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For anyone starting once the expansion hits retail, read.
In this post, I will share my experience during Gracia's PTS with those who plan on starting once the new expansion hits retail (scheduled for August's 12th). Hope it helps those who aren't experienced in the game's mechanics, and those who haven't read enough about what Gracia features.
Level 1
Once you appear in the world, you will appear in a room filled with monsters called Gremlins, and at your back, there will be 2 NPCs, talk with the one called Newbie Helper and get the quest to recover the blue gemstone, go and kill 1 or 2 Gremlins (drop rate is high) and you will get it, it's important that you don't kill many Gremlins, the vitality system will help you later on, and it would be a waste to use it on these lowbie mobs. Take the blue Gemstone back to the newbie helper, he will provide you with a recommendation card, take it to the NPC next to him, and with that you will receive soulshots or spirit shots (which can be used in order to boost your damage by dragging them into your skill bar from your inventory, and clicking on them with the right button of your mouse).
Level 2
After killing a Gremlin you will be level 2, lead now to your starter village, advoid killing any monster on the way there to keep your vitality at max level. Once you enter your city you will find a NPC called Newbie Guide, talk with him, receive a bunch of shots, and check out the dialogue display, he will ask you to talk with a certain NPC, notice that a kind of arrow appears over your head, this will guide you through the city in order to find that NPC, take the quest and complete it, it shouldn't be hard, once you've completed it go back to the newbie guide, who will have something for you, you should be level 5 now, once you talk with the guide, you will become level 6 and he will offer you 2 options.
Level 6
NOTE that L2 classes have to go to the guild in their starter towns in order to learn skills from the masters, for fighter classes, the levels to get skills are 5, 10 and 15 (before changing profession), for mages, 7 and 14.
You are at the newbie guide now and he has a new quest ready for you, but he also has a bunch of goods you are interested in. First, get your weapon exchange coupon and trade it for a weapon fitting your class, click on "Get support with a newbie item" and then click on "Use the weapon warehouse for apprentice...".
Once you have your weapon, equip it, and check another option from the newbie guide, "Check the list of available support magic". Click on this option, and then click on "Receive support magic". You will get buffed, these buffs last up to level 62 in Gracia, that next to the herbs should make your solo experience way easier.
Option for fighter classes, non Kamael ones:
If you're a fighter, and you want an armor, go to the kamael village with the scroll in your inventory and talk there with a guard called Marcela, take the "supplies" quest and complete it, its quite easy, just run around the city 2 times and you will get a wooden set, which should last you until level 20. If you're kamael, this quest is part of the proccess the newbie guide gets you through, so it isn't necessary.
Once you've received the buffs and the weapons, check out for the new quest displayed on the Newbie guide's conversation window, complete it, and that quest should provide you with a good ammount of shots, nice SP and experience, I don't remember which level this quest gets you at, but anyways, once you've completed it, lead to the newbie guide again, you should be level 14/15 if I recall correctly.
Level 14/15
Now the newbie guide will have his last quest ready, this one will be the longest one, and probably the hardest one, check your quest panel by clicking alt+U and take a look at the quest's name, once you've seen it, go to lineage2.stratics.com and find a guide there. These quests have been made easier in Gracia, so you'll probably end up skipping a pair of steps. This quest should take you up to level 18 once you've talked for the last time with the newbie guide, and now you're ready to start your quest to change your profession.
Level 18
Now lead to Gludin or Gludio, check out the map by clicking alt+M and look for your race's guild, there you'll see a guy with an awesome armor who looks like the one who rules there, talk with him, ask him for information about how to complete your profession change, and he will tell you where to start your quest.
If you are lost on this proccess, you can always check lineage2.stratics.com guides. Once you've completed this quest, you should be level 20, with your vitality at max level, and ready to use D grade equipment.
Level 20
Level up a bit up to level 21, and complete one of these 2 quests depending on your race: Dark elves, the rest.
Now head to Giran, go to the weapons and armor shops and equip yourself with the best D grade items you can buy from the standard items list, this gear will serve you in order to raid. Check out that your vitality must be at max level also, so that's great for you.
Now head to dion and ask for a raid group, there might be many alt chars and newcomers after the expansion hits, so you shouldn't have problems finding a spot, this group should take you to level 40 within 5-8 hours of playing if you have the time, raiding all the way up to 40 is important if you want to do it as fast as possible, since the raids have been boosted in Gracia.
Level 40
Now complete the second class quests which should make you level 42 (depends on the class, ofc), with C grade standard items everything should be easier. Remember tho, that C grade weapons have SA, and you can't apply them in standard items, so you can save up and buy them from regular items instead of standard ones and then apply SA for a more effective leveling. This whole proccess took me 10 hours and I was plainswalker.
Now it's time to grind, level hard and reach level 52 to get B grade, this proccess took me 2 days of kinda hardcore gaming on the PTS server, starting from scratch and without the boosting plans in the middle. So it is possible to hit B grade fast and become somehow competitive, however, make sure you are level 70 before getting heavily involved with wars if you don't want to see how you get rocked constantly :P
This whole proccess up to 52 should teach you how to play the game, now, if you keep playing like this, you'll be able to get a subclassed character within the first month of playing, getting into a clan, into the politics, and being able to enjoy L2's real content.
Comments
Nice guide, easy way to get higher. My only concern about increasing exp bonuses is that I am scared that the new players will still have no clue how to play the game once all this fluff is gone. I recently was playing was some guy around in the 30s and he seriously felt like he has only been playing for like an hour, it scared the crap out of me
.
~Greatness~
Currently Playing:
Nothing
I agree.
I had to start playing the market to generate adena starting right before D grade expertise (20) back in the day. The potential problem is players that are not be exposed to the market until they are a much higher level might struggle.
I agree.
I had to start playing the market to generate adena starting right before D grade expertise (20) back in the day. The potential problem is players that are not be exposed to the market until they are a much higher level might struggle.
I agree. Of course there are the "standard items' and shadow weapons so perhaps that can help a bit. However, I feel that players will rely upon these things and then one day wake up and realize that they are woefully behind.
I don't mind having a vitality system but I do mind that it essentially makes players bypass most low lvl areas, experiences, etc.
Godfred's Tomb Trailer: https://youtu.be/-nsXGddj_4w
Original Skyrim: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/109547
Serph toze kindly has started a walk-through. https://youtu.be/UIelCK-lldo
I think you can do both 1st class change quests to recieve more xp (little boring but worth it)
A friend did all 2nd class change quests to get more xp and adena
Perhaps the only game i played for as much as ive played EvE. Its amazing in many ways but the economy is the one thing that will always annoy me. The drop tables are soo messed up that basically everything is run by farmers/bots. Which doesnt help since they jack up prices and that results in many people buying adena.
I did fairly well with overenchanting weapons and thats how i made my adena. Playing the market takes a lot of patience and effort but it can be done. Unfortunately many people will find themselves lacking the adena to even afford the crappiest grade armors and weapons within their grade.
Great game for those who dont mind putting the time and effort but after getting hacked twice i didnt really feel like remaking tons of adena for A grade a third time, and buying adena is a waste of RL money which i wont do since im a student lol.
oh dang, I got it stickied. Guess I should revamp it a bit for that
nice guide but do the second class quests at 39
Free Teleports (patch notes)
Characters below level 40 can use the gatekeepers to teleport for free.
oh and player's might not level that fast since they mentioned this for the test server
Current Test Server Goals
Currently our main focus is to give the Vitality System a spin. We will revisit these goals in the coming weeks.
I've had no problems until now (currently level 22). I can't seem to find a raid group in Dion as this guide suggests. Actually, whenever i log in, there's typically only 1-3 people in dion in general, and they don't tend to answer me if I try to talk to them.
How can I find a raid group to help me get to 40?
I'm on the server Devianne... second question... all servers show "Low" population except for Teon which shows "High" but is a european server. Do I need to roll on that server to find a significant community? I understand that the community on "Low" servers is probably all higher level, so I'm just not seeing it, but as a (for the most part) newbie, I kind of expect to see more than the random person or two in town now and then, especially since I can't rush my way to the higher levels with any success (so far).
I've read suggestions to join a clan or whatever, but again, as a newbie, I'm not sure how to go about doing that, or how to speak with someone from a clan to find out if I want to join that particular clan in the first place, etc...
I'm a potentially hardcore l2 player that is having a pretty hard time getting the hang of things, even with this guide =/ Oh, and it doesn't help that I tried to sign up for the L2 boards and have to wait on an administrator to approve my account O.o
Not meaning to be completely down on everything... I've had a great time leveling to 22 so fast with the increased lvling speed, but oh man, so many things trying to make me quit early.
i doubt it be any help at all moving to Teon, if you can't find a raid group you just have to solo, witch you spend a lot off time on in l2.
the population is higher but it's full off high lvl player's already, lot's off farmer's and the botting is rampart on the server.
In Luna there are many people doing Kamaloka from level 23, I made my way up to 40 with my alt that way, I don't know about Devianne, if there are only 3 people in Dion then it means the server isn't oriented for new players at this time.
Ah yeah, I suppose I'll just have to solo it out. Not that it matters all that much - I'm enjoying soloing plenty, but the thought of raiding for 20 levels sounded kind of interesting. Maybe something will come up during the process. Thanks for the replies.
Honestly Ephemiro you could have saved yourself all that typing if you were to just say, "Read what the damn NCPs tell you."
Also I don't know what you mean by "subclassed character within the first month of playing". If you mean to imply that one can go from 1-75 in a month then you're dreaming. Might want to rephrase that.
So true, there is SOOO many benefits that newbies can receive but I only see a few actually use them because they don't read! That is why this guide is so useful because people will actually read this rather than in-game text.
~Greatness~
Currently Playing:
Nothing
I rerolled a Plains walker, and in a month of playing im already level 73, and I've been 6 days in Leipzig's GC.
(I have a 6 hours per day job and like to go out on Friday/Saturday nights if anyone wonders).
Oh and no, I haven't botted nor ebayed, and my first char is still on Bartz while my PW is in Luna, so I didn't feed my alt with money nor items.
Firstly to answer a previous poster, all this readily available stuff which NCSoft has introduced IS infact a buffer for new players. It is NOT meant to dictate how the rest of the game will be nor does it signal a shift in vision for L2. IT is meant to be simple and easy enough for ppl who are new to MMOs or only have one account to be able to progress to a "reasonable" level where they have both learnt enough about the game mechanics and understand something more of the larger millieu of the game.
Bottom line up front, the game engine, and play design is such that you need to join a clan in order to progress efficiently. This is why gear will be less of an issue later and there will only be a slight adjustment to the realities of the L2 economy and the rest of the game. New players should be looking for that clan safety net.
Now to answer the quote above,
I wish I would see more ppl posting as you have. Here's the reason and the solution for your current dilema.
L2 is a competitive game ! It is NOT like any other MMO. This is a PvP game with a PvE mechanism for advancement. Classes ARE NOT balanced within themselves, they are balanced for the ROLE they fullfill within a group. Group success is based on the player knowing and understanding the strenghts and weaknesses of their class as well as some developing knowledge of the strenghts and weaknesses of other classes. This will improve as you play the game, however, as a baseline know your character.
The overall concept of L2 is to control the PvE environment through a systematic and sustained application of PvP to control certain points of interaction between players and the PvE environment. ie Fortesses and Castles. Controlling these allows you to interface with the PvE environment and gives you options for not only your character but through the manipulation of taxes and the manor system directly influences all the other players on the server who move through the region which you control. All of these are directly linked into the L2 economy.
To attain these lofty goals, be competitive, XP safely, and progress through content more smoothly (raid or otherwise), ppl form and join clans.
Clans are the bread and butter of L2. They are the reason you are playing this game.
With the influx of new players and the "easing" of the XP curve there are a lot of new players in the game who have come with a lot of misconceptions based on previous MMOs. That in itself is not an issue, but they need to pick up on the difference quickly before they get disappointed and burnt out. For this reason you may find pick up groups for Kameloka's and maybe some Catacomb or Necropolis parties. But thats not how L2 works.
As you have discovered the greater world grows more and more "silent" as you advance. The reason for this is the separation of players into clans. Most clans have their ventrilo or teamspeak servers and simply chat rather than type. L2 group combat is too dynamic for you to type instructions. You will not live long enough to do so. Instructions must be verbal and timely based on what sort of fight you are in and there is a clear priority of targets and effects which must be communicated in realtime. This is what I mean by competition, this is what the game ultimately comes down to and as you get higher the groups and complexity of PvP just increase. If you want to attain some of the end game goals you need to prepare yourself mentally and physically for PvP.
The pressures of the economy as you get higher level, the difficulty of obtaining higher grade equipment through group based quests, raids and PvP has made the playerbase more insular. Why ?
Enter the human dimension.
Never before in my experience of MMOs have I seen the such a wide ragne of human behaviour exposed so blatantly. From greed, manipulation, lies, cheating, scamming to noble conduct, genuine help and in some cases new RL friendships. Understanding this dimension takes time and is the reason why ppl seek shelter in clans to protect themselves and give themselves some surety.
Joining a clan is by no means a solution to the human dimension. But it leverages the needs of the players and the reason for playing against the reality of the game engine and the L2 economy.
There are various mechanisms employed by clans to ascertain what sort of a player you are. Generaly your success within a clan will be determined by what sort of a person you are, how easily you socialise and what sort of an emotional and time investment you are prepared to make to share your time and efforts with your clan peers.
This is the reason pickup style gaming does not work in L2.
The solution: How to join a clan (my opinon)
Look around at the various tags. By now you should be able to distinguish between the various grades of armour. Find out who wears the S and 80S armour around you. Find out which clans own castles. Go and watch the sieges. Once you work out who the active clans on your servers are ask for who the clan leaders are, speak to a member and find out if they have clan boards.
Once you find the clan boards enter into a dialogue via the recruitment section. Find out what the clan goals and practices are and whether you agree with them. Remember there are as many "bad" clans as there are "good" ones. Understand the problems of L2 and ask how those clans deal with them.
Some support botting and e-baying because they are only focused on the PvP and don't have the time to support you through the "PvE levelling phase" they don't care for the "cost" of playing the game nor the means to generate sufficient means to do so.
Others are the opposite and focus more on ingame progression, raids etc leaving sieging and PvP to a long term goal once they have been able to build up thei playerbase. These clans will kick you out for cheating after some warning process.
There is no righ or wrong way to play L2, leave your morality at the door.
You play within your means and in accordance with your own principles. You are wasting your time preaching to ppl who play this game in a manner which suits them and expecting some sort of judicial fairness from either the GMs or NCSoft. Be focused on your own achievements and play for your clan, individually the botters and cheaters are hard to beat, but in group PvP there is only the player behind the k/b with their skill and knowledge of the game. This is the fundamental equaliser of the game.
Regards,
Ellyrion Fiallathandriel
The Reckless Knight
Lunatris
Ephemiro I still find that hard to believe, I'll bet you play longer on weekends than you've said. But I won't belabor the point.
Here's my story.
I rerolled a Necromancer almost 2 months ago. Fully twinked all the way up to A-grade (SOM+Acu, DC robe set, Maj jewels, +4 wit/int tats), 'infinite' BSPS and Cursed Bones. Lv56 2boxed SE. Lv56 Prophet that I log in once every 20 minutes for Acut, Zerk, etc.
I have played this game on and off for years, I know exactly where to level and what to kill for XP. With my SE + PP buffs + herbs I have zero downtime. I'm a nuker so I level 2x as fast as any melee char. And I didn't start partying my SE until my Necro was 61.
I do not raid or even bother with Kama (much faster to grind).
2 months in, my Necro is lv66 (SE is lv62). I play about 2-3 hours a day weekdays, maybe 2-6 hours a day on weekends. Ever since I started partying my SE, my vitality on both characters has never once dipped below Lv3.
So, coming from someone whose char has pretty much everything working in my favor yet is only lv66 after 2 months, 1-75 in a month for a newb to L2 is a stretch.
thanks a lot! you know it's nice to a new player like me. i take it.
anyway,thx.
Back in Chronicle II, playing pretty much constantly with no life, took me four months to hit 45. Then again, I had a friend who hit the max level (then 63 I think?) really fast, so I guess I was just a slowpoke.
Eager to get my hands on a return code and try this out again.