The developers over at NCosft have provided MMORPG.com with this new developer journal looking at the combat additions coming from the game's newest expansion, Gracia Final.

The Aerial Cleft takes PvP to the skies of the Gracia continent. Participation in this aerial PvP is exclusively for players who are on the Gracia continent and who register in the Aerial Cleft region. Once registered, two randomly assembled teams are thrust into an exciting twenty-five minute battle. During that time players will need to master their fear, flying prowess and new aerial skills to win. Not only is brute force required to be victorious, but you'll have to work together with your new found teammates in order to successfully shatter the crystal cores and score points for your team. At the end of the twenty-five minutes the team with the most points wins. To the victors go valuable Emery pieces which can be used in concert with Star Stone pieces that winners can harvest after the match to create attribute crystals. The meek will not survive in this arena and the strong will continue to fight for the Cleft's riches.

Read Changes to Combat with Gracia Final

Currently playing the test server and so far this looks to be a very nice expansion.

it reminds me of aion.. which is why im not surprised they would add that in there, considering its done by ncsoft. as much as i love air combat, ill wait for aion in america.

There will be flying bots , lol how nice . . .

Nice update on paper , don't get fooled . Unless you are in a big clan as i am , you won't see much . And the new skills and gears , mainly the botters who will benefit of it since it s a pain to level after level 80 , 90% of the 80+ are bots .

Lineage=bots,bots,bots

Doesn't matter what they add, this game will always be ruled by botters.

/sad agree

Originally posted by isuny

There will be flying bots , lol how nice . . .

Nice update on paper , don't get fooled . Unless you are in a big clan as i am , you won't see much . And the new skills and gears , mainly the botters who will benefit of it since it s a pain to level after level 80 , 90% of the 80+ are bots .

Unfortunately this is the truth.

Such huge amount of good ideas, content, gameplay and artstyle wasted.

...

Originally posted by grafh

it reminds me of aion.. which is why im not surprised they would add that in there, considering its done by ncsoft. as much as i love air combat, ill wait for aion in america.

Actually when I read that.. .the first thing that occurred to me is that it seems like they're gearing people up for Aion; sorta getting them used to the idea of aerial PvP. 

Still really thinking Aion is going to become their new flagship title, replacing Lineage 2... at least 'til Lineage 3... or possibly Blade & Soul, depending on how that does.

I think L2 has created a really strong stigma for themselves.. and rightfully so, being overrun with botters and RMT for as long as it has, NC doing far too little to combat it and, at times, almost seeming to support it with the different things they would add.

So... I dunno.. that's my thinking. They want to try and shake that image of NCSoft = Pro-Botting/RMT

If they succeed? Well.. we'll see. I'm gonna try Aion for sure, and Blade & Soul looks interesting as well.

Tried some of the content on the PTS and It is looking good. This patch is most directed at players lvl 75+, Havent tried out the new pvp system yet. But it is looking very nice!

Today is the day that Gracia Final goes live. Cant wait to get home to check it out.