The adventure continues
It's been a couple of weeks since I jumped into the bewitching world of Ultima IV, and you probably guessed that I'm addicted to this ancient role-player. As a complete newcomer to Britannia, I find the game constantly surprises me with its depth, freedom to explore, silly people, monstrous battles, and the sheer wonder of discovering new places. This is a game that has proven itself beyond any expectation I had.
If you're one of those people not on X, you've probably missed my progress updates. Well, this little article shows where I'm up to and what I have experienced so far. I hope you enjoy reading it.
My early wanderings
After poking around Castle Britannia and the nearby town of Britain, I've been venturing out further. This was a big step for me, as I gradually moved farther from "safety". This place has more than its fair share of monsters roaming the lands (and seas!). So, I've been making good use of the "H" key to Hole up and camp - ie, rest/recovery. It saves time and worry compared to desperately searching for the next town to recuperate in safely. It's not foolproof, though - sometimes something nasty interrupts to ambush your rest.
I've done a fair bit of grinding for XP and gold to upgrade weapons, armour, and supplies. However, only by returning to see Lord British in person did I receive the levelling I was owed. Also, recruiting companions took time to grasp. I figured anyone looking handy with a sword might be persuaded to join. Sadly, no one ever agreed to join me. It was only by chance that I later found a willing couple - Iolo and Jaana. Their ranged attacks make combat more varied and less melee-centred than when I was alone.
It's not all about fighting hideous monsters; this is a game of exploration and clue-gathering:
It feels silly to admit communication, as games like this thrive on it. Ultima IV feels different, and you won't get anywhere without a chinwag. When talking to someone, you may ask their name, health, or job. But it's how you respond to their reply that matters, as they lay the foundation for clues. For example, when in Yew, someone may mention 'justice', so you respond with that word to dig for information. I've learned that whatever noun they use, that is how to investigate.Of course, it also pays to search thoroughly everywhere you go. For example, near Britain's Manor (ie, the Inn), there is an odd-looking corner. It appears to hold no value, yet it is rather peculiar in that it leads nowhere. I noticed it straight away, but thought nothing more until I happened to stay over one night. Then I decided to use Search and uncovered a hidden rune!!Since then, I've taken this approach with all towns, only to discover they often have secret passageways (Doom style via a hidden part of a wall). They might not always lead to a Rune, but often to an inaccessible area that may hold access to a new store, treasure chests, or simply a location with new people that you need to speak to. Lesson: search everywhere.
Tides of Discovery
After several hours, I hit a major milestone: during my earlier travels, I'd noticed many areas were unreachable by land, and figured I needed to purchase a ship. Confusingly, no shop sold them, but I'd seen them in the intro, so I knew it was an option. While near the town of Yew, I spotted one, but that experience didn't go well, as the ship stayed out of boarding range and peppered me with cannon fire. After dying and restoring my saved game, I realised the water near the shore must have been too shallow. That got me thinking...
I went on a walk to see if the island had coastal areas with deeper waters along the shoreline. Turns out that there are many places that do, and a ship appeared. Uncanny, right? Well, I won and took charge of their vessel. Sailing around Britannia is fantastic and reveals parts I had previously noticed were off-limits. Of course, the open water brings new dangers. I've already had some memorable scrapes with Giant Squids, Serpents, and other ships. In fact, I've amassed three ships, which I've left idle around the southern islands.
Not all good
Ultima IV rewards patience and curiosity; however, I'm still reminded how new I am to the game, as I've noticed something called Moongates appearing in certain locations. I haven't sussed out how they work with the moon phases, but stepping through one for the first time (after a quick save) whisked me into Magincia. This is a town full of "friendly" monsters, with some drinking in the pub and shopping! Sadly, the shops wouldn't serve me, so they weren't that friendly, I guess. I left here a bit bewildered but very much alive.
Also, I know very little about the Runes I've collected, although I've noticed that each town seems to revolve around a particular Virtue. This is where the corresponding Rune comes into play, as they are hidden within the boundary of each town. Quite what I'm supposed to do with these Runes remains a mystery. My next step is to spend more time talking to the townsfolk and paying closer attention to what they say.
Finally, I've had an early glimpse into a dungeon, which I found by sheer luck while mountain climbing in the north. Upon entering, I found everything dark, so I panicked and scrambled for the documentation. Hitting the "I" key to ignite my one and only torch did the trick, revealing the dungeon in all its glory. How this plays into the adventure, I don't know, but it's presented in first-person and looks stunning.
Confusion abounds, but try to tell me this isn't a fascinating game, and I'll come over and slap you.
Follow me
I'll keep posting updates and progress photos on X as I go (link is filtered for "Ultima IV"). Feel free to follow me (but don't be a knob and tell me where to go or what to do. No spoilers, please, as I'm discovering Ultima IV for myself, albeit very slowly). Hey, just sit back and enjoy the journey. I know I am.
Since beginning this article, I've increased to level 5 and found a mage called Mariah. This might be the start of something special, with someone at the party who has magical abilities. Sadly, the only magic I currently know is how to cure and heal. Very handy but hardly offensive, so I experimented by mixing reagents. By sheer guesswork, I learned how to make fireballs by mixing reagents Sulfur Ash and Black Pearl.
Onward I go, Avatar!
Cuppa tea and Ultima IV... Living the dream.
Sometimes you ask a silly question, and you get a silly response :)
Get too close to something in the water, and the fight is on.
This shocked me big time! I never expected a first-person dungeon to look this good!
Yes, I have a ship, so I went exploring. By sheer luck, I found another Moongate!!
