tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post4852239084116053703..comments2024-03-28T13:59:51.408-04:00Comments on The CRPG Addict: Ultima IV and VirtueCRPG Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-73001265986720394182023-06-26T01:21:07.493-04:002023-06-26T01:21:07.493-04:00I still maintain that there's an advantage to ...I still maintain that there's an advantage to choosing the shepherd. You have to get all 8 party members eventually, and if you start somewhere else, you're likely to get Katrina last or close to last. At that point, she's never going to be anything but a burden on the party. She can't use any magic items or ranged items (or can she use a sling? I forget). By making the Avatar the shepherd, you start building levels from the beginning. Later, when you're exploring dungeons, including the Abyss, the shepherd will be at the front of the party, waving a mystic sword, while the rest of the party shoots magic missile weapons from behind.<br /><br />But yeah, it would make a jarring opening for a first time player.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-2736038211870381302023-06-25T00:54:14.243-04:002023-06-25T00:54:14.243-04:00Not just for the stats, either! Not only was Sheph...Not just for the stats, either! Not only was Shepherd (the Humility class) the shittiest class, but the town that exemplifies Humility (i.e. the Shepherd's starting point) is the ruins of Magincia, which was destroyed by the gods for being too proud. So (a) it's mostly inhabited by hostile undead which you are utterly unequipped to deal with as a level 1 Shepherd, and (2) it's on an island in the middle of the fucking ocean, so your only other option is to wait out the moon phases for the Humility moon gate to appear and take you ANYWHERE ELSE I DON'T EVEN CARE.Phasma Felishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07040805980444135697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-2475931622056145172023-01-17T15:29:38.980-05:002023-01-17T15:29:38.980-05:00I emphatically second the suggestion of the Prophe...I emphatically second the suggestion of the Prophet module series. It's up there with the very best in terms of ludonarrative consonance. Like UIV (progression by kills) or Ps:T (death=reload), it takes a gameplay necessity (the limitation of choice, in this case) and both turns it into an element of the plot as well as deconstructs it. The writing is stellar as well. The author went on to be a successful neuroscientist, and in truth the whole subject matter of the series is a fantasy metaphor for the problem of determinism in modern neuroscience.Iseweinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16755411457833492660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-38996202193854890632022-12-23T18:07:39.185-05:002022-12-23T18:07:39.185-05:00U4 was my first Ultima game, and while I agree wit...U4 was my first <i>Ultima</i> game, and while I agree with you that there's a certain nostalgia factor for that reason, I don't think it is overwhelming objective judgement in this case. U4 did so many innovative things and so clearly improved upon the mechanics, dialogue, and worldbuilding of the first trilogy, that it's hard to imagine anyone not thinking it's the best of the first four.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-12944763699516014842022-12-11T22:57:19.854-05:002022-12-11T22:57:19.854-05:00Ugh, I cannot post as my Google account.
I am gue...Ugh, I cannot post as my Google account.<br /><br />I am guessing that Ultima IV was your first Ultima game. I have noticed that people tend to go with primacy over recency. Whatever their first Ultima game was is the one that will forever blow their minds. Perhaps this is only if the game was first played when it first came out and was, thus, cutting edge design and theme. I know that was the case for me with Ultima ][. When I played it, I was floored by what I was learning was possible. A character in a story that I could inhabit.<br /><br />If you ever go to Nerverwinter Nights (the early 2000’s one) take a break from the official campaigns and try the fan mods. You will find several that should resonate with the idea of no ultimate big boss evil but incredible world and themes. I recommend the Prophet trilogy by Baldecaran, in particular, (or anything by Baldecaran) or the two Tortured Hearts by Zoltan Gonda.<br /><br />Someday, you are also going to play “Planescape: Torment” which should also meet your taste buds nicely.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-64714683783175046462022-11-22T10:33:01.337-05:002022-11-22T10:33:01.337-05:00Just found your blog. This is great! It has conv...Just found your blog. This is great! It has convinced me to play U4 next. I got my start in 1977 playing dnd then Oubliette at UIUC on PLATO. Some of the other commentary is incomplete and inaccurate (for example, there was an objective to Oubliette, which was only accomplished by one team AFAIK). Anyways, on to U4.John Buckinghamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09839937277521685657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-82359873437931434822021-06-19T16:50:57.648-04:002021-06-19T16:50:57.648-04:00As I recall, there is a MMORPG that has no combat,...As I recall, there is a MMORPG that has no combat, and requires characters to develop in particular disciplines like architecture, harmony, and leadership. If you imagine, today, a game with a complicated quest to become an exemplar (instead of a big boss), well this is an example.<br /><br />It's called A Tale In The Desert, it's been running since 2003, and U4 fans may want to read up on it.Radianthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03866535042372152723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-87753523368190087312021-06-19T12:17:20.161-04:002021-06-19T12:17:20.161-04:00Arena had this already (1995 is not that far away)...Arena had this already (1995 is not that far away), and so did Daggerfall. Arena might have been inspired by Ultima in that regard - it's a slightly different system, scoring points for each class selection instead of head-to-head, but it's close. <br /><br />I think Oblivion dropped this, making a class suggestion based on your behaviour in the staring dungeon instead.<br /><br />I know playing a Daggerfall demo was the first time I ever saw such a system, and I thought it was pretty cool.Buckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07270991090065636515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-65626247386742720712021-06-19T12:13:18.452-04:002021-06-19T12:13:18.452-04:00I noticed you referring directly to Morrowind in a...I noticed you referring directly to Morrowind in a post or so from this one, so I jumped the gun a bit. And, yeah, I agree that it must be homage.Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09234000344155392850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-6367629704929199742021-06-19T11:21:50.879-04:002021-06-19T11:21:50.879-04:00I don't think it's come up. I'm not su...I don't think it's come up. I'm not sure I'll ever reach <i>Morrowind</i> organically. But I do remember that option in character creation, and I'm sure they were paying deliberate homage to U4.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-21529126588713422432021-06-19T10:19:39.200-04:002021-06-19T10:19:39.200-04:00You might mention this later in your blog, but Mor...You might mention this later in your blog, but Morrowind had a similar character creation system (optional, but still) that tasked you with scenarios navigate, i.e. take fallen money or return it. This only determines the character class, but whenever I played through it I was reminded of Ultima's questions at the start of the game.Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09234000344155392850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-49008422311054434492021-05-25T08:24:53.324-04:002021-05-25T08:24:53.324-04:00It's now been a little over 10 years we're...It's now been a little over 10 years we're just about to see the end of M&M V.Maurohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13967394039678741273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-59100314930116128122021-04-27T15:58:03.173-04:002021-04-27T15:58:03.173-04:00I mean, I think there's a distinction to be ma...I mean, I think there's a distinction to be made between story and mechanics. U4 is hardly the pinnacle of combat, character development, inventory, and graphics. I would much rather seen U4's plot with U5's interface. But sure, for the backstory, lore, and quest, it's hard to think of a modern game that tops its originality. CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-79292050063034928062021-04-26T18:17:27.655-04:002021-04-26T18:17:27.655-04:00Just want to say that I found this blog yesterday....Just want to say that I found this blog yesterday. I find it really interesting, because I have fond memories of a lot of these old games, going back to Wizardry 1, and I like to see someone else's take on it all. Also, RPG's are my favorite genre, and I am willing to try out some games I missed the first time around if they look good enough.<br /><br />I played Ultima 4 on the NES, but I've only played it on the computer for a few minutes. (I prefer the NES controls.) Several posts ago you talked about at what point RPGs started feeling like a modern game. About Ultima 4, I'll say that I personally don't feel like Ultima 4 feels like a modern game at all. Modern games are not this good. The closest 21st century game I've played that is like Ultima 4 is Octopath Traveler and even that feels like a watered down version of Ultima 4. This game is a masterpiece and it's a damn shame that most younger RPG fans will never give it a try.The_Liquid_Lasernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-3057102035851307422021-01-15T16:50:01.491-05:002021-01-15T16:50:01.491-05:00See what we need is a blog that reads through each...See what we need is a blog that reads through each blog post on YOUR blog, posts a summary and rates it on a multipoint rating system....Canageekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770924810559440307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-36042169039062014882021-01-13T20:03:08.211-05:002021-01-13T20:03:08.211-05:00I was just doing some quick math and figuring that...I was just doing some quick math and figuring that my blog must be over 2 million words by now, not even including comments, so it probably takes a long time to read through from the beginning. I should develop some kind of rating system so people know which ones to skip.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-40463762913607367152021-01-02T19:40:51.586-05:002021-01-02T19:40:51.586-05:00I'm reading through your blog from the beginni...I'm reading through your blog from the beginning and am very much enjoying it. I started playing Ultima Online a couple months ago after trying U3 and getting frustrated! Here's to spending a few weeks catching up!Zack Macomberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18077050078436768492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-15066127671360510262020-10-18T23:47:38.014-04:002020-10-18T23:47:38.014-04:00Did you complete it?
I had an amazing experience w...Did you complete it?<br />I had an amazing experience when I finally decided to finish the world of xeen (I scanned every scenario, got all djinns and I even was able to slay the mega dragon)Ron Jeremyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04515767056865267083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-60471670186708965062018-03-23T16:01:48.659-04:002018-03-23T16:01:48.659-04:00It's great to hear from a fellow believer! It ...It's great to hear from a fellow believer! It would be interesting to see a modern game, which could provide so many more options to demonstrate or pervert the virtues, to adopt this approach.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-50794011538907861282018-03-22T19:20:47.015-04:002018-03-22T19:20:47.015-04:00I never knew there were more people like me... lik...I never knew there were more people like me... like us, I guess... people who took this stuff SERIOUSLY.<br /><br />Some unseen kinda "Order of the Avatar" =).<br /><br />People who met this game and for whom this game made a real DIFFERENCE, made them see sense in a world where there seems to be none. <br /><br />It is symbolical in some way.<br />How this game shines on the background of innate senselessness of many CRPGs (by the words of "Moraff's" games: journey deeper, slay more powerful monsters) - it parallels how life with a sense and a purpose shines on the background of lives led just for... for no thing in particular.<br /><br />Speaking about Avatar and Virtues, though, I heard that Hindu religion was not the only inspiration: there was some influx from "Land of Oz" (Truth, Love and Courage - now, weren't there three heroes who sought to improve in those three virtues?).<br />Mind you, "The Land of Oz" is, by itself, written by a person versed in esoterical lore, and this book is, by rumors, a metaphor of Soul's Journey (Dorothy = Dorothea, "Given by God", i.e. Soul).<br /><br />Still, this is this and that is that: reading or watching Land of Oz does not stand near -being- there in the world of Britannia, seeking mystical enlightment and talking to the likes of Buddha, Shakespeare and Rabindranath Tagore. =) And the last part of the game, where "You have returned but your quest is not over", makes this connection between game-world virtue and real-world seekings even more prominent; it all looks, feels, breathes like it was a deliberate attempts to make kids and teens care, to give a meaning. <br /><br />I am glad to know there are more people out there who got affected by this game in such a big way, although, in a hindsight, this must have been self-evident =)Fuumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-64605379734387766942018-03-20T09:47:53.716-04:002018-03-20T09:47:53.716-04:00Well, I think that, out of all games so far, Under...Well, I think that, out of all games so far, Undertale is the most similar (as in "vaguely reminiscent of") to the kind of experience you describe in the last paragraph. It might not score high on the Gimlet (the part I played felt more like an adventure with RPG elements, combat requires player skill, large parts of it is parody, graphics are so-so, *no character customization besides name*... I'm not sure it would even qualify as an RPG under your rules!). But killing is not free of consequence (IIRC this is actually the core idea behind the story) and finding a way to negotiate around conflict is a more interesting challenge than winning by dealing enough damage.<br />(I shall also note that due to the premise this game has a somewhat cringeworthy fanbase but the music is excellent)McFryenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-32445030004112238842017-09-24T04:53:51.205-04:002017-09-24T04:53:51.205-04:00From a reader's perspective: I agree, it gives...From a reader's perspective: I agree, it gives you a better sense of what was happening during that time period.Tristan Gallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16769219573533545742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-76667832418721637622017-09-23T23:29:32.106-04:002017-09-23T23:29:32.106-04:00I'm glad you enjoy it. What I'd honestly d...I'm glad you enjoy it. What I'd honestly do, instead of going in chronological order of the postings, is use my "Index of Games Played by Year" to go in chronological order of the games themselves. Less whiplash that way.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-46801732918242935032017-09-23T10:18:08.010-04:002017-09-23T10:18:08.010-04:00I'm a huge fan of your blog. So much so that I...I'm a huge fan of your blog. So much so that I've decided to read every one of your posts in chronological order. Perhaps I can create a blog about reading your blog...<br /><br />The scope of this project is amazing. On behalf of gamers everywhere: Thank you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-89279075991790409842017-09-19T05:35:46.407-04:002017-09-19T05:35:46.407-04:00Actually, Ultima 4 is one of the reasons that prom...Actually, Ultima 4 is one of the reasons that prompted me to check the Bible by myself, starting around 2010. <br /><br />I initially refrained from posting this, then I saw that people were insulting each other about video games on this page. If I am to receive angry replies, this is the right place!<br /><br />You wrote:<br /><br />>>> no rules about the need to actively seek out and destroy evil (my interpretation of "valor"); <br /><br />Yes there are, especially in the New Testament! "Lack of knowledge" is a form of evil; you fight it by teaching ("valor" then is the courage to support your knowledge, while HUMILITY COMMANDS ME TO ADMIT WHEN I AM WRONG). "Violence" is another form of evil; you are not supposed to fight it with more violence (crusades, inquisition, terrorism, pre-emptive strikes), but with its opposites: love, persuasion, and being a good example. The "active fighters against evil" are the "Good-aligned" missionaries. This is why I am writing this.<br /><br />>>> meticulous rules about food and dress, <br /><br />I discovered that 90% of the Bible rules about food (they are all about meat and alcohol) match the suggestions by today dietologists and nutritionists. On the other hand, I never read anything about dress rules in the Bible, except for a very vague "dress code" when you want to "talk to God" (prayer) on Sabbath or Sunday.<br /><br />>>> commandments against adultery and sabbath-breaking, <br /><br />I think forbidding adultery was the only way to prevent sexual transmissible infections back then. Respect of Sabbath granted rest to servants and animals, too, lest a demanding lord overloaded them with work and fatigue.<br /><br />>>> but none against assault and slavery.<br /><br />Yes there are! But twisted theologists during the middle ages made up a quibble, pretending that such rules applied to Christian Europeans only, thus allowing to assault and enslave Muslims, Africans, Native Americans, etcetera.<br /><br />But I HUMBLY and HONESTLY admit (Ultima 4 rules!) that there might be real weak points in Judeo-Christian doctrines.Abacosnoreply@blogger.com