Lineage II

I am currently in love with FFXI, Say what you say about it its my favorite game, I love working hard, I love having to farm for weeks and weeks to get 1 peace of armor that will last me from level 60 to max level and even get me into end game!.

I love the stories of its world, I love the cinematics and great music!

I love the fact there is little to no PvP and I love how the players are forced to work together and help eachother out.

There is one thing I hate about FFXI, The end game elitist players. Its not like most mmorpgs, I mean in FFXI these players are BAD, They will not talk to you, often they will not help you, they are (For some odd reason, usually "In game relationships" With eachother). They never log off, and they are on call 24-7...needless to say they lack a social life.  This is why I never did any end game in FFXI outside of Dynamis.

Now all that FFXI aside, What is lineage 2 and how does it compare to FFXI?

Is it a challenge game that gives you big long term rewards for your hard work?

Is it a Slow leveling but enjoyable experience with lots of people working together?

Are there still tons of players on this game?

Is it a party focused game?

Is pvp optional in this game or better for me, even avoidable at all costs?

Is the PvE content strong, ?

Are there cinematics and really strong emotional story moments in this game like in FFXI?

Is the battle music in this game inspirational?

are people willing to help in L2 as much as in FFXI or party oriented games ?

How is crafting in this game? what are the crafts?

Is there a class in this game like Dragoon or Dark Knight?

Having played both for over 18 months each, heres some experience for your questions:

(I may not use quotes or whatever correctly because i really don't post alot, but i'm an avid reader and gamer.)

Now all that FFXI aside, What is lineage 2 and how does it compare to FFXI?

Ans: Lineage 2 is more pvp and player-politics oriented. The entire point of the game is to dominate each other by creating guilds powerful to take and own castles which generate revenue and to do other things like take down raid bosses and gods, etc.

Is it a challenge game that gives you big long term rewards for your hard work?

Ans: It used to be. Honestly, there was a time when high levels meant something but now the game is almost entirely corrupt with cheaters, botters, farmers and people who buy adena (currency like gil) using thousands of real dollars, i have seen proof...people actually pay thousands and thousands to "be the best."

If you play legitly, you may feel some reward now, but when you compare yourself to the cheaters who've gained much more than you and in a shorter amount of time and can therefore "pwn" you in pvp in every which way, you can't help but feel a sense of defeat.

Is it a Slow leveling but enjoyable experience with lots of people working together?

Ans: Lineage 2 has one of the longest grinds ever in a mmorpg. You can solo or party and no, its not like FFXI where you can chat friendly...in L2 its kill kill kill. The only one i know of that has the most or longest grind used to be a old 2d isometric game called Redmoon where the max level was 5000 and getting to 1000 levels took over a year of 16 hour a day playing...not to mention deaths took 50% exp...no lie. That was  my first mmo, and I was a beta player in that old game...so i'm used to grinding.

On the brighter side, they introduced a vitality system where it lets you gain X2, X3, x4 or whatever experience points during a certain amount of playtime. In this way it doesn't take as long to level anymore.

Are there still tons of players on this game?

Ans: In NA? no. the strictly NA servers like aria or phoenix or whatever have maybe around 2000 average...and half of that is bots and player shops.

Euro servers like Teon are heavily populated with like 5-6k people but unless you live in europe or don't mind the time differences (for people and in game for sieges and stuff) or possibly the lag you might get, go for it.

Is it a party focused game?

Ans: In pvp, yes, its party focused. in pve where you need to level, you can do it entirely solo up to 85 if you wanted to, depending on your class.

Some jobs level much much faster than others.

Is pvp optional in this game or better for me, even avoidable at all costs?

Ans: its optional, but the game is pvp oriented. You may have to defend yourself against a pker...I used to be a notorious one before i quit....w.

funtimes...i was NEVER killed as a pker thanks to bsoe. SR ftw.

Is the PvE content strong, ?

Ans: Yeah...somewhat. its nots like FFXI where it takes time to kill mobs (not burn meripos at endgame). In L2, you blaze through the mobs with soulshots/spirit shots, these double or quadruple your damage at the cost of money.

Are there cinematics and really strong emotional story moments in this game like in FFXI?

Ans: There are no cinematics in this game like FFXI whatsoever storywise. FFXI wins hands down in that category. Square-Enix after all, very large RPG king.

Is the battle music in this game inspirational?

ans: There isn't really battle music like FFXI, the music if you hear any( in some places) come from the envrionment.

Its a seamless world with very very few instances and maybe no loading zones at all...not like the ones in FFXI anyway.

are people willing to help in L2 as much as in FFXI or party oriented games ?

Ans: Maybe...that would depend. Honestly though, i would say no but there are friendly people at low levels...its a personal experience which varies.

How is crafting in this game? what are the crafts?

Ans: Crafting in this game is horrible.

You craft weapons, armor,  and jewelry. They require certain hundreds and thousands of materials which most are sold by farmers. They also require recipes 60% and 100% to make and you need a dwarf with that particular recipe learnt to be able to create the item. If you fail in the 60% crafting, you lose alot of your materials.

Is there a class in this game like Dragoon or Dark Knight?

Ans: If you're talking about a 2 handed heavy melee damage dealer...then i'd have to point you to the destroyer in the orc race. Warlords use spears and lances like dragoons...but honestly they are a joke in pvp and only "decent" in pve...if you like a challenge, you can try the kamael berserker...they use 2-hand swords, have unique skills but very very low hp and cannot wear heavy armor.

Destroyers, when built correctly, can be a juggernaut in close quarter combat in pvp, in dungeons or throne rooms, etc...they can even handle a bow pretty well to cover some range areas.

If you like appearance and don't want to be an ugly orc, you can level some other class/race to 75 and subclass destroyer.

However, I'll tell you now that the game is mostly dominated by archers and mage classess like spellsinger, spellhowler and necromancer. Where you as a melee class need to go up close to whack them, they can possibly "1-2 shot you" from afar from crazy buffs or magical criticals or both.

Pvp in L2 is not what it used to be, battles are very short, because the game is more offensive oriented than defensive. Attack means alot more than defense.

Its been said that Lineage 2 has over a million players, sadly most of them aren't in NA...so be prepared to see barren land if you're not in a euro server.

I hope this answers at least some of your questions.

I played and like both games, but i couldn't stand FFXI graphics any endgame anymore, and L2 was going downhill fast in every aspect. Now, I'm waiting for Aion and Ragnarok 2 (if it ever comes out) and playing miscellaneous games offline and online.

Thanks for the honest reply, I wanted to check out L2 but a world filled with high end cheaters is not my ideal play ground. FFXI has its cheaters too but most players get things legit in FFXI because money can only get you so far..before you actually are forced to group. Thanks for the reply and I hope you enjoy L2.

I can see you took your time to put these answers together, I thank you.

I would say try Lineage 2 and find out for your self. Never make your decision about a game based on what another person tells you. I have played Final Fantasy XI and Lineage 2 and I can honestly say that they are nonthing alike. Lineage 2 is in a class by it self because it totally non linear and its not story based at all. Its a wide open world where you can do what ever you want to do at any given time. Just try it and see what you think.

Never played FFXI but Printscreen that is a pretty honest description of L2.

I have to mention to the OP that elitism is huge in L2... Overenchants, augments, S80 equips, lv85 max, etc basically means that there is no hard cap on how powerful a character can be, and the few elitist end level players (9/10 of which are overt cheaters) are pretty much untouchable by anyone else. Printscreen's statement that some people spend literally thousands of RL dollars "to be the best" in L2 is 100% accurate.

Great answer Printscreen.

I just came back to L2 from another stint with FFXI, and they are totally diffferent.

Grinding in L2 can be accomplished in groups or often solo.  And it's not nearly as boring as sitting around while someone pulls a mob like in FFXI.

One thing I like better about FFXI are skillups, but that's about it.  And if you dont like PvP, then you won't get everything L2 has to offer, although it can still be fun IMO.

edit:  Nic sig Isurus lol

jhall what server do you play on?

I'm on Bartz.  you?