Extreme Newbie here. Yukiko was kind enough answer some of my many, many questions, and point me in the direction of the Development Discussion board. I am in the very early stages of development, namely trying to decide if my plans for a shard are feasible, and, if so, whether POL or RunUO are better suited to my purpose. This is a bit of a hobby and a labor of love, though it would also be interesting if it attracted a few Ultima loving RPers as well.
My notion is for an enforced but not hardcore role-playing shard, probably with a Trammel rules set, and with a lore heavily steeped in the old single player series, namely elements of 2-5, and beginning directly after the events of Ultima 5. I also want to throw in some elements of my own design, and to use only the original map of Britannia. I want it to be open and fairly sandy, but to also impose a few of restrictions.
I am using my (somewhat faded) knowledge and (undiminished) love of the series, my design doc (on a wiki), and the Codex of Editable Wisdom as my Bible. For the record, I am an old school player (1997-98, little bit in 99) and do not care for the addition of Trammel, but I think consensual, and perhaps faction-based PvP will work better for the sort of RP I am looking for (and require less refereeing). I expect a very small player base (actually, I expect no player base, but am hoping for more). I am looking for an earlier version of UO, somewhere around UO:R. Yukiko has suggest 0.95 as a possible starting point.
I would like to list a few of my ideas and desires for the shard here to see if they are possible, if scripts perhaps exist and have been implemented on another shard, and if anyone has any general comments or advice. Some of these Yukiko has already touched on, but I thought I would list everything here.
Newbie with a few questions...
Re: Newbie with a few questions...
1. Gypsy Fortune Teller
Implementing a version of the old Gypsy tarot card spread as part of character creation. Ideally this would feature during the character creation process itself as a series of stills with choices, more in keeping with the single player games, though I suspect it more likely that it will have to occur on a part of the map, by accessing an actual NPC. I believe RunUo has a script or two based on this idea. I want this system to give each player a starting virtue (see below), and to determine the character's starting town based on that virtue.
2. Starting Virtue.
I want to give each player a starting virtue, based upon the results of the reading. This will never change, and will always be that character's guiding virtue. In terms of gameplay, I would like each virtue to govern certain skills associated with the eight original professions of the single player games (Fighter, Paladin, Ranger, Bard, Mage, Druid, Shepherd, Tinker), and to give the character a slight percentage to gains in these skills. I likewise want to do something more substantial with the virtues and shrines, but I am not sure what that is exactly at this point. Certain skills would not fall under any particular virtue.
3. Magery
I want to make mages a bit like they were in the Ultimas (and D&D). I want to implement cloth and padded cloth armor (a bit weaker than leather), and to implement a temporary, cumulative percentage decrease in magery for each piece of armor (other than cloth) worn(the heavier the armor, the higher the decrease). I would also like to cause magery to decrease permanently and in direct proportion to gains in weapons skills other than staves and daggers. I am not sure how to separate staves and other sorts of maces, and daggers and other types of fencing weapons, or if such a thing is even possible. I do not want to outright implement a class-based system, but rather to encourage professions more organically. I may do something similar with other skills as they relate to certain professions (bards experiencing negative effects from wearing certain heavy armors, namely plate, for example).
4. Mounts and Travel
I want to limit mounts to only horses, and to disable Recall and Gate spells, but to leave in the original eight moongates. Is it possible to have them only appear at night, and to perhaps function according to the phases of the moons?
5. Map Changes
Yukiko has been kind enough to tell me about map editors. I do not want to greatly alter the existing map, only to add and change a few things to fit the particular lore I wish to implement. I want to edit Magincia and turn it into a humble town based on herding and agriculture, as it became after its fall and subsequent redemption. I want to alter Occlo and Nu'jelm, and maybe a few other islands, turning them into areas featured in the single player games (mixing a bit of 2-5, perhaps even a little of 1), and to also add in the old lighthouses.
6. Town Governments and the Guild System
Much of my inspiration for this shard stems from a desire to make things more local. I would like to implement player citizenship and governments in the eight major towns (and maybe the others as well, depending), and to disable the creation of player guilds. In their place I want to establish guilds based on some of the organizations within the games (the Rangers of Skara Brae, the Paladins of Trinsic, the Library of Scars from Jhelom, The Thieve's Guild, The Brotherhood of the Rose, etc.), and allow players to join them and to have them function as actual guilds, run by the players.
7. Dynamic NPCs
I would like to make NPCs a bit more dynamic, primarily in the number and length of their expressions, making them a bit more conversational, or at least more interesting. Are there any scripts/programs available for editing individual NPCs (appearance, location, names, expressions, etc.)?
8. Druids and Paladins
I know Chivalry exists, as well as Spellweaving, both of which would work for Paladins and Druids, respectively. I assume with an older build that these would not be included. If I were to use a newer version of the software, and edit it to fit my vision, I worry about endlessly tweaking balancing issues. Does anyone know if there are other magic systems available for these two professions? I would like to spice up the Paladin a bit, but not to make it overpowered, and not a more viable option than playing a Fighter, or any other profession.
Thanks in advance for any comments or advice.
Implementing a version of the old Gypsy tarot card spread as part of character creation. Ideally this would feature during the character creation process itself as a series of stills with choices, more in keeping with the single player games, though I suspect it more likely that it will have to occur on a part of the map, by accessing an actual NPC. I believe RunUo has a script or two based on this idea. I want this system to give each player a starting virtue (see below), and to determine the character's starting town based on that virtue.
2. Starting Virtue.
I want to give each player a starting virtue, based upon the results of the reading. This will never change, and will always be that character's guiding virtue. In terms of gameplay, I would like each virtue to govern certain skills associated with the eight original professions of the single player games (Fighter, Paladin, Ranger, Bard, Mage, Druid, Shepherd, Tinker), and to give the character a slight percentage to gains in these skills. I likewise want to do something more substantial with the virtues and shrines, but I am not sure what that is exactly at this point. Certain skills would not fall under any particular virtue.
3. Magery
I want to make mages a bit like they were in the Ultimas (and D&D). I want to implement cloth and padded cloth armor (a bit weaker than leather), and to implement a temporary, cumulative percentage decrease in magery for each piece of armor (other than cloth) worn(the heavier the armor, the higher the decrease). I would also like to cause magery to decrease permanently and in direct proportion to gains in weapons skills other than staves and daggers. I am not sure how to separate staves and other sorts of maces, and daggers and other types of fencing weapons, or if such a thing is even possible. I do not want to outright implement a class-based system, but rather to encourage professions more organically. I may do something similar with other skills as they relate to certain professions (bards experiencing negative effects from wearing certain heavy armors, namely plate, for example).
4. Mounts and Travel
I want to limit mounts to only horses, and to disable Recall and Gate spells, but to leave in the original eight moongates. Is it possible to have them only appear at night, and to perhaps function according to the phases of the moons?
5. Map Changes
Yukiko has been kind enough to tell me about map editors. I do not want to greatly alter the existing map, only to add and change a few things to fit the particular lore I wish to implement. I want to edit Magincia and turn it into a humble town based on herding and agriculture, as it became after its fall and subsequent redemption. I want to alter Occlo and Nu'jelm, and maybe a few other islands, turning them into areas featured in the single player games (mixing a bit of 2-5, perhaps even a little of 1), and to also add in the old lighthouses.
6. Town Governments and the Guild System
Much of my inspiration for this shard stems from a desire to make things more local. I would like to implement player citizenship and governments in the eight major towns (and maybe the others as well, depending), and to disable the creation of player guilds. In their place I want to establish guilds based on some of the organizations within the games (the Rangers of Skara Brae, the Paladins of Trinsic, the Library of Scars from Jhelom, The Thieve's Guild, The Brotherhood of the Rose, etc.), and allow players to join them and to have them function as actual guilds, run by the players.
7. Dynamic NPCs
I would like to make NPCs a bit more dynamic, primarily in the number and length of their expressions, making them a bit more conversational, or at least more interesting. Are there any scripts/programs available for editing individual NPCs (appearance, location, names, expressions, etc.)?
8. Druids and Paladins
I know Chivalry exists, as well as Spellweaving, both of which would work for Paladins and Druids, respectively. I assume with an older build that these would not be included. If I were to use a newer version of the software, and edit it to fit my vision, I worry about endlessly tweaking balancing issues. Does anyone know if there are other magic systems available for these two professions? I would like to spice up the Paladin a bit, but not to make it overpowered, and not a more viable option than playing a Fighter, or any other profession.
Thanks in advance for any comments or advice.
Re: Newbie with a few questions...
Please ignore this post. I misread the instructions, and inadvertently posted on the wrong sub-forum.