Ultima Ultima-Where to begin?

[Ranselknulf]

Protip: Chests never disappear in ultima 4 so you can use them as markers when traveling long distances.

 

[TigerKnee]

I wish you guys told me about the existence of Xu4 before I started playing U5.

Don't know if I care enough to replay the game with it though. I think it has a whole bunch of time-wasting elements. I don't understand why completing a single shrine required so much pointless travel back and forth.

 

[ScottishMartialArts]

I wish you guys told me about the existence of Xu4 before I started playing U5.

Don't know if I care enough to replay the game with it though. I think it has a whole bunch of time-wasting elements. I don't understand why completing a single shrine required so much pointless travel back and forth.

xu4 doesn't change much; it's mostly just an executable that works on modern systems, plus a half dozen UI tweaks and an optional graphics facelift. The basic U4 design itself is unchanged.

And xu4 has been around for quite a while now. As a result, I guess I would tend to just assume that anyone with the gumption to give U4 a shot would have heard about xu4 at some point in the process of learning about and deciding to try U4.

 

[Servo]

I found out about xu4 because I was thinking about doing a fan remake of U4. First step was to see if it already existed

 

[Servo]

I wish you guys told me about the existence of Xu4 before I started playing U5.

Also, xu4 is mentioned on the first page of this thread

I finally found a dungeon in this game. I gotta say I was disappoint. I expected the combat to suddenly become fun or something.

It would be okay if I didn't have to trek back to Moonglow to buy reagents after a dozen or so random encounters. Can you play the game as a mage and just not cast spells? Or should I grind for like a year so I can stockpile reagents?

 

[Revenant]

I finally found a dungeon in this game. I gotta say I was disappoint. I expected the combat to suddenly become fun or something.

Heh, combat doesn't get very interesting in U4 (sadly). However, the altar rooms sometimes have quite interesting encounter design.

It would be okay if I didn't have to trek back to Moonglow to buy reagents after a dozen or so random encounters. Can you play the game as a mage and just not cast spells? Or should I grind for like a year so I can stockpile reagents?

Combat isn't that difficult in U4, man. Have you tried just, um, attacking enemies with your weapon instead of casting spells? I can't speak for a mage, but a paladin mostly steamrolls all dungeons save the last one solo in U4. Maybe you just need to gain a few levels for the hit points and (?) increased damage.

 

[:Flash:]

Or get some companions. I only used spells for the hard enemies.

 

[Revenant]

No, don't.

 

[Marquis de Lirium]

No, don't.

I agree. The larger a party you have, the more combat stinks in U4 - and it stinks already when you're playing solo. Also, most encounters aren't that hard - get yourself a nice ranged weapon and you shouldn't have too much trouble.

 

[Bruma Hobo]

Buy a horse and mix some Blink spells and you will never have to fight outside dungeons again. Peer gems and cast Yup and Zdown spells so you can breeze through dungeons. Or just quit playing if you're expecting good combat from this game.

 

[Morality Games]

As far as ultima goes, I haven't completed a single one;
I usually lock up when deciding which one is the best introduction to the series.
Many have told me the original "Age of Darkness" trilogy is not worth my time,
and that I should begin straight from Ultima 4.
However even Ultima 4 seems archaic.
is it best to stick it out with that game, or start somewhere later, like 7?

If playing through Baldur's Gate Original taught me anything, it's that you always start with the good games first.

Games just aren't novels or television shows.

 

[Revenant]

There is no bad Ultima, except perhaps IX, but who would start with it nowadays, anyway.