Let's Play Ultima Underworld 2: World 6 Pits Of Carnage! 1/2

[Darth Slaughter]

I began to see the cracks in their plan about 2 hours into Ultima 8.

Then the whole thing shattered like a mirror when Ultima 9 finally rolled round.

Yeah, the worst part about Ultima 9 was that all the fantastic and sometimes subtle build-up in the previous games amounted to jack shit in the end.

Though Ultima 8 had its flaws, it was at least coherent with what came before. I liked it a lot, even being an ultima fan that played the previous ones. And after it was patched, it became a good game. It had great things in it. And for me, the only thing that bothered me really was the save and load times. I finish in the 1st playthrough the game without the patch, so imagine how many loading and saving I had to go through in those stones in the water that you had to jump. And it was that kind of installment that makes a preparation for what was coming.

Then, ultima 9 starts in avatar's house on earth.

Sometimes I wish the fans would finish those ultima 9 remakes. even if they're bad if ever released, probably it would be better than the original.

 

[SCO]

Ultima 8 is very incomplete too. Like they had a plan for a ultima 7 like world, but with much more difficult to get zones, but they ran out of money.

There are simply not enough quests and points of interest, even combing the gamezones.

 

[Darth Slaughter]

Ultima 8 is very incomplete too. Like they had a plan for a ultima 7 like world, but with much more difficult to get zones, but they ran out of money.

There are simply not enough quests and points of interest, even combing the gamezones.

I just consider it a shorter game. And the world of pagan, though small, had great atmosphere. The incomplete feeling is more due to the lack of the expansion lost vale, which would focus on the zealans. I loved that world that public executions, summonig rituals and sacrifices, diferent factions based on the elements. The game felt unique.
The lore in this game is great. And the charachters were memorable. maybe because of this new take it was less accepted.

the game was buggy, lack many features from U7, like interactivity, NPC portraits, companions, being a female, but these never bothered me at the time.
And had the best midi music ever.

 

[SCO]

I agree about the atmosphere, but the uses for non combat spells for instance was very limited. There are hints all over that the game should have more things to do, from a truth spell (the air titan i think) to the spells from Myrtan (sp).

And its a fact that you see most of the scripting/quests in action if you just follow the main quest. That is not a mark of a replayable game (though i did play it three times at various times).

Additional content from the lost valley wouldn't save most of the game if they didn't go back and add massively to the already existing world.

 

[made]

Initially I was very disappointed with U8, mainly because it broke with many traditions of the previous titles. No party? No Victiorian English? Action sequences?

In retrospect however, it's a pretty decent, if certainly flawed and incomplete, game - a classic case of "missed potential". Nonetheless, it succeeded in portraying an alien, dark world with more depth and atmosphere than the current generatoin of RPGs.

I'm still holding out for that remake, Pentagram, which should feature higher resolutions a la Exult and hopefully a fix for the atrocious inventory management (proably my biggest gripe with the game).

 

[Darth Slaughter]

It had diablo combat. Click-click-click.

 

[someone else]

Part 8: World 5 - Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Now a LP adaptation!

It's Potter time!

No it isn't.

Part 8: World 5 - Scintillus Academy of Magic.

Now totally inspired from the Clue Book!

Talorus was a bit too easy wasn't it?

Sir, I have a cunning plan to make the game more difficult.

Let's hear it Private!

Well, we could throw the Avatar into this world with nothing but her spellrunes and map, as well as some light for the readers to see.

Oh, bravo, yes! More space for the loot I say!

This is bovine feces.

Listen to Ultima Underworld 2 "Scintillus Academy":

http://beemp3.com/download.php?file=4481005&song=Scintilius+Academy

I appear in what appears to be a waiting chamber. There is a mage standing in front of me.

I am neither a professor nor a student. I am Helicopter, the Avatar.

*The mage pauses and gives you a sly look. Clearly he finds your claim suspect.*

Of course thou art. My name is Elster, class of 607. Or, uh, I would have been, had I passed the exam.

So you failed it, then?

Uh, well, no.

*He seems somewhat embarrassed.*

When it came right down to it, I, uh, chose to postpone my examination. This is only the pre-exam staging area.

Then why art thou still here?

*Elster glowers.*

I am here because no one has come to release me. That button on the wall is suppose to bring assistance. This is the final examination for the Scintillus Academy of Magic -- only those who have successfully completed nine years of undergraduate study at the Academy may take the final exam and earn their Bachelor of Magery.

Bachelor of Magery? Dost thou mean a B.M.?

*Elster does not seem amused.*

'Tis an old and tired jest you make. I wouldst have though the Avatar to possess more of a refined wit.

Why didst thou choose to delay thy examination?

*Elster looks around quickly before answering.*

Because I do not believe I wouldst survive. The final exam is a series of mazes and deathraps, which has claimed some of even the best students. And, to be honest, I am not one of the best students.

Can you tell me anything about the exam?

We undergrads are told nothing of the exam, save that it is difficult and deadly. Although...

*His voice drops to a whisper.*

... I once briefly overheard two graduates discussing it. 'Count over from the red squares.' I think is what they said. I have no idea what that means, of course.

Please continue.

I have been waiting in this blasted waiting room for sixty-three years now; that button on the wall is suppose to summon a faculty member, but 'tis obviously broken. I am troubled that no one has come to check on me. I fear that some disaster may have befallen the Academy up there on the surface.

Is there not any way out of here?

The only way out is to take the exam. I know that some day soon I shouldst take the plunge, but the thought fills me with such dread that for now I am content to stay and wait to be rescued.

Thou art a coward, Elster. Sixty-three years is too long to wait!

*Elster sighs sadly.*

Thou art correct. Sixty years, and I have not been able to summon the courage to step through the door. Thou shouldst try the exam yourself, Helicopter. Surely thou art a braver soul that I.

The waiting room has an area to keep familiars.

A vending machine, as well as a recycling machine: you can exchange an empty bottle for a gold coin.

Before the examination entrance, there is a scroll case with the exam rules:

1. Anyone caught cheating on the exam will be ensorcelled and expelled.
2. All items are property of the academy. Please leave them for the next student.
3. This is partially a test in the judicious use of mana. You will not be allowed to regain mana after the first section.

As a bonus to the readers, we have invited a very special professor to comment and grade the Avatar's performance in her exam.

A pleasure. Let me go over the undergraduate... She's going in unarmed and unarmoured with only an incomplete Runebag, a map and 2 light sources?

Dead in thirty seconds I'll say.

Nonsense! She'll pull through!


Section I: Lateral Reasoning

Let us begin...

The Avatar easilty deduced the connections between the three pressure plates and the three portcullis.

This reminds me of EOB!

Putting the golden coffer on a pressure plate, she entered the gates starting from the left.

The left passage leads to a dead end, with a TYM (Time) rune floating in the air. This is a Rune of Stasis, a paralysing spell.
Since there is little of interest, the Avatar could have returned back to the start, or remove the trap with Dispel Rune, by touching it from a distance or throwing something at it.

Instead, she decides to walk right into it. She was instantly paralysed, and stuck on a pressure plate under the rune which triggers a trap that fires crossbow bolts at her.

By the time she can move off the plate, Helicopter has taken several bolts into her unarmoured body, severely wounding her.

Traps like this is meant to weed out the dumbest of petitioners. This trap would have killed a normal person but a normal person would not just walk into obvious traps. She's off to a terrible start.

Points are deducted for stupidity.

The middle gate leads to a room that spawns mongbats.

The Avatar picked up the enchanted mail leggings in the room and ran away from the mongbats. A good choice as she is weaponless.

The right gate leads to the teleport to the next section.


Total time: 2 minutes, 47 seconds
Starting Mana: 104/104
Spells Used: None
Ending Mana: 104/104

I suppose it could be worse.


Section II, Part 1: Equilibrium and Non-Local Causality

Helicopter started off sliding on slippery ice to the east into the river. A mistake many students make.

After she climbed out of the river, she slide her way east to a button. She pushed it, which opened a gate to the North.

She helps herself to weapons and equipment left behind by previous undergraduates. Including a couple of wands that she couldn't identify. The Avatar doesn't seem to be skilled in lore.

The opened gate. Pushing the button saved mana from casting the spell open.

Making her way east on the slippery ice, the Avatar finds a pack which allows her to carry more stuff.


Section II, Part 2: Synchronization

Helicopter choose to simply dash across the moving bridge to the exit and got struck by an arrow. By now she is severely wounded and she casts heal to repair some of the damage.

Points are deducted for not attempting to dodge the projectiles.

A map of Section II.


Total time: 10 minutes, 52 seconds
Starting Mana: 104/104
Spells Used:
Healx1 = 12 Mana
Ending Mana: 92/104


Section III: Psychokinesis and Terraforming

Helicopter picked up the wand of Telekinesis at the start but was unable to identify it, nor did she try it out to find its use.

She entered the main test chamber and was able to see the buttons on both sides of the wall thanks to her very bright spheres of light.

The student leapt from pillar to pillar until she found a wand of Name Enchantment.

This time she tried it out and found out the identity of the wand of Telekinesis.

The Avatar quickly deduced that by pressing the correct buttons with telekinesis, she can raise the correct pillars leading to the exit.

Ignoring the sign, Helicopter exited the Section but the wand of Telekinesis was magically confiscated from her as she left.


Total time: 5 minutes, 47 seconds
Starting Mana: 92/104
Spells Used: None
Ending Mana: 92/104


Section IV: Spatial Reasoning

The Avatar starts in the southwest corner of this "staircase maze."

It is filled with monsters. Not too tough, but enough to test the combat abilities of candidates. Most of whom are properly armed and armoured when they took the test.

Despite her lack of combat abilities, Helicopter chose to kill everything in the maze.

She fights her way to the Northwest Tower.

Which has a skeleton.

Guarding a key.

While traversing the maze, her light sphere wears out.

I should switch to torch to conserve my remaining light sphere.

Some monsters are too difficult for her to handle so she casts Valor to boost her combat skills. This is a more economic use of mana than simply casting direct attacking spells.

No animated lightning bolts?

In the Southeast Tower she finds another key.

She finds the exit in the northeast sealed by two doors.

The two keys found in the towers opens the doors.

I award her extra points for killing everything, but doing this costs her valuable mana.

Pretty well equipped now. Found quite a number of wands as well.


Total time: 18 minutes, 7 seconds
Starting Mana: 92/104
Spells Used:
Valorx2 = 12 Mana
Healx3 = 36 Mana
Ending Mana: 44/104


Section V: Effects and Constraints

The Avatar picks up the pole near the start.

She notices the pressure plates in front of the three switches on the western part of the room. But choose not to touch anything. Must have learnt something from her previous mistakes.

It's a trap.

She tries the southern door, but it is locked,

She then enters the unlocked northern door.

It leads to a locked portcullis with a pull chain on the right of the wall. She finds a moonstone lying on the floor which she pocketed.

Our candidate pulls the chain and was rewarded with a hostile skeleton. Which is easily taken down now that she is fully armed and dangerous.

She returns to the main room and flips all three switches from afar with the pole without touching the pressure plates.

Could have tried jumping over those pressure plates.

This unlocks the south door. Had she triggered the pressure plates, they would have reseted the switches.

The southern door leads to a chasm with a button on the right wall. Behind the chasm is a key.

She looks down the chasm and notices some items below. Strangely enough, she does not appear to be able to look down at a further angle. Had she done so, she would have seen the headless waiting below her.

She fell for the trap and pushed the button before jumping across the chasm.

What the button does is create an invisible forcefield just after the chasm, which she jumps right into. Landing right beside the headless.

Good thing for her she had the runes for Valor prepared. The buff allowed her to kill the headless which would normally have slain her.

She enters a teleport that takes her back up and picks up the key.

Which unlocks the portcullis to the exit.
By now the Avatar is severely wounded and low on mana.


Total time: 8 minutes, 49 seconds
Starting Mana: 44/104
Spells Used:
Valorx1 = 6 Mana
Ending Mana: 38/104


Section VI: Risk Avoidance

The first part of this test has a locked door to the northwest with four pillars in the centre of the room.

The pillars have yellow tiles at each side.

The centre of the pillars holds a key with the remains of previous candidates as well as some suspicious arrows.

It's a trap.

She keeps saying that.

Helicopter approaches a yellow tile.

Stepping on the tile conjures a peaceful headless.

After stepping on all four yellow tiles, she picks up the key which triggers the trap; arrows were fired at her from all sides but the four headless absorbs them, killing two.

The Avatar appears to be a bloodthirsty loon who kills the surviving two headless with the aid of Valor.

With the key, the Avatar enters the second part of the test:

A teleporting maze.

Gold tiles allow her to exit the test but she choose to ignore them.

Blue tiles are teleports leading to another part of the maze.

While in the maze, she discovers a locked secret door, casting open drained most of her mana.

In the secret room is a potion of freeze time. But the Avatar was unable to identify it.

Took her a while but she cleared the maze.


Total time: 24 minutes, 38 seconds
Starting Mana: 38/104
Spells Used:
Valorx1 = 6 Mana
Openx1 = 15 Mana
Ending Mana: 17/104


Section VII: Nonreversible Processes

The Avatar did well for this section.

The arrows on a pillar points to another pillar which will disappear when the first is step on.

First, she kills the lurker in the water with a wand of fireball.

She then explore the pool and found the key.

All that is left is to figure out the correct sequence to jump. Being able to see far with the light sphere helps in this puzzle.


Total time: 7 minutes, 14 seconds
Starting Mana: 17/104
Spells Used: None
Ending Mana: 17/104


Section VIII: Correlations

She appears at the bottom of a terraced chamber.

A plaque above the north red square reads:
3 : 5 : 2 : 9

There is a teleport in the west cubicle.

Remember what Elster said?

'Count over from the red squares.'

The teleport is 3 squares clockwise from the red square.

Stepping into the teleport, she goes up to the next level and looks for a red tile.

Helicopter figured out the solution and enters the 5th teleport clockwise from the red tile.

She did enter wrongly once and was brought back to the start with a random monster.

The Avatar exits the last section of the exam.


Total time: 4 minutes, 7 seconds
Starting Mana: 17/104
Spells Used: None
Ending Mana: 17/104

And teleports to the graduating hall.

Congratulations!

Total time: 1 hour, 22 minutes 21 seconds.

So she survived. Oh well, let us turn the narrative back to the Avatar.

Hmm there is a scroll with grades of previous petitioners:

Istrik -- B+
Jashou -- C+
Perrin -- F (dead)
Odraanj -- A-
Ravenna -- dead
Mirre -- B
Lodrah -- B-
Elster -- incomplete


I wonder what grade I got?

That's up for the viewers to decide. What do you think? Does she get an A for effort?

 

[Darth Slaughter]

B+. She performed well, but got caught in a few traps. Even though it was on purpose.

 

[RK47]

well, seeing your rune collection. I would've levitated over the jumping sections and bought a couple of mana pots from Killorn Keep Merchant, but well done.

 

[Unkillable Cat]

well, seeing your rune collection. I would've levitated over the jumping sections and bought a couple of mana pots from Killorn Keep Merchant, but well done.

...doesn't the test chambers prevent you from restoring Mana, even from Mana pots?

I give her a B. She cleared the test, but fumbled on some obvious traps.

Yet another thing I'd missed in all of my UW2 playthroughs. I had always wondered what those piles of bones were. (It would be even funnier if Elster had eaten them all.)

 

[someone else]

I don't have the HUR rune so I cannot levitate. And yes, I tried restoring my mana with a scepter of mana boost and it worked. You can still heal if you rest during the exam.

 

[Darth Slaughter]

Elster is waiting in that room for 63 years. Would that mean in britannia chronology? He doesn't look so old.

 

[RK47]

Elster always disappeared after we completed the exam. Never really explained why this is so.

 

[someone else]

Elster always disappeared after we completed the exam. Never really explained why this is so.

Will be explained in part 8.5.

Plane travellers age differently in Ultima. Lord Thibris explained this in Killorn Keep. Quite a few of the Avatar's companions are from Earth and they are several hundred years old.

 

[Genma:TheDestroyer]

I would have gone ahead with it after two weeks at the most, how is he not a gibbering wreck?

 

[Silellak]

That was a solid B performance. Could've been better, but also could've been much, much worse.

 

[someone else]

Part 8.5: World 5 - Scintillus Academy Secure Vault

The Scintillus Academy appears to be deserted. I shall commence exploring the rooms.

For those who missed it the first time,
Listen to Ultima Underworld 2 "Scintillus Academy":

http://beemp3.com/download.php?file=4481005&song=Scintilius+Academy

The first room has an interesting message left by one of the instructors.

Kalarion, I have taken care of the Vas and Tym runes you sent me. They should be fairly safe. Signed, Rovilar

VAS (Great) and TYM (Time), the two most powerful runes!I want!

More messages can be found in this abandoned facility:

Larkin,
This is now the fifth straight day that I have detected an interdimensional disturbance in the ether. Judging from the proportional increases, I am now surer than ever that something monstrously powerful is fast approaching our planet. The council has thus far refused to acknowledge the import of my observations, but I am convinced that we are potentially in grave danger. Could you place me on the agenda for the next council meeting? Thanks.
-Devrow


Another note on the vault:

Rovilar,
The council has voted on the matter of the secure vault. They think it would be safest to build it in the Ethereal Void, and to put up obstacles that require magical training, in addition to an ordinary key. They'd like to see plans next week, and if all goes well expect it finished in a month.

In the room where I found the note, I find a key hidden behind a bed. Is this Rovilar's room? Maybe there is something else hidden here?

True enough, I find a locked secret door with a fraznium circlet in it.

The door leading to the Secure Vault with the precious runes, I shall raid it later.

The facility is small and I reach the final chamber with a large pentagram.

A blackrock gem lies in the centre of the pentagram. Littered around are skeletons with runes. One of the runes is a new HUR (wind) rune.
This must be where the Guardian assaulted and massacred the Scintillus faculty.

'Here's looking at you!

Instead of attempting the Vault, I decided to exit back to the waiting room where I find Elster missing. Maybe he decided to take the exam?

There he is! Or was. Looks like he got killed by mongbats in the first section.

Worthless, did he even train at all in those sixty years?

Mongbats are like monkeys that can fly, how deadly can they be?

He left behind a note:

Elster -- I hope your thesis is going well, and good luck on that exam! love, mom

Now that the Guardian has taken over the planet, maybe mom is dead as well.

I shall return to Britannia to catch up on the latest castle events.

Mayor Patterson:

Avatar! I have seen a most extraordinary thing! I was wandering through a basement storeroom, when I came upon an ancient scroll, which spoke of a secret cache of Filanium on Talorus, "near the lava pits!"

Could this be of any help to thee?

Aye, a great deal!

At last I am of some use!

Funny, I don't remember seeing Filanium on Talorus.

Iolo the Bard:

Thou art rarely in the castle these days, Avatar. Thy affairs in other worlds are keeping thee very busy!

Indeed! What news of the castle?

There is little to say. None of us have slept easy since Tory's death, and the monsters are growing worse.

I am working as fast as I can. Meanwhile, you must keep up morale in the castle.

I will do whatever is in my power, Helicopter. Still, between me and thee, Avatar. I worry -- what dangers may lie beyond the holes in that gem? What if the gem opened onto an ocean floor, or a world full of poisonous gases?

If such a thing happens, than we shall face it. If not, 'tis best to worry about the dangers we do know.

Julia the Tinker:

Avatar, thou dost not know what it is like to spend thy nights here. This castle is becoming like some haunted tomb!

Hast thou found any clues to real danger?

Some nights, lying awake I can hear footsteps walking through the secret passage. Somebody in here can't sleep, and it's no wonder.

Sir Dupre:

What is on thy mind, friend Dupre?

I have just now returned from the ice caverns, Avatar. Even after visiting there myself, I can scarcely believe this other world is real!

Didst thou think I was lying?

*He laughs.*

Nay, Avatar -- 'twould be folly to doubt THY word.

'Tis indeed a shame, that should we destroy this gem, I shall never again have a chance to voyage between the worlds.

After talking with the Britannians, I have Nystul treat the newly acquired blackrock gem and use it on the gateway gem.


With my magic skills fully maxed, it is time to pick a weapon skill to train in.

Swords I say! Lobar is the best trainer in the multiverse!

Perhaps an axe? There are two unique axes, one of which she is close to acquiring.

Or maybe a mace for those undeads. Those folks in Killorn Keep talked about a tomb, she will surely be visiting it in the future.

Or maybe I should learn kungfu from Garg?

HI-YA!!! Heh, the tourists love that stuff.

I have quite an armoury now.

What wearing a full set of plate armour looks like.

While resting I got another Guardian message:

I am making many new friends in Britannia.

I hope Nastassia isn't one of them!

Time to break into the Scintillus Academy Vault.

I have to go through the entire test again. But I manage to find a pack I missed the first time in the "staircase maze".

She must really like adventuring unarmoured.

At least she is wearing that fraznium crown.

To the Vault! I wish I have a blue jumpsuit.

I am transported to the Ethereal Void. The dark, black walls and ceilings makes it difficult to navigate.

The first security feature of the Vault is a TYM rune with a bouncing fireball flying through it.

Having learnt my lesson in the exam, I throw a skull through the rune, bypassing the trap.

Why is the Avatar carrying a snowball?

The second obstacle is a locked door with a button far out of reach.
I tried hitting it with the snowball but missed. Telekinesis seems to be the only option.

Instead, I cast magic arrow and score a direct hit. Opening the door.

The third obstacle is a water maze which is designed to be solved by the spell water walk.

Automap doesn't work here, neither does the compass.

Out of the water maze and I find another locked door waiting for me.

Left of the door is the fourth puzzle: a maze, which you can't tell cos the walls are all annoying black. The trick to this maze is that the walls in the room are all illusory.

I just have to walk straight to reach a switch which will open the door.
The crystal ball gives a view of the door.

The door opens into a pit with purple floors.

There is an exit out of the vault to my left.

But a red moongate in a corner beckons me.

Actually, the easy solution is to cast levitate and float out of the pit into the next area.

The red moongate brings me to a fiery area with a door right in front.

Plus a door to my left.

Another to my right.

First I hop over the lava into the left door. I find an imp in there which I kill with my fists.
The room contains a chain on a wall which I pull.

This chain opens a door behind the centre door.

Next I ran back to the start and open the right door with telekinesis.
A hordling, a type of daemon appears but made no move towards me.

I kill it with lightning and deadly seekers.

It drops a key that I have to dash through the lava to get.
How I wish I have the FLAM (Flame) rune so I can cast flameproof to protect me from the fiery ground.

I open the middle door with telekinesis and fire off a few shots from my wand of deadly seeker hoping to draw whatever is in that room.
Doesn't seem to work so I dash through the lava again.

A despoiler! A powerful and poisonous daemon attacks me!

Time to use one of those wands I picked up during the Scintillus Academy Final Exam: a wand of Paralysation!

Paralysed, the despoiler can only watch helplessly as I destroy it with spells and fists.

A purple moongate lies behind the door I unlocked with the key from the hordling.

It brings me back to the Vault. Following the tunnel will teleport me back to the Academy. The treasures are actually behind this illusionary wall.

Tada!
The Vault has two already identified Basilisk Oil as well as the FLAM rune. But where are the VAS and TYM runes I read about?

I search around and find another wall that is illusory!

It leads to a room blocked by forcefields like those in the Prison Tower. Good thing I'm wearing this fraznium crown.

Searching the floor reveals the VAS and TYM runes, as well as a jeweled axe of Fire Doom, a wine of restoration as well as a scroll of smite foe.

My spell runes are now completed!

Before I leave the Academy I cut off the Guardian's power by striking the ground near the pentagram with Altara's staff.

I return to Killorn Keep to talk with Altara.

It must be a very difficult spell!

Aye -- none but the greatest mages may cast it!

That's me! I'm the greatest mage!

Its runes are VAS ORT YLEM (Great Magic Matter) -- may it serve thee well!

Aye.

Good! Beware, though -- a magical item can only hold a certain measure of energy -- too much may destroy it!

Next on the agenda is The Ice Cavern.

I return to Aunodunos and speak to Beatrice:

Greetings! Hast thou taken a liking to our fair city?

I may be able to banish the Guardian's presence from this place.

Oh... my! So it wasn't just a feeling after all! Yes... I know it now -- it is His presence keeping me here. I am present here in order to oppose him!

I shall end his presence here shortly.

Oh, thank thee! Thank thee!

Using Altara's staff, I end Beatrice's haunting.

I wonder how much karma I get from this?

But this game doesn't have karma. Unlike a certain other game series.

What series? Ultima?

No, the one with the super mutants.

Good for her then, this Avatar is not exactly virtuous, what with all the lying and stealing.

But before I leave, a secret area in the northwest is now accessible.

With the aid of the portal spell, I teleported through the wall and find three very powerful scrolls.

Back in Britannia, Miranda gives an update of my activities.

Now I retreat to my hideout to experiment with the enchantment spell.

Here I cast enchantment on a non-magical battle axe making it a battle axe of Minor Accuracy.

Weapons can have random enchantments of either Accuracy or Damage.
There are four levels of enchantments for weapons:

1.Minor
2.Major
3.Great
4.Unsurpassed

Casting on a already enchanted weapon will bring the enchantment up another level.
Maximum enchantment level is determined by Casting skill and character level.

Likewise for armour.

Armour can have enchantments of Protection or Toughness.
There are eight levels of enchantments for armour:

1.Minor
2.No adjectives
3.Additional
4.Major
5.Great
6.Very Great
7.Tremendous
8.Unsurpassed

Tests I run shows that moderately strong enemies cannot harm the Avatar in a full suit of leather armour with high Toughness enchantment.

Rings can also be charged for Protection or Toughness though tests on Toughness doesn't show any damage reduction, the damage reduction may kick in randomly.

Charged items can be recharged, with a maximum charge of 63. The more charges an item holds, the greater the chance of the item exploding when recharging.

I prepare these items for the next world, each with 63 charges.

1.Wand of Fireball
2.Wand of Lightning
3.Wand of Smite Undead
4.Wand of Mass Confusion
5.Sceptre of Shockwave
6.Wand of Cause Fear
7.Wand of Paralyze
8.Wand of Deadly Seeker
9.Wand of Name Enchantment

Sounds a bit overpowered, maybe she ought to go in unarmed and unarmoured again.

Next world, the Avatar fights in arenas!

Current stats:
Level 13
Mage skills maxed.
Offensive spells:
Level 1 - Magic Arrow
Level 2 - Cause Fear, Deadly Seeker, Rune of Flame
Level 3 - Bleeding, Lightning, Repel Undead
Level 4 - Frost, Poison Weapon
Level 5 - Fireball, Rune of Stasis, Smite Undead
Level 6 - Charm, Paralyse, Sheet Lightning
Level 7 - Magic Satellite, Mass Confusion, Shockwave

She can cast everything except Eighth Circle spells which require character level of 15.

 

[SCO]

What about create food? Or am i delirious?

 

[Unkillable Cat]

Create Food is not an offensive spell...unless she's visiting the world of Anorexia.

There's a food-related spell coming up in the next world, so keep an eye out for that.

 

[Luzur]

I began to see the cracks in their plan about 2 hours into Ultima 8.

Then the whole thing shattered like a mirror when Ultima 9 finally rolled round.

Yeah, the worst part about Ultima 9 was that all the fantastic and sometimes subtle build-up in the previous games amounted to jack shit in the end.

funny enough Ultima 9 wouldnt even have been released if not Garriott had stepped in and taken the reins (since he wanted a great ending to his game serie), EA wanted to set all sights on Ultima Online and kinda abandon the Ultima series.

 

[Silellak]

*prods the thread with a stick*

 

[GarfunkeL]

Well, the original UO was somewhat faithful to the series. Dunno how much it has been transformed by now, I left when they created the carebear world of Trammel.

 

[someone else]

*prods the thread with a stick*

Next world is the biggest and I am busy IRL. Here's a pic:

 

[Silellak]

*prods the thread with a stick*

Next world is the biggest and I am busy IRL. Here's a pic:

No problem, just didn't want the thread to die, and figured it certainly couldn't hurt if we bumped it over to Page 6, since the updates tend to get pretty big.

 

[Unkillable Cat]

That's another thing I never figured out:

What exactly is the Avatar supposed to kick? And how?

And are you going for the tough critters at the bottom of the Pit of Carnage?