Let's Play Ultima: From Akalabeth to Ascension! (Now on VII)

[Azira]

Thank you Sillelak, I absolutely love this picture:

 

[Elzair]

Oh my god. I have just gotten out of Trinsic, and I realized that I had taken over 300+ screenshots! I am not sure what I should do about this. If anyone wants to look through my Ultima 7 album (http://s561.photobucket.com/albums/ss60/Slithe_album/Ultima7/) and see if I should cut anything, feel free to do so.

 

[oldmanpaco]

That is the problem with 'modern' rpg games. Lot's and lots of dialog. What I have been doing is using paint to crop the screens to a smaller size. You're still going to have 300 images though.

 

[Elzair]

Yeah, the image sizes were not really the problem. If they were a problem, I would have left them at their original 320x200 resolution. I guess I just need to buckle down and write out all the dialogue.

 

[Silellak]

Thank you Sillelak, I absolutely love this picture:

Use it wisely.

 

[Elzair]

Ultima VII Part 1: Murder He Wrote

Ultima VII: The Black Gate

Part 1: Murder He Wrote

Welcome to my long-awaited LP of Ultima VII! *Applause*

This is the only one of the Ultima games to break into the Codex's Top 10. While the combat system has become real-time popamole, I think the game more than compensates for it. The world is now rather big and richly detailed. I can think of few if any other games that offer the same amount of world interaction as Ultima VII offers. The main quest is pretty cool too. Origineven went and hired a professional playwright, Raymond Benson to write the dialogue, so it wouldn't suck like most game writing (and we can ALL think of examples). Since I am going to be enjoying myself, this LP will probably consist of lots of small updates of my fooling-around.
NOTE: I am playing the original version in Dosbox since I could not get Exult working properly.

What a cherry intro ...

What . . .

. . . the . . .

. . . fuck . . .

. . . is that?!

Avatar! Know that Britannia has entered a new Age of Enlightenment.

Know that the time has finally come for the one true Lord of Britannia to take his place at the head of his people.

Under my guidance Britannia will flourish, and all of its people shall rejoice, paying homage to their new Guardian.

Know that you, too, shall kneel before me, Avatar!

You, too, will soon acknowledge my authority, for I shall be your companion, your provider, and your Master!

BWA-HA-HA

It is time to create a new character.

FUCK! It looks like I cannot import a character from Ultima VII, and the given options are kinda sparse.

This has to be the craziest loadin screen I have ever seen!

It is at that time I come trotting out of a red moongate.

You cannot really see it, but it is at this moment that an earthquake struck.

I wonder who that blue guy is?

It is not like I have much choice.

Alright. We enter the stables.

I guess this really grossed people out back in 1992. Let's search the body.

I open my inventory and drag the key to my backpack.

There is something seriously wrong with this screenshot.

This poor fellow has nothing on him.

WTF?! The footprints just stop!

BTW, this game is almost entirely mouse-driven. By default, left-clicking interacts with objects and right-clicking moves around. This can be switched by pressing H.

So, I searched the stables and found a bucket with blood in it, a body, bloody footprints leading out the back and a key.

I wonder what this place is?

This is the Honorable Hound.

Check it out! I can read books in this game! Let's see who has been here.

Hmm. Let's talk to the barmaid.

This game has now added a keyword system, so I do not have to type in everything manually.

What is your name, gorgeous?

So, are you just the barmaid here or what?

Flirt!

I hate to kill the mood, but what do you know about the recent murder?

Later!

I now bump into some kind of nun.

Who are you?

What do you do?

What is the Fellowship?

What is a 'confidant philosophy'?

Er .. Not right now.

Tell me about your husband, Klog.

There are branches?

Interesting. What do you know of the murder?

Alright, lady. Goodbye.

This doesn't look a bit creepy at all! Let's talk to the robed man.

Who are you?

What do you do?

So you're a Fellowship leader?

Tell me about the Fellowship.

Interesting. Tell me of the murder.

What did Christopher do wrong?

Who were your companions?

I get a strange feeling I will be following them around for the rest of the game.

To Be Continued.

 

[Darth Slaughter]

Oh, memories. A word of advice: never fly over the island of the avatar with your magic carpet.

 

[Unkillable Cat]

Tip #2: Lord Britsh has the best set of lockpicks in the game, and they're yours to take if you want them. Try looking above the drawbridge to his castle, can't miss them.

 

[Jaesun]

And don't click on the crystal ball in Skara Brae, and WALK to Minoc. I feel so sorry for you playing in the original, it is SO much better in Exult. *crosses fingers you don't have too many bugs happen*

Pro tip: Open the USECODE file in a text editor, ALL the dialogue text is found in there.

 

[Brother None]

A "spector" named "Warren"? C'mon now...

 

[oldmanpaco]

I guess I don't understand why Exult doesn't work for you. It is by far a better experience.

But either way I am going to enjoy this.

 

[Satori (original)]

You gonna be doing sidequests or just sticking to the main plot? Either way you're in for a long haul but I really hsouldn't doubt you since you've come this far :respek knuckles:

 

[Darth Slaughter]

what are the pro and cons of exult and dosbox?

I heard exult doesn't have the NPC schedules done right. For this LP though it wouldn't be missed since pics are static.

But one of great charms of U7 were the schedules. It wouldn't feel right without them.

Exult may be more stable, has improvement on graphics and scrolling, and some add ons like a keyring, paperdolls, improved HUD, new portraits... and some bugfixes, that honestly never really harm my playthroughs of the original dos version.

I don't think these improvements are really worth. Maybe if they really pull of that HD version I would be tempted to try.

 

[Silellak]

Ultima 7! Huzzah! Too bad you're stuck playing the inferior PC version

I am surprised you couldn't get Exult working. I'd think getting the original working in Dosbox would be harder, but whatever.

I heard exult doesn't have the NPC schedules done right. For this LP though it wouldn't be missed since pics are static.

Pretty sure this isn't true anymore, but Jaesun would know for sure - he's been working on a comparison of the two versions.

A "spector" named "Warren"? C'mon now...

 

[Jaesun]

I heard exult doesn't have the NPC schedules done right. For this LP though it wouldn't be missed since pics are static.

Pretty sure this isn't true anymore, but Jaesun would know for sure - he's been working on a comparison of the two versions.

I hate thread derailment, so your answers on this can be found here.

 

[Elzair]

I heard exult doesn't have the NPC schedules done right. For this LP though it wouldn't be missed since pics are static.

Pretty sure this isn't true anymore, but Jaesun would know for sure - he's been working on a comparison of the two versions.

I hate thread derailment, so your answers on this can be found here.

Oh, go easy on them. I am just glad they are discussing the game and reducing the number of bumps I have to make to get this to a new page.

 

[Elzair]

One thing I am noticing is that the game is a LOT harder than I remember it. y tried battling in the swamps east of Britain and got several party members killed during several attempts. This game has possibly the roughest start of any of the games I have played so far. Of course, maybe I just need to spend the money to outfit everyone in, at least, some chain armor, and it could be the result of setting the DOSBox speed way too fucking high so that half my party is dead before I realize things are FUBAR.

 

[Sceptic]

You gonna be doing sidequests or just sticking to the main plot? Either way you're in for a long haul but I really hsouldn't doubt you since you've come this far :respek knuckles:

Hah, just wait until he gets to SI...

 

[Darth Slaughter]

One thing I am noticing is that the game is a LOT harder than I remember it. y tried battling in the swamps east of Britain and got several party members killed during several attempts. This game has possibly the roughest start of any of the games I have played so far. Of course, maybe I just need to spend the money to outfit everyone in, at least, some chain armor, and it could be the result of setting the DOSBox speed way too fucking high so that half my party is dead before I realize things are FUBAR.

Reminds me of Jaana. She died a lot in my playthroughs.

I think it was because she was one of the last companions I asked to join.

And she couldn't wear any armor.

 

[Silellak]

One thing I am noticing is that the game is a LOT harder than I remember it. y tried battling in the swamps east of Britain and got several party members killed during several attempts. This game has possibly the roughest start of any of the games I have played so far. Of course, maybe I just need to spend the money to outfit everyone in, at least, some chain armor, and it could be the result of setting the DOSBox speed way too fucking high so that half my party is dead before I realize things are FUBAR.

Exult to the rescue?

 

[Jaesun]

One thing I am noticing is that the game is a LOT harder than I remember it. y tried battling in the swamps east of Britain and got several party members killed during several attempts. This game has possibly the roughest start of any of the games I have played so far. Of course, maybe I just need to spend the money to outfit everyone in, at least, some chain armor, and it could be the result of setting the DOSBox speed way too fucking high so that half my party is dead before I realize things are FUBAR.

The Cyclops cave near Cove is your (training your party) friend.

Also running at very high cycles can possibly increase the Minoc scene from happening, again there are no more bugs at all with U7 in Exult.

Also don't forget Sidequests give the entire PARTY XP, unlike combat.

 

[Elzair]

One thing I am noticing is that the game is a LOT harder than I remember it. y tried battling in the swamps east of Britain and got several party members killed during several attempts. This game has possibly the roughest start of any of the games I have played so far. Of course, maybe I just need to spend the money to outfit everyone in, at least, some chain armor, and it could be the result of setting the DOSBox speed way too fucking high so that half my party is dead before I realize things are FUBAR.

Exult to the rescue?

No thanks. The latest snapshot cuts out the top and bottom of the screen when in fullscreen mode. It looks like I am stuck with the original.

 

[Elzair]

Nevermind. I got it working by just changing a few settings. Well, I would be all set to ditch the original and play through with Exult, but I don't know where Exult stores screenshots (or even if it is working properly). Can anyone help?

 

[Jaesun]

http://exult.sourceforge.net/docs.php#path_config_nt5

 

[Elzair]

Ultima VII Part 2: Murder He Wrote Pt. ii

Ultima VII: The Black Gate

Part 2: Murder He Wrote Pt. ii

When we last left off, I was talking to Klog, the head of the Trinsic branch of the Fellowship.

I think I can think of something.

This is the slider that comes up every time I try to move multiple objects.
Now let's read up about this Fellowship.

This Book of the Fellowship is actually the manual that came with the game. Now let's loot the town.

Nice!

Hmm. I need more than that!

I now speak with Gilberto, the wounded guard who was on duty last night.

What do you know of the murder?

It must have occurred shortly before I was knocked out.

When were you knocked out?

It was just about sunrise. I was looking out to the sea. All of a sudden, I felt a blow on the back of mine head. He winces in pain.

Anything else?

The next thing I knew, I was on the ground. Johnson, the guard for the next watch, was shaking me. I had been out about ten minutes. I knew that because the sun had just peeked over the horizon. And The Crown Jewel had gone and sailed!

The Crown Jewel?

Did I forget to say? That is a ship that was docked here all night. I believe it was about to sail for Britain. Thou couldst ask Gargan the Shipwright to make sure. Anyway, I did not see mine attackers, the guard grumbles.

I speak with Gargan, the shipwright. I could steal or buy for 80 gold a sextant, but I can find one later cheap.

Who are you?

My name is Gargan.

What do you do?

I am the Trinsic shipwright. If thou wouldst like to know about a ship or a sextant, just say so.

Do you have any ships for sale?

Thou dost want to buy a ship? the old man asks, smiling. (Apparently not too many folks buy ships these days.) My ships are sturdy and well built. They may not be built by Owen, but they are fine vessels! But thou must first purchase a deed.

Who is Owen?

Thou hast not heard of Owen? Finest shipwright in the land. He lives in Minoc.

Have you seen the Crown Jewel?

Yes, that ship was docked overnight. He consults his log. She sailed for Britain at sunrise. I do not recall seeing anyone get on or off.

Have you seen a man with a hook recently?

Matey, I have always seen pirates and sailors with peglegs and hooks. If thou hast seen one, thou hast seen another.

*frowns* Hmm. Now that thou dost mention it, I -did- see a man with a hook late last night after sundown. I was leaving the shop and saw him outside. There was a wingless gargoyle with him. They were walking east.

I interrogate Petre the stableboy some more.

Yes.

I discovered poor Christopher and Inamo earlier this morning. I did not touch a thing. Made me sick, it did!

What about those footprints?

They doth lead out the back way, yes? They must be the tracks of the murderer! *suspense* Or ... murderers!

What do you know about Christopher?

Nice man. He made the shoed for mine horses.

Tell me about Inamo.

He worked for very little money. Did basic chores around the stables and the pub. I let him sleep in the little back room. He must have been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Jeez! I can't even examine a dead body?!

I now head to the mayor's office to tell him what I have found.

Yes.

What didst thou find?

A key.

Hmmm, a key. Perhaps if thou dost ask Christopher's son about it, he may know what it is for. Ask Spark about it. He may know something.

First I head to the provisioner to stock up on some stuff.

What's this? A hidden lever that opens a secret door to the north?

Since the provisioner copped an attitude with me, I lock him in his secret room.

I close the shutters so noone will see him.

This is a reference to Strike Commander, a 1993 game by Origin. Now, before we find Christopher's son, let's see if there is anything in his shop.

I now search the blacksmith's house.

There are a whole lot of crates in the blacksmith's house. I wonder if we could stack them up?

Good, but I need more.

Apparently, people don't like it when I move stuff around.

guard Such behavior will never be tolerated inside the sanctuary of Trinsic's walls. Thy read cloak and blonde curls show only that thou art a vile imposter and not a true Avatar. To the Death!

FUCK!! I fight them off the best I can.

This time I find more crates in the blacksmith's house and swipe a chest while no one is looking.

Chim-chimney Chim-chimney Chim-chim-chiree!

A sweep is as lucky as lucky can be!

I wonder what is behind the rooftop?

Yes, this is the primary debug room. I am only showing you this for the lulz.

The teleporter takes me to a room with copies of all the plot items and a bunch of magical loot. Since I am trying to play this game (mostly legit), I reload. Now I head to Christopher's house.

Spark is not home, but his parrot is.

It is funny that this game always seems to place a gavel near a parrot. I wonder ...

So if I hit a parrot with a gavel I get the location of some treasure at 169S 28E?! Sweet!

It appears that Spark likes to hang out at this father's old shop.

Who art thou and what dost thou want?

I am the Avatar.

Savage Empire reference FTW!

Boy, this is the Avatar! Upon my word he is! He has come to help thee!

Thou dost look like paintings I have seen. I am sorry, Avatar.

What is your name, boy?

I have always been called Spark.

What is your job?

I have no job. I am only fourteen, so I am just learning how to best help Father in the smithy, he says, proudly. But then he suddenly realizes something which terrifies him. And now that Father is dead, I am an orphan!

What about your mother?

My mother died a long time ago. I can just barely remember her.

Tell me about your father.

Father was the blacksmith. I cannot believe that he has been murdered! He had no enemies that I know of. Unless it was The Fellowship.

Your father did not get along with the Fellowship?

Well, at first they harassed Father and me when they came around asking us to join. I suppose they do good things. Many people like them. Father eventually joined the group after he went to Britain and took one of their tests.

What kind of tests?

I do not know anything about them. I never took one. Maybe thou shouldst ask the man at the Fellowship Branch. Klog.

Tell me about Klog.

He is the head of the Fellowship Branch here in Trinsic. He and Father got into an argument a week ago when Klog and two of his friends came over to talk with Father.

What was the argument about?

I don't know what it was about. Perhaps thou shouldst ask Klog.

I know this is hard, but what do you know about the murder?

I cannot believe Father is dead. And poor Inamo, too. It is so strange. I -dreamed- it was happening. Well, in a way.Last night I was having a nightmare about Father. I dreamed that he screamed, and it woke me up. I looked around the house, but he was not in his bed. I was wide awake, so I went out to find him.

Tell me about your nightmare.

I know it sounds witless, but... I dreamed that a big red-faced man was watching down on everything and... He looked down... And he noticed Father... That is all I remember.

DUN DUN DUUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNN!!!

Did you find him?

No, I did not find him. At least, not right away. But I did see something.

What?

I was in front of the stables. I saw a man and a wingless gargoyle running from behind the building. They ran toward the dock. Then I went inside and found... Father. *sobs*

Do you remember anything about this man?

All I saw of him was that the man had a hook for a right hand.

What about the gargoyle?

I cannot tell one gargoyle from another. I could not identify him, except that he had no wings.

So you saw a wingless gargoyle and a man with a hook for a hand?

Wilt thou go find the Man with the Hook? Let me help thee! *pleadingly* Take me with thee! Please! I must avenge Father's death! If thou dost not take me with thee, I will follow thee anyway! *excitedly* I am an expert with a slingshot! I can strike sewer rats with almost every shot! And I am small -- I do not eat much! Please take me! Please ask me to join thee!

*whispers* I do not know about taking a child on the road with us,
Avatar.

I told thee I am good! May I join?

Yes.

Hooray!

Now, Spark, do you recognize this key?

That looks like the key to Father's chest. I wondered where it was!

I now use the key on the chest. Inside I find some gold, a Fellowhip medallion and a scroll.

Spark, do you know anything about this scroll?

I am not sure if it's the same one, but I think I saw Father with a scroll just like that one or two days ago. I know he was making something special for someone. I am fairly certain it was at his shop.

Since the shop was ransacked, the item is no longer there. I now report my findings to the mayor.

I would like to discuss the murder.

A crime like this has never happened in Trinsic before. I cannot believe this happened to Christopher and Inamo. Please -- explore the town! I would appreciate it if thou wouldst bring me a report on thy progress. Be sure to ask everyone in town about the murder. After speaking with Christopher's son, thou mightest next want to speak with Gilberto, the guard on watch at the dock last night.

Actually, I have seen something like this before. It was about
four years ago, in Britain.

Tell me about it.

'Twas before I came to Trinsic. There was a murder with strikingly similar aspects. A body was found mutilated exactly like poor Christopher. It appeared to be a ritualistic killing. I would wager that whoever was responsible for that murder is the culprit behind this one.

I would like to deliver my report.

Art thou ready to answer some questions concerning the
investigation?

Yes.

Very wel. What was Christopher's occupation?

Blacksmith.

What didst thou find at the murder site?

A key.

What did the key open?

A chest.

What didst thou find in the chest?

A fellowship medallion, some gold and a scroll.

Dost thou have a suspect?

Yes.

What dost this villain look like?

He has a hook for a hand.

Hmmm. Any leads on finding this villain?

The Crown Jewel.

It seems that thou art pursuing thine investigation with genuine fervor. Methinks thou shouldst go to Britain and see if thou canst find this Man with a Hook. Here is half of thy reward money. Thou wilt receive the rest when thou dost prove that the killer hath been brought to justice.

That's it?!

Dost thou need the password?

Yes.

Before I give thee the password, I must admit I have had my doubts about thou truly being the Avatar. I must ask thee to indulge me in order to satisfy my somewhat suspicious nature. I shall ask thee a few questions regarding the geography of Britannia. Please answer with the number of the longitude or latitude from thy cloth map. If these questions are answered correctly, then I will cast aside all my doubts.

AW FUCK! It's the copy protection. Even though I actually have a cloth map, I did not want to mess with this, so I just found the answers online.

What latitude runs through the center of Skara Brae?

30.

What latitude runs through the center of the Deep Forest?

60.

What latitude runs through the center of Dagger Isle?

0.

Excellent! I have no doubt now that thou art the one true Avatar!

Oh -- I almost forgot! The password to leave or enter the town is 'Blackbird'!

Let's blow this joint!

Blackbird.

We now boldly go into the wild blue yonder: the swamps of Paws, but that is for next time.