Ultima The Ultima Underworld I & II Thread

[Gord]

19 strength will be a bit of a pita with a melee-focused character.
Your best bet might be to restrict yourself to chainmail and use magic to increase armor a bit, I guess.
Should be doable, but inventory management might become something of a burden eventually.

IIRC UW1 has this pseudo-random character creation where the sequence of characters you "roll" is always the same, so you can write down the number of good character on character creation, quit and restart and select the one that suits you the best.

 

[Unkillable Cat]

Now I'm burning up to play UUW1 again, especially since it's been ages since I last did it. But since this thread was merged, I see that there are 'upgrade' possibilities available, particularly in the music department. So I'm hoping someone can help me with UUW1 for a change.

Assume that I have ancient, unpatched versions of UUW1 and UUW2. What would I have to download and tweak to get the games running under DOSBox?

 

[Sceptic]

I'm hoping to find some information about raising strength.

As octavius said you can't raise srength, or the other primary stats. You CAN find magical chain that might be a lighter replacement for a plate piece.

I found a few musical instruments, but I'm not a bard, so I don't know what help they would be.

They might be useful. Maybe.

Keeping a stash of items you're not sure about might be a good idea, especially if you don't want to carry everything you find. Either that or, whenever you encounter an item you've not seen before, and it's heavy, leave it there but make a note about where you found it. Speaking of which, you have been taking notes I hope?

Also, if you can't cast Identify, putting points into Lore is not a bad idea. There are lots of magical goodies around, and some look like perfectly mundane items.

Assume that I have ancient, unpatched versions of UUW1 and UUW2. What would I have to download and tweak to get the games running under DOSBox?

Unless you're feeling EXTREMELY masochistic: the patches for both.

 

[Deuce Traveler]

I'm playing Ultima Underworld off DOSBox right now, unmodded. I didn't even know there were mods.

I didn't pick up the mandolin, but I made a note on where it is. I am running around with a regular pole, fishing pole and rock hammer for tools. I just went back and found the shrine for the first level, finished the mountain man quest which netted me a relic, and got some mad dwarf his blueprints. I still haven't gained anything from the goblins, and don't know if they bestow a relic or artifact to the Avatar, too. So I am moving on and headed to level 3 again. I saw some lizard men there, but haven't figured out where the entrance to their tribe was just yet.

 

[Gord]

I don't know about mods, except maybe for some ways to get better sound by installing a Roland emulation on your pc, but there was a patch that prevents a VERY annoying bug.
Without it, it can happen that your inventory gets corrupted later on when changing levels, which can screw up your game.

If you have the GOG version, I assume that you already have the patch, otherwise I can only recommend to find and install it.
I had one game were I encountered the bug and had a lot of trouble due to it.

 

[Murk]

Rereading this thread I realized that Mareus is fucking Mareus.

 

[Deuce Traveler]

I am about to head down to the fourth level now, after clearing out the 3rd level, including the bandit storehouse and backroom. I found a note that says a blade from the magic sword I am looking for can be found on the southeast corner of the fourth floor, but damned if I can find the way in. I've searched the walls in the southeast, but no luck. I'm hoping that the fourth level may have a stair up the the southeast corner of the fifth.

 

[Sceptic]

I'm playing Ultima Underworld off DOSBox right now, unmodded. I didn't even know there were mods.

There aren't, dunno where you got that impression.

I didn't pick up the mandolin, but I made a note on where it is. I am running around with a regular pole, fishing pole and rock hammer for tools.

Have you tried using the fishing pole btw?

I still haven't gained anything from the goblins, and don't know if they bestow a relic or artifact to the Avatar, too.

Remember that Cabirus gave one artifact to each race, but that doesn't mean they still have it. Keep talking to people. Make notes. Ask them about everything you can, use they keywords if you think they might know something.

I found a note that says a blade from the magic sword I am looking for can be found on the southeast corner of the fourth floor, but damned if I can find the way in. I've searched the walls in the southeast, but no luck. I'm hoping that the fourth level may have a stair up the the southeast corner of the fifth.

Reread that note. Very carefully.

 

[Unkillable Cat]

Been to level 3, have you? Bica, yeshor'click. Tosa thesh Thepa? Tosa thit Zak. ;-)

I should have been more clear, the only real upgrade that's available for UUW1/UUW2 are the patches and 'proper' music/sound playback. I've always played them with an Adlib/Sound Blaster configuration. I'm hoping someone has fixed the annoying stuttering sound bug in UUW2, anyone remember that?

 

[octavius]

Definitely get Roland sound for the UU games, if you can (you may have to pirate the ROMs needed). There's a world of difference.

 

[Deuce Traveler]

Bica Unkillable Cat ,

SSeth, isili yeshor'click. Tosa sstresh Deuce Traveler. Isili click zekka kitty cat.

 

[mindx2]

Definitely get Roland sound for the UU games, if you can (you may have to pirate the ROMs needed). There's a world of difference.

Ultima Underworld is one of my ALL TIME favorite games but never played it with Roland sound. PLEASE, PLEASE... someone write a quick guide on how to get this sound going! Also, I tried finding the ROMs but I guess I'm a lousy pirate....

Edit: Well, here's the link for the MUNT DosBox build but don't I need the Roland ROMs? Haven't tracked those down yet. When I do where to they go in DosBox?

http://ykhwong.x-y.net/

 

[Twinkle]

To the main dosbox folder.

Roms float at a certain infamous bay, keep looking bro.

 

[Excidium]

Definitely get Roland sound for the UU games, if you can (you may have to pirate the ROMs needed). There's a world of difference.

Ultima Underworld is one of my ALL TIME favorite games but never played it with Roland sound. PLEASE, PLEASE... someone write a quick guide on how to get this sound going! Also, I tried finding the ROMs but I guess I'm a lousy pirate....

Edit: Well, here's the link for the MUNT DosBox build but don't I need the Roland ROMs? Haven't tracked those down yet. When I do where to they go in DosBox?

http://ykhwong.x-y.net/

You don't really need no fancy dosbox build. I'll send you the stuff if you want.

 

[Sceptic]

You don't really need no fancy dosbox build.

Default build IIRC doesn't have MUNT included, so yeah you do need a fancy build Besides ykhwong's is awesome.

don't I need the Roland ROMs? Haven't tracked those down yet.

Track down the CM-32L ROMs in particular, NOT the regular MT-32 ones. UW1 fully uses the extra sounds and they're GLORIOUS. Won't post any links due to Kodex Kritical Kcensorship.

 

[Excidium]

You don't really need no fancy dosbox build.

Default build IIRC doesn't have MUNT included, so yeah you do need a fancy build Besides ykhwong's is awesome.

You can just install munt. I run mt-32 emulation on my regular dosbox. Screw your fancy korean stuff.

 

[Deuce Traveler]

Someone asked if I had gone fishing yet, and the answer is yes. I had the fishing rod, but I had so much food I didn't want to waste inventory space with more. Then I met a survivor on the fourth floor who told me about a fishing pond and I gave it a try. Pretty easy to do.

Fun fact: I used the levitate spell to get the blueprints for the mad dwarf, then ended up using his flying potion to get around some hard to reach areas on the third floor.

I also found the sword blade on level 3 by using a scroll that let me see secret doors, picked up on level 4. I was searching in the wrong spot, and would never have guessed it. I joined the knight order, killed the chaos knight for them, then found the writ to go from squire to knight. Now they want me to get the gold plate for my next advancement, but I searched the maze and only found two secret doors. No plate, and there looks like there is a lot more to explore in the north west, but I have no idea what I'm missing. I also found some dials east of there along with two buttons, but hell if I know what to do with them. Someone mentioned the artifacts being the key to some of the puzzles, but I have the Taper of Sacrifice and the Standard of Honor but when I look at them I get short descriptions. I haven't found the four levers that allow me to get the Ring of Humility yet. Because I ran into these problems I moved on to Level 5, which was split into two sections. I had to cast levitate on level 4 to get to one of those sections.

In level 5 I found a sword haft in the burial chambers. I assume this is the second half of the sword I was looking for, so I am rushing back to the dwarven smith now. I also have a jewelled sword from the Chaos Knight that has been pretty effective. I have a couple of quests from level 5: find an old woman's lost love and get some metal for a wizard. I have no idea how to complete these tasks, however, as I am missing either secret doors or some such. I haven't even met the level 5 friendly compound yet. There are indications that they are ghouls. I found an entrance to level 6, however, and I am considering moving on.

 

[octavius]

You should experiment with those dials and see what they do.

 

[Excidium]

get some metal for a wizard.

That quest. :D

 

[Gord]

. I have a couple of quests from level 5: find an old woman's lost love and get some metal for a wizard. I have no idea how to complete these tasks, however, as I am missing either secret doors or some such. I haven't even met the level 5 friendly compound yet. There are indications that they are ghouls. I found an entrance to level 6, however, and I am considering moving on.

I remember pulling my hairs out over the woman's lost love when I played it for the first time.
Best thing is, keep looking and remember that she might be content with less than getting him back in person. I guess you will know when you are able to complete that quest. It might take a little while, though.
The metal quest will require to find some place (and gain access to it) where metal can typically be found...

Also, you should definitely try to find those other friendlies you talked about, it will help you tremendously with some tasks.

 

[Unkillable Cat]

The four levers that allow you to get the Ring of Humility are on level 5, with that you're halfway through gathering up the talismans. 3 of the remaining 4 are on level 6, while the Cup of Wonder... well, have fun finding that one.

When it comes to the friendlies on level 6... remember the virtues.

Hold off on going down to level 7 as long as possible.

Finally, to create some interesting food, combine an ear of corn with a lit torch.

 

[mindx2]

You don't really need no fancy dosbox build.

Default build IIRC doesn't have MUNT included, so yeah you do need a fancy build Besides ykhwong's is awesome.

don't I need the Roland ROMs? Haven't tracked those down yet.

Track down the CM-32L ROMs in particular, NOT the regular MT-32 ones. UW1 fully uses the extra sounds and they're GLORIOUS. Won't post any links due to Kodex Kritical Kcensorship.

Found the ROMs. :D Do I just drop them in my DosBox folder?

 

[SCO]

No, you get a special version of dosbox first.
If you're on ubuntu search for a ppa with the patched dosbox and drop the roms on ~/.dosbox
If you're on windows search for a build with mt32 (it's a sticky on the forums) and drop the roms on the dosbox dir.

The reason it's not built in is spurious legal threats from butthurt Roland that the main dosbox devs don't want to deal with.

 

[mindx2]

No, you get a special version of dosbox first.
If you're on ubuntu search for a ppa with the patched dosbox and drop the roms on ~/.dosbox
If you're on windows search for a build with mt32 (it's a sticky on the forums) and drop the roms on the dosbox dir.

The reason it's not built in is spurious legal threats from butthurt Roland that the main dosbox devs don't want to deal with.

I've got the special DosBox build but wanted to know if I just pop the ROMs directly into the main folder or do they go elswhere?

 

[SCO]

Depends on the platform. If on windows, i think just dropping them there works fine. Then you need to use the game installer to select the mt32 (or midi device, or whatever they call it).