NCSoft today announced that the latest Lineage II expansion, Chronicle 5: Oath of Blood has gone live. Oath of Blood is of course free to all subscribers and includes lots of new conent as is the norm with such things.

There's a bunch of screenshots that feature some of the new weapons in our gallery. Further details in the full story and the the official site of course.

Chronicle 5 offers players both playable content and refinements of existing systems that makes game play at every level more exciting. The Chronicle 5 content includes new hunting grounds, castles, clan halls and monsters. The changes to existing features are a result of feedback from Lineage II players, which Studio E&Gtm has used to revitalise multiple systems to appeal to new players and enrich the experience of veterans.

The sweeping system changes mean that new and lower level players will progress faster. New items and other enhancements have been added to make the game more rewarding at those levels without sacrificing the challenge that Lineage II is known for. Additionally, the new Academy in the game's clan system helps clan members rapidly train up and become powerful members much more quickly than before.

Highlighting the challenges for mid- and upper-level players is the addition of Rune and Schuttgart castles, plus several contestable clan halls that are ripe for the taking. In addition, there are many powerful beasts, like the maniacal Prince Frintezza, who controls an insanely scary monster called Scarlet von Halisha by playing an ornate organ in his lair, and the formidable Benom, who lurks in the depths of Rune castle.

In addition, revitalised PvP systems and an increased level cap give players of all classes the ability to be successful and even more to aspire to.

"I'm very excited about Chronicle 5 because it makes Lineage II easier to get into and overcoming later obstacles even more rewarding," said Adam Davidson, the North American producer of Lineage II. "The changes in this expansion are major in terms of how you experience the game. Studio E&G has really been open to the community's feedback and we're pleased to be able to offer both tons of new content and these fundamental changes that make the game more accessible, while still holding great challenge for the elite players."