Earlier today, NCsoft officially acknowledged the former Project TL as Throne and Liberty, its final game title. A MMORPG which has been in development for a very, very long time, it seems that the team is pushing hard for Throne and Liberty’s global launch this year (2022). Seen below are some of the details taken from the official NCsoft developer blog, so read on and enjoy!
• As many would have known, Project TL initially started as a sequel to the Lineage franchise, known as “The Lineage.” The initial goal was to create the next-generation Lineage game.
• Three years ago, all that changed. During development, many of the original systems and contents had to be adapted or removed in line with current game trends. As a result, the gameplay was also gradually different from the original. A completely new story was writtened, but after this story revamp, questions arose within the development team as well, ‘Should this be called Lineage?’ Hence, they changed the game’s name to fit the new story and create a new IP.
• Throne and Liberty is developed for PC and console platforms as a next-generation MMORPG. A lot of work went into designing how immersive the world where players play. The environment has been carefully constructed so that many people can continue to experience new experiences and have fun in the world of Throne and Liberty.
• For example, there are several features to make field play less monotonous for players. In the same area, the terrain may change as the weather changes, the flow of battle may change depending on the direction of the wind, and players may encounter new mobs over time. Hunting methods and purposes are constantly changing. The field, the environment, and the player, these three factors influence each other, and the team put a lot of effort into making different possible outcomes in the same area.
• The first foundation of Throne and Liberty is worldview. This, together with a solid story, will keep players immersed and have fun in the game. In order to explain the story and worldview naturally in the game, various play tools and directing techniques that appear mainly in console games and adventure games were utilized.
• The second foundation of Throne and Liberty is challenging content. While PVP has always been a staple in NCsoft titles and players find it fun, the reality is that far more players are more interested in overcoming well-designed challenges than competing with each other to reach their apex. In Throne and Liberty, players can feel these points well when attacking boss monsters, and it can be cleared only if multiple players understand the characteristics and skills of each boss well and cooperate by using their abilities well.
• In order to connect all areas in the game seamlessly, a unique travel mechanic is implemented in Throne and Liberty. Players are able to transform into a variety of animals to move around the land more conveniently. This is not limited to just land animals, as players can explore the skies and seas using the right transformations. In the transformed state, players can even offer a ride to other players!
• As previously mentioned, environmental factors such as day and night, rain and wind changes every moment in Throne and Liberty. For example, when shooting a bow, the direction and strength of the wind affect the range, and if players use lightning-type magic when it rains, a skill that only attacks a single target when it is sunny is changed to a wide-area skill. There are also things that affect the terrain. In siege warfare, there are several ways to infiltrate the castle, including through the castle’s underground sewers. However, when it rains, these places can fill with water and turn into an unusable route.
• Players can also influence the environment. If certain conditions are met, a player can change the environment to the desired shape when necessary, such as causing a solar eclipse or rainstorm.
• Throne and Liberty shares the same worldview with another MMORPG project, Project E, which was teased in the trailer here. Both games takes place on the same planet (Novcrea), but on different continents. Obviously, Throne and Liberty has a western influence, while Project E has a Eastern influence. The continents can be seen in the world map below.
• There are 2 core events which tie the 2 games together. The first is an attempt to seal God. At the time of the War of the Old Gods, an attempt to seal Silaves with the magic stone “Sylaves’ Star” failed, and the sealing stones condensed with powerful energy are shattered and scattered around the planet of Novcrea. As a result, in Throne and Liberty, a history of battles to obtain the scattered Silaves Star serves as the backdrop. In Project E, several mysterious fragments (actually “Sylaves of Star”) fall on the continent. These fragments formed 4 sky islands, 1 mysterious lake, and divine bodies such as divine beasts and divine trees.
• The second core event to tie the 2 games and continents is *drum roll*…. War! Humans, elves, orcs… You get the drift.
• The “E” in Project E actually stands for “Eastern” to reflect the overall visual design.
