| Competition Jour
|
Dawn:  |
| Dusk:  |
Welcome to Lineage II MMO PvP 101 and 102 !
By Michael Lafferty
NCsoft’s Lineage II development team offers teams for successful PvP combat
On the cusp of a new chronicle, a chapter to expand the boundaries of the world of Aden, it is likely time to go to the source to talk about a factor that is as intricate to the lands of Lineage II as is the air the avatars supposedly breathe.
For the uninitiated, Lineage II (which will soon be making Lineage II Chronicle 4 : Scions of Destiny available to players of the game) is a full-on player-versus-player (PvP) world with few safe havens. The massively multiplayer online role-playing game features a variety of classes, races and requires players have a stalwart heart to take on the rigors present not only by the monsters of the world, but other players as well. Underscoring each movement in the world of Aden is the chance that a player will be killed by another player. It may be a faction/race attack, a territorial dispute or simply that you were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
PvP is not to be taken lightly. There are those that bait others into a confrontation, only to have hidden friends jump out and join the lopsided battle. Needless to say, it takes awareness of one’s surroundings and potential pitfalls. Of course, there is the chance that penalties will be imposed against those who slaughter innocent (aka non-aggressive) players, but for the most part, if you venture beyond the walls of the towns, you take your chances in regards to attacks from other players.
For those who have participated in PvP for any length of time, you are aware of the pure adrenalin rush of the combat, how the slightest tactical error (even not using the right skill at the right time) can turn the tide from victory to defeat within moments. The heart beats faster, the breathe becomes a little shorter and quicker, and the eyes light up with joy of these cyber battles. In short, it can be quite fun.
But there are things to consider when you enter a PvP landscape. The developers of Lineage II - Ncsoft - were kind enough to share some thoughts on what players should be aware of when it comes to the art of player-versus-player war. Consider this PvP 101 and 102. Your professors are the folks at NCsoft. Let the introductory lesson commence :
Lineage 2 Chronicle 4 - PvP Basics
Life in the world of Lineage II can be a dangerous and exciting experience. Although towns and villages are safe havens, the vast wilderness of Aden can transform into a battlefield at any moment. With skirmishes with random bandits, violent territorial disputes, and all out clan and alliance wars, there is always a chance that a regular day will turn into rigorous Player vs. Player (PvP) experience.
The only law in this chaotic landscape is the rule of Karma. Two players that are fighting with one another will both be marked as aggressive, at which point only regular death penalties will apply. However, if someone kills another that is not aggressive, they will gain Karma and become chaotic, marked in red to everyone that can see their name. Chaotic players can be attacked or killed without penalty. If a chaotic player has killed more than five innocents, there is a chance they will drop some of their hard-earned equipment upon death.
Despite the penalties, there may be times when gaining Karma is the only option, especially for revenge or to administer frontier justice. In this case, Karma can be removed slowly by killing monsters or by dying at the hand of another player.
The first rule in any PvP encounter is to constantly stay in motion, using speed and terrain to the best advantage. Every race and class has a different running speed, and there are certain skills that can increase overall speed as well. Bow users and wizards have the best chance when fighting opponents at a distance, but even melee classes can carry a bow to weaken a target before closing in or to prevent someone from escaping. Some skills can slow an enemy down to make them easier targets, while there are a few spells that completely immobilize an enemy for a short period of time, making them a sitting duck. Using the terrain effectively is also a great tactic, as hiding behind trees or ducking behind corners can disrupt an attack and force an opponent to close in for better line of sight.
The second rule is to not hold back, especially in a one-on-one encounter. Running out of magic points is always better than dying ! Attack skills and spells always do more damage than regular attacks and often have special effects. Skills that cause damage over time, skills that steal health from an opponent, and other skills that cause exceptional damage at the cost of magic are great for wearing down an opponent. Short breaks in battle can be used to recover health using healing spells.
There are also many self buff skills that are vital to victory if used properly, as many of them can be used quickly in battle. Skills that increase the chance to inflict critical damage can turn the tide of battle, while other skills boost health to increase survivability. Other defensive skills can increase armor or evasion significantly, greatly reducing the amount of damage taken throughout the battle. Although a strong offense can lead to victory, proper use of defensive powers is a major advantage.
Lastly, when all else fails, remember that friends, allies, and clan mates are the best weapon and resource for waging war and maintaining peace, especially when dealing with multiple opponents. With an understanding of your skills, the opponent, and the terrain, you can turn any battle into a victory. PvP is fast-paced and is often over as quickly as it begins, but a prepared player can often come out on top.
Lineage 2 Chronicle 4 - Advanced PvP : Group Tactics
There are often times in the world of Lineage II when parties, clans, and alliances will find it necessary to fight as a unit, whether over territory, for a castle, or for vengeance. Group Player versus Player (PvP) combat requires much greater tactical skill and organization, where a solid game plan and strong leadership can mean the difference between victory and death.
The first things to understand are the different classes and their role in Group PvP. Healers are responsible for keeping the party alive through the use of healing spells and magic that incapacitates enemy characters. Buffer classes should try to keep the party enhanced with vital buff spells but focus primarily on incapacitating, de-buffing, or casting damage-over-time spells on the enemy. Damage dealers, whether ranged, melee, or summoned, should focus all of their attacks on the same target and take out individual enemies as quickly as possible, although keep in mind that movement speed and terrain can play a huge role in the effectiveness of close -ranged fighters.
With this in mind, it is always recommended that the enemy healers always be considered one of the primary targets because of their unique skills. Taking them out of the battle early will make it much easier to take out the enemy group, although it may be necessary to gain Karma if they refuse to become aggressive. The other primary targets in group encounters are wizards and necromancers, who can deal massive damage in a short period of time and possess an excellent array of de-buffs and incapacitation skills. Archers are also important to neutralize as quickly as possible because of their high damage output.
One important tactic to consider, however, is that it isn’t always necessary to kill an opponent in order to take them out of the battle. Skills and an awareness of their use in group PvP are vital to victory. Paralyze, stun, or sleep attacks are great for effectively taking an enemy out of battle until later, although many of these skills only work if the target player is marked as aggressive. Casters can be rendered useless with proper use of Silence, making them unable to cast spells. Dispelling buffs is also a great way to lower the overall effectiveness of the enemy and provide a much needed edge. The faster opponents are neutralized, regardless of the method, the faster the battle is over and the more efficient the victory.
The most important factors of any group-based combat are organization, leadership, and communication. The team must be able to work together as a single force and follow orders from its designated leader. The leader must have clear objectives, be able to make snap decisions, and adapt quickly, assisted by a clear understanding of his units, his opponents, and the necessary tactics required for victory. Communication of these objectives and decisions from the leader, combined with succinct updates from the battlefield, hold the unit together and make it an effective fighting force.
Constant warfare is a fact of life to everyone living in the world of Lineage II. Eventually, all clans and alliances looking to carve their place in history will be forced to go head to head with their enemies and assert their dominance on the battlefield. With a thorough understanding of everyone’s strengths and weaknesses, strong organization, clear objectives, and a steady hand, you can rise to the top and defeat your enemies.
(For more information on the pending Chronicle 4 expansion for Lineage II, please visit the Web site at http://www.lineage2.com/)
Dawn: