 March 31, Friday |
 | Richard Garriot has left Origin -Videric |  |
The news of yesterday/today is that the creator of Ultima, Richard Garriot has left Origin. I wish him the best of luck in what ever he plans to do in the future. But I have to admit I feel a bit sad because there will not be any more Ultimas with guidance of Richard Garriot aka Lord British.
You can read more at any major Ultima Online site... |
| March 30, Thursday |
| Soon everyone will have a change to get laid -Tomf | |
Lord British: Lets see, in Ultima Online 2.... In Uo2, likely my favorite feature will be your Avatar and its interaction with other Avatar's. We have motion captured most all the activities, including... Avatar to Avatar contact.
Nextgame.it: : Sex?
Lord British: Perhaps.
An old man walks through the streets of Britain with his young grand-son. For days the two of them have been travelling on mud paved road from their small peasant hut east of Britain. The two of them walk hand in hand, for the old man knows that one can easily get lost among the tall buildings and bustling crowds.
"Come'n, son. Not far from here lies a glorious building that houses the riches of Britannia!"
The eyes of the young boy are wide open as his mind tries to absorb the sights and sounds of the magnificent city.
"Here we are: the Britain bank!" wheezes the grandpa.
They pause for a moment and look at the crowded building.
The boy pokes the old man in the ribs and asks: "Grandpa, what is that man and woman doing?" He points at a man and a woman who are engaged in a strange, strenuous looking exercise. The old man gasps and leans heavily with his shaky hands on his cane.
"Close yer eyes, son! Criminal acts are being commited!" screams the old man.
"But grandpa, I wish to watch."
The man taking part in the exercise suddenly bursts screaming: "Bank! Bank! Bank!" Suddenly a steel helmet appears on the man's head and the couple continue excersizing.
The old man starts shaking violently and his wrinkled face turns bright red. He darts forwards, his cane above his head and smacks the naked bastard.
"Guards bank vendor buy recsu recdu!" the woman screams. A hovering object flies to the bank and starts hovering over the old man. A bright green beam shoots out of the object and the old man melts.
"Grandpa!" the boy cries and runs to the remains of Grandpa. In the puddle that once was grandpa lies his cane. The boy, tears streaming from his eyes, bends to pick up the stick when suddenly the object appears. A green beam shoots out of the object, blowing the young boy in to pieces. The people stop and stare at the pieces of human remains around them but quickly continue their duties of pleasure making
"Make love, not war. Be a loyal citizen and get rewarded" come's from a large loudspeaker next to the bank.
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| Richard Garriot's interview -Videric | |
| March 28, Tuesday |
Two pictures of Ultima Renaissance. It seems Minax knows how to use hair dye at box cover. Other screenshots hints of new cutscene. The pictures were found at Amazon.com.
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This is what was posted about housing at www.uo.com:
In order to ensure that there is space available for some players to place large structures in Trammel such as castles, keeps, and towers, house placement in Trammel will occur in three stages.
Stage 1 will last a few days.
Only Castles and Keeps can be placed.
Stage 2 will last approximately a week, following stage 2.(I think it should read following stage 1)
All house larger than the small house (this includes towers, two-story houses, large brick houses, and patio houses) can be placed. Castles and Keeps can be placed at this time as well(space permitting).
Stage 3 will begin after stage 2 is complete.
All houses of any size may be placed.
Once Trammel is published to the servers, FYI will be updated with information regarding the current house placement stage.
The issue with characters, monsters and animals blockinghouse placement will be resolved before Trammel is available.More information on this will be forthcoming.
The biggest news is that no longer someone can block house placement. Very interesting, house placement should really be easier now. |
| March 21, Tuesday |
After Tomf's interesting story Viking wanted to tell his part. So here it goes.
From Viking:
The Official version of the encounter between Tomf, and Viking the Guard Captain.
Yesterday, the 20/3-2000 at approximately 22.00 CET, Viking, after long lasting taunts from Tomf, challenged him to a duel of honour.
The duel itself began at around 22.15, witnessed by the town Judge Richard Wigeclif.
The good judge was there to make sure everything went according to the rules agreed upon by the two parties: Tomf and Viking.
The duel lasted around 15 minutes.
In the process of the duel, Kurgen the Guard, began to interfere, but after instructions from Tomf and Viking, just stood and watched, along with the good judge.
After a long tie in the duel, Viking finally came out as the victor. Tomf had been defeated.
Any stories otherwise about the Duel, as the one Tomf is claiming. Is not true!
Any questions about the duel can be directed to either to Viking, or Judge Richard Wigeclif.
Viking, Guard Captain
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| March 20, Monday |
| BREAKING NEWS: Deepwater guard Captain Viking sought for a murder! -Tomf | |
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Deepwater-- Late Monday the Deepwater Guard Captain Viking attacked and killed a merchant who had been visiting the town.
The Traveller interviewed a young eyewitness, who wishes to remain anonymous, about the brutal murder.
"Well, me be ca'ving me bows in them woods when I see a fairly decent lookin' fella come strollin' down the path. 'ell, I kinda liked him already," the witness told us. "But then me heart jumped when me saw the guard ca'pn comin' from woods and hittin' the fella in the back with a bloody big axe!"
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The Sheriff's report has intricate details about the crime. According to the report, the Captain had dashed out of the woods giggling hysterically and had hit the man in the head with a large axe. The man, according forensic reports, died instantly. Several other people were reported to come out of the woods and started shaking hands with the Captain. One of these men were identified as the Guard Kurgen. Kurgen is notorious for his involvement in a smuggling scandal in Yew few months ago which made him an outlaw in the town of Yew.
One factor that troubles the sheriffs at the scene is the reason why exactly the victim's head was removed.
"From the cut marks here down in the neck region we've been able to conclude that the head was sawn off in a grisly manner, mostly like with a kitchen knife," reported Sheriff Deadus Macnomana.
Rumors are already spreading like wildfire in the town of Deepwater.
"I 'eard 'e cut off the face an' wears it like a mask," said confused looking Palmer Eldritch. "We've been like brothers all our lives! Actually, more than brothers! Uhm, that's off the record right? You won't put that in, will you?"
MaBuTu, a well known farmer said "Thou must understand that we are a peaceful community, resembling an utopian community where we all are like brothers and sisters. We are unfamiliar with violence, and that's why this has been very straining for all of us."
Cixi, the fighting school manager was unable to give a comprehendable comment.
The group was reported to have quickly dispersed after the crime. They were seen fleeing to the woods west of Deepwater. The Town Council of Deepwater has set a bounty of 50,000 gold pieces on Viking and 20,000 gold pieces on Kruger.
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| March 18, Saturday |
Ultima Online 2 site has been updated again with comments from the development team. Aaron de Orive a.k.a. Ahriman(the old guy on the new toy line?) has writen about UO2 fiction and the world. The whole essay hints very strongly that we should not be afraid of any black & white plot line, which is already supported by very good pieces fiction that has been published.
Also we know the races that you can play, at least this is my strong guess: Humans, Meer and Overlords. I would have really hoped for Gargoyles and Orcs but I guess some things are not meant to be.
-Ultima Online 2
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| March 17, Friday |
This is from Valdemar den VI from Nohkmahr bulletin board:
The opening of Nohkmahr on the sunday 19 March 2000 from 18.00 CET(12.00 EST) to 22.00 CET(16.00 EST).
*orcish drumming*
Gather gather, o' beings of darkness, since a new stronghold has been built in Sosaria. For the grand races of orcs, ogres, goblins,drow elves, undeads and numerous other dark beings, this is the first exceedingly fruitfull deed of the alliance. Nohkmahr will provide a dwelling for all dark beings, enabling them to grow strong and independent from the foul leadership of Lord British and the corrupted virtues. Join us on this day, to celebrate our first big step towards the liberation of our races and the taking back of what is rightfully ours !!
The initial plan for the grand event:
- Food and drinkies(incl. the famous local troll cider) for all
- The games of Nohkmahr. Price clomps, Tests of strength and stamina, drinkie contest and MORE
- More drinkies for the thirsty
- Special waaagh speech held by secret invited being
- Beings, who have shown most fierceness, ugliness, thirstiness, wickedness, cunning and more may be elected for special prices
- Those still above table height will get a clomping opportunity and more drinkies of course
We will not throw people of the virtues and other scum of Sosaria out, should they turn up in Nohkmahr. But fighting unless scheduled will not be tolerated on this moon, so leave yer weapons unwielded. |
| Stupid Texan does Britannia -Tomf | |
WARNING: This piece of writing includes abstract concepts such as humor and sarcasm. If mis-understood these two concepts,humor and sarcasm, may result in feelings of anger and frustration. If you are an American or Austrian you should avoid reading this article as the bizarre writings featured in this Article come from the absurdity of these two nationalities. Then again, if you're an American or Austrian you probably won't understand what I am saying anyways.
Ultima 9: Ascension.
Last night I met Arnold Schwarzernegger in the Castle of Lord British. He was floating in the air, his skin more than tanned and ignoring the noble Avatar. At this point I didn't recognize Arnold but it was when I started talking with him did I realize that this is the famous celebrity! "Thu be baeck, and thu khick yuhr ahrse," Arnold told me. I was dumbfounded; it was Arnold...talking to me! "Thu be vhery phissed, thu ghet sun buarned vhery baedly." Only few minutes in the game and I had already met the Austrian Hulk! I could not wait to see what wonderful things lay in front of me!
One thing I found strange was that these people weren't American! Coming from the country of Texas (Notice: Texas isn't part of United States. Giddit? Uh huh, um, okay.) Surely, the influence of the world super power should have reached these lands known as Britannia. But these bastardos talked in a British accent. Immediately I set out to Americanize this land.
I had just walked out of the castle when a peasant called me an 'idiot'. "D3wds, in Britannia?!" I thought. I looked around but I calmed down as I saw all the people wearing clothes. I set out to find an inn to have something to drink. And whaddya know? They don't even have Starbucks in this damn land! Arnold, people that talk with British accents, d3wds and no Starbucks. "No wonder those pillar had risen," I thought. |
| Sites worth of checking up today. -Videric | |
It is Friday again, the day when last few hours of work/school seem like forever. To ease up your pain I collected some quality links.
Photek the wicked brigand has been updating his site again, his humorous stories are always worth checking out.
- Photek the Brigand
Carde of Skara Brae and his cousin have been busy lately updating the site , so I suggest you go there as well.
- Carde of Skara Brae
Crossroads of Britannia Development board keeps flooding with new messages because of the huge changes coming.
- Crossroads of Britannia
Lastly a question, if anyone knows what has happened to Nethergate -UO2 news, please let me know.
Keep checking this site, maybe Tomf has few words to say today as well?
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| March 16, Thursday |
| All stories have been updated and many spelling mistakes have been corrected. I hope this will provide a better reading experiance. |
| Videric Gaveston has been "immortalised" -Videric | |
| March 14, Tuesday |
| History is being made as we speak... -Videric | |
I updated Jou'nars and Keeonean's quite a bit in the History section. I also added a short note of Jacob the druid. Feel free to send me a word if you have something to add.
There is still a lot to do on History section, a new time line being one as the old one is rather general type of thing.
Old English guide is also something that needs to be done sooner or later, although Stratics one is very good, a more simple and differently done guide might be in order. As two existing guides would be better than just one.
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| March 13, Monday |
Well actually it has been few days, but it took me a while to make the little story about it. However there it is now, be warned however it has a lot of picture as the event has a lot to see...
Direct link to the story: Taking over Trinsic |
| Deepwater: The Center for Alcoholic-Anonymous -Tomf | |
"Hear ye, hear ye !
A settlement has sprung forth on the fair land of Sosaria. Let all the good people of the land come together in this noble endeavour. We have a town where the virtues are strange and ale flows. Where drunkards hone their skills, master brewers keep the ale supply steady, and the ale doth flow! There shall be music, drinking, and and more drinking! Let the call go forth that the drunkards have joined together in the struggle against the diminishing supply of ale- and Deepwater shall be their home!"
(Based on picture on the Deepwater front page...and personal experiences)
Welcome to our great city! All the people of Britannia are welcome to our city. But ye must be strong, agile, and tolerant of the strange personalities ye shall meet. First of all, ye must be a rogue able to scale over the battlements because we fear the term 'outside influence'. On top of the wall ye might see the Guard Captain, Viking, staggering drunk and hollering words that no one really understands. If ye have gotten over the battlements ye shall enter a fair city that resembles a crypt. We do not have any people on the streets 'but ale doth flow!' The fair houses that our master carpenters have built have crumbled down over the time but we promise the most comfortable ruins for ye to stay in! And do not fear the weather: eventhough we have stormy clouds upon us for the 'ale doth flow!' On the streets ye might find the ex-mayor Dardan Brook crawling on his belly. Do not believe his stories about a 'tummy being the sign of a sophisticated man' for it is just a different term for 'beer gut'. After ye have moved on ye might encounter Burrator. This burly man is often seen staggering around waving his larger-than-life warhammer for no comprehendable reason. But worry not! 'The ale doth flow!' But not all of the people are drunkards in our fair town. In the building that looks like a fortified bank vault lives Videric, the fair merchant. But do not approach this building as it is known that he shall start shooting arrows at anyone that approaches his building. But one buildings stands erect like a touchstone of humanity: the Deepwater Inn! For there the 'ale doth flow' and citizens make merry with excessive amounts of intoxicative drinks. But if ye thought that everyone was a drunkard...fie on ye! There are honorable guards such as Kamar the Great, who will instantly deliver the heavy handed blow with the hand of law and strike ye down if ye voice yer opinion.
Deepwater is the place to be for the 'ale doth flow!'
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| March 11, Saturday |
For those who wonder, yes I am in progress of making part 2 of Sir Dupre's Quest. I just have not had time to finished it, and select good screenshots about what was discovered in Trinsic...
Be patient, even if it is not one of the Lord Britishes Virtues.
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| March 10, Friday |
| Religious intolerance sparks a wave of violence in southern Britannia -Tomf | |
Trinsic, Britannia -- Thursday night witnessed new wave of religious clashes in the city of Trinsic. A mob lead by an official from Lord British's court massacred several worshippers in a new temple built in Trinsic.
Several of the followers were brutally hacked down by the angry mob which was lead by Lord Dupre. The hatred that has grown between the Britannians and the followers of the new religion in Trinsic has claimed several lives in the past few months. The scale of violence that was witnessed Thursday night is unmatched by the previous violence in the city.
The crowd not only massacred three brothers who were praying in the temple but systematically proceeded to tear the temple down. When Lord Dupre was asked about the motives behind the hideous attack he said: "There is no room for such religion in this world." The mob, armed with swords and pickaxes, tore down the temple quickly and celebrated among the ruins. Many claimed this to be the greatest day of their lives.
Phase Lich, one of the followers of the new religion, said: "The citizens of Britannia must become more tolerant with different cultures and different ways of thinking. Violence isn't the way to solve this situation! The Phase Lich was later found murdered and his body decapitated.
"I never thought we would actually come and kill these innocent people! I thought we were there to peacefully protest and express our disapproval of this new religion," said one of the farmers that had accompanied the mob to the city before bursting in to tears.
The destiny of Trinsic is uncertain and the tension is still high. The angry mob has refused to leave the city and are running amok on the streets looking for any followers of the religion on the street.
The court officials of Lord British in Britain refused to comment on the situation in Trinsic. |
| March 9, Thursday |
Yesterday I was honored to be able to join a Quest lead by no other than Sir Dupre.
The story can be found here: The Quest of Dupre |
| March 8, Wednesday |
From Crossroads of Britannia:
Is OSI aware of the concerns of some of the player-run towns who may wish to relocate to the PvP consentual area and will any consideration be given to them to help them relocate if they so desire?
--I've been reading the boards and responding to these concerns. There are no plans to auto-move houses though.
-Calandryll
Look here for entire post: http://boards.xrgaming.net/cob/devboard/messages/6622.html |
| The new lands and player communities -Videric | |
I hope you to notice the new links at the spotlight. Both are about saving the player made towns, which now seem to be left at the new Evil/Faction/PvP Zone. Many towns have tried very long to avoid violence within their walls, but now the coming changes it seems very bad for them. The only option at this moment is to rebuild the towns or start new ones... The biggest problem to this is of course the land rush: it will be very hard to make a town to certain place with so many people rushing to have a tower... unless of course, the Development team has a solution to this that they have not told.
I really hope all of this will be solved, and communities saved. But untill we know for sure that they are, we need your help. Please go to the "spotlight sites" and voice your opinion. |
| They like the smell of napalm in the morning -Tomf | |
One of the coolest thing about games must be fact that virtual worlds are created for the players to enjoy. Who could've imagined people living in a fantasy world fighting different kind of monsters such as orcs and d3wds? Now OSI's finally taken the next step and are trying to offer us to explore the lunar landscape of the moon. And of course, skinned goats.
Honestly, lunar landscape with skinned goats, decayed corpses scattered about and people riding around in a skirt and a silly hat doesn't exactly fit the definition of a RP enviroment. OSI has efficiently lied to the whole player population like some virtual Bill Clinton. "New lands that isn't a copy of the old lands." Oh no, just "similar." See? Skinned goats and no leaves? Not similar.
Three things will inevitably happen if no changes are made: economy will be crippled, roleplayers will be receiving a smack on the face and the player population will be divided. Apparently OSI has never heard of such terms as supply and demand. Uh huh, yeah, the cornerstones of any working economy. None of the people in the consent lands will be losing their items. They can go back to their corpses and retrieve their items which will brutally kill off any kind of demand that has existed in the UO economy. The people participating in the fAcT10n wArZ won't really care as they don't wear any clothes in the first place and only have few regs and a halberd.
What about roleplayers? "Them be liking da sweet smell of napalm in them trees." Every roleplaying establishment that exists on any shard will be living in a fantasy like post-apocalyptic world where only thing for tamers is to do and wonder where the hell their goats have gone ("Look, that's your goat. It's dead, no skin, just a different color. Mkay?"). Many people will be living in the consent lands; the RP community existing in the old lands (Britann...uh...Feluccia) will be crippled as many will be moving to the consent lands. Player run towns will become quieter, the interaction with different communities will diminish.
Players will be even more spread out now. A lot of the players will be in the new lands, but many will be in the old lands. Most people, including me, like interaction with other players, even with stupid ones, but what OSI wants is players to spread out so that we can be in one of the two Britannias, one of the 16 dungeons or whining in IRC rooms pondering our miserable existence. Or you can talk to a skinned goat, or the guy who skinned the goat, or the naked guy who rides a horse and keeps telling you how he's gonna own you.
Well, at least it's cool to sit on a corpse, rather than a log.
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| March 7, Tuesday |
Like most of Britannia's roleplaying populance will be most likely be moving to new lands, The tales of a traveller decided to do the same before anyone. So here we are, much thanks goes to Burrator for inviting us to his server and setting up new scripts, BIG hurraaah for Burrator! So from now on, the tales of the traveller will be at: http://traveller.lemming.org.
Biggest change however is that I am not doing the site alone anymore...
I also changed the news pages look so that it would perhaps load faster, and be more easily accessable. All comments are of course welcomed. |
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