I was streaming retail Lineage 2 a bit and someone suggested that if I wanted the original feel of the game I should try the classic client. So I did. I’m spitballing dates here a little because it’s been a while.

It’s uh, not even remotely classic though. The character creation screen is the new one, from many, MANY years after the original.  Like around 5th or 6th expansion if memory serves. You can choose a Kamael, who are now called the “Jin Kamael” for some reason, when they didn’t come out until the Kamael update some 6 years after launch.

You don’t have to walk ANYWHERE, at least so far.  I got ported from the old dark elf starter zone straight to town, where the arm in the middle seemed somehow crooked.  I then got ported right to the next town which was Gludio, given upgraded gear (but no weapon and no more spiritshots, which are ungodly expensive), and then later ported right to the Ruins of Agony.  No walking around required.

The popular choice for bots seems to be the precursor to elemental summoners, and kamael melee.  They are EVERYWHERE. Ponies for DAYS.

So far every area the mobs have been passive, and non social.  It’s really something else.  It took me maybe 1 hour to hit 20 and a simple button click to change from mystic to wizard.  No running everywhere, no long 1st class change quest, yeah this isn’t classic.  Adena doesn’t drop either, it goes right into your inventory, and very, very little of it. I wanted to buy just 500 spiritshots, not even blessed, and I couldn’t afford it. So, that part is like classic.

And even funny enough, there is now a bot system in game.  In RoA you will find 5 bots to every mob cluster going at it 24/7 for DAYS.  It’s… yeah.  It’s like Blizzard introducing Cataclysm as “Classic” and letting you afk bot. This isn’t classic.