Lineage II is designed to offer far more character customization options than its predecessor. In designing an avatar, the player chooses gender, race, basic attributes, a name, and decides whether the character will specialize in physical combat or magic use. More specific classes and skills are determined gradually, as the character gains experience and levels up. Player characters can be humans, elves, dark elves, orcs, or dwarves, and each race begins with its own ingame culture and home starting city. Appearances change dynamically depending on the clothing, armor, and weapons a character has equipped. Pieces of armor exist as separate polygonal objects, and can change not only the color and texture but also the physical profile of the characters that wear them. Character actions are controlled through a straightforward pointandclick interface, as in the earlier games.

The expansions in the Lineage II series are called chronicles, and the first one is titled Harbringers of War. This update added siege warfare to the game and allowed cast owners to tax the corresponding city up to 15 percent. Chronicle 2: Age of Splendor added a manor system, additional map areas, the water city of Heine, Devastated Castle, the Tower of Insolence, the castle of Innadril, the Aden Coliseum, the Field of Whispers, the Field of Silence, and more. Chronicle 3: Rise of Darkness includes a universe titled the Seven Signs. In this expansion, two factions, Dawn and Dusk, are at war, and players are encouraged to take a side and compete for seals that can be exchanged for Ancient Adena.

The seals are found on Mobs inside Catacombs and Necropoli that are reserved for participants in the competition. Player groups fight through each environment picking up as many seals as they can. Parties of up to five people can enter the Festival, a timed kill fest within each dark place. Winners are given exclusive rights to the cave for a week, and no other group can hunt there. Chronicle 4: Scions of Destiny expands such content as territories, enemies, summons, equipment, and a system designed to reward highlevel players. Chronicle 5: Oath of Blood features improvements made to the clan system and other changes. By participating in the Clan Academy, Clan Warfare, Clan Hall Battles, and Clan Quests, players earn a reputation that is used to increase rank.