In Lineage, Knights, Wizards, Elves and Dark Elves have the option of joining a Blood Pledge, but only Princes and Princesses are able to form and control a pledge.
The size of a pledge is determined by the charisma (CHA) of its leader. For every 1 point of CHA, a royal may have 2 pledge members.
However, if a sovereign manages to acquire any charisma-boosting items, these items will add to the leader's total CHA when worn and allow them to have additional pledge members. When a royal reaches Level 50, they may have 3 pledge members (instead of 2) for every 1 point of CHA.
When a Royal completes the Level 45 Quest and becomes an Alliance Royal, the possible size of the pledge changes dramatically. For every 1 point of CHA, an Alliance Royal may have 6 pledge members.
When an Alliance Royal reaches Level 50, they may have 9 pledge members (instead of 6) for every 1 point of CHA.
Learn more about the alliance system.
The concept of a pledge will ultimately mean different things to different people, but above all will be the ideals of friendship, family and community, united together to achieve common goals.
Most pledge functions may be managed by entering text commands into the chat line in the game interface, or using the menu driven system through the Community Options window.
To open the Community Options window, click the icon in the lower right portion of the game interface window.
Pledge Commands For Leaders
Creating a Pledge
To create a pledge, a Prince or Princess must be at least level 5 and be able to pay the fee (30,000 adena). Visit the pledge NPC in your village to create a Blood Pledge.
You will be asked to name your pledge. Each pledge name must be unique; otherwise the Prince or Princess will receive a prompt informing them that the pledge name already exists.
Upon successful creation of a pledge, the Prince or Princess will receive a message in the chat window informing them that their pledge has been created. Please be aware that any name chosen for a pledge must adhere to the guidelines set forth in the Lineage User Agreement and Rules of Conduct.
Creating and Uploading a Pledge Emblem:
Once a Prince or Princess has created their pledge, they will want to upload a pledge emblem to help others identify their pledge more readily; you will need to exit Lineage after creating a pledge to prepare your character for uploading the emblem.
The emblem must be a 24-bit-color bitmap file (BMP), 16 pixels wide by 12 pixels high, and saved in the Lineage folder on your computer; "transparent" emblems will not be recognized as valid emblems.
For PC users:
- Save your pledge emblem BMP file in the same directory in which you installed Lineage. (i.e. C:\Program Files\Lineage)
- If you wish to test your pledge emblem* before uploading it, when in the game type /checkbmp [filename.bmp]. If the test is successful, you will see the emblem appear briefly over your character's head.
- To upload your pledge emblem**, make sure you are in the game. Type/emblem [filename.bmp]. You will need to restart Lineage in order for your emblem to appear to the left of your character's name.
For Mac users:
- Save your pledge emblem BMP file in the Lineage Resource folder. Press CTRL and click on the Lineage Icon. From the pop-up menu, click on "Show Package Contents" and then double-click on the Contents folder. Double-click on the Resource folder and place the emblem BMP file in the Resource folder.
- If you wish to test your pledge emblem* before uploading it, when in the game type /checkbmp [filename.bmp]. If the test is successful, you will see the emblem appear briefly over your character's head.
- To upload your pledge emblem**, make sure you are in the game. Type/emblem [filename.bmp]. You will need to restart Lineage in order for your emblem to appear to the left of your character's name.
Please be aware that any emblem chosen for a pledge must adhere to the guidelines set forth in the Lineage User Agreement and Rules of Conduct.
* You may also use the Community Options window to check your emblem. Click Blood Pledge Options and then Check Emblem; enter the name of the bitmap file (filename.bmp) in the resulting pop-up box.
** You may also use the Community Options window to upload your emblem. Click Blood Pledge Options and then Save Emblem; enter the name of the bitmap file (filename.bmp) in the resulting pop-up box.
Assigning a Pledge Title
Once you've joined a pledge, your pledge leader may then assign a title to your character if you are level 10 or above. Please be aware that any pledge title assigned must adhere to the guidelines set forth in the Lineage User Agreement and Rules of Conduct.
There is a 16-character limit for player titles; this will include any color codes, spaces and/or punctuation. To assign a pledge title, the pledge leader must type /title [pledge member name] [title] (or use the Community Options window by clicking Blood Pledge Options, Title, and then entering the pledge's name and new title).
Upon successful assignment of a pledge title, all pledge members online, including the pledge leader, will receive a prompt telling them that the pledge leader has bequeathed a specific title to a specific pledge member.
Banning a Pledge Member
On occasion, a pledge leader may decide that a pledge member should no longer be a part of their pledge, or wish to reorganize without having to totally disband the pledge.
To ban a pledge member from the pledge, the pledge leader must type /ban [pledge member name] or type /ban and a pop-up box will prompt them to enter the name of the member they wish to ban from the pledge. Upon successful ejection of a member from a pledge, the leader will receive a prompt telling them that they have banned the player from their pledge, and the ex-member will receive a prompt telling them that they have been banned from the pledge.
Banning pledge members may also be managed through the Community Options window by clicking Blood Pledge Options, selecting Ban, and then entering the name of the member they wish to ban.
Disbanding a Pledge
A Prince or Princess may choose to disband their pledge at any time after creation, but would ideally consult with their pledge members before doing so. Please note that when a Prince or Princess disbands a pledge, this will delete any items held in the shared pledge storage space. Additionally, a pledge cannot be disbanded while it controls a castle or owns a pledge house.
To disband a pledge, pledge leaders may either:
Type /leave in the chat line and press Enter. A pop-up box will appear in the chat window to confirm this decision; enter Yes to continue with the disbanding of the pledge.
OR
Click on the icon in the game interface window. Click on Blood Pledge Options, then on Leave, and enter Yes to confirm.
Upon successful dismissal of a pledge, the Prince or Princess will receive a prompt informing them that they have dismissed their pledge, and any pledge members online will receive a prompt informing them that the pledge leader has dismissed the pledge.
Note! A pledge cannot be disbanded while it controls a castle or owns a pledge house. In order to disband a pledge which currently owns a pledge house, the pledge leader will need to put the pledge house up for auction.
Please be advised that once the house goes up for sale and the pledge leader disbands their pledge, they will no longer be listed as the owner of the house, so when it sells, they will not receive the sale money; if the house fails to sell, the house ownership will revert to the auctioneer instead of the prior pledge leader.
Pledge Commands For Members
Joining a Pledge
Pledge leaders often recruit new members in city squares, on city message boards, in global chat, and on the Lineage message boards and fansites.
Depending upon the vision of the Prince or Princess for their pledge, certain restrictions for joining the pledge may be required, for such things as character level, armor class, alignment, availability, and level of commitment.
To join a pledge, type /join while facing your prospective Prince or Princess; the Prince or Princess will then choose to accept or deny your request from the pop-up menu in their chat window.
This, too, may be managed through the Community Options window by clicking on the icon in the game interface window. Click on Blood Pledge Options, then on Join. The potential member must face the Prince or Princess during the join process.
Upon successful joining of a pledge, the member will receive a prompt telling them that they've joined the pledge, and the pledge leader will receive a prompt telling them that they have accepted the player into their pledge.
Finding Pledge Members Online
To find out which of your fellow pledge members are currently on-line, type /pledge. This will bring up the Blood Pledge information window, which will tell you the name of the pledge, which members are on-line, and for the pledge leader, will give them a list of all current members of their pledge. This function may be used by all pledge members.
You may also use the Community Options window to find out which members of your pledge are online.
Participating in Pledge Chat
Pledge Chat is viewed by all players in the same pledge currently logged into the game. However, recipients who have excluded a fellow pledge member will not see the excluded member's comments. Please note when participating in pledge chat that all text used must adhere to the User Agreement and Rules of Conduct.
There is a 57-character limit for text submitted to pledge chat; this will include any color codes, spaces, and/or punctuation. To submit text to pledge chat, preface the text you wish to broadcast by using the @ symbol: @[Text of message you wish to submit to pledge chat]
Leaving a Pledge
To leave a pledge, type /leave (or open your Community Options window, click on Blood Pledge Options and then on Leave). A pop-up box will appear in the chat window to confirm this decision; enter Yes to confirm your desire to leave the pledge.
Upon successful exit from a pledge, the ex-member and all current pledge members online, including the leader, will receive a prompt telling them that said player has left the pledge.
Castle Sieges and War
Blood Pledges get a unique opportunity to participate in castle sieges and pledge wars. There are several castles in the world of Aden, and Blood Pledges may siege the castles in an attempt to take them over.
Castles offer individual perks to the pledge currently in residence, from taxation income from the local merchants to access to private hunting areas. However, gaining a castle does not mean you'll keep it! Castle owners must allow a siege every few days or the castle will automatically go into siege mode.
Only a pledge leader may declare war against another pledge by using the /war [Blood Pledge name] command. The leader of the second pledge may decide whether to participate in the war.
If a war is agreed upon, members of each pledge may attack each other by using the Ctrl-click key combination. Pledge attacks in 'safety zones' do not affect the alignment of war participants.
To end a war, one of three conditions must be met:
- Truce. A truce may be suggested by either leader using the command/cease [Blood Pledge name]. If the second pledge accepts the truce, peace is declared.
- Surrender. If one pledge is absolutely defeated, the defeated pledge may surrender using the /surrender [Blood Pledge name] command.
- Death. If the prince or princess of either pledge is killed by the opposing pledge, the war is ended.
- A pledge may declare war on an opposing pledge owning a castle if the attacking pledge leader is level fifteen or higher. Castle owners are required to allow a minimum of four days after taking control of a castle.
Siege rules work as follows:
- The opposing pledge declares war against the Blood Pledge in residence at the castle; pledges without an emblem cannot declare war for siege. At the designated siege time, the attacking pledge may begin to storm the castle, breaking down the outer door.
- Once opposing pledge members are inside the castle, they must seek out the castle guardian tower and break it down. Inside the tower is a crown. The leader (Prince or Princess) of the opposing pledge must grab the crown from inside the broken tower. Once the crown is grabbed, the siege is over and the attacking pledge gains control of the castle.
Sounds easy, right? Not quite. While the attacking pledge is seeking out the crown, the defending pledge is doing their best to defend the castle with every weapon they've got — and perhaps a few hired mercenaries. If the siege isn't completed by the time the sun goes down (one game day), the attackers lose - no matter what.
Pledge Houses
The Pledge House system provides a home location for Blood Pledges not currently occupying castles. Princes or Princesses of level 15 or higher may purchase a pledge house (also known as safe house) by participating in an auction via the bulletin boards located in the Giran and Heine village squares.
Note: a Prince or Princess who currently owns a pledge house may not participate in a siege unless they first sell the house.
Pledge houses are managed by NPCs. Members of the pledge controlling the house may stay in rooms in the house to regenerate HP and MP. Pledge members may also use a scroll of return pledge house to automatically return to their pledge's house. They will also restart there after a death. Pledge house owners must pay taxes to the current lords of either the Giran or Heine castles.
Note: A pledge cannot be disbanded while it controls a castle or owns a pledge house. In order to disband a pledge which currently owns a pledge house, the pledge leader will need to put the pledge house up for auction.
Please be advised that once the house goes up for sale and the pledge leader disbands their pledge, they will no longer be listed as the owner of the house, so when it sells, they will not receive the sale money; if the house fails to sell, the house ownership will revert to the auctioneer instead of the prior pledge leader.