Lineage 2: IRC HOUSE OF COMMONS CHATS - FEB 2003

<Rhayde> Hello and welcome to the Lineage House of Commons! Tonight you will get a chance to ask the developers of Lineage any questions that you may have. This chat is in moderated format - please /msg [QT]amer or [QT]flippie to ask a question. Do not message me or anyone from NCsoft, these questions will be ignored.

<Melantus> Hello Im Melantus, Community Coordinator for Lineage in the US

<captsturm> Hello everyone! I'm CaptSturm, Producer, Lineage NA.

<Elahrairah> Hello, I'm Elahrairah, part of the North American Lineage Support Team.

<Melantus> and Leilo too :P

<Leilo> Hi everyone!

<Darkwing_> Hey everyone! I'm Darkwing, also part of the Support Team :)

<Rhayde> *Guest* Are there any plans to introduce ways to make the Fruit of Ent more common?

<captsturm> As many likely know, we currently keep the Ken and Dep servers sync'ed with the Korean Main Servers.

<captsturm> The fruit of ent availability was carefully evaluated by the NCS dev team to be available at a rate appropriate to its usefulness

<captsturm> So, currently, there are no plans for a change to that on those servers.

<captsturm> We've made some minor adjustments on the LoA server--that issue continues to be evaluated there.

<Rhayde> <taera> In the upcoming episode you seem to be implanting alot of social aspects to the game. So far, we have only a rough idea of what alliance will entail; does the command include any form of benefit to war/siege besides the communication?

<captsturm> Currently, the major advantage is to easing the communication among allies

<Rhayde> *lingrendel* can you give us any specifics on how the marriage system will work?

<Melantus> someone ask about the fan item :P

<[QT]amer> "tell us about the fan item"

<captsturm> The marriage system isn't likely to make it out with the Ep12 content--it'll likely become active shortly thereafter

<captsturm> it is a system where two characters of opposite gender can become married for a fee

<captsturm> they'll gain better exp during hunts and such

<captsturm> Of course, if you choose to get divorced, it'll cost tons more...

<Rhayde> *Vassago* How would you evalute your success or lack thereoff with the LoA server so far?

<Melantus> It's still too early to say or not, we arent really going to fully evaluate it for a while yet. But from what I have seen on various boards, several players repeatedly say how they like LoA. They like the changes, etc. That part sounds nice, and what we like to hear....

<Melantus> so will the changes ever come to Dep and Ken? We dont know. It's something to maybe consider later, but we havent progressed any on that thought yet.

<Melantus> and sorry for that nick spam :P Someone needs their internet access taken away.

<captsturm> I would encourage you to try LoA and continue to voice your concerns/feedback/criticisms.

<Melantus> so the answer is, we will still keep makign changes. evaluation comes a bit later.

<Rhayde> *hew* Hello, and thank you. Here is my question: Do you know if there is any planned development of Lineage Forever for Mac OS X?

<Melantus> still too early to really say on that. That would take some extra manpower, and we would have to compare that cost to possible benefits. I can pass along that question to our LF people, and perhaps during the next chat we can get a better answer for you on it

<Rhayde> <taera> The newest tactic between warring pledges seems to be pointing fingers and accusing eachother of violating the TOS. What is NC's stance on dealing with these cases?

<Melantus> yes that has been going back adn forth on our boards, unfortunately....

<Melantus> it doesnt amtter what pledge is involved or other politics about it. If someone breaks the TOS, then it's up to our Support to evaluate the issue and deal with it. Dont hash it out in public, simply report it to Support and let them handle it.

<Melantus> that is the thing to do, report it, give good detailed info on what you are complaining about, and move on.

<Melantus> threads on that subject are going to usually get closed, because it really is mostly a public dirt-throwing thing. Not something for the boards.

<Rhayde> *lingrendel* many people fear that episode 12 is the last major lineage update besides the graphics engine. can you tell us about any plans you have for episodes 13 and beyond? will aden grow? more classes?

<captsturm> Ep12 is the finale of Lineage "Part 1". I don't have specifics, but the Dev team is beginning to consider options for future content.

<captsturm> Lineage has a big audience worldwide--as long as we have fans and loyal customers, we'll continue to support them. With Lineage, that means lots and lots of content.

<Rhayde> *Appleseede* You had movies showing new walk animations for the main characters in the game a while back. I've seen screenshots of Episode 12 and it looks like they still aren't there. Have they been scrapped, or will they still be put into Episode 12?

<captsturm> They haven't been scrapped. We weren't happy with the first pass on these and have since been busy with a lot of new content.

<captsturm> I'll mark that one for follow up and we'll get something posted on the boards shortly.

<Rhayde> *[TIO]Ilkramil* What do you see for Lineage in the future after SWG, EQ2, WoW, and etc come out?

<Melantus> well, what I think is important for a game in this day and age is content. Graphics are nice, without a doubt. but the key to a fun and enjoyable game is content. Known any great looking games that just werent all that good? ...

<Melantus> Lineage has some unique content, example would be sieges.

<Melantus> so as far as the plans for the future, we do have plans. You have heard about other games being worked on...

<Melantus> without that meaning the end of Lineage, it does mean we are looking toward the future. But Lineage is here, and brings us money. We wouldnt ignore it. We want to keep going with it.

<Melantus> I think this means the best of both worlds for our players.

<Rhayde> *ChaosZ* There have been reports about the monsters in Ep. 12 being only suitable for very high lvl characters, are the monsters going to be made easier for US Severs?

<captsturm> There's no current plans for that--some of the monsters will indeed be a challenge. But they're the "finale" of the first part of Lineage and should be something difficult to defeat.

<captsturm> We'll observe the players feedback and track the results, but we don't have plans for that at this time.

<Rhayde> Reminder: Please /message [QT]amer or [QT]flippie to ask a question.

<Rhayde> *Wodka* In Epi 12 there is an item called : Dragon Blood. what is this item used for? If for item creation what kind of item will be created with it?

<captsturm> There's likely to be a few dropped items that will be fully implemented at a later time--but I don't have any information on that one yet.

<Rhayde> *LadySan* When are you planning to activate the Prince/ss set enchantment NPC in Heine?

<captsturm> As soon as possible. :^)

<captsturm> Episode 12 is keeping us busy right now, but it should be added (LoA specific item) right after that.

<captsturm> As a preview, the plan is to branch that set out to one of the four elements--lots of sapphires will grow it into a MP regen set, lots of Emeralds will grow it into a HP regen set and so on.

<captsturm> But, we're working on Ep12 content primarily right now.

<Rhayde> *speedlab* i'm joe average player level 49+ i don't play 15 hours a day , i don't share my account. I gain 00.0015% a day and dying is outrageously depressing. i'm about to quit, what can you say to make me stay ? *sniff*

<captsturm> Well, first we need smart people that don't share their accounts with strangers, so please stay.

<captsturm> Second, set your goals to something else that lineage offers other than the power leveling--make friends. Heck, make some enemies. Stick around for all the neat stuff we got coming right around the corner.

<Melantus> that exp buy back might be nice for you as well

<Rhayde> *Shanin* Any chances the dragon-slayer will be put into game again?

<captsturm> No plans right now.

<Rhayde> *Siferenthius* With the adition of Episode 12, we're getting more monters... new areas, but what aboutt the old areas, such as Windawood which is now pratically a dead town except for it's dungeon...?

<captsturm> Ep12 restructures a lot in regards to existing areas.

<captsturm> There's the Hometown system that lets players be town "chief" or mayor.

<captsturm> The castle income will be distributed a little more evenly as well.

<captsturm> But, you'll always have areas that will be appropriate for specific levels. As the majority of the population levels up and moves on, some areas may become deserted until new players enter the server and make their way through the level specific areas.

<Rhayde> <[QT]flippie> Well, since no one has asked, ill ask. What is the new LoA item?!?!

<Melantus> ok so as you might remember....

<Melantus> a little while back, few days ago, we were doing a fan item contest. Well we picked and announced a winner.

<Melantus> Well we have been working on the item, which will be named after the winner's character.

<Melantus> I wrote fiction to go with the item, which we will post hopefully next week to intro the players to this item

<Melantus> a huge number of awesome entries were sent in, but we could only have one winner

<Melantus> but in any case....

<Melantus> without giving away the item's secrets, I will just say it is unlike anything existing in Lineage right now.

<Melantus> hopefully you will like it :) so if all goes well then next week watch out for the story.

<Melantus> ok ok ok, a small hint...

<Melantus> the item, it does not remain the same.

<Melantus> that's the only hint you get :)

<captsturm> As Mel said, we got a ton of great ideas--many which we are technically unable to implement--but we're passing on the suggestion to the programming team

<captsturm> And even if your idea wasn't selected right now, many of the ideas can and will be implemented in some form as LoA continues.

<captsturm> The programming team has indicated that we'll be getting some wild tools to let us do some very neat things.

<Melantus> muhaha ;)

<Rhayde> *LadySan* Have you considered to enable some sort of pledge log to keep track of stuff that is taken?

<Melantus> oh btw we plant o make it for all classes :P sorry for the interruption

<Elahrairah> We've had a lot of Royals ask us about this one and suggest one be enabled.

<Elahrairah> A while back we introduced the change to pledge store access, that you would only be able to access pledge store once your leader gave you title.

<Elahrairah> So right now, as the leader of a pledge, you have control of who has access to the pledge store.

<Elahrairah> Discussions are still going about the suggestions you make, so if you Royals would like to see something like this, get a discussion going on the boards.

<Elahrairah> Let Mel see what you have to say so we can pass that information along.

<Rhayde> *IronClaw* question? Do you have plans to change seige times/frequency or plans to revamp how sieges work for ep 12?

<captsturm> We changed the frequency recently from 48 to 96 hours. We don't currently plan to change it further.

<Rhayde> *Nennius* what about the level 50 mage bonus....... anything on it?

<captsturm> Unfortunately, no progress on this one yet. The design team is aware of this issue, but nothing to announce at this time.

<Rhayde> *Nennius* Is there any plans to change the way orcish fortress get tax money on dep/ken like on LoA?

<captsturm> Not quite. Ep12 does have a new tax distribution system that should spread out ALL castle income a little more equitably (sp?)

<captsturm> Anyhow, Orc Fort should begin pulling in a little more money.

<Rhayde> *SoulFire* any chances of getting a level 48 or 49 morph to keep the motivation up such as something speed of skelton walking yet faster then spartoi swinging ? :)

<captsturm> That's something to consider--we've had a couple of informal discussions about a morph in that range.

<captsturm> We've also discussed class based morph options (on LoA) as well as the variety.

<captsturm> We'll see what we can do about that one.

<Rhayde> <taera> In the course of Lineage's time on the market as well as in beta we have seen the elemental magic concept become more and more powerful. Yet still, there is one element of Gaia missing, and the people of Lineage US were wondering if and when the 'Heart' element will be actiavated, if you can summon a monkey friend, and if this will be the final step toward summoning an all-natural being of good.

<captsturm> The lack of monkeys is our one true weakness.

<Melantus> this isnt Captain Planet :)

<Leilo> Only if we can hug it and squeeze it, and name it Gleek.

<Darkwing_> Goooooooo planet!

<Darkwing_> Sorry, brings back memories

<[QT]amer> (fin)

<[QT]flippie> its ok bud.

<Rhayde> Thank you for attending the Lineage House of Commons chat! A log will be posted shortly on http://www.stratics.com!

<[QT]flippie> we all miss that little monkey.

<Darkwing_> He was kool

<captsturm> Goodnight everyone! Now, get back to playing! :^)

<Melantus> thanks for joining us, all! good chat. See you next time and see you on the boards. And dont cause trouble on the boards!!~!~!

<[QT]flippie> one final announcement.... i have a belly button.

<Darkwing_> I'd be fire, he had the cool jacket

<Elahrairah> Cya! ^_^