I told myself the next time I post here in the L2 forums to say something nice about Lineage 2 since a good majority of the posts are complaints.
It's a good game!
I have only been playing for a while now but what I have seen of the game I really like.
The under 20 range has much to offer when first playing the game. I think the armor equipment and what they did with the armor proficiences was very cleaver. An orc mystic can wear light armor, even heavy armor if the player so chooses besides the normal robe, and still get the benefits and bonuses applied to his attacks. You want to be all magic go robe, you want to be some go light armor, you want to be a fighter that casts spells occasionally go heavy armor. It is really very good and I am sure is related to your first and second class transfers. You have to use your brain a little bit instead of the endless grinding that can possess a good majority of the MMOs online.
Lineage 2 is a good RPG (Role Playing Game). As with what applies to some of the original rules and regulations of the Gygax genre and regime, L2 follows most standards associated with therein. True you can not shoot an arrow into a tree to climp up OR make fire bombs out of cloth and flasks of oil BUT overall concerning armor, inventory, and character class it adheres to the original standards.
The armor in this game is probably the best I have ever seen! Though they will probably out do it with NCSoft's release of Aion the armor in this game stands apart on its own giving style and originality to each character. Each piece of armor adds a look and a fashion to the character that speaks for itself making the character a pleasure to look at. Makes for a few good screenshot too. :-D
The world itself, what I have seen of it, is very much realistic in its content and form but also has the overtones of a place that is fantasy in nature. Various zombies, monsters, pixies, treants and unicorns all add to the storyline that is really what fantasy is all about.
The day and night cycle is probably the best I have ever seen. How the changes of the colors effect what you are viewing at times leaves my speechless. It creates a type of moving art form that stands out on its on and is also awe-inspiring in its content and nature. Just to be able to move around in the world and have my characters sit in the heather and pansies is well worth the amount they ask of me for my year subscription. The overall plain-ness , which is pretty much realistic, that I sometimes get from the game is usually forgotton as I see and hear the birds, crickets, crows, and battlehorns off in the distance. (L2 needs birds flying overhead. Would make a big difference).
I have not been in any closed instances with a group but have so far enjoyed the first starting area open instances with the dwarven mines being my favorite. The design of each is really nice.
It is sort of a new field, this video artwork. Just today I read an article online with the BBC news that showed an exhibit of pictures all coming from video games. As a matter of fact they mentioned Guild Wars and one of the pictures shown was from artist Tyler West. The announcer had some interesting things to say about this "new" type of art form.
In that aspect as an art form, Lineage 2 stands out from the others in its style, atmosphere, attention to detail. and overall visual view and feel of fantasy making it a game well worth while to play.
I plan to play Lineage 2 for a few years to come.
The recent merger that was handled poorly is just a bi-product or example of what can happen to an MMO if care is not taken. I do not think it will ruin the game in the long run for anybody. Hopefully future mergers will be handled with more finesse and concern on the part of the account holder and his/her characters.
Maybe someday there will be a Lineage 3 with even better game play and graphics but in the meantime this one is just fine :-D
I love Lineage 2, Emphatically! And I agree on most of the points you made in your post. The enviroment and basis of the game itself is amazing. The visual and aural design are what always makes me come back to play (MORE Bill Brown!!!). The freedom that players have in this game is both great and terrible. But foremost, is that NC gives this freedom, yet lets it run rampant, in so MANY ways.
Anyways, in keeping to the mood of your post (and apologies for getting off topic), I love Lineage 2. I have loved it since I knew of it when it was first beta luanched in KR and have continued to love it since then. I just wish that players would love the game more than themselves (digital versions of course). It's such a beautiful game, don't ruin it by being greedy.
I have had a love/hate relationship with the game. I'm really enjoying my return, for the most part - and I agree with all of your observations. (Although, personally, I would not pay ~$180 just to be able to virtually sit amongst the virtual pansies.)
I think much of my frustration, both the first time and this time, stems more from NCsoft NA, whom I feel in many ways has been a less-than-ideal caretaker/promoter of the game. I speak not of the wonderful folks that communicate with us on the forums, but rather the folks that have set policies and made management-level decisions that imo have been (and in some cases continue to be) very wrong-headed and have limited the game's market in these regions.
Nice to see a thread like this pop up from time to time. I couldn't agree with you more, this game is really aesthetically pleasing. Unfortunatly, most of this is lost somewhere along the way on pretty much all players (myself included) while worrying about gear/adena/lvl's/pvp.
As a side to this, was grinding my pts noobie a bit this week up in Shuttgart at the grave robbers hideout and found the area where the raidboss there is as well as the cave behind him. I've never noticed this area before and was sorta taken aback at how cool it was. Also, down the road from there is the Crypts of Disgrace, where at times it starts to rain. Weather effects are awesome, would love to see more rain, snow, or wind/dust storms in the game.
99% of the time none of this is even noticed, but when something does catch your eye, it reminds you this game is beautiful in alot of ways.
There are some really cool areas around Schuttgart - tho I wish some of those caves had mobs! Did you know that in one of the caves, sometimes 5 or 6 treasure chests spawn? It doesn't seem to happen often, but it sure looks odd when u walk in and see them all there. ^^
nice post, nice to see positive feedback.
Atleast I dident laugh this time about you complaining about losing 1-2 characters that were lower then lvl 20.
Glad you are enjoying L2 as it is in my mind the best game online today and has been for a long time.
I aggree with u 100%.i've played many games, none of which can even compare to L2.
L2 has a huge community! The politics and over all pvp system is amazing. This game is so complex in so many areas that it takes alot of time to learn it, and grow in it. Over all its the best game i've ever played and plan on sticking to it for years to come.