May 24, Wednesday

Some really old Screenshots -Videric

May 23, Tuesday

Elves, a lot about them... -Videric

I received this today: I have just finished the working draft of Tel'Mallen (the Circle http://www.grey-company.org/Circle) , a website dedicated to players role-playing the Elven Race. It contains many valuable resources, including information on the various gods of the Seldarine pantheon, racial subgroup information, "world" specifics for different Elven types, a basic guide on role-playing in general and as an Elf, a language resource including Common to Elven/Elven to Common/Phrase guides and a CGI Search Engine, links to Stephanie Law's INCREDIBLE art gallery (for choosing an image to represent you, or hiring her to make one), an intershard message board and calendar and many other tools. The intent of this site is to provide a common forum for players who enjoy the Elven archetype to gather information for foundational background creation and development. It is, however, only the starting point. I hope to gather resources from players across the shards to add to this site in the creation of a complete "Elven Compendium" or some such... to do that, however, I need your help. I desire information and contacts from everyElven guild/village/community that you might be familiar with. Names, ICQ's, Emails, URL's, whatever... I will use this information to contact the leaders of these communities and ask if they are willing to help in the participatory nature of this endeavor to create something for the 'Quessir people across the shards. This is a very interesting prospect, as Elves are one of the most culturally rich of the "monster" races, and this sort of resource possess the ability topush that social development to the next level of creative input... a commonality. Please, if you can aid in this endeavor I would greatly appreciate it. And to those of you who just wish to visit, be welcome as well. http://www.grey-company.org/Circle Send any questions, information on Elven communities, or other queries to: talanithus@grey-company.org Talanithus Tarant - http://www.grey-company.org/Talanithus UOLS Editor - http://uols.xrgaming.net Tel'Ruid Councilor - http://www.grey-company.org UO2 Stratics Community Coordinator - http://uo2.stratics.com

May 19, Friday

We want more to craft, continues -Videric

From COB dev board: Hi Rune. Heres one for you... -Fenris - Catskills And a simple one at that... Craftables/Items. Theres quite a bit of UO being left out after 3 years my friend... Unless DD lied to me I remember distinctly him saying it would be EASY to add more items to vendor sell lists, and with the changes made to the (tinker) crafts menu easy there too... What gives? At this rate we'd have to wait 10 more years to even place a tall candelabra in a player run tavern... Artwork/Craftable items. Rare items. A REAL Rogue profession... Follow my link below, and also review The UO Development Board - Finn of Catskills also too this issue to heart. You used a word "ambience" when describing the reasons for redecorating the shards... What I want to know, is with all the great art we have, why cant a tinker make a dang frying pan, or a homeowner even procure one? This "rares market" excuse is just that- an excuse. Sorry if I sound a bit brash, but this has been bugging me for 3 years mate... The frying pan is only one item and used as an example, by the way... (Thats for the smartarses out there, not you) And the Answer: Great debates have been raging...-Runesabre ... as to whether Tinkerer's can handle the newfound power of the frying pan, especially the mystically enhanted Danged ones often refered to by certain Catskillians. Stay tuned for how this and other debates... er... pan out. *laughs* So will there actually be a frying pan? Will Britannian's continue to fry meat on campfire until then? Could we get those new items now, please?

May 18, Thursday

The Tales of a Traveller needs you! -Videric

Would you like to be part of making the Tales of Traveller? Either just by updating the news or maybe even making and updating sections in Traveller. If you are interested, give a note and introduce yourself.

May 14, Sunday

Ultima Worlds Online: Origin, E3 cleanup with Markee Dragon -Videric

Markee Dragon sent me a note of his interview with UO2 devteam at E3. On contrary to other E3 reports so far, this one is very detailed, and is surely worth of reading for anyone who wishes to learn more of Ultima Worlds Online: Origin. Here is what Markee Dragon wanted to say himself: We have the scoop. UO2 is not something that we are just hearing rumors about anymore. We have been able to see it and touch it and we are very excited! At E3 we had a private viewing of the game with Starr Long (Lord Blackthorn himself) and Jeff Anderson to show us the way. We transcribed the entire interview. It's very long and detailed but we didn't want you to miss anything. Head on over to http://www.markeedragon.com/e3.htm for this in-depth look at UO2 with information you will find no where else. Markee Dragon www.MarkeeDragon.com

May 12, Friday

UWO:Origin: Bladerunner meets Jet Li meets Matrix meets Conan the Barbarian -Tomf

Let me put it simply: the trailer for UWO:Origin (*sighs*) kicks arse like no trailer has kicked before. It's great. It has restored my faith in the game. You can download it at www.uo2.com or atuo2.stratics.com. It's 20 megs but it's really worth downloading. Here's the basic script for the trailer: The background music is by Grim Fairies (who?), sounds kinda like Korn. It starts with a scene from a factory area, lightning thunders in the background and smoke rises from chimneys. It cuts to a scene showing the three warriors from the rendered "first" screenshot of UO2. This time they are moving fluidly and it looks great. Next up is a skeleton which looks like a bone knight from UO but with really nice animation. It waves it sword around beautifully while clutching on to a big, round shield. Then they show animation of both Juka and a Meer. The animation is damn pretty, both characters extending their arms, bowing, going in to a fighting stance. Cut to an ettin. It looks mean. Both of the heads are moving and bellowing. Then the other head starts smacking the other head with one of the hands. It looks very amusing. Then there seems to be some bad arse tamer with some small critters. There are also two others, a Meer and a Juka. The juka kneels and extends his both arms while holding his sword in front of him. It looks like a scene from some medieval movie where a beaten warrior bows and offers his sword to the victor. Very impressive, to say at least. Cut to an orc, who seems to be guarding some steel building. It keeps walking back and forth in front of it. It looks nice and grizzly. Then it's Juka again and all I can say is HOT DAMN! The Juka unseaths his sword and charges towards a guy wearing full plate and wielding two swords. The Juka charges at him and jumps in the air, does a flip and lands behind the guy. Daaaaaaamn nice looking. Cut to an outdoor scene where an elevator rises to a city that is floating in the air. Looks like a scene from a medieval Bladerunner. Cut to a scene with bugs flying in the air. These bugs look like those flying creatures in Starship Troopers. Their movement is really life like as they buzz around like real bugs. Then they show Blackthorne and his moped. He's in a garage or something. I guess he's waiting to be refueled. Save me! A dancing scene. That's right, a Meer and a Juka get jiggy with it. Looks funny, though. A drunk monster? Well it at least seems so. The furry monster staggers around the screen like your average 13 year old after his/her second drink. It looks like a mean Ewok. Next up...martial arts. The kicks, punches, etc, look great. They show the motion capturing technology with this guy doing all these sweet movements. Next scene shows some sort of a gargoyle attacking a Juka standing on top of a castle wall. The Juka hits the gargoyle with his sword several times. More Juka: it is a Juka doing fluid battle movements. Best part is that he's holding a sword and then he grabs a dagger from his belt and fights with two weapons. They also show several monsters. I recommand you download and see it for yourself. It's worth it.

May 10, Wednesday

Where do you want to UWOO today? -Tomf

Every now and then unbelievable news surface: OJ Simpson "proven" not guilty, Pamela Anderson removing her breast implants and the breakthrough of viagra, just to name a few. Today, OSI (or is it EA now?) heralded the destruction of The Game Formerly Known as Ultima Online Two and the creation of The Game Now Known as(drum roll) UWOO (!!!!!) or... Ultima Worlds Online: Origin. Yes, a spankin' brand new name for the game we used to know as UO2. These people just keep surprising me. That must be the lamest name for an online RPG in the short history of online RPGs. The name doesn't flow, it sounds lame, it has the word Origin in it, it has more than two words in it (UWOO?) and it's not definetely doesn't sound like Ultima any more. Why would they want to put the word Origin in the name? That will just undermind the sales given the service record of Origin, their Customer service and incompetent live team. And now they have a name with more than two words...they are breaking the mold. Any name with more than two words will be a challenge for majority of the online players. A question remains: is this a sequel for UO? Is it set in the Ultima world with characters familiar to us from the older Ultimas? Did Garriot sue his old employer? Does this mean that female characters will have larger breasts? Who knows. I don't. And I don't really want to know. My eyes are becoming more focused on the OMPRG horizon: Star Wars Online, EQ2, Dark Zion, Anarchy Online and many others. It seems that UWOO is going to be a blast from the past, failing to offer anything new.

New on the Spotlight: We want new items to craft -Videric

I was browsing the COB development board and noticed a post about the rare items and house decoration. As a person who likes to decorate his home, I have to agree that it would be about time to add some more house decoration, specially as there is a lot of unused art for it. Rug, better bookcases, skull candles, statues (real ones), carpets, curtains, wall rugs, decorative shields and swords, fireplaces... and the list goes on. Let us hope that Origin agrees with our cry and gives us something new to decorate our homes with. Please take some time and read about the subject in our new spotlight just above this post.

May 8, Monday

Files ! -Videric

I opened a new link on the "main" section, so look to your left and see if you find something interesting in Files. I have gathered some fonts from the net as well as some music.

May 5, Friday

Who protects Deepwater when all are at Trammel? -Videric

I think I have answer to your question, I just saw him yesterday. All our worries are gone!

May 4, Thursday

What is evil? -Videric

Following was posted on Horizon message board and RPG vault. Although it is not Ultima related it talks about what is really evil? I think it is worthy reading to everyone, even if you do not roleplay an "evil" character. More on Ku'lak alignment: Ok .. the Ku'lak were somewhat orderly neutral before... now they are somewhat orderly evil. This brings us back to some of my previous posts about alignment. Remember there is a multi-axis alignment system. Good and evil are not absolutes. The definition of good and evil is very complex. Hence my comment evil is in the eye of the beholder. The Ku'lak much like the vampire orcs and goblins are only interested in the advancement of their race and their power in the world. They have no compassion or allegiance to anyone not of their kind. With the exception of the Orc/Goblin alliance that has grown through the years. This could also be said about the dragons except they are not set on dominating the world or destroying other races to advance their own, they just believe they are superior to all others. The angels dryads and elves are more, protection of the world based. Compassion for all creatures. So if you were to ask an Orc who is evil they may very well say the elves are, because they want everyone in the world to follow their way of beliefs, and to the orcs this is unacceptable. The land is to be used to the benefit of their kind. It is a tool to be used, not an idol to be worshipped. And because of this belief the elves have deemed the orcs evil in essence escalating the conflict. So what is the difference between an evil Ku'lak and a Neutral Ku'lak? Very little. They are now more centered on the advancement of their race, perhaps slightly more aggressive than before. Not only interested in protecting themselves but expanding their presence in the world. Is this not the basic survival instinct of most insects? Mass reproduction to advance the strength of the hive. When one area becomes full take over a new area, regardless who is currently in control of it. Any conflict or intrusion into their domain is a direct offensive against the entire hive, and makes the intruder immediately the enemy, even if the intruder was there first. So yes, a comparison to the borg is not to far off. Much the same as orcs and goblins are the same way. Demon's are the true evil, focused solely on the destruction of everything. Where as Vampire's are more interested in control and the advancement of their ways. They have little regard for other races, they are merely pawns in the world, giving them a very similar mentality to dragons. Evil is only evil to someone that opposes them. By making the Ku'lak evil, we have escalated their status of the hive. They are now much more aggressive both through expansion and through survival instincts. Most creatures will not be welcome in their hive, including other evil races. This will be a respect that must be gained regardless of the players alignment. Instead of being passive fly like creatures, they are slightly more predatorial like a wasp or cricket. Cricket? yes, very few people realize that cricket's are one of the most efficient predatorial insects immune to almost all insect toxins including scorpion and spider venom. The cricket is accepted by humans as a good or neutral insect because it has no potential to harm us or our world (crops, meat, homes) while spiders and scorpions are somewhat evil creatures to us, because they can hurt us, as are locusts and termites for destroying our world. Fear is a strong basis for perception. So while the cricket is an extremely feared insect in the insect community and an aggressor eating basically any type of insect it comes across, it would be considered evil by insects. But in the eyes of humans, they are accepted as neutral to good bugs. the nature of evil: What is evil? What if Ku'lak and Elves were mortal enemies and both were neutral. What if Angels and Saris Destroyed each other. What if Giants invaded a human city. What if Demons enslaved the ogres. What if Vampires charmed and controlled the dragons. What if Lamurians summoned a tidal wave destroy all coastlines. Who is evil, what is evil?

May 3, Wednesday

UO2: No houses or guilds, but we're having Celine Dion doing the ingame music. -Tomf

No, not really. I just made that up. But that sums up my feelings of the project known as Ultima Online 2. I really waited for the new PC Gamer. I wanted to see the new screenshots, descriptions of features and other cool stuff. When they were posted online I was satisfied. UO 2 looked like it would have all the features that UO had, but even better. But then the gimp known as UbiQ basically took the ground from under the project. There might not be houses, guilds or mounts. That alone was a blow. Eventhough these features might make in to the release, it just makes me feel unease. Houses and mounts especially are features that were going set UO2 apart from all the other current Multi Player games and dozen of other games in the production. With that announcement they have gimped the competetive edge they had over their competitors. Without these features UO 2 will be like any other 3D game there. The longetivity that UO still has is because of houses and communities, because of the virtual property one can own there. What's the difference between UO and Everquest without these features? None. What about Asheron's Call, Anarchy Online, Diablo 2, Shadowbane, and numerous others? They are all similar in the end. With these kind of games the market will become overcrowded. Some of these games will eventually fail. They will fail because they are the run of the mill online game with nothing innovative or new. UO 2 had those features, and maybe it will, but OSI just made a huge playerbase very uncertain of the future of UO2. And has anyone checked the UO2 site recently? They changed the logo. We'll they didn't exactly change the logo but inserted the text "Working title." Give me a break here. The name of the game will not be Ultima Online anymore? Did Garriot sue OSI? This has been a major marketing plunder. At least there's Star Wars online coming. I want to be Greedo. Then I can talk in gibberish.

May 2, Tuesday

UO2: Being one with the nature -Tomf

Welp, they're out, naked and fully exposed. UO2 screenshots were finally released in the recent PC Gamer, and later on the UO2vault page. Here are few of my impressions of the screenshots and the summary: Screenshots: Overall, they look nice. They have a cool, distinctive fell to them. The characters and creatures look nice, eventhough a bit blocky. I hope they have a decent animator for the characters, not some ex-animator of pacman. These screenshots look very similar to the screenshots of Anarchy Online. Maybe I'm just paranoid. It's very likely. The races themselves look great. They have a very distinct appearance and looks. The Meer...well the Meer, they scare me. These look like nimrods who bounce around their big Yew trees carrying large chains, ready to chain themselves to the trees if a carpenter approaches. The Juka, on the other hand, look more sinister. One of the pics looks like a futuristic samurai. The four strike dread into my heart: they look like Greedo from Star Wars! For the love of God! No! "You see Greedo attacking Han Solo!" "Han Solo has been slain by Greedo!" "You see Greedo dancing around Han Solo's body!" Then there are the humans: well, at least I assume so. There's only one concept art screenshot which resembles a bounty poster. Humans are boring anyway. At least d3wds can claim that they are r00lplAying when they play Juka or Meer. Now to the actual summary and the dreaful facts: Well for starters it's coming on two CDs. Most of the time that's a good thing; means that there's a lot of content. Hopefully, the graphics will support all the nifty new graphic cards that are and are coming to the market. Given that the new release date is spring 2001, the computers and graphic card will be much more advanced than they are today. What is somewhat new and controversial is the player combat: in UO2 there will be PvP zones and PvP free zones. Those don't worry me because they work well, at least on paper. When a player is killed by another player, the player has the decision to kill the player. Otherwise the victim will stay unconcious. If the player decides not to kill the player, then he can loot one selected item. However, if he decides to kill the player, he can loot all the items, but he will lose karma/fame/reputation/morals/whatever. This just feels very exploitable...what if a player keeps knocking a player unconcious time after time and taking one item at a time, thus avoiding reputation loss? And if a player decides to kill a player, what will the consequences be? They should be grave; the NPCs should REALLY frown upon these people. But the real bomb came later when they announced on UO2 sites that unimportant items that no one really cares about, such as player housing, guilds and mounts, might not be going in with the final release. Let me get in to my d3wd mode: "dud3, wtf?" Honestly, these are the things that really separate UO from other online games. Guilds and houses make communities, communities are a back bone of any large scale online RPG. Look at AC and EQ: people wander around alone, occasionaly when they want to kill a higher level monster they group with bunch of others. There's no community because of the things mentioned above and now OSI are taking them away from UO2?? "dude, wtf?" Put them in, or I'll come to your offices and verbally taunt you. I think a vein popped in my head. Must stop writing before I die.

Ultima Online 2 revealed - (FIXED link) -Videric

UOvault has made an article with a lot of scans from the new PC Gamer's Article of UO2. Have a look: http://uo2vault.ign.com/uo2unveiled/uo2unveiled.asp