The Herald

UO Herald - Game Updates

Publish 85.3 Origin and Izumo

Hello Everyone,

  We are publishing Origin and Izumo today with the following few bug fixes and new art for our Valentines Gifts coming to you soon. You will see an option on all shards in your character context menu for Vendor Search but it will not be available until March when we publish World Wide.

  Below are the bug fixes with this publish:

  • Corrected issue where only the character that placed the house is allowed to customize the house.
  • Corrected issue where goza mats were becoming unuseable.
  • Discordance is now considered a hostile act when used against player pets; players may now only use peacemaking on player pets that are freely aggressive.
  • Vanilla seeds will now once again spawn on certain mobs within the Exodus Dungeon.



UO Herald - Game Updates

Producer Letter

Greetings Everyone!

I come to you with some exciting news!  Since its humble beginnings at Origin Systems Incorporated in 1997, through development at EA Redwood Shores and for the last 7+ years at Mythic, Ultima Online™ has been enjoyed by millions of devoted players around the world.

Beginning February 1st, 2014, Mythic Entertainment Co-Founder Rob Denton’s new studio: Broadsword Online Games (http://www.broadsword.com) will partner with EA’s Mythic Entertainment to operate, support and develop Ultima Online on EA’s behalf.  Electronic Arts will continue to provide billing and account services through its Origin™ portal.   Broadsword and Electronic Arts will work closely together to ensure a bright future for Ultima Online.  For future inquiries and support, you can contact UO@broadsword.com.

The UO team will continue to work as hard as ever under our new banner.  In the immediate future, we will be putting out a publish for Valentine’s Day and a few bug fixes, along with polishing a final release of Vendor Search.   I will be putting out a list very soon of all the features we will be working on this year to get everyone’s feedback as well as some updates regarding our ongoing projects.

I know this has left everyone with a lot of questions, so I will try to answer a few right off the bat.  As always we will collect any additional questions and try to answer them as they come in. 

Talk to everyone soon!

Bonnie “Mesanna” Armstrong
UO Producer
Ultima Online

Q and A

Will this transition alter the plans for Ultima Online in the near term and the future?
Yes! Both Broadsword and EA are heavily invested in the continued success of Ultima Online and our future has never looked so bright!  Customers in need of help or questions should contact uo@broadsword.com

Is Broadsword an Electronic Arts studio?
No. However, for purposes of Ultima Online, Broadsword will be operating the game on EA’s behalf to continue its success.

Will there be a change in the payment system?
Nope! Players will continue to access UO through EA’s Origin™ portal. There will be no interruption or change in the payment service. Players may notice that charges on their bank statements will still indicate a payment to Mythic or EA – – and Game Time Codes will still be available via the EA Origin™ Store.

What will happen to any information I’ve provided to EA/Mythic?
Nothing.  Since Broadsword is operating Ultima Online on EA’s behalf, all the information you provided and may provide in the future will continue to be managed according to EA’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Will there be changes to the Ultima Online development team?
Yes!  Broadsword’s additional investment into UO gives us the freedom to expand our resources for bigger projects, so again – the future has never looked so bright! 

Will emails change?
Yes, they will, in the meantime you can reach out to us at uo@broadsword.com

 

 


UO Herald - Game Updates

Publish 85.3 Test Center 1

Test Center Patch Notes

Vendor Search Improvements

Players will not see these improvements for the first 3 hours until the data base has been rebuilt.

• Added the ability to search “Artifact Rarity” values =  Know issue, Search returns artifacts of that rarity and above instead of just that rarity.
 

Vendor Maps:
• Added message when vendor map is placed in backpack.
• Removed ability to sell vendor maps to mapmakers.
• Removed ability to use vendor maps to teleport during combat.
• Increased distance allowed for teleporting around house sign.
• Added the ability to pay for teleporting with gold in backpack.
• Removed the ability to use a vendor map as a recall rune.
• Added the ability to open the container containing the vended item when within 19 tiles of the item.
• Added a check to make sure an item is still for sale before allowing the player to teleport to the item.

Vendor Searching:
• Changed numeric search string restriction to only block numbers under 1000.
• Changed text search to look for each word individually.
• Added ability to sort results by price from high to low.
• Added ability to remove individual search criterion.

Vendor Results Menu:
• Fixed item properties display for empty strings.
• Fixed display of some add-on items.
• Added commas to price display.

Bug Fixes

• Corrected issue where only the character that placed the house is allowed to customize the house.
• Corrected issue where goza mats were becoming unusable.
• Cupid’s Arrows will now work during the month of February.
• Discordance is now considered a hostile act when used against player pets; players may now only use peacemaking on player pets that are freely aggressive
 


UO Herald - Game Updates

Vendor Search on TC1

Vendor Search

For the initial release it will take approximately three hours for the vendor database to update.  If you do not find your item, please check back after that time frame.  After the initial database update all vended item additions/deletions will be available through searches within five minutes.

Players will now be able to search for specific items on player run vendors while in-game.  Players will be allowed to opt out of the system on a per vendor basis. Trial accounts will not be allowed to use the vendor search system.  Maps can be obtained for vendor locations.  Players may also use these maps to purchase transportation to the vendor house (return trip included) for non-Siege rule-set shards.  Players will be able access the vendor search from a context menu on their character while within a safe logout area or justice region.

We look forward to hearing your comments and any issues you may find.  If you are searching for something in your vendor search that is not showing up please let us know these items so we can be sure to add them to the data base.

TC1 currently has a back up of Great Lakes on it so we have a populated server and vendors to search from.

Happy Holidays from the UO Team, Be safe and enjoy your time off!
UO Team


UO Herald - Game Updates

House Customization Issue

Wanted to take a few moments to let you know about an issue that has been discovered with House Customization.  .  You can not customize you house unless you are the OWNER of that house, being on the account does not matter you have to be the one that placed the house.  If by any chance you have deleted the house owner on that account then please page a GM and they will help you with correcting this issue.

I just wanted to let everyone know it is a bug and we are aware of it and we are working on a solution.

Have a great weekend everyone.
UO Team


UO Herald - Game Updates

Account Renewal Issues

Greetings Everyone,

   I wanted to touch base with you guys to explain the reason some of your accounts did not auto renew as they should have.  There was an issue in the system that was corrected and the accounts that were/are set up for auto renewal are being processed at this time.  You should not have to do anything to your account.  The process is checking back to approx the later part of November to make sure nothing is over looked so please give it a day or two.  If your account does not auto renewal in the next day or two then please contact us so we can make sure this issue is fixed.

Bonnie “Mesanna” Armstrong


UO Herald - Game Updates

Publish 85 Adjustments

Tomorrow morning after maintanence the following will be adjusted:

1.  Adjusted Bard AI
2.  Added Healer abilities to Agents of the Crown in Blackthorns castle
3,. Fixed issue where Captains were revealing hidden players
4.  Fixed dungeon mobs spawning in unreachable areas
5.  Adjusted Captains spawn

All these changes will be visible after your normal morning maintanence.

Thank you,

UO Team


UO Herald - Game Updates

Strange Bedfellows

By: EM Drosselmeyer

“You don’t actually think this is going to work, do you?” Anon scoffed at King Blackthorn’s suggestion.

“Well if you don’t think you have the ability to do it, I guess you can continue to be known as the second best mage of the realm…”

Anon slammed a hand down on the table, causing Dupre to give him a glare from his seat. “I still am afraid I don’t understand…why are we not simply destroying the source of these?”

“Because we cannot without condemning untold numbers of lives. Anon and I have come to the conclusion that Minax used the shard of the gem of immortality she’d stolen to open up tears in the Ether to another world…a Sosaria conquered by brigands and outlaws. To destroy the connection might destroy one or both of the worlds. Instead…Anon came up with a plan that’s somewhat similar to what Nystul once did…”

“It’s completely different! We aren’t destroying an entire way of life and the source of our strength!”

The King raised his hand and Anon reluctantly went quiet. “Alright. We can cast the spell, but we’re going to have to be uninterrupted…and unfortunately, Minax and this…Shanty you told us of will be on the watch now. Anon is the only one of us who can cast it…and I’ll need to assist him.”

“Shanty’s enchanted blade is powerful…it’s one of those ancient blades that we’d thought were all lost. I don’t have anything that can stand up to it.”

The King pulled on a bellpull and Heckles entered, with an object wrapped in cloth. “It took some time, but I was able to find an object in my collection that may be able to help you against him, Sir Dupre.”

As Heckles approached, he unwrapped it and held the sheathed blade out to Sir Dupre, and he drew it…to show a brilliantly gleaming black longsword, with magical runes engraved along it’s length. The balance was impeccable, and it felt as if it had the perfect weight…He gave a small swing of it’s blade, and saw the same motes of magical energy as Shanty’s Sharkbite had cast. In a deft motion he sheathed it perfectly, and gave the King a nod.

“Then let us do this for the realm…and for Minax’s defeat.”
 

Anon’s preparations were complete and he’d taken a score or more of obscure reagents from the depths of Blackthorn’s vaults; Dupre had replaced his shield with a heavier version and had the squire that saved him paint Blackthorn’s crest atop it in place of his own. He’d replaced the broken pauldrons and it gleamed brightly compared to the rest of his well worn armor. Anon had donned his usual llamahair outfit, but he was also now wearing a hat provided him by the King, also adorned with Blackthorn’s crest. The King opened a gate and they stepped through the shimmering blue portal one after another.

The scene was chaotic before them; Guards, adventurers, explorers, and volunteers swarmed the streets, fighting the marauders and their monsters. Blood spotted and stained the streets of the city of Vesper as battles raged across the islands, the bridges barely holding up to the fury of the fighting. Anon quickly started chanting, and in moments he was teleporting with flashes of light from spot to spot.

Dupre shouted after him “Damn it, Anon, we have to do this together! Let’s go!” He spared a glance to make sure the King was behind him, and they charged after the mage across the splintered wooden bridges. A satyr rose up in front of him, and Dupre drew the black blade out into a diagonal slash, and hacked the creature in half without facing any resistance. Dryad and Cu sidhe rose up to face him, and each one was dispatched with haste, leaving dismembered monsters behind them like a wake while they bolted towards the lighthouse.

Anon had already dispatched most of the creatures in the area, and was beginning his setup. Dupre swore underneath his helmet…Damned Grandstander…the King approached Anon and they began to speak, as Dupre shouted over to them. “I’m going to secure the area, and see if I can’t get any of these volunteers to help us keep the bridges locked down.”

Anon waved him off. “I don’t care! Just stay out of my way, you nonce!”

The King gave him a nod as he departed, before turning to Anon. “And you’re sure you can alter these tears?”

“Of course I can! Though we still have the other option if it won’t work.”

“Oh, look! How cute…it seems the Kings found himself a new court jester! Was Heckles not enough of a fool for you, so you’ve replaced him with Anon now?” The taunting voice came across from a nearby rooftop, even as a crack split the air and a multitude of lightning bolts destroyed several of Anon’s carefully placed reagents. “Oh I’m sorry…were those important, little mage? You know, Nystul never needed…”

“I AM MORE POWERFUL THAN THAT PRETENDER EVER WAS! HE WAS JEALOUS OF ME, OF ME!” Anon roared back with fury at her even as he began to cast.

“No, Councilor, we need to…” The King quickly tried to get Anon’s attention, but the mage was beyond hearing.

“I NEED TO DESTROY HER!” And with that, Anon was gone, reappearing next to Minax in a bare moment. Pillars of flame exploded around him in an arcanic burst of fury, setting the entire roof ablaze…but Minax had already leapt down, and her whip flashed out, gripping Anon’s ankle and yanking him from his feet. Anon screamed in his rage as he cast explosions out towards her, but she raised up a great wall of stone to block them.

King Blackthorn turned back to the task at hand, looking at the ruined reagents…their original plan couldn’t be finished now, especially with Anon indisposed. He spared a glance back to the two, and then turned to the task at hand…and began to cast himself.
Anon was still struggling with the Enchantress, but neither of them seemed to be able to gain a true advantage…until Minax led the fighting back towards a certain spot. From Anon’s angle he couldn’t see, but Blackthorn shouted out a warning that went unheeded by the furious mage.

Shanty rose out of his hiding place with an evil grin, and his cutlass swung up. Anon shrieked out in surprise, a sudden panicked casting of teleport looking like he’d completely avoided it…but as he reappeared a few steps back blood was starting to stain his robe. Shanty stepped forward as Anon coughed wetly, trying to cast a healing spell…when Dupre ran from the alley Shanty had appeared from and slammed into the corsair, casting him to the ground.

Minax snorted with irritation, beginning to cast at the knight, only for a wall of stone to rise up between them and protect him. Shanty turned with a laugh as he rose. “Wanna lose another piece o’ yerself, eh? Shanty’ll oblige yer!” As Dupre’s longsword clashed with Sharkbite, they smashed into each other powerfully, their enchantments fighting for supremacy.

The fight continued to rage as Blackthorn focused all his efforts into the casting. He’d never get Anon back to what he needed to be doing, and Dupre couldn’t help him here. He felt the mana being channeled through his body as he tried to cast the spell Anon had created…but he couldn’t reach the threshold without the reagents. He heard a shouted warning and noticed one of the marauders coming across the bridge to aid Minax…and he no longer had time to worry.

Drawing on his own area of expertise that he’d used against Exodus, and the feel of the crystal he’d brought with him in his pocket, mana surged and flowed through him powerfully. The words of power came out effortlessly, as if he’d done this a million times before; An orb of light started to expand from around him, slowly engulfing him…and the King was gone.

As the light expanded and touched, it left the buildings behind…but as it touched Anon and Dupre, they vanished as well, as did the marauders and their minions. In moments all that was left was an empty Vesper, the explorers, the adventurers, Shanty and the Enchantress. Outnumbered vastly, the two fled in a burst of magical energy rather than face the wrath of their victims.
————————————————————————————————————————
“WHAT DID YOU DO?!” Anon shouted as he realized the extent of it, his voice echoing in the cavernous area.

“I did what I could…because you abandoned your post.” The King said calmly, looking to the irate mage and hoping this wouldn’t end in conflict.

“This isn’t what we agreed on, Blackthorn!”

“I’ll still honor your price, Anon….but this was the only option left.”

“No it wasn’t! We could’ve killed them bo…” Anon’s shouts were cut off as he clutched at his chest and fell to a knee, his wound lancing pain through his chest. The King helped him up, even as Anon’s next words were more arguing.

Sparing Anon’s wound a glance to see that it wasn’t mortal, Dupre sheathed the black longsword with an air of finality.  As the mages walked away, he looked down the vast hallway…their argument was unimportant, as far as he was concerned. Ahead were tiny glimpses of what seemed to be each of the cities he was so familiar with. Then he turned and followed the two mages, walking out of Blackthorns Dungeon and Vaults.