I am interested in trying this game and see they have a new 14 day trial. How do you go about getting the serial code for it?

Also could anyone please explain what the chronicles mean, I see there are 5 but don't know what they are. Is it expansions to the game and do I have to pay for them seterate?

Lastly is there any future updates or expansions planned for this game or is it slowly dieing?

Originally posted by bramblez

I am interested in trying this game and see they have a new 14 day trial. How do you go about getting the serial code for it?

Also could anyone please explain what the chronicles mean, I see there are 5 but don't know what they are. Is it expansions to the game and do I have to pay for them seterate?

Lastly is there any future updates or expansions planned for this game or is it slowly dieing?

The chronicles are free expansions.  You will never have to buy an update for L2. 

There are 6 more expansions planned if I recall correctly.  They come out about 6-9 months apart, and actually add a lot to the game.

The game has been out for 3 years.  And even though it has vastly improved over those years, the games publisher has not yet seen fit to advertise this amazing game.  So few people even know it exists.  Every MMO is "slowly dieing" from the day it is born.  In the final analysis, L2 remains alive and well. If NCsoft starts advertising, who knows, it could be reborn entirely.

lineage series is up there in the millions.

http://mmogchart.com/Chart1.html

The revenues NCsoft pulls in are pretty sick.

Is there anywhere I can get info on future content like expansions for this game?

Originally posted by vajuras

lineage series is up there in the millions.

http://mmogchart.com/Chart1.html

 

The revenues NCsoft pulls in are pretty sick.

Here's some more detailed numbers:

http://fotos_speedy.terra.com.ar/18/53/1853080/3638/originales/347846.jpg

L2Blah usually has the most recent updates from Korea translated faster than any other L2 site around. You have to sift through some other stuff but there is a lot of good information there.

The Chronicles were free updates/expansions that they have put out about every 6 months since the game launched. This included tons of land (I'd say the map is probably triple the size it was at launch), lots of new armor/weapons, skills, quests, mounts, pets, and lots of changes to actual game play (introducing the 7 signs, changes in mob behavior/bonuses, changes to death penalties, raising the level cap, adding subclasses, noble and hero system, etc.)

Where a lot of people get confused is that Chronicle 5 was the last expansion to be titled "Chronicle". The upcoming expansions will be titled "Thrones". Right now they are in Interlude (in the short period of time between launch and the Chronicle 1 update, they called it "Prelude", so Interlude is just the bridge between C5 and T1, the way Prelude was the bridge between beta and C1.)

The first Chaotic Throne is supposed to introduce a new player race, which NCsoft says will level and function differently than all the other races. It will also introduce new skills, land, weapons and armor as do most expansions. The T1 patch notes are here, but without knowing a lot about the game it may be a bit hard to understand.

Good luck!

On Lineage 2:

I suggest you try L2.  This game has a whole lot going for it, but a few things working against you as well.  Don't let these things deter you, just be prepared to put up with them when you try this awesome game!  The game has a huge beautiful world, tons of neat classes, and I think a great PvP system with Castle Siege at endgame. 

The bad things:

Point and click is the primary form of movement... I hate it but the WASD movement is glitchy and even worse then adapting to PnC.

Healers are generally boring to play, so most people double box them.  This means unless you double box as well you will rarely if ever find a healer to group with. 

This game is a classic grind for XP, and the levels come very slowly.  I consider this all a good thing, many people do not.  You also lose xp when you die. 

This game is FFA PvP on all servers... so you will get ganked from time to time.  Last time I played it was not a constant gank-fest.

does it run with vista?

Originally posted by bramblez

does it run with vista?

It does work with Vista however, to get the most out of it (read: avoid "issues") you should go here:

http://boards.lineage2.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=gentech&Number=908559&page=0&fpart=1

A post using vista and L2. Also, you had asked for info on updates. Other than the link that was provided, keep i mind that we never know anything too far into the future. we usually have to wait and see what is planned in Korea and then some people who understand Korean write what they find. It's not like other games where the developers are constantly telling the playerbase what is going to be coming down the pike.

Still, in many ways it is an incredible game. However, I'll warn you, this is a game where you get what you put in. Don't expect to sign in and get all these incredible fun quests. you will have to grind up to lvl 20, do your class change and then go to Dion (town) for more lvl 20+ players. Also, if you are north american then Bartz is the most populated server. Teon and Franz are Euro.

Here is a post with some new player advice. Quite frankly there is so much written that if you search a bit you will find everything you need.

http://boards.lineage2.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=914721&an=0&page=0#Post914721

Does anyone have a spare trial key for this so I can try it out?

I tried Guild Wars and I did not like it because I had to do missions on my own. I this game like that or is it like WoW where you are with others all the time? I understand that from lvls 1 - 20 that I could be on my own.

Also when is the new Throne 1 coming out? Is it better to wait and start the new class or just start the game now?

How big is this game where content is concerned? Are the areas quite big?

It is a good game, a grind fest, nonetheless a good game. Just becareful, there are a LOT of bots and scammers.

Go to the L2 website, they have free trial keys for all there.

Guild wars is not an MMO... it's a Team Death Match with magic spells.  And a good one at that.
L2 is a persistant world where everyone is in the world together.  It is a true MMO. 
Don't compare it to WoW.  If WoW dreamed it could be as good as L2, WoW would need to wake up and apologise. 

How big is it?  After playing for 3 years, theres still places I've never seen.  And lots of things I've not yet done.

Originally posted by bramblez

I tried Guild Wars and I did not like it because I had to do missions on my own. I this game like that or is it like WoW where you are with others all the time? I understand that from lvls 1 - 20 that I could be on my own.

Also when is the new Throne 1 coming out? Is it better to wait and start the new class or just start the game now?

How big is this game where content is concerned? Are the areas quite big?

Well Lineage 2 is pretty much a solo game unless your either a healer/buffer class  and even then it can be hard to level up seeing as you have to wait for the right group.

I've played Lineage 2 some years now and in my opinion it is the best PvP mmo out there but it aint friendly towards new players really, the economy is tough and the world is cruel against you :)

It's full of bots.

Trev, your forum pic looks like a mug shot from your rape conviction.
I'm only telling you this because I love you.

Originally posted by bramblez

Does anyone have a spare trial key for this so I can try it out?

yes

if you still want one PM me

Originally posted by hadubnano

Trev, your forum pic looks like a mug shot from your rape conviction.
I'm only telling you this because I love you.

agreed. thats hella creepy man.  whats up with all you myspace kids and posting your rl pics in your avatars lately

Very much a grind.

Once the grind ends, if you don't get bored by then...  There's nothing to do except farm and attempt to enchant equipment.

The PvP is decent but the only purpose of PvP is to siege castles in an attempt to gain tax money and make enchanting equipment easier.  Really the amount of money you will end up using in PvP is not even worth it.  You're better off spending your time farming.  If you want to PvP for the fun, you may as well play WoW.  Better game, less of a grind and more fun PvP.  Sure you miss out on castle sieges but it's a much better overall game.  Now if you're looking for a good PvP system play EVE.  Unfortunately if you're looking for a fun PvP game with a good PvP system you won't.  None exist, wait for Darkfall but honestly that game will flop.  So prey AoC does the right thing and implements full item loot servers, but they won't.  So then you're stuck hanging.  Wait for WAR if you're looking for a fun game with fun PvP but it will never have a good PvP system.

Honestly Lineage 2 is nothing but a PvE grind.  That's why all private servers have upped rates so you can PvP much sooner however the PvP in Lineage 2 has no point and is not even that much fun.  Too much reliance on buffs, too many dual boxers, it's just terrible.  Like I said WoWs PvP is better than Lineage2's.  If you're looking for meaningful PvP the only MMOG in existence with that is EVE Online.

Originally posted by Zeknichov

Very much a grind.

Once the grind ends, if you don't get bored by then...  There's nothing to do except farm and attempt to enchant equipment.

The PvP is decent but the only purpose of PvP is to siege castles in an attempt to gain tax money and make enchanting equipment easier.  Really the amount of money you will end up using in PvP is not even worth it.  You're better off spending your time farming.  If you want to PvP for the fun, you may as well play WoW.  Better game, less of a grind and more fun PvP.  Sure you miss out on castle sieges but it's a much better overall game.  Now if you're looking for a good PvP system play EVE.  Unfortunately if you're looking for a fun PvP game with a good PvP system you won't.  None exist, wait for Darkfall but honestly that game will flop.  So prey AoC does the right thing and implements full item loot servers, but they won't.  So then you're stuck hanging.  Wait for WAR if you're looking for a fun game with fun PvP but it will never have a good PvP system.

Honestly Lineage 2 is nothing but a PvE grind.  That's why all private servers have upped rates so you can PvP much sooner however the PvP in Lineage 2 has no point and is not even that much fun.  Too much reliance on buffs, too many dual boxers, it's just terrible.  Like I said WoWs PvP is better than Lineage2's.  If you're looking for meaningful PvP the only MMOG in existence with that is EVE Online.

LOL  Wow... Need more water for that half empty glass? Is there a game you do like?

The biggest draw of L2 is the community. The game is set up so that the clan/alliance is the most important thing in the game. You grind with your clan, you siege with your clan, you raid with your clan, you pvp with your clan, you talk with them when you're soloing, you MSN them when you're out of game, you laugh on vent together, etc. Through L2 I made a lot of friends and have a lot of good memories - 100% of them being of time spent with my clanmates or friends in-game. My clan even got together for a weekend in Vegas last year - hotel rooms payed for by our clan leader. All we had to pay for was our plane tickets and drinks. That's because the friendships we make in L2 extend past L2, to real life.

Most people don't play MMOs for the pve part of it - there are plenty of fun single player games for that. They play either for the competition or community. I'm a girl, so I play for the community (although I know some girls who play for competition.) Either way, L2 is a great vehicle for both.

I know as a newbie it may be hard to get involved in the community - but my advice to all new players is to join an academy. Even if you don't have anyone to party with, you can participate in clan conversations just like everyone else, join vent, etc. Clans will usually help you level up some too.

Oh - and as far as the new race is concerned, I would guess that it's probably going to be fall before that update comes out. If you think you want to play that race/class, I would recommend starting a character now and trying to make some money, then when T1 comes out you can have better equipment for your lowbie and gain levels more quickly.