Lineage 2: Official Q&A Plus New C2 Pics!

Lineage II Chronicle 2
Features Q&A w/Aaron Rigby
October 27, 2004

Q: We haven't heard much about Chronicle 2 yet, so can you give us more information about its main features?

A: First off, this expansion is adding over 500 M of content. We've got three new large areas to adventure in, about eighteen new quests to complete, new (and I might add, really nice) armor and weaponry, and lots of other stuff, including gambling.

Q: Whoa, gambling?

A: Yes, gambling! In the form of a frequently held lottery and monster races.
Lotteries are held every two days and the pay-off depends on how many people participate. Players can go to a lottery seller, which is located in most villages, and purchase a ticket. Players get to choose from five sets of numbers. To win the jackpot, players must have all five numbers on their tickets. However, those who choose two or more numbers correctly will also receive winnings.

The monster races are a cool way to spend time between hunting and quests. Players can go to a race track and check out what monsters are running the next race. They can check out the monster names, racing history and track conditions when they make their choice. There are two ways to win: selecting a single winner or selecting two monsters to win first and second (regardless of order).

Q: How will Chronicle 2 change the game experience for players? Is the content for all levels, or for a certain level range?

A: We're adding a lot of high-end content, but there are features designed to be universally accessed by players of almost any level. I mean, anyone can fight at the Coliseum, or check out the Monster Derby. There are also plenty of new quests, across a wide level range. Also, anyone level 20 or higher has the option of making tattoos that will let them play around with their attributes.

Q: Can you tell us more about the large new hunting grounds?

A: I sure can. There are three new areas in Chronicle 2: Innadril, Giran and Aden. Innadril is full of places unlike anything else currently in the game, like an underwater dungeon. In Chronicle 1, most of the challenge came from mobs themselves. New dungeons introduce new obstacles, like time locks and booby traps. Currently existing regions are getting some interesting new additions that really help flesh out those areas.

Q: What major system changes are going into Chronicle 2?

A: With Chronicle 2 we're expanding the manor system and adding PvP coliseums. The recent changes to this system are designed to provide another layer to clan dynamics. Castle-owning clans will be able to collect raw materials that can be used for resale, or for the creation of items. It's just one more reason to go after a castle. We're also pretty excited about the possibilities of having a large coliseum for penalty-free PvP. We'd like to start having more regular PvP activities, and this really would be the best venue for that.

Q: And now for armor and weaponry. What level range are the new items for? Is there anything that stands out as particularly interesting?

A: The weapons just keep getting cooler. A lot of existing weapons will be getting a new look, too. But what's really cool is the ability to give certain higher-level weapons a perma-buff. So whoever wields the buffed weapon is going to get a special ability. Some of them you can't even get from a normal mage buff.

Q: And what's a live expansion without monsters? What can you tell us about this?

A: We have lots of new monsters - lots of badass bosses too. We've got an insane giant called Baium on top of this ancient tower. Getting through the tower isn't going to be any picnic, either. Then there's Zaken, a vampire pirate that you'll only be able to get to at night. Which is going to be a bit tough, since that's when he's the most powerful. Beyond that, we're dotting the landscape with lots of tough new mini-bosses that lead around a pack of underlings.

Q: When does it launch?

A: We're looking at releasing Chronicle 2 in November.

Q: Is there anything else you'd like people to know about Lineage II Chronicle 2?

A: It's just cool. Beyond the obvious features, there are the little touches that we think the players will like. System messages will show up in a different color so you won't miss anything. When you go to trade items, you can click an "ALL" button instead of punching in a string of numbers. Also, Gatekeepers will now show you a confirmation box of the town you've chosen to teleport to. Another cool thing is the memo notebook, where players can keep up to 100 entries. Now, any one of these features alone might not stop the presses, but they all add up to make the game more enjoyable in ways that might not be obvious.