Ultima Online at Wayback Wednesday

Kai Schober

15 May 2012 17:33:15 EST

MMORPG.com’s Twitch TV channel is going to visit Ultima Online tomorrow night, 05/16, in its Wayback Wednesday series. The session will launch at 9:30pm EDT (3:30am CEST).
The hosts Rob ‘Grakulen’ Lashley and Hillary ‘Pokket’ Nicole will be joined by Bonnie ‘Mesanna’ Armstrong and other members of the Ultima Online team to explore the game on Test Center 1 and talk about its 15 years of history.

Join us on the channel tomorrow night!

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The Awakening – Act IV Part 2

Kai Schober

11 May 2012 12:44:19 EST

Written by the EM Team

It hadn’t ever seemed like such a long journey from Ver Lor Reg to the moongate before, but their group had never been so haggard either. As the humans in Ilshenar had increased in numbers the strain on the city of Ver Lor Reg had grown to the point that it was no longer sustainable for some of the businesses and families. Prices had increased to the point that many of the gargoyles who’d lived there for ages could no longer afford to remain. Queen Zhah’s offer had tempted many away, and even some of the town guards had taken it up and left. With the pressure of the humans in the desert sifting and drawing in monsters of all sorts, combined with the opening into Exodus dungeon emitting the mechanical monsters regularly, the situation had quickly started devolving.

Vas-Wen helped to drag along one of her fellow gargoyles as they made their way through the desert towards the moongate, with a gargoyle child in her other arm. The few among them with weapons were tasked with clearing a path through the dangerous areas. She was one of the few who had managed to escape uninjured when the end had started, and now she was doing everything she could to help her fellow gargoyles get away from what was left of their once glorious and beautiful city. It had just happened so fast, it still all seemed like a dream…

A crashing noise awoke her from slumber, causing her to bolt upright in the stone bed. Assuming someone had dropped something, she rolled over in an attempt to sleep but not before another, much louder, crash broke her attempt. A moment later a sparking and hissing monstrosity was flung through the open archway, and a guard quickly dashed in after it, burying his spear deep into the creature and ripping out it’s mechanized guts as the whine of its engine finally ceased. Vas-Wen clutched at her nightclothes as she looked to the guard, whose breathing she could now tell was ragged and from whom blood flowed freely onto the floor. The guard looked to her with a startled visage. “This area was supposed to already be cleared! Get out of here and head for the gate, and if you know how to fight, arm yourself!” With that the guard rushed out into the street once more. Warily, she stepped through the stone archway from whence the guard had just come.

Ver Lor Reg was in chaos. The scents of burning oil and reagents clung heavily in the air, and the sickening essence of blood followed it like a chaser. Screams and clashing weapons rang throughout the entirety of the city, and to the west she could see guards clashing with Overseers, Minions, and even those once thought extinct Minion Lords. She could see that there was no way the outnumbered force could hold the mechanized monsters at bay, and they were in a fighting retreat. Hearing a cry in a nearby home she realized with dread that it was that of a child. Without even thinking, she sprinted towards the building, bursting into the open archway in time to see a juggernaut enclosing upon a lone gargish child. With a roar of fury she didn’t even know she could make, Vas-Wen leapt on top of the creature and raked its exposed human parts until she reached its throat, and dug her talons into it. The mixed spray of blood and alchemical fluid that powered the monstrosity quickly seeped into the creatures exposed circuitry and it cast out arcs of lightning through its body until the creature slumped and its drill finally grinded to a halt.

She quickly moved forward to the child and took him up in her arms, heading past the defunct creature even as a much more vicious looking version of the one she’d killed smashed through the wall and into the building. The massive drill attached to it whirred with blurring speed and wailed like the sound of a dragon’s claws upon stone. With a flap of her wings she threw herself through the doorway as the structure collapsed, feeling strong hands help her up as she joined the retreat, hoping she never saw one of these creatures ever again…

As she’d thought back to what had just happened, they finally reached the moongate and stepped through. Exiting into the sunlight of Ter Mur they were spotted by one of the Ter Mur gargoyles who immediately sent out a wave of alarm, though amidst his shouts he had to pause to cough a few times. As the healers and envoys rushed out of the city to attend to their brethren from Ver Lor Reg, Vas-Wen could only watch and wish she could do more.

“For your contributions and your dedication to the city, as well as in removing and assisting in the detention of threats both domestic and foreign, it is the decision of this body that you be recognized as a Baron of the city of Trinsic. Congratulations and we hope that you will serve well.” The assembled men and women applauded as the brief ceremony concluded, and the newest Baron was named. Despite the hardships they’d endured, not everyone was finding this to be the worst of times, and the merchants of Trinsic had banded together as had those of several other cities. With trading and most of the means of survival in their hands with many of the former nobles ousted by the angry people, the merchants had been able to seize power, and were now in a state of de facto control. While this worked out well for them, not everyone was so pleased with it, one of them being the man who watched what he viewed as a farcical ceremony from a balcony overlooking the inner courtyard.

Stroking his goatee for a moment, the man turned to his servant that was with him, scanning his face for his thoughts on the matter. After but a few seconds he broke the silence and spoke to him. “Tell me, Clancy, what do you think of merchants assuming the role of lauded council?” Unmistakable sarcasm dripped with every word he spoke.

Clancy frowned for a moment and just shook his head. “Lord Archus, I do not think it bodes well for the future of our fair city.”
Lord Archus turned back to look down upon the gathered and then did an about face, his cloak hovering just above the floor. “As much as it bothers me, I fear it is not the primary concern at the moment. I’ve been trying to decide what is possible to do about the situation that’s occurred in Ver Lor Reg. After receiving word of the hardships they are facing I’ve come to my decision. Come with me, and we shall see if the expensive favors I burned have borne the fruit that I need and brought me the only messenger that might be able to get through to him…”

The unmistakable sound of valorite clashing against verite, of iron against copper, and bronze against agapite rang throughout the battlefield. A fierce contingent of knights backed up by a scant few mages were doing their best to fight off every attack thrown at them by the wild beasts and assassins that beset upon them, even while necromancers did their best to level the field anytime the knights started to make headway.

A rallying cry shot up as a man in gleaming, polished armor charged into the front lines, a banner flapping violently against the wind from the horses back as he threw himself into the fray. His helmet was adorned on either side with a battered but clear crest, that of a deep violet chalice. Dazzling sword strokes and parries were flung against the enemy combatants, causing the beastmasters, poisoners, and necromancers formation to quickly crumble. Even as the line advanced the scavengers were already starting to populate the battlefield, rats and crows finding those bodies not already used up from the foul magicks being used. Amidst the noise of battle and the intensity of the fighting, an abnormally behaving mouse was never noticed.

The leader of the knights shouted out for one last surge, and he dismounted as a fireball lanced out and took his steed upon its flank. On foot he closed the distance between himself and the one who appeared to be his opposite number amongst the enemy forces, and quickly brought his blade to bear against her. With a vicious snarl the woman raised a kryss to block, and they locked blades for but a moment before he managed to bring his shield to bear, and bashed her with it. In a single motion she brought a potion to her lips, ripped the cork out and drank it, and with an invigorated look she motioned for the plate armored knight to come at her. Both of them fought on even as their armies continued to battle, until finally the knight managed to gain the upper hand and knocked her to the ground. Hefting one of his plate armored boots onto her sternum he leveled his sword to her face.

“If you know where she is, tell me, and I will serve the virtue of Compassion over Justice today. If you don’t, then I hope your last words are worth it.”

The woman glared daggers at him, a bloody mouthed smile playing across her lips that was devoid of anything resembling warmth as she coughed out her answer. “She’s beyond your reach, Knight-Errant. And she’s beyond your power too. Your little kingdom is crumbling at the seams and we’ll be there to pick up the pieces when…”

Her response was cut short as the knight drew his sword back and silenced her forever. Without a word he turned from her body, surveying the scene before him; those enemy forces still alive were now in full retreat, and most of his forces were walking, if not unwounded. He slashed the blood from his blade and slid it home into its sheath at his waist as he approached his lieutenants, but was stopped as a peculiar rodent ran across the battlefield to him. As he saw her, he doffed his helmet and shook out the sweat from his raven locks, before kneeling to pick up an old friend.

“You are the last I expected to see in these lands, Sherry. I can only assume that it’s of dire importance.”

The knights voice still had a sonorous quality to it, one that brought a touch of familiarity that Sherry had found less and less of amongst others of late, and she made a silent thanks that at least here something hadn’t changed.

“Lord Dupre, it’s about the current state of…”

Reaching a plate gloved hand up he rubbed at his temples lightly for a moment before he held that same hand out in a gesture of asking her to halt. “For you, it’s simply Dupre. But come, I fear this is the kind of talk I won’t be able to handle if I don’t have access to a drink. I promise to only get you the finest of delicacies to nibble on as well.” With that having been said, he gathered up the reins of his steed and waited for one of his mages to provide them with a gate, and stepped through it with Sherry the Mouse in one arm…

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Pub 76.0 Comes to Origin

Kai Schober

7 May 2012 18:10:12 EST

Greetings,

Publish 76.0 comes to Origin tonight. These are the changes to the Publish 76.0 Notes:

Publish Notes to Origin

• Fixed the issue with Health Bars disappearing
• Players will no longer be able to summon harbingers on Test Center
• Vela was moved to Cove since Minoc is a faction town.
• Void Pool will provide additional information such as who much longer till the spawn starts and what wave you are on.

Patch notes to both Classic and Enhanced Client

• Cliloc changes

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Oceania Maintenance – 05/08

Tim Chappell

7 May 2012 16:03:56 EST

Greetings,

We will bring down Oceania for service provider maintenance tomorrow, Tuesday May 8th, at 3 pm EDT (21:00 CEST). Only the Oceania shard will be affected during this time.

At this moment we anticipate the shard to be back online no later then 6 pm EDT (24:00 CEST).

Thank you for your understanding.

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Pub 76.0 Arrives on TC1 Today

Kai Schober

4 May 2012 15:51:15 EST

We’ll will bring Pub 76 to TC1 today at 5pm EDT (11pm CEST). The shard should be back online no later than 6pm EDT (12am CEST).

These are the changes to the previously posted Publish Notes:

Expect cliloc errors on TC1 till early next week when we put out a new client.

Added Gargoyle Artifacts in Covetous

Unique hues were added to the Artifacts

Adjusted the strength of the monsters in level 3

 

Adjusted the number and properties of the artifacts found in Covetous and purchased from Vela

Prismatic Lenses

• Hit Point Regeneration: 2
• Stamina Regeneration: 3
• Damage Increase: 25%
• Poison Resist: 17%
• Physical Resist: 18 %
• Cold Resist: 7 %
• Energy Resist: 6 %
• Fire resist 4 %
• HLD 30%

Hephaestus

• Self repair 5
• Reflect Physical 15%
• Defense Chance Increase 15%
• Lower Mana Cost 8%
• Physical Resist 15%
• Fire Resist 1%
• Faster Casting 2
• Spell Channeling
• Parry 10

Bracelet of Protection

• Hit Point Increase 5
• Hit Point Regeneration 10
• Defense Chance Increase 5%
• Random Damage Eater 15%

Blight of the Tundra

• Stamina Regeneration 10
• Damage Increase 50%
• Cold Damage 100%
• Cold Resist 15%
• Swing Speed Increase 45%
• HCI 15%
• Str Increase 5
• Random Slayer

Brightblade

• Hit Stamina Leech 100%
• Stamina regeneration 3
• Damage Increase 50%
• Swing Speed Increase 40
• Faster casting 1
• Fire Damage 100%
• HCI 10%
• Splintering 20%

See you in the game!

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UO Forums Interviews TheGrimmOmen

Tim Chappell

2 May 2012 15:17:13 EST

The Ultima Online Forums recently published an excellent interview with TheGrimmOmen, UO Lead CG Supervisor.

What is your official job title? What does it cover/involve?
My official title is Lead CG Supervisor. Generally, a Lead CG Sup is in charge of tools (evaluation, creation, implementation, and support) and pipeline (the processes that artists follow to create art and get that artwork into the game) development. Since I’ve been doing UO art for… a long time now, my responsibilities currently also include Art Lead/Director responsibilities, which include schedule development for the art team, as well as writing up reviews and feedback for artwork being developed for UO. I also get to do concept artwork and on a good day, animation for our creatures. I’m also responsible for processing all the artwork we create to get it in the game.

Whether you’re an artist, gamer or just want to learn something about kilts, be sure to check out the complete interview.

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Publish 76 comes to TC1

Tim Chappell

1 May 2012 16:08:14 EST

Here are the publish notes for publish 76 coming to TC1. Enjoy!

Publish 76.0.0

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Gardening System

• Vanilla has been added to the Gardening System
• Vanilla seeds can be found on Exodus mobs inside Exodus Dungeon
• Vanilla plants will produce vanilla and additional vanilla seeds
• Vanilla plants cannot be cross-pollinated with other plants
• It is possible to get mutant colored vanilla plants using conventional gardening techniques

Covetous Dungeon Revamp

Level One – Still a great place to farm feathers but added a few surprises.

Level Two – Contains the Void Pool

• Covetous Level 2 represents a new style of PvM for Ultima Online. Instead of farming monsters for treasure, the players’ task is to defend the Void Pool from Cora’s minions. Cora will invade the dungeon with endless waves of monsters. Each wave is tougher than the last. The monsters do not drop loot, and instead players score points for making kills or assisting in making kills.

Level Three – Cora and her Minions

• When she was denied advanced knowledge of mana by the Codex of Infinite Wisdom, the sorceress Cora became enraged. In her pique, she poured all of her enormous energy into a magical spell and focused it onto the Codex. Despite the sheer power of the Codex, she wrested a few pages from its binding.
• The magical blast also bored a hole through the Void Between Places, anchored by a section of stone from the Codex’s podium. Cora and the pages from the Codex were pushed through the hole in space.
• The far end of the hole erupted into the middle of Dungeon Covetous. Injured, and with her own ability to channel mana damaged, Cora retreated deeper into the dungeon. Over time, she recovered, and now sends minions enhanced by magic to attempt to capture more pages of knowledge from within the Void Pool.
• Use of travel spells near the Void Pool in Covetous is impossible because of the twist in space, so Cora must gate her minions into the dungeon from a distance.

Void Pool Points

Once you have gained enough void pool points visit Vela the Sorceress in Minoc, outside the Old Miners Supply building.

New Artifacts found in Covetous

Armor

• Savage Chieftain’s Headdress
  • Intelligence Bonus 8
  • Mana Regeneration 2
  • Reflect Physical Damage 15%
  • Lower Mana Cost 10%
  • Physical Resist 10%
  • Fire Resist 9%
  • Poison Resist 10%
  • Energy Resist 25%
• Crown of Insight
  • Intelligence Bonus 8
  • Mana Increase 15
  • Mana Regeneration 2
  • Defense Chance Increase 5%
  • Lower Mana Cost 8%
  • Physical Resist 9%
  • Fire Resist 3%
  • Cold Resist 6%
  • Poison Resist 3%
  • Energy Resist 17%
• Headdress of Evil
  • Hit Point Regeneration 2
  • Stamina Regeneration 3
  • Damage Increase 25%
  • Physical Resist 18%
  • Fire Resist 3%
  • Cold Resist 7%
  • Poison Resist 17%
  • Energy Resist 6%
• Hephaestus
  • Self Repair 5
  • Reflect Physical Damage 15%
  • Defense Chance Increase 15%
  • Faster Casting 1
  • Lower Mana Cost 8%
  • Physical Resist 15%
  • Fire Resist 1%
• Inferno Tunic
  • Self Repair 5
  • Night Sight
  • Reflect Physical Damage 15%
  • Physical Resist 24%
  • Fire Resist 34%
  • Cold Resist 4%
  • Poison Resist 1%
  • Energy Resist 2%
  • mage Armor
• Bracelet of Protection
  • Hit Point Increase 5
  • Hit Point Regeneration 10
  • Defense Chance Increase 5%
• Champion’s Breastplate
  • Hit Point Increase 10
  • Reflect Physical Damage 15%
  • Hit Chance Increase 5%
  • Defense Chance Increase 5%
  • Physical Resist 35%
  • Fire Resist 3%
  • Cold Resist 2%
  • Poison Resist 3%
  • Energy Resist 5%
  • Lower Requirements 10%
• Queen’s Gloves
  • Strength Bonus 8
  • Hit Point Increase 5
  • Stamina Regeneration 1
  • Luck 140
  • Damage Increase 20%
  • Physical Resist 18%
  • Fire Resist 3%
  • Cold Resist 1%
  • Poison Resist 20%
  • Energy Resist 3%
• Void Walk
  • Durability +100%
  • Stamina Increase 8
  • Stamina Regeneration 3
  • Hit Chance Increase 20%
  • Physical Resist 8%
  • Fire Resist 4%
  • Cold Resist 4%
  • Poison Resist 36%
  • Energy Resist 2%

Weapons

• Blight of the Tundra
  • Hit Dispel 50%
  • Stamina Regeneration 10
  • Swing Speed Increase 30%
  • Damage Increase 50%
  • Cold Resist 15%
  • Cold Damage 100%
  • Weapon Damage 15-19
  • Weapon Speed 4.25s
• Mace of the Fanatic
  • Hit Stamina Leech 50%
  • Swing Speed Increase 75%
  • Damage Increase 50%
  • Physical Damage 100%
  • Weapon Damage 14-16
  • Weapon Speed 3.5s
• Plaguebringer
  • Hit Poison Area 100%
  • Dexterity Bonus 5
  • Hit Chance Increase 15%
  • Swing Speed Increase 20%
  • Damage Increase 50%
  • Physical Damage 100%
  • Weapon Damage 12-13
  • Weapon Speed 2.5s
• Thundrous Roar
  • Hit Lightning 50%
  • Hit Chance Increase 15%
  • Defense Chance Increase 15%
  • Faster Casting 1
  • Swing Speed Increase 30%
  • Damage Increase 50%
  • Physical Damage 100%
  • Weapon Damage 15-17
  • Weapon Speed 3.25s
  • Two Handed Weapon
• Fayaxion’s Bane
  • Dragon Slayer
  • Luck 140
  • Swing Speed Increase 30%
  • Damage Increase 50%
  • Fire Resist 20%
  • Use Best Weapon Skill
  • Physical Damage 100%
  • Weapon Damage 17-18
  • Weapon Speed 4.5s
• Reptile’s Kiss
  • Random Slayer
  • Hit Poison Area 100%
  • Hit Chance Increase 15%
  • Damage Increase 50%
  • Poison Resist 15%
  • Physical Damage 100%
  • Weapon Damage 10-12
  • Weapon Speed 2s
• Breathless Sickle
  • Hit Life Leech 100%
  • Hit Harm 40%
  • Spell Damage Increase 15%
  • Swing Speed Increase 20%
  • Damage Increase 50%
  • Physical Damage 100%
  • Weapon Damage 13-15
  • Weapon Speed 3s
• Bedlam’s Mortar
  • Hit Lighting 40%
  • Hit Lower Defense 50%
  • Strength Bonus 10
  • Damage Increase 75%
  • Physical Damage 100%
  • Weapon Damage 16-17
  • Weapon Speed 4s

Decay Point Change

• Factions, Virtue, and City Loyalty points will not decay if you log in daily anytime after maintenance.
• Except to the rule is faction points will decay if they are over a hundred regardless if you log in or not.

Pirates and Merchants in Tokuno

• We have added Pirates and Merchant ships to Tokuno waters

Bug Fixes

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• Certain peculiar seeds will no longer be unidentified when removing them from a seed box
• The Alchemist in Ter Mur should now sell glass blowing tools
• The crystal portal will take the speaker to the Ilshenar Gypsy Bank when the words “Ilshenar Mint” are spoken
• Hail Storm can no longer be cast thru walls
• Hail Storm will now have diminishing returns like the other area effect spells in the game
• All Bard Mastery Party abilities are now subject to a beneficial action check
• The Crystal Lotus question has been fixed
• Display cases can now be dyed with the furniture dye tub when in deed form
• Plant pigments that are the same hue will automatically stack in your backpack
• The 10th Anniversary Sculpture can now be turned with the deco tool without any issues
• Faction points that were not scaled correctly have been addressed

Classic client 7.0.25

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Classic Client Patcher Update.

• Cliloc Changes

Enhanced Client 4.0.25

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• Cliloc Changes

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The Awakening – Act IV

Kai Schober

30 Apr 2012 14:56:14 EST

Written by the EM Team

The thundering echoes of metal clashing against stone rose up again from the western walls, as yet another of the mechanical beasts managed to clamber its way out of the hole that led to their entombed shrine to do battle with the Gargish defenders. Alone the creatures were not a lethal threat, but any mistake would lead to injuries, and the gargoyles could not replenish their forces as the machines did. Add to that the defecting gargoyles that joined the twisted and insane controllers inside the mechanized temple to a long dormant deity, and Ver Lor Reg sat on a precarious perch. And though the sounds of valorous physical battle carried from the site, a far different but decidedly no less heated battle took place inside their council chambers.

“To say we have dealt with the creatures of this land since Ver Lor Reg was created and we have never once faltered. To think that this is an unconquerable force is unworthy of our people. To say that we should accept the offer of Zhah…is unbecoming.”

A rustling of leathery wings showed the gargoyles’ displeasure at the tone struck by Vis-Lem. “Zhah’s offer of refuge and treatise is favorable and generous; Driven by worry of losing some of your power, Vis-Lem?”

Vis-Lem bared his teeth for a moment at Res-Vor. “To say that establishing Ver Lor Reg was a monumental accomplishment is an understatement; The machines are threatening, but the influx of visitors is helping businesses…”

An-Rel-Tar raised a clawed hand for a moment for silence, and everyone ceased. It had been some time since they had heard the aged gargoyle speak. Clearing his throat for a moment, he stood and gestured to the other gargoyles at the stone table. “The elves…humans…and even fellow gargoyles are straining our resources. There is only so much the land and our mages can provide, and with central Ilshenar sealed so have a plethora of our resources been sealed beyond our reach. The gold is good, yes…but of what use is it when the Britannians suffer from raiders in their own cities and caravans are scarce? Think on it long and hard, my friends…It is no easy decision to make. We stand at a precipice, and must make sure we do not plunge off of it.”

As An-Rel-Tar finished, he turned to walk out and the other gargoyles knew that regardless of whether or not they had anything else to say, for now at least, this meeting was finished.

San-Lem had spent several years as a healer here in Ver Lor Reg, and before that she’d wandered through the wilds of Ilshenar, and it was a testament to her ability to recognize danger and steer clear of it that she’d survived as long as she had. The recent skirmishes in the city had set her and many others nerves on edge regarding the current situation, and the heavy traffic through the area didn’t help. Change begets change, she thought…and change was often a violent and destructive process. She’d made up her mind some weeks ago, and had only just now finished her preparations, trading what coin she had for rations and supplies. It ached within her to think of no longer being able to feel the touch of cool marble beneath her clawed feet, but she’d already made up her mind.

As she passed through the gates of the cities and headed between the great marble pillars that marked where they had conquered the deserts of Ilshenar, she took one last look at the city before drawing her wings around her. She turned and headed north, passing a small group of humans with some sort of tool she’d never seen before. They were taking great scoops of the desert up and shaking loose the sand, finding rocks and bits of stone and marble from the initial constructions. Shaking her head she walked on, thinking that she’d never understand the humans no matter how many generations of their people she lived through.

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