Interested in L2...is it right for me?

-_Lavos_-

Hey everyone,

So I have been a fairly avid MMORPGer for about 6 years.  I have played AC, EQ, DAOC, ACII, Planetside, COH,  and now GW.

I am getting sick of GW b/c I am done doing the PVE thing and while PVP is fun, I still want more.

Now, I did have some questions about L2.

First off: Population - Is the population in this game large (in general how many ppl on at peak hours)? Is it mainly a Euro/Asian game? I am an American player and want to find a fun game w/ a nice steady population.

PVE - I know as in all MMORPG's there will be a grind, but how is it in this game? Is the PVE fun? How vast is the world? And can you solo  for a while or is grouping key throughout the game?

PVP - How is this in general? Are there PVP zones or how does it work?

Classes/Customization - How customizable are your characters? And is there a lot of balance?

In general too, what are some of your thoughts about the game and its direction in the future.  I know it has been out for a while and I am looking for something good to play that I can jump into both when I am busy and can play casually but also when I just have a ton of time and can go hardcore.

Please let me know your thoughts!

Thanks

Gameloading

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Originally posted by -_Lavos_-

Hey everyone,

So I have been a fairly avid MMORPGer for about 6 years.  I have played AC, EQ, DAOC, ACII, Planetside, COH,  and now GW.

I am getting sick of GW b/c I am done doing the PVE thing and while PVP is fun, I still want more.

Now, I did have some questions about L2.

First off: Population - Is the population in this game large (in general how many ppl on at peak hours)? Is it mainly a Euro/Asian game? I am an American player and want to find a fun game w/ a nice steady population.

The EU/NA servers have about 90k subscribers. there are only 9 servers, all of them are pretty full. the servers are on "normal"(medium) or "full"(Heavy" status most of the time. also, you will only play with USA/EU, as the asians have diffrent servers, which you can't connect to. I think the majority of the players are from USA.

anyway, you don't have to worry about any emty servers, thats for sure.

PVE - I know as in all MMORPG's there will be a grind, but how is it in this game? Is the PVE fun? How vast is the world? And can you solo  for a while or is grouping key throughout the game?

Lineage 2 has a very heavy grind. very heavy. the combat is pretty basic, what your used to. PVE definitly isn't the best part of Lineage 2. But with that being said, Asian MMO's like Lineage 2 and Ragnarok Online can be very addictive, despite its rather standard PVE. I can't really explain, you have to try it yourself.

PVP - How is this in general? Are there PVP zones or how does it work?

This is where Lineage 2 shines. Lineage 2 is all about pvp. the game features a lot of clan based pvp, including huge castle sieges with hundreds of players.

Classes/Customization - How customizable are your characters? And is there a lot of balance?

sadly, because of the feature of having hundreds of players at one place, there isn't a lot of customization. the game needs some balancing works, right now, casters are too overpowered compared to melee

In general too, what are some of your thoughts about the game and its direction in the future.  I know it has been out for a while and I am looking for something good to play that I can jump into both when I am busy and can play casually but also when I just have a ton of time and can go hardcore.

The game requires a lot of time, thats for sure. if your thing is raiding and big, massive pvp battles then this is the game for you. if you expect deep PVE battles, then you might be better off playing WoW or Everquest 2. What I would like to add is this. once you buy the game + the monthly fee, your set. you don't need to pay anything extra. since release, the game world has increased by double its size, and tons of things have been added, all for no extra charge. also worth to mention is the incredible beautifull world of Lineage 2. Lineage 2's world is absolutely beautifull, it has a game with great looking graphics. I say, give it a go!

Please let me know your thoughts!

Thanks

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Torak

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Originally posted by -_Lavos_-

Hey everyone,
So I have been a fairly avid MMORPGer for about 6 years.  I have played AC, EQ, DAOC, ACII, Planetside, COH,  and now GW.
Hey -_Lavos_- your resume looks similar to mine
I am getting sick of GW b/c I am done doing the PVE thing and while PVP is fun, I still want more.
Now, I did have some questions about L2.
First off: Population - Is the population in this game large (in general how many ppl on at peak hours)? Is it mainly a Euro/Asian game? I am an American player and want to find a fun game w/ a nice steady population.
Population isn't an ssue in L2. The largest (servers that are full almost around the clock) are Bratz and Teon the Euro server
PVE - I know as in all MMORPG's there will be a grind, but how is it in this game? Is the PVE fun? How vast is the world? And can you solo  for a while or is grouping key throughout the game?
The PvE is pretty standard. Combat moves at a good clip. In fact its about the same as GW. (nothing like the slow motion of DAoC) Its pretty old school, you engage in combat then manage specials, you can usually take on 2 or 3 mobs depending on the level.
The world is huge and beautiful, I pitty people from other games now that I play L2. I've been playing since Sept and still haven't been everywhere. Its free roming so no zones or level restrictions just use caution exploring.
You can solo pretty far into the game. Most people group because 1) its a bit fast with a good group 2) because the grind is very long, you will go out of your mind soloing lol
In L2 you will end up "wanting" to group out of lonelyness rather then the game mechanic forcing you hehe
PVP - How is this in general? Are there PVP zones or how does it work?
The only "safe" zones are in town other then that its open PvP. Most people and critics say L2 has a pretty good balance but you know how that goes.
There is a "karma" system in place so random ganking is rewarded with a stiff punishment. If you try L2, I would suggest you t least understand how PvP works.
http://www.lineage2.com/Knowledge/cp.html 
Something to note in L2 is that you can NOT see anything about another player. You can't see levels, health status...nothing but the name. You can sort of guess what level they are by the gear they are using but thats no real gage. My new toon has close to top D grade stuff but he's only level 20. Thats because I can now afford the better gear for my toons. New players can go clean to 30 before being able to afford even mid grade D gear.
There are some easy ways to get good gear cheap to free however if you are new. As a noobie you get trade ins with the noobie helper to level 25. After that youcan do the "Seven Signs" quest for Acient Adena to trade for free weapon upgrades.  Its really very easy to beat the economy if you research the game.  90% of all North American players don't so they fail.
L2 is just as much about success in the economy as it is in the grind. If you do not put the time into the economy, you will fail at L2.
Classes/Customization - How customizable are your characters? And is there a lot of balance?
Not very Im afraid, its a gear based game like WoW, customization is minimal. It is also a mass combat game. In L2's castle seiges there are litterally hundreds of people involved. So the game sacrifices some variation for performance.
Most classes are balanced. Be advised, L2 classes have very extream or exaggerated roles.
class link
http://www.lineage2.com/guide/race_human.html 

In general too, what are some of your thoughts about the game and its direction in the future.  I know it has been out for a while and I am looking for something good to play that I can jump into both when I am busy and can play casually but also when I just have a ton of time and can go hardcore.
Its an awsome game, adds some risk to your play. It has some faults to. Its difficult to an extream, there is a bot problem, the economy works to well the money adena has actual value ingame.
The future is very good. L2 as of Q1 2006 is still growing in the American market. Very slowly but still is.  NCSoft is still adding "chronicles" there are 12 planned. We are going on C5 soon.
Keep in mind L2 is a powerhouse game worldwide rivaling WoWs subscription numbers. t its peak it had over 3 million subs and has now dropped to about 1.5 worldwide. Its an aging game. It just didn't do well in the western market but the U.S. servers are well maintained and full.

Please let me know your thoughts!
I would give it 3 and a half stars, mmorpg.com has given it a fair review (minus that brainless community bash the review did) of 7.4, the community says 7.8, I think thats fair. Its not my ideal but its a "free" and open enivonment, its not NPC driven like WoW or EQII.
The world is player action driven in the form of seiges, castle ownership and guild rivalries and the resulting politics. It can get ugly (in a fun way)
Thanks

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SantaClaws48

The only thing I would disagree with Torak is class balance. The game is horribly imbalanced. If you play a melee class, god help you.

Also, I want to add that although C5 is planned, there is no set release date as of yet. I wouldn't expect it showing up on our test servers for at least another 3 months. Most likely it will be more since C5 looks to be a large expansion.

Torak

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Originally posted by SantaClaws48
The only thing I would disagree with Torak is class balance. The game is horribly imbalanced. If you play a melee class, god help you.

Also, I want to add that although C5 is planned, there is no set release date as of yet. I wouldn't expect it showing up on our test servers for at least another 3 months. Most likely it will be more since C5 looks to be a large expansion.

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Well, I just based off of general opinions. All games have people crying to nerf this or that.

The only real PvP experience I have in L2 is with a Dark Avenger.

The main disadvantage of a melee vs ranged in any game is, well...........they are melee vs ranged lol. There isn't really much you can do to correct that basic dynamic except give the melees a ranged attack or defence and that would mean they wouldn't really be a true melee then.

At least with a DA you have your panther  But yes, no class, level system really works all that well anyway because its all based on Math and not on skill so it sort of doesn't matter no matter how you slice it. (/shrug)

EDIT

I think DAoC had far more balance issues. There where several classes that were outright useless to play.

SantaClaws48

In general, most melee classes are horrible in open pvp. This is a video of my guild on siege.

http://files.filefront.com/giranavi/;5211723;;/fileinfo.html

Melees just cannot compete with that kind offrepower. Granted we are all 76-78 with 78 buffs but a comparable level melee would still get chewed up, and we're not even assisting.

Don't get me wrong, the game is great and so is the pvp. But to be competitive in the majority of pvp you need to play either a support class or a class with range.

Sorrowho

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Originally posted by -_Lavos_-

Hey everyone,
So I have been a fairly avid MMORPGer for about 6 years.  I have played AC, EQ, DAOC, ACII, Planetside, COH,  and now GW.
I am getting sick of GW b/c I am done doing the PVE thing and while PVP is fun, I still want more.
Now, I did have some questions about L2.
First off: Population - Is the population in this game large (in general how many ppl on at peak hours)? Is it mainly a Euro/Asian game? I am an American player and want to find a fun game w/ a nice steady population.
PVE - I know as in all MMORPG's there will be a grind, but how is it in this game? Is the PVE fun? How vast is the world? And can you solo  for a while or is grouping key throughout the game?

To solo you need the right class if you wanna do it unbuffed its only a Summoner.
A Nuker (Mage) or any other class just gets to much downtime without buffs. Even Mages since they really need empower at higher lvls. so theys 4 optiopns 1 join a clan with Clan hall to get fullbuffed means back to town a lot... Hard to get in such a clan
2, Duo with a buffer, so thats not really soloing
3 buy a second account to lvl your own buffbot Shillen Elder is recommend for any class aldo for Archers its a Prohpet, running 2 accounts on 1 computer works fine even if its a laptop
4 go out hunting while praying that they´s a random buffer who´s nice enof to buff you

PVP - How is this in general? Are there PVP zones or how does it work?

well most off the pvp takes place at the higher lvls 52+ where you can join clan´s that has war´s
oh and about Castle Siege´s if you dont have 900 range they fuucking suck, i mean seriolys theys nothing more boring...
since charing rearly happens, mostly player´s just stand at 900 range from each other and shout if you do decied to equip a bow and go into 600 range (with no Bow masteries) and shoot you probly be dead in 2 seconds no matter what lvl...
so either Healer/Archer/Mage player´s only fun in Castle Siege´s for every other class its just a boring exp loss... (this is my point i havent been to a whole lot off Castle Siege´s but i bet most player´s with 600 range feels the same way as me)

Classes/Customization - How customizable are your characters? And is there a lot of balance?

at the lower lvls it´s kinda fair but at the higher lvls (well already at 40+) it´s  really unbalenced atm aldo in C5 they gonna balance it a bit more and implent Siccor papar rock system
Healer´s kill Nuker´s/ Nuker´s kill Rouge/Warrior/Tank Classes and Rouge/Warrior/Tank´s kill each other cant remember in witch order...
aldo the Rouge´s and Warrior´s still have okay chances to take down a mage but only if they right next to em else your dead meat


In general too, what are some of your thoughts about the game and its direction in the future.  I know it has been out for a while and I am looking for something good to play that I can jump into both when I am busy and can play casually but also when I just have a ton of time and can go hardcore.

If you take 1 off the option´s to be able to solo, yere go play , but if you dont have a lot off time on your hands it can be hard forming party´s at higher lvls since it often takes time


Please let me know your thoughts!

It has Pet´s ^_^

Thanks

Sorrowho

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Originally posted by SantaClaws48
The only thing I would disagree with Torak is class balance. The game is horribly imbalanced. If you play a melee class, god help you.

Also, I want to add that although C5 is planned, there is no set release date as of yet. I wouldn't expect it showing up on our test servers for at least another 3 months. Most likely it will be more since C5 looks to be a large expansion.

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C5 is already live in Korea so hopefully it shoulden´t take forever to get to us