, but in general I agree with you that I'd prefer it to be more direct and involving within the game... it would be a dramatic change from the Lineage of today, but I believe it could be possible to keep Lineage's hardcore game style while involving the lore. It's probably a risk NCsoft's not willing to try though :P
I wouldn't say I'm not at all interested. But when I'm doing quests, I tend to just want to get started, and just read the stuff in yellow writing, and my quest log. I'm not interested enough to go read the lore.
Most people don't giev a crap about lore, so the way it isn't in your face is a good thing. However, it is there and present for those who are intersted.
Personally the tragedy of Orfen is my favorite part of the lore. Actually, the Sea of Spores is a great example of how L2 makes effective use of an area to suit all playstyles.
People into the silly collection stuff can spend 15 levels there just grinding warehouse casino items.
People into grinding in general can find a nice range of mobs there.
People into eye candy need to check out that place especially the lair at the end.
People into boss mobs can find two or three boss encounters in there... and then there is Orfen. :)
People into lore can find out the tale of a spider goddess sent to a living hell by the two ignorant and arrogant races she once loved and aided.
I'm not one for lore most of the time, but for the few times I decided to look iy up, not only was the information easy to find, but the backgrounds and tales were very well written.
The lore is good in this game but it's spread out a bit through several quests generally. I've been trying to piece it together, which to me makings good reading when it's all been consolidated.
The lore is indeed way to spread over all the various quest dialogues. For that reason alone, most players will never know nearly as much of it as they should. This doesn't even take into account that most players will never work that much at all the quests anyway, because they are mostly rather lame.
On a different note, if you want to see some amusing quest dialogue, and you ever happen to pass by Wild Maiden Suki in the Timak Orc area, check it out. Not worth making a special trip, just if you happen to see her.
There is some good points here. Knowing the Lore helps in understanding some of how the game works.(DE's VS LE's, why Sorc only has Fire attribute)
What I think is NCsoft should incorporate a quest for each grade, so you XP caps at your grade till you complete the quest (51- 100%, 60- 100%). A lure quest, not long, not annoying, just sends you around to talk to a few NPC's to learn about why such, and such happened. When the quest is done you can proceed to 52-61 grind, then quest, 61-76 grind.
The lure is interesting if your into history, but most people wont waste the time on reading the lure if they are time compressed, annoyed by it, or just want to get thou the quest.
Another problem with L2 and the lure. Quest are very long drawn out, and some times repetitive. For example needing 100+ quest items with a 60% drop rate means you have to wait 3 or 4 lvls to get the reword, or knowledge.
If Ncsoft wants to get their players interested in the lure then they need to fix the rate for some of these quest.
There are mobs in the game that don't have any quest at all attached to them.
Then there are new zones added. New quest, But the XP remains the same for lower lvls, fast paced, high quest needs, low drop rate, and Cata's that people prefer cause XP is better there, and you don't have to chance mobs all of the place.
There are quest that have just insane quest item needs to finish it, but don't seem to have a per purse for doing it at all. Jonis food run in Dion, where you go to CT swamps > EG > other places to gather food at a very low drop rate. So while doing Jonis quest you can't do Black lion, cause you will out lvl Jonis before you finish Black lion, or the continuance of the Black Lion quest from the NPC in Dion.
I love the Lure in L2. Specially now that they added this new race, New class change quest, New lure for them, and they came out of no where!
But where are the Giants (not the ones in GC), and Aerties thats been mentioned in the lure since prelude! L2 lure is moving at a very slow pace.
I really hope the the class change for Kamael is going to be interesting. In fact I've not heard one person or post comment on the class change quest for them at all. :( :(
I've been trying to get at least one section done each night. Had a database issue (that is, getting access to it) so I've been unable to access the page to update it.
Most of the info isnt that ground breaking, but just a few subtle bits that tie up loose ends for sure, question though, names of like the demons and such, are you sure those are accurate? Trior for example, perhaps Triol?
There are so many variables when it comes to translating twice.
This is true!
Ever read a fantasy book? One part of fantasy stories that make them good are prophecies. Often while reading one prophecy there will come tricks with the wording. This is where one word has 6 meanings, then the context comes into play.
Its something that good writers pay attention to.
How can a word be misconceived? For example: [censored]. Which from the dictionary means ignorant. But it's slang, and derogatory, cause of the context its been used in in the past.
This is why its hard to take translations. Look at blah, when they translate there its always poorly worded.
Much less from *** to english. which is harder then you think.
Great stupid chat filer, can't even make a point....(derogatory black guy term).