Lineage II: The Chaotic Chronicle is NCSoft's update to the wildly popular Lineage: The Blood Pledge, currently the most popular MMORPG in the world. In this prequel, which takes place 150 years before the events of the original game, the lands of Aden are instead a kingdom in strife, with its peoples torn between the warring factions of the Nation of Elmoa and the island of Gracia. Lineage II will take the play mechanics set forth in Lineage, translate it into full 3D graphics, and give players more freedom than in the previous game, thanks to a capable graphics engine that will allow for flight, complex siege battles, and undersea exploration.

　　Lineage II will use the Lineage design philosophy, specifically the simple mouse-driven attack and movement interface. Low-level players will be able to hunt for tangible rewards, and as they gain in experience and notoriety, they can become involved in the more global leadership, political, and economic aspects of the game. Players can choose from five different races--human, elf, orc, dwarf, and dark elf--each with its own classes and abilities. Each race also has a branching class tree that rewards players for advancement not only with new skills but also with changes to their character's appearance. Players can choose to play as fighters, whose fighting styles vary according to the weaponry and armor being worn. There are also two different systems in place for combat: special manual and default auto, which afford for more or less control over maneuvers during melee. Magicians can specialize in three different schools of magic--white, black, and summoning--each with specialized types of spells.

　　Lineage II is more focused on group and large-scale battles than Lineage, with new party-experience functions, blood pledge warring systems, and siege weaponry. Players will be able to lay siege to a caste, battle upon its ramparts, and even catapult over its walls if so inclined. Lineage II will also make use of a complex political system that borrows much from medieval feudalism. Individual players can become the masters of manors and lands and fight as the head of their respective family. Pledging allegiance to a king will merit you reserves and reinforcements in times of war or invasion. Manors can be set to become production plants for salable goods, trading districts, military bases, or even an orcish stronghold or undead city.

　　Each character in Lineage II is also subject to a peer-morality evaluation system, in which other players judge you based upon your actions. The results of these judgments can range from the punishment for personal crimes to a national rebellion against a king.

　　We'll take a look at Lineage II: The Chaotic Chronicle from the E3 show floor, where we'll give you our impressions and the latest details.