Ultima The Ultima Series Discussion Thread

[KeighnMcDeath]

Im also glad most of you guys are suggesting I can start on U4 because I dont feel I need to play the older games unless everyone's advice was " no you must start on U1 or you wont understand or appreciate the broader narrative "

Ultima 1-3 are referenced frequently in later games, but their plots are so simple that you can get absolutely all of the details simply by reading the recaps in U4's manual (and every manual after that). In fact, I think this is the superior way to experience the story, because the descriptions of those games' events makes them seem a lot more dramatic and epic than they actually were. The recaps also leave out the stupid shit like spaceships, laser guns, elves, dwarves, and time machines. The broader narrative begins at U4.

And are the user mods like Lazarus recommended ?

I have yet to play them myself, but I hear that they're really good, especially Lazarus. But you should definitely play the original games before getting into any fanmade content.

Ah, those ideas were awesome though U2 was annoying in many ways. To really let the early ultimas & Akalabeth sink in you need to play the various ports and in some instances like u3 apple (hacked scenarios).

 

[LarryTyphoid]

Ah, those ideas were awesome though U2 was annoying in many ways. To really let the early ultimas & Akalabeth sink in you need to play the various ports and in some instances like u3 apple (hacked scenarios).

Yeah, I plan to play the really early Ultimas after I've finished the rest of the series (sans 8 and 9, not touching those)

 

[KeighnMcDeath]

What is Ultima KC? KFC? Ultima Chicken Empire for Colonel Sanders?

 

[rusty_shackleford]

"only played by 30+ [...]"
they would have barely been out of diapers when UO released, UO is played by geriatrics.

as a side note, I fucking hate asmongold. No idea why he's so popular.

the video is generally spot on, but it doesn't just apply to UO. WoW destroyed the MMO landscape because it essentially erased pre-WoW MMO history, nobody tries to go look before WoW to see what those games had because "well, they had less players!" despite them being superior in a lot of ways. A lot of WoW's success can be attributed to timing, not necessarily all-around superior mechanics.

 

[LarryTyphoid]

UO is played by geriatrics.

It's a shame that the current Ultima audience is comprised entirely of schizophrenic old men who are so desperate for content that they'll defend shit like Ultima Forever and Shroud of the Avatar, like our late moderator Jaesun (who still lies dead in the SotA erotic roleplay rooms, may he rest in peace ).

 

[LarryTyphoid]

In the Forge of Virtue expansion pack, you can softlock the quest at the very end by misplacing the amulets on the Dark Core. You can drop an amulet behind the Dark Core, which cannot be moved, and you can't see the amulet anymore, so you can't pick it up on account of Ultima 7's brilliant and innovative mouse-driven user interface.

 

[Bruma Hobo]

UO is played by geriatrics.

It's a shame that the current Ultima audience is comprised entirely of schizophrenic old men who are so desperate for content that they'll defend shit like Ultima Forever and Shroud of the Avatar, like our late moderator Jaesun (who still lies dead in the SotA erotic roleplay rooms, may he rest in peace ).

I've convinced many 20 year olds to play Ultima IV and V, and some even loved them. I'm personally no longer young but my favorite games in the series got released before I was born.

Hardcore Zelda and Elder Scrolls players love this shit, they simply don't know about it because there's no modern marketing campaign pushing some obvious modern successor (except maybe for the Divinity games, which unfortunately play nothing like Ultima).

 

[BruceVC]

"only played by 30+ [...]"
they would have barely been out of diapers when UO released, UO is played by geriatrics.

as a side note, I fucking hate asmongold. No idea why he's so popular.

the video is generally spot on, but it doesn't just apply to UO. WoW destroyed the MMO landscape because it essentially erased pre-WoW MMO history, nobody tries to go look before WoW to see what those games had because "well, they had less players!" despite them being superior in a lot of ways. A lot of WoW's success can be attributed to timing, not necessarily all-around superior mechanics.

That video is very good and is honest about what makes UO a good MMO

I mentioned this earlier but I played UO from 2007-2008, 2 years, and it was great fun and he is right about what makes it a good MMO. 2.8 k members is more than enough people to make the game world active, we played on an EU server which had less than 1.5k members

But its the first time I have listed to asmongold and he created such a bad impression, its difficult to believe someone could be so ignorant and dismissive at the same time. And he thinks he is a gaming journalist but he doenst bother to play the game....and he clearly doenst understand the reason that UO has support

Also he thinks its 30 year old playing UO....thats another lazy comment ,most players would be much older . Im 48 now and when I played UO when I was 35 and there were lots of people playing my age and older. And those players I am sure still are still playing

And no one thinks UO is going to " relive its heyday "......even in 2007 no one expected that. But you dont need its heyday for it be fun and worthwhile once you join a guild

 

[LarryTyphoid]

I may try to get into UO one day, but I'm afraid it'll be a similar experience to when I tried to get into MUDs - I'm just a hapless newcomer trying to enter a community that's remained static and closed off for dozens of years. I really can't stand those "Ultima Dragons" people, and I imagine UO is populated entirely by similar types. It's a shame, because the free-for-all, griefy havoc I've heard described is really interesting. But even if it's a multiplayer game, I really only play games solo, and so I don't want to have to socialize with a bunch of guilds either. Maybe that's just missing the point of multiplayer games entirely, I suppose. The only multiplayer game I'll play on a somewhat regular basis is Space Station 13, which is a game that mandates going into it alone because of the rules against "metagangs". I think if I went into an Ultima Online server with a similar mentality as I'd approach an SS13 server (just interacting with people off-the-cuff, with disposable characters and roleplay gimmicks) then I'd be rejected. It'd be another story if there were some organization on the Codex or perhaps a /vg/ general.

 

[LarryTyphoid]

Some of the contextual music choices in Ultima 7 are very strange. In Skara Brae you see some of the darkest writing in the series up to that point, talking to tortured spirits with backstories involving subjects such as rape and sex slavery, yet they decided to have this fucking clown music playing in the entire town:

 

[KeighnMcDeath]

Some of the contextual music choices in Ultima 7 are very strange. In Skara Brae you see some of the darkest writing in the series up to that point, talking to tortured spirits with backstories involving subjects such as rape and sex slavery, yet they decided to have this fucking clown music playing in the entire town:

Reminds me a little of Legend of Kyrandia:

 

[KeighnMcDeath]

Maybe Chuckles is Malcom?

 

[Tweed]

It's a shame, because the free-for-all, griefy havoc I've heard described is really interesting.

That UO is long gone. It left when UO:R came out and mirrored the world. UO turned into Diablo after Age of Shadows hit, it completely redid the gameplay.

 

[KeighnMcDeath]

I'd play an offline solo of the entire UO. I managed to get Shroud. Did i play much? Uh... i killed a zombie & skeleton.

 

[LarryTyphoid]

Lord British sure is a useless bum in U6 and 7. He falls for the ruses going on the whole time. I guess it's good that Garriott was humble with his self-insert. Judging from everything he's done since Ultima 7, it's an accurate depiction of what he'd be like as a king.

 

[BruceVC]

I may try to get into UO one day, but I'm afraid it'll be a similar experience to when I tried to get into MUDs - I'm just a hapless newcomer trying to enter a community that's remained static and closed off for dozens of years. I really can't stand those "Ultima Dragons" people, and I imagine UO is populated entirely by similar types. It's a shame, because the free-for-all, griefy havoc I've heard described is really interesting. But even if it's a multiplayer game, I really only play games solo, and so I don't want to have to socialize with a bunch of guilds either. Maybe that's just missing the point of multiplayer games entirely, I suppose. The only multiplayer game I'll play on a somewhat regular basis is Space Station 13, which is a game that mandates going into it alone because of the rules against "metagangs". I think if I went into an Ultima Online server with a similar mentality as I'd approach an SS13 server (just interacting with people off-the-cuff, with disposable characters and roleplay gimmicks) then I'd be rejected. It'd be another story if there were some organization on the Codex or perhaps a /vg/ general.

I mentioned I last played UO in 2007\2008 but that latest video from asmongold the guy that plays and likes UO confirms what UO is like now and whats fun about it

You would have to join a guild to really appreciate UO because you can see its about dungeon exploration and some PVP and you cant solo the dungeons. And I am sure the guilds would be welcoming and friendly because there are only 2.8 players and I cant imagine why they wouldnt want a new player

But its important to recognize that the enjoyment of playing UO is not the same as the reason most people love the SP games which is about the overarching narrative and how the story progresses. That doesnt exist in UO because the story is over, you would enjoy UO for the mechanics and advancing in levels and then being able to participate in higher level dungeons

So for me Im more interested in the SP experience and even though I can see UO is still worthwhile I wouldn't spend time playing UO. The next MMO I want to play which I bought is Elder Scrolls Online which is a very different MMO than UO

 

[RatTower]

Ultima Online's charm is that the gameplay allows for experimentation with different character features and in-world elements (i.e., stuff that isn't just happening on a spreadsheet in the back). That just isn't possible in modern MMORPGs (or even most regular games for that matter). Everything has to be slick and streamlined or min-maxers will whine and scream until every skill is the same except for its animation and particle effects (and even those better be of the same length or someone may gain an "unfair advantage"). It's the reason why I keep coming back to "unbalanced" games like UO. It is the same as with Morrowind and HoMM3.

Recently I replayed the game on the UO:Renaissance shard, which is a pretty good recreation of the era minus any of the Trammel/Felucca shenanigans (as far as I could tell at least). I tried a tamer/bard this time because the server rules allowed for up to 8 followers. On my journey through Britannia I eventually ended up in Yew, where lots of sheep spawn in fenced-in areas. Here is a bit of trivia about those fluffy little critters:

- Their attack is probably the absolute weakest in the game.
- Their hit point regeneration is equal to their base damage (perhaps even higher).
- They are as dumb as a bag of hammers and can easily be provoked.
- Their hit sound/scream is pretty loud and annoying.

Combining these facts in my brain I devised a devilish plan. I started taming sheep from around the forest and guiding them to one of the fenced-in areas, where I would release them. I would then use my musical talent to provoke them against each other. In the end, there would be a huge flock of warring livestock, hitting and biting each other, every single one of them screaming in agony, but unable to harm their opponent in a way that the damage would overtake the hit point regeneration. This effectively deadlocked them in neverending combat.

And thus the eternal sheep war began.

 

[KeighnMcDeath]

Was the exodus and minax parts good in UO or were they a damn let down?

I probably only wanted to play to map it and see if any lore was good or available. Multi-player gets into "my drop asshole". "My xp kill." "Let's D d d d d DUEL!!!"

Cue yugioh music 5retarD's

 

[RatTower]

Was the exodus and minax parts good in UO or were they a damn let down?

I probably only wanted to play to map it and see if any lore was good or available. Multi-player gets into "my drop asshole". "My xp kill." "Let's D d d d d DUEL!!!"

Cue yugioh music 5retarD's

I never really got into it, but besides the Renaissance intro sequence (which btw was a recut of various dropped cutscenes from Ultima 9's original plot) I believe the whole Minax element of UO limited itself to faction warfare.
There was a protected compound with a faction stone somewhere above the dungeon of destard. You could sign up for Minax' faction there and you'd be involved in PvP with the other three (?) factions. Apparently, the system got axed later. I don't think there was any deeper lore or world event related to it.

 

[KeighnMcDeath]

Oh how bleh. I see the angle I guess; work for Minax as a pawn maybe? Was the Minax NPC in the game?

 

[qwertyuiop666]

Was the exodus and minax parts good in UO or were they a damn let down?

I probably only wanted to play to map it and see if any lore was good or available.

https://www.uoguide.com/ This wiki has the information. If you want to read official fiction for events you can check https://www.uoguide.com/Britannia_News_Network and https://uo.com/category/fiction/

 

[RatTower]

Oh how bleh. I see the angle I guess; work for Minax as a pawn maybe? Was the Minax NPC in the game?

I have never seen her as a regular NPC but it looks like she was in the game:
https://www.uoguide.com/Minax

Apparently, there actually were a couple of events featuring her as a sort of final (?) encounter. Hard to say at this point. I believe way back in the day UO Stratics kept a record of event monsters, but I'm afraid most of that data is lost nowadays.

 

[LarryTyphoid]

Well, I finished the Black Gate. Overall, I'd say it was a good game, but near the end I find myself wanting to rather play Fallout or something, which is never something I thought when playing the previous Ultima games. The assault on the Fellowship's base in Hythloth just feels limp compared to the treks down the Abyss or the dungeon Doom. I don't think BG presented any scenario as memorable or cool as sneaking around Blackthorn's castle, entering the lair of the Shadowlords at Stonegate, or even first entering the Gargoyle underworld. U6 also felt pretty limp near the end, but that game had the excuse of a diplomatic, non-violent ending. The Guardian had good voice acting throughout the whole game, but his acting is laughable at the very end.

Moving onto Serpent Isle. Right off the bat, the white male Avatar is so disgustingly ugly that I can't bear to look at him, so I'm forced to pick the female version. Perhaps my Avatar was afflicted with gender dysphoria in-between the two games.

 

[LarryTyphoid]

I'm really confused about the death and resurrection system in Serpent Isle. What exactly is the point of combat if I can come back to the exact point I died, with all my health restored, and lose no progress at all? Do you lose XP or something?

 

[Bruma Hobo]

There's a pedophile on the loose, beware!