The Kamael sparks a new chapter in the evolving world of Lineage II
By Michael Lafferty

In the four years since its release, LII continues to explore new ground while listening to its players

Spires, raising slender stony fingers to the vortexes in the skies above, seemed an ominous presence in the roiling hues of grays and blacks that hovered over the land. It was night. It was seemingly always night here. But even the suffocating darkness could not hide the dancing white of a wing as the female Kamael darted along the wilderness paths.

A dark moon, looking more like the eye of a watching god, ringed with brilliant crawling vapors of orange and gold, would – on occasion – glimmer off the blade grasped in her right hand. She was a warrior, and tonight, she was on the prowl.

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The life of a massively multiplayer online game dictates that the game evolve or it will not last long. Lineage II, from NCsoft, has just passed the four-year mark. Part of the celebration included the release of yet another free chronicle (read that as expansion), but in the years the MMO has been in existence, it has battled many foes, and with a great deal of success. And the game has evolved, which is crucial in and of itself.

For a time after its launch, LII was plagued by gold farmers, those who would have clans and cover an area, killing everything to get as much of the coin of the realm (adena) that would then be sold on Web sites for real-world money. But a concentrated effort has been made, with accounts banned consistently to send a clear message that farmers are not welcomed in this world - and that effort shows. Lineage II is very much a game that challenges players to work for what they get.

The original release of the game was known as Lineage II: The Chaotic Chronicle, and it has since been joined by four other chronicles (Age of Splendor, Rise of Darkness, Scions of Destiny and Oath of Blood) as well as a new chapter in the story, The Chaotic Throne (which began with The Chaotic Throne – Interlude). The Kamael is the first expansion in the Chaotic Throne saga. It is also the most ambitious expansion release to date, featuring more than one gigabyte of new content for the game. Of course that means new lands (see preview of the expansion), new item slots, new weapons and armor.

The expansion features the Kamael, a new warrior-based race with one wing sprouting from the left shoulder blade and a penchant for dark magic.

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She whispered inward, deep into the place beyond her soul. There lay the captured essence of her enemies, waiting to be called for her service. The words were heard and the darkness wrapped around her, swirling into an angry ball of flame in front of her. A gesture of the hands and the darkness leaped forward, striking a Muertos warrior in the chest. The bird-like biped staggered backwards, its shrill voice rising in alarm. It saw the smiling face of the Kamael warrior, and charged. The smile broadened on her face, the grip tightened on the sword. Then the charge of the Muertos was greeted … with steel.

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What is readily apparent in the latest bit of evolution in the game is that several concerns of players have not only been heard, but implemented. In the past, attacking a castle required that the event be scheduled, but not for those who could not stand the wait, a fortress siege system has been added. There are nine castles in the world but 41 fortresses are now in place. A clan can attack at any time, and should they conquer the fortress, then certain leveling benefits and skills become available. Recently announced was the opportunity for players to (for a fee) change names, gender and – later this month – even jump to a different server.

But the core elements of the game remain the same. This game is still a grind, geared for the hardcore player, with a point-and-click interface. The world is open PvP, but that element is not to be taken lightly. As the community has aged, so too (seemingly) has the maturity. The lands, especially at the lower levels, seem sparsely populated and the threat of a rogue player running through and attacking newer players/characters is rare. This is a far cry from the beginning days of the game when you had to keep one eye on your targeted monster and another peeled for a player sneaking up behind you.

The game’s music is still a nice support for the graphics, which have not changed a whole lot. While Lineage II may be four years on, it is still a very good-looking game. It may not have the customization that seems prevalent in more recent releases, but the game still presents interesting vistas. Cranking up the graphics with an nVidia 8800 GTX card reveals shadows that may not always be spot on, but the textures are still nice.

LII is not now, nor was it ever, a game for the general MMO player base. It is still a niche game, but it is a game that continues to evolve with its community driving changes. That, and the fact that the development team is listening, is why the game has lasted four years and should continue on.

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