Archive for the ‘General News’

UO General Announcements & Official News

Publish 85 to Test Center 1

November 14, 2013 By: petra Category: General News

Game1Posted by Bonnie Armstrong | 2013 Nov 14 18:29 -0500 GMT

Castle Blackthorn Dungeon

The dungeon of Castle Blackthorn is open for exploration!

  • The dungeon is accessible from Castle Blackthorn in Trammel and Felucca.
  • The Invasions within the Loyalty Cities have been magically sealed inside the dungeon.
  • Minax artifacts can be found by destroying Minax’s beacons and her minions within Castle Blackthorn Dungeon and also engaging other creatures within.
  • Blackthorn Artifacts are available from Agents of the Crown and will accept Minax Artifacts for turn in.
  • Agents of the Crown can be found in Castle Blackthorn in Trammel and within the loyalty cities in Felucca.

City Election Changes

  • Each account may now only vote once per shard.
  • In order to cast a vote a character must be at least respected within a city.

Holiday Gifts will begin December 1 at 12:01 AM and will continue until January 1, 2014 12:01 AM.

· A holiday candle tray available in a variety of colors

  • A lobster dinner

· A Scroll of Alacrity book (holds 300 scrolls and must be locked down in a home to add scrolls to the book)

  • A Deed to a claw foot tub

Please visit the Reward givers in New Haven on TC1 to check out these items.

16th Anniversary Veteran Rewards

House Add-on Lighthouse – 5 year reward, recovers any ship except rowboats that are linked to the lighthouse.

  • All weapons will be saved
  • House add-ons that currently allow you to dry dock your ship will be saved
  • All other items will be destroyed
  • The ship model can be found in the house moving crate

House add-on Gadgetry Table 8 year reward which provides owner an advanced tinkered golem

  • Takes 3 slots
  • Only control one at a time
  • Having the Tinker skill will assist making the golem more powerful
  • Starts with capped skills no training necessary
  • No tinkering is required
  • Can claim one every 24 hours

Ethereal Tiger Mount 15 year reward

Runic Reforging Changes

Enable tinker crafted weapons and tinker created gargish armor to be reforged by runic blacksmith, carpentry, and masonry tools.

Blacksmith:

  • Smith Hammer
  • Sledge Hammer
  • Pick Axe
  • Pitchfork
  • Butcher Knife
  • Cleaver
  • Skinning Knife
  • Hatchet
  • Gargish Necklace
  • Gargish Glasses
  • Gargish Amulet
  • Gargish Earrings

Carpentry:

  • Nunchaku

Masonry:

  • Gargish Stone Amulet

Bug Fixes

Enhanced Client Bug Fixes:

  • Corrected issue where occasionally the SA client sees other player’s avatars as naked and/or dismounted even though they are in fact mounted and clothed.
  • Removed dirt from lightning effect.

Classic client 7.0.34

  • Snow added to the client
  • Cliloc Changes

Enhanced Client 4.0.34

  • Snow added to the client
  • Cliloc Changes

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UO General Announcements & Official News

The Mad, Mongbat-Minded Mage

November 12, 2013 By: petra Category: General News

GeneralPosted by Bonnie Armstrong | 2013 Nov 12 19:16 -0500 GMT

Written by EM Drosselmeyer

The city had been a nicer place once. It had been busier, filled with bustling life and mages learning and earning their keep amidst masters and grandmasters. But that was many years ago, he reminded himself…and despite the ferocity of those remaining in these lands, so many had already moved on to calmer waters. He’d been warned against going at all by his Royal Guard, with them finally relenting when he agreed to take two with him as protection, but he told them as simply as he understood it himself; If he found who he was looking for and they were intractable, a regiment would likely not be enough.

The gates of wrought iron still stood, and though there were traces of rust, it was no worse off than the rest of the great city. As he passed through, more foreboding signs abounded…there were bodies amidst the streets, and he shook his head…most of them inhuman, monstrous things that should have been in the dungeons of the lands instead of the streets of a city steeped in history. Cracks of lightning and the pull of bowstring could be heard from various directions, but it was when the entire sky seemed to open up with a continuous peal of thundering roars that he knew where he wanted to go.

As they headed forward, his guards saw a dragon rise up from behind a building, jaws smeared with the red of blood, and let loose a roar at the trio. They immediately stepped in to engage, mace and war axe singing their deadly song as the warriors danced with the beast, and the man found his hands conjuring forth power. Fireballs and bolts of pure energy were slung forth from his hands before one of the guards sank his war axe deep into the beast and wrenched it free as it fell, shaking the ichor from it as they resumed on their way once more. “We must hurry, because I fear he will not tarry long.”

“Aye, M’lord.” They responded in unison, falling into pace with their King as he quickly headed forward. Turning a corner, they came across a rank of mages under the command of a man standing astride a slanted rooftop, wrapped in a robe and cloak of llamahair and shouting commands. Even as the mages under his command worked in unison, he spoke in chants that shook the heavens with their power, and a bolt of lightning as wide as a house blasted down into the lighthouse, and it shattered under the power, exploding into ruin. This was the man he sought.

Astride the roof, the man turned with a curious look as one of the mages called out to him, and he grinned a crooked grin as he saw the King. He motioned with an expansive gesture that took in the broken cobblestone and cracked walls of the buildings of the city, smiling widely as he spoke. “Well, boys and girls, all bid welcome to your rightful ruler and King, the most esteemed and glorious Lord Blackthorn! It seems he’s seen fit to give us a call, and here we’ve no feast prepared! What do you think we should do about that, m’boys?”

The knights bristled at hearing the words in such a mocking manner to their King, but he merely waved them down. “Were I to call in that fashion I’d bring a feast for you and your men, rather than expect you to provide, Grand Councilor.”

“How magnanimous! But you’ll never find a mage wanting for food, Lord Blackthorn, only for reagents!” A grin and several chuckles came out of the crowd as the lively man cast a spell and teleported down, appearing only a few feet from the king. “Of course, you were a mage once yourself, weren’t you? I heard about that mess with the gates, so I assume you still are…” The mage swayed back and forth on his feet, examining the regent before speaking again. “Now, what brings the Regent of all Britannia to Felucca Moonglow, M’lord?”

“Grand Councilor Anon, it’s you that have brought me; Or rather, searching for you has. I would ask a favor of you.”

Anon looked at him incredulously. “You came here to ask me a favor? And why would I help you, Blackthorn? You did precious little to convince Nystul of his folly when siding with me might have swayed him.” Distrust and paranoia seemed to tinge each of his words, and his hands were constantly moving in agitation.

King Blackthorn gave an appreciative nod to his remark, noting the behavior once before forcing himself to look Anon in the eyes. “That is true, Grand Councilor…and I cannot say if I had the chance whether I would have changed that or not. I do not have that chance; But we have a chance now to work together. With Nystul gone and Clainin dead…”

“A halfwit and his puppy…”

King Blackthorn ignored the remark, continuing on. “There is no doubt whom is the most powerful and knowledgeable mage in all the realm.”

Anon puffed up slightly, looking rather pleased at the praise, and was about to open his mouth before the King spoke once more.

“Or, rather, there would be no doubt if someone hadn’t managed to open the way for these invasions. Currently, I suppose most would think our culprit is the most powerful mage.”

Anon’s words died as he was about to speak them, a red flush of anger coming to his face. “I am far greater than Minax could ever hope to be! It’s me and my council of mages that have kept her forces in check for years, while that little nonce Dupre played about on horses like he was at a joust!”

The King nodded, despite the insult to Sir Dupre…far more intriguing was the surprising information Anon had revealed. He’d suspected Minax as a possibility, but Anon seemed to have information he did not. “Well, Grand Councilor, I wish to remind her who it is that is her superior in this realm…yourself, of course…but I find it difficult to do without your assistance; And I think I might be able to provide you with certain resources you don’t have.”

Anon studied Blackthorn’s face, searching for something there that Blackthorn wasn’t quite sure of. Many mages were said to get more eccentric as their power grew, and Anon had always been eccentric even long ago…Even putting aside the mongbats, who could know how much he had changed?

Finally, he nodded, and turned to his men. “Well, boys, it looks like I might be forced to traipse off to the land of daisies and stuffed bears! I’ll bring you back some souvenirs, though…and which of you is it…Ah, Kovis! Kovis, you’re in charge of Knobby and Flappy. Take care of them!” Turning back to the king, he gave an overly flamboyant curtsey in front of him. “Well, M’lord King Blackthorn His Grace, allow me to be at your service for one favor…of course, I will expect a payment we can discuss soon…”

The King smiled to him despite the Councilor’s mocking manner, as he knew he needed his abilities more than his own pride. “Then come with me, Grand Councilor, and let us plot. Ocllo should serve well.” Before he could finish, Anon was already casting a gate to the city. “And before I forget…Knobby and Flappy?” His brow was quirked in a curious manner as he studied the mage.

Anon responded by giving a heated glare. “My pet mongbats, and it’s the last we’ll speak of them.”

King Blackthorn only nodded, even though he couldn’t stop the thought crossing his mind. Eccentric, indeed…

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UO General Announcements & Official News

From Our Family to Yours Happy Halloween!!

October 31, 2013 By: petra Category: General News

Game1Posted by UO Team | 2013 Oct 31 16:26 -0400 GMT

Ultima team 006

Left to right:  Jim “Onifrk” Crawley, Bonnie “Mesanna” Armstrong, Stephen “Bleak”  Brown, Jeff Skalski, Greg “Kyronix” Havlusch, Michael  “Misk” Armstrong

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UO General Announcements & Official News

Minax’s Plan

October 30, 2013 By: petra Category: General News

GeneralPosted by Bonnie Armstrong | 2013 Oct 30 14:22 -0400 GMT

Author:  EM Drosselmeyer

The crystal crackled and sputtered in her hands as she poured her considerable magic into it, causing the ground around her to tremble with the power…but soon enough it calmed, and nothing had happened. She had assumed as much might happen…a focal point was needed, and the crystal alone couldn’t do it. It needed something stronger, something more powerful…and that was when she thought of the perfect spot. And the best part was, almost nobody was ever there. With a wicked smile adorning her face, she gestured over to Shanty. “Attend me, Shanty; I may have need of your particular brand of persuasion if we run into trouble.”

A dark, guttural chuckle came forth from the slightly heavyset man, as he drew a large cutlass glittering with magical enchantments. “As yer wish, m’lady. Ah live ter serve, yer know…’specially when it mean gettin’ ter ‘ave a little fun with ol’ Sharkbite ‘ere.” His tone was affectionate as he patted the flat of the blade along one shoulder for emphasis. A wave of her hands and with the chanting of the words of power, a red moongate opened up, and the duo passed through to their destination.
———————————————————————————————————————

“Poor ol’ bard…bad day ter go ou’ sightseein’.” Shanty grumbled as he came back to see the Lady setting up the crystal carefully, some of the bard’s blood still on him as he wiped Sharkbite off with an oil cloth. “So, what is it yer up ter up there? Not tha’ I need ter know, but if yer need help…” He left it open ended, as she stood up from what she was doing.

“While I appreciate your offer, Shanty, magic isn’t one of your strong suits…”

“Yer got me there, m’lady.” Keeping the cutlass out, he checked it’s edge…despite not needing to, the enchantments keeping it’s serrated edge razor sharp perpetually. “Ah’ll jes’ do what Ah do best ‘en.” He stepped heavily over to the steps and pulled a slightly dingy orange out, peeling it with his bloodied fingers nonchalantly and taking a bite from it as he did. “Yer jes’ yell if yer need me, m’lady.”

Grinning to herself at Shanty’s antics, she turned to admire her handiwork. The gem lay at what might be one of the strongest focusing chambers…even if it wasn’t typically used for this kind of focusing and reflection. Held in place by a powerful spell, the gem lay at the center of the mirrors she’d finished repositioning. “Showtime…” She said softly to herself, before chanting words of power in combinations unheard of since before Nystul’s vanishing. The room trembled with magical power, the entire structure itself shuddering under the immense forces tearing through it’s very core, before a hideous cracking noise was heard, as if the entire building was being torn asunder.

Shanty heard the noise and whirled his head, seeing an intensified glare of power flaring out of the windows of the lighthouse, the only sound over that of magical energy is her voice chanting those words, and finally ending with a cackling of successful laughter. The storm of energy howls even louder to drown her out for just a moment, before all suddenly goes quiet, and the light vanishes.

Stepping gingerly outside, the Lady smiles as she walks out with the crystal in tow, tucking it into her pouch. “This will do nicely…and should be quite amusing at the same time. Let’s see what other mischief we can get up to, Shanty.”

“Yer got it, m’lady. Yer payin’ me enough an’ providin’ me wif more amusemen’ ‘en Ah’ve seen in years…so yer jes’ lead the way.”
With a smile she chanted the words again, a new moongate opening before her. “And Shanty…call me by my name. I’ve been hiding for long enough, I think.”

“Yer go’ it, m’lady…err…Lady Minax.”

With that, they stepped through the gate and vanished, leaving behind only the repositioned mirrors and a body carried away by the ocean to have proven their presence at the great Lighthouse.

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UO General Announcements & Official News

Publish 84 to all Shards Tomorrow

October 22, 2013 By: petra Category: General News

PublishNotesPosted by Bonnie Armstrong | 2013 Oct 21 20:42 -0400 GMT

Tomorrow (October 22,2013)  during normal maintenance we will be publishing Publish 84.   We have adjusted the Bards peacemakings AI per the feedback we have received.  Along with the next phase of the global arc of the invasion please take a few moments to read the new fiction,

Enjoy,

UO Team

Enter the Lady

Walking through the den brusquely, the scarf covering his face flapped slightly in the ocean breeze. Despite his vocation he’d never been a fan of the Den…far too tempting for some of it’s denizens to pull a dagger on someone without bothering to know they shouldn’t…and while he could handle himself, he wasn’t in the mood. Something of his manner must have put out that aura though, because he remained unmolested as he made his way into the tavern, and pushed the door open roughly. The loud noise and carousing ceased for a moment as all eyes turned to the door, but with only a moments glance all of them returned to what they were doing…save for one man, grinning at him through a face full of rotten teeth.

“Oi, now there’s tha lad I be waitin’ fer.” He slapped a grimy gold coin onto the scarred old table and folded down the dirty cards in his hands. “Yer come wif me, an we’ll square yer away.” He slapped a meaty hand on the man’s shoulder as he led into one of the backrooms, and closed the door behind him. Inside, the man took off the scarf and dropped a satchel down that made a clinking noise as it did. “Yer din’ have ter much trouble, now, did yer Ricky?”
Shanty took a seat at the far side of the table as he spoke. His breath stank of ale and rot, and Ricardo wrinkled his nose into a sneer. “I didn’t have too much trouble, but I do have questions. And if you answer them all and I like them, then those can serve as the bonus. If I don’t, I’m walking out of here.”

The man seated at the other side of the table guffawed, laughing heartily while his face turned red. “I hope yer won’t be walkin’ ou’ wif that bag, since yer already got ‘alf yer pay. Bu’ go’head an’ tell a tale ter amuse Ol’ Shanty, will yer?”

“I didn’t have much trouble getting in…and the trouble wasn’t with the operation either.” Taking a moment to glare at the craggy old man, he narrowed his gaze. “I don’t have a lot of patience for not being told all the information, though. And I’m left with a question.” He opened the bag, and dragged out a sword, and dropped it unceremoniously on the table. “And I think you’re smart enough to know what the question is just from this.”

The sword on the table was a fine example…hammered Minocian valorite, a solid piece of metal with razor sharp edges…and a crest engraved onto the blade near the hilt. The crest was a square of alternating light and dark rays, eight of them in all, providing the background for an almost cross shaped design with a silver serpent wrapped around it. The symbology was something anyone in Britannia would recognize…and so was the central theme.
Shanty looked over the blade and his sickening smile got even wider. “If yer ‘ave tha’, then yer must know yerself already. Did yer thin’ we sen’ yer ter some rich ol’ noble’s private dungeon or sumthin’? Don’ ac’ the innocen’ now, Ricky.”

Ricardo scowled with his eyes narrowed as he listened to the reply. “If that’s your answer, then I’m not sure I’d believe what you might have to tell me about what this is, then…because I’ve enough of an inkling to know its power.” Ricardo slipped a beautiful gem out of an inside pocket, and was holding it in his hand. “And I’m certain I don’t trust you or your benefactor with something like this. So I think I’ll take my leave…and take this as mine for now.”

With that, Ricardo turned, but didn’t manage to even take one step before a snap broke the silence in the room and his wrist was seized by a sharp pain and yanked him back into the room. He looked up to see that a whip was wrapped around his forearm, and a woman in black leather stepped forward out of the shadows where she’d been concealed by some form of magic. Her voice was sonorous and sultry, but held within it an undeniable edge that could be used to cut granite. “I think that perhaps you’ll find that that belongs to me, my dear little thief.” She knelt down with a serpent’s smile as she pried the crystal out of Ricardo’s hand, and unwrapped the whip, securing it back at her hip and peering at the crystal for a moment before pocketing it.

“Run along, now. You’re a smart boy, so I hope I don’t need to tell you the kinds of things that might happen if you try and go against me.” She pulled the thief up by his collar and brushed him off with a smile that belied the words she spoke. “I’ll just leave it to your imagination.”
Ricardo was as pale as a sheet as he frantically stumbled out of the room, the woman’s laughter mingling with Shanty’s, and sending him fleeing to the gate as if he’d seen a ghost.

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UO General Announcements & Official News

Publish 84 to Origin and Izumo

October 17, 2013 By: petra Category: General News

From-the-Devs1Posted by Bonnie Armstrong | 2013 Oct 16 21:55 -0400 GMT

During maintenance tomorrow morning October 17, 2013 Origin will get Publish 84, tomorrow afternoon during Izumo’s normal maintenance cycle they will also get Publish 84.

UO General Announcements & Official News

A Risky Proposition

October 17, 2013 By: petra Category: General News

Game1Posted by Bonnie Armstrong | 2013 Oct 16 18:16 -0400 GMT

A Risky Proposition

Author: UO Team

It took him a minute to spot her in the crowded tavern, but as soon as he did it brought a smile to his face, and he joined her at the table. “Hey…looks like you got here a bit faster. I could only get anything useful out of a few…and even that wasn’t too much since most weren’t interested in talking at all. It seems that no boats departed from Papua at all, and nobody should’ve been able to utilize the Serpent’s Pillar at the time we came across the wreck. I’ve also heard word that it’s not the first unexplained wreck…there’s apparently droves of them in places where a ship was never even sighted. Unfortunately, we can’t find any information on the inhabitants…and the one I saved still isn’t awake.” Running his fingers through his hair, Isaiah exhaled exasperatedly. “How did your search turn out?”

Isabelle smiled over to her fiancee, and took a drink from her mug of ale. “Well, apparently a pretty face can win out over a rugged sailor’s brusque manner!” She gave him a wink, her tone teasing and playful. “Some of the crews who pulled in salvage ships are talking all about it, and it looks like a lot of them are loaded with goods…clearly stolen items, and they suspect they are pirate vessels. But the more important thing…nobody can find where the items were stolen from. None of our ships that went missing have those items listed on their manifests.” Isabelle frowned as she noticed the look of intense concentration on Isaiah’s face. “Hey, are you listening? I thought it was important…”
Isaiah had been enthralled by Isabelle’s story at first, but something else caught his attention…he gave her a meaningful look, and said softly, “Keep talking…about anything.”
Isabelle gave him a curious look, but continued, as Isaiah did his best to listen in on a conversation he heard from the next table over…
——————————————————————————————————————-
“Well, it’s no’ that yer weren’t the first we thought o’…but maybe we assumed yer jes’ lost yer nerve after that ‘ole mess with the scion, y’know?” The man grinned through a set of rotting teeth, looking at the smartly dressed fellow across from him.
“Lost my nerve? Who do you even take me for? And did you really think this kind of word wouldn’t get back to me? You nearly sent lambs to the slaughter is what you did, you twit. Nobody else can possibly handle this job.”
“Oh, so yer saying yer can? Can yer back that up, boyo?”
With a bit of an irritated hmph the man straightened his doublet slightly, pursing his lips as he pondered. “I can do it…whether it’s worth my while is another matter. What exactly are you offering?”
The rotten-toothed man grinned once more, and slid a small bag across the table, which the other opened and suppressed a whistle. Inside were several of the largest gemstones he’d ever seen, along with a note listing what the remainder of the payment was…as well as more details on the item to be stolen. With a few laughs under his breath, he looked across the table. “A bit presumptuous to hand someone like me this much, and even the instructions before I even accepted, isn’t it?”
“Oh…well, she knew that yer’d take the job. And she right, ain’t she boyo? Yer up fer it, ain’t yer?”
Rubbing his chin for a moment, the man only replied after a long moment of contemplation. “Tell whoever she is that it’ll be done. And I expect to get everything entitled here…and we’ll see if more is needed based on how much trouble I run into.”
——————————————————————————————————————
Isaiah made sure that when the smartly dressed man stood from his table he had his attention on Isabelle, to look like he hadn’t been listening. Truth be told, he’d lost interest about halfway through…irritated that it turned out to have little to do with the matter at hand. Giving his fiancée his undivided attention, he smiled to her. “Well, it doesn’t look like we’re going to find much more out here…maybe we can find something out at Skara Brae or perhaps Trinsic.” Taking a final drink of the ale, he stood. “Vesper was always a bit too breezy for my tastes…”

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UO General Announcements & Official News

Publish 84 TC1 Patch Notes

October 15, 2013 By: petra Category: General News

PatchNotesPosted by Bonnie Armstrong | 2013 Oct 15 18:11 -0400 GMT

Revenge of the Enchantress

The next phase of the current content arc finds Britannia’s Loyalty cities under attack!

  • Loyalty Cities (Britain, Trinsic, Minoc, Yew, Jhelom, Moonglow, New Magincia, Vesper, and Skara Brae) in Trammel and Felucca are under attack!
  • A random loyalty city in Trammel and Felucca will be under attack at any given time.
  • Invasion forces consist of a Captain and a group of minions.
  • Minions must be killed off before the Captain becomes vulnerable to attack.
  • Minion groups are chosen randomly at the beginning of a city invasion and remain persistent for the duration of that City’s invasion.
  • At the beginning of each city’s invasion a beacon will be built within the city limits.
  • The objective is to destroy the beacon to end the invasion.
  • The beacon will only become vulnerable to attack after a requisite number of Captains have been killed.
  • Killing captains, minions, and the beacon can reward the attacker with minor artifacts.
  • Artifact reward is influenced by luck.
  • Minor artifacts can be turned in to Agents of the Crown, NPCs located in each loyalty city, in exchange for Artifacts Bearing the Crest of Blackthorn.
  • Blackthorn Artifacts are identical (in nearly all cases) to other artifacts currently available, however are a different art type.
  • Blackthorn Artifacts include new versions of: Lt of the RBG Sash, Quiver of Infinity, Rune Beetle Carapace, Cloak of Death, Cloak of Power, Cloak of Silence, Cloak of Life, Conjurer’s Garb, Mystic’s Garb, Shroud of the Condemned, Folded Steel Glasses, Mace & Shield Glasses, Night Eyes, Crimson Cincture, & Tangle.
  • A new wearable, the Epaulette, is available and can be worn in the robe slot. These are meant to replace the robe so the rest of the armor remains visible. They can only be seen in the paper doll.

 

Cornucopia – Thanksgiving Treats

  • A chance to acquire a rotating pig on a spit BBQ has been added to the Cornucopia.
  • The BBQ pit can be used as a fire source for cooking.
  • Once per day you can double click the pig to receive, at random, a platter of pulled pork, or a pulled pork sandwich.

World building

  • A stable has been added to the City of Vesper near the Vesper Bank

Bug Fixes

  • The ‘Fault’ and ‘Ready” tooltip for the Ararat’s Winch Assembly is now hued in the EC.
  • Players may now toggle off the PVP warning gump provided when travelling by house teleporters to Felucca. You may re-enable the gump by the avatar’s context menu.
  • The EC now provides an item description for Bane property.

Classic client 7.0.33

  • Cliloc Changes
  • New Art Additions

Enhanced Client 4.0.33

  • Cliloc Changes
  • New Art Additions

In the spirit of Halloween the UO Team has donned Halloween costumes, Enjoy!!

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UO General Announcements & Official News

Publish 84

October 15, 2013 By: petra Category: General News

Game1Posted by Bonnie Armstrong | 2013 Oct 14 20:26 -0400 GMT
Greetings Everyone,

Tomorrow October 15th, 2013  at 2 PM EDT we are taking down all shards to do a patch and publish to prepare for Publish 84. At this time we will also Publish TC1 so please check out the notes for all the new things we have been working on. The shards should only be down for a couple of hours.  For tomorrow only, Oceania and Japanese shards will not be going through a regular maintenance.

Thank you in advance!

UO Team

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UO General Announcements & Official News

Stratics Celebrates 16 Years of Fansite Support with Gaming Industry Legends

October 14, 2013 By: Lady Tia Category: Community News, General News

Stratics Celebrates 16 Years of Fansite Support with Gaming Industry Legends

Posted by Taylor, 14 October 2013

WASHINGTON, DC—Stratics, the Internet’s oldest continually-operating MMO fansite, will celebrate its 16th anniversary next Sunday by hosting a series of interviews with some of the gaming industry’s most influential figures. In keeping with the theme of the celebration, “What’s Old is New Again,” Stratics’ guests will include individuals whose historical contributions uniquely shaped the modern MMORPG landscape. The event will also feature giveaways and interviews with some of Stratics’ former and current team members, as well as an unveiling of the newly-redesigned Stratics.com.

Richard Garriott and Starr Long, whose 1997 launch of Ultima Online (UO) forever shaped MMORPG development, will be meeting to discuss the anthropology of gaming and to promote their new title, Shroud of the Avatar (SotA).

Paul Sage, Creative Director at ZeniMax and another key contributor to UO’s impact on the MMORPG industry, along with veteran Community Manager Jessica Folsom will discuss ZeniMax’s highly anticipated title, The Elder Scrolls Online.

Bonnie Armstrong, Producer of Ultima Online, will discuss her leadership of the historic title and reflect on Stratics’ close support to the UO team over the past sixteen years.

Troy Hewitt, Producer and Community Director at Carbine Studios and former Stratics volunteer, will join Jen Gordy, Carbine’s Lead PvP Designer and also a Stratics alumna, to discuss Carbine’s WildStar Online, which continues to generate enormous excitement at gaming conventions.

Since its founding in 1997, Stratics has endeavored to facilitate productive communication between game developers and the communities that support them. To this end, Gina Dionne, SotA’s Community Manager, will join Troy Hewitt and Jessica Folsom to discuss the role and importance of fansite communities.

As these interviews progress, Stratics will be giving away digital and physical “swag” to viewers. Moreover, Stratics will unveil the newly-redesigned Stratics.com and announce important changes to its direction and organization, to include paid opportunities for all content contributors.

The event is scheduled to take place on Sunday, 20 October, between 2-8 PM EST. Visit Stratics.com/Stratics16 for more details! Check back often, as more information is being added as the anniversary approaches.


Stratics.com publishes fansite news, strategy guides, and statistics for MMORPGs. The network is united by a vibrant community of players, developers, and over 50 staff members. Since its founding in 1997, Stratics has endeavored to create opportunities for players and developers to share their passionate love for gaming. Stratics is published by Valour Corp.