Starting my Journey on the Path of Virtue, thoughts and suggestions

[Bhenadryl]

(This post will ramble and meander around, you have been warned) ~ Bhenadryl, the wandering Ranger.

So, where to start? My initial draw to this server was the whole path of virtue idea and the deeper integration of old school Ultima lore, of which I am a huge fan. Server hiccups aside I have been enjoying my adventures.

I started off my journey off as a ranger, so I got dropped of in Skara Brae. I wandered around town, trying to get my footing. If I hadn't been a UO player in the past I would have been completely lost. Not that I want my hand held. I prefer the freedom, but it could be overwhelming and confusing for some. (I go into this later down)

As I was running around town I managed to stumble onto the town hall. I peeked inside and who did I see but non other then Shamino himself, though he didn't pay me any mind. It was still awesome though. I looked around a bit more, I knew you could join factions from reading the wiki, but I couldn't figure out how to do it. What was I missing? Is it a voice command spoken to the npcs there? From the wiki I knew you could do it at Lord British, but why not do it any town hall? (if there was a faction stone there i must have missed it)

So I started my journey down to the city of Britain, and if I was going to run into any other people, Brit bank is the place to do it. After making it to the castle safely, I manged to register with Lord British himself. With that done I set to my next challenge... I was servery short on coin and skills. I sold everything I managed to loot from the avatars house. (many an accursed scorp and drafting plane was sold that day)

Then I stared the grind to mastery, lol. I stared hunting a few critters to work my skills and earn enough so I can get more training and some starter equipment. As I was dressing the kills, I was getting a lot of interesting items. So excitedly, I returned to town to see what I could get for them. Unfortunately the butcher wanted non of it. (this issues is already noted to be addressed in the next patch) So I tossed what I couldn't sell into the bank for later. It was also disheartening to find that hides didn't amount to much, (1 coin at the leather worker, 2 coin at the fur trader, but the things where extremely heavy, and as I just started didn't have much strength to haul large loads of materials around) but coin is coin and I need to make some to get better equipped before I went after more dangerous game. Once enough coin in hand I upgraded my equipment and made my way to the graveyard. Hunting there has been good so far. (zombies give the best loot so far, cool deco items and my first magic item, that lich is scary though ~ back onto the magic item, I cant ID it, so either I need to raise the skill or luck into a wand. Can we maybe have npc ID things for some gold?)

After some good hunting I had enough extra coin to buy some fancy dyes and color my outfit, finally. (really love the new colors, but it is a bit pricey, maybe more charges or less over all cost but I completely understand the need for gold sinks in the virtual economy)

I finally ran into my first fellow adventure, she too started off hunting the farm critters. (poor farmers, isn't that a crime?) I asked if she wanted to join me, she said she would but needed to tithe at an ankh for her spells. Unfortunately there are no ankhs to be found, not even at the temple of virtue in Brit! *gasp* (was talking with Corpo about it, I said that maybe we should have a church in each town, Corpo though player run churches would be cool, which they would. I also tossed in that clerics use to be a class in the older Ultimas, so maybe we can squeeze them in somehow.)

So far I've really been enjoying everything, and as to suggestions...

I really love the whole avatar house thing at the start, such a awesome idea, but then you're dropped into a town with no direction. Now, this isn't necessarily a bad thing for some, but could be bad for others. It spreads out the player base across the whole map, and at the start of the server I think it would be better off if everyone started in a central location. That way people can meet each other without having to run across the map. Also we need a way to get some early gold to get our skill training and started equipment. While I'm not a big fan of Haven the way it was done on OSI (you couldn't walk without bumping into an npc asking to be escorted one door down for 500gold) the idea of a starter town isn't a bad one. You could do your own thing with it, make it Haven city of new beginnings, the town of patience, which is an over looked virtue lol. You could make it neutral ground, and put a faction recruiter npcs there and people could chose their factions and get ported away to each faction capital and go from there, or if they didn't want to join a faction stay on the island or catch a boat somewhere else.

I love the RP calendar you came up with, but could we maybe get to choose our birth date and birth town? Side note, this is a thing that triggers my ocd but ... Summer's Tidings & Summer's Twilight are the only 2 lore months that are not one word. It irks me, lol. Maybe call them summersdawn and summersdusk, it even works with the middle month Summersdeep, lol. You can have it for free

That's all I have for now, I'll post more here when I've got it

 

[Chernabog]

Your journeys, and petitions have been heard faithful Avatar.

The Privy Council will convene to address and consider both your valor and challenges faced throughout your journeys.

Be it through us, or through your future meeting with either Lord British or Lord Blackthorn within the realms, your experiences will be heard, and you’ll have the options of a leader to confess your allegiance to who my asssist you in your goals to better change the realms in your image.

@Archaaz @Corathan we must get with the Lords of Paths of Virtue so that @Bhenadryl may have audience and make such thoughts known to the lords of the realms.

Thank you Sir @Bhenadryl - you’ve begun a new quest to experience.

 

[Archaaz]

Thank you for the feedback, @Bhenadryl! I am glad your experience with PoV has been a positive one. I have been a fan of the Ulima universe since first playing Ultima V back in high school. UO was like a dream come true. I do apologize for the hiccups, but I suppose some are inevitable in a project like this.

It is possible to converse with the lore NPCs, simple word recognition, mostly based on their dialog. Unlike the other talking NPCs, they do not yet offer greetings, though I will be adding this.

I do understand you concern regarding starting out, esp. for those unfamiliar with UO. While I am not a fan of starter areas and tutorials, I do think having everyone start in the same place is a great idea. I had originially designed PoV with a large population in mind. I also never liked the fact that most people gathered in Britain. Having said that, I think that Britain would be a good starting place for everyone, eoither at the inn, or in British's throne room.

Per your advice, I have added Faction Stones to the Town Halls of all towns, as well as British's throne room. I have also added this information to the wiki.

I have likewise expanded the good which vendors will buy, and the price of some items (hides for example). I love that you are actually hunting, and think it should be a viable way to earn gold when starting off...and later, perhaps.

Item ID for NPCs is another good idea, one that I almost implemented way back when I first released the shard in 2017. I decided to take your advice and have a certain type of NPC sell ID Scrolls for 500gp.

As for the calendar, those months were named such due to a desire for variety. I am glad you enjoyed it overall. I am a big fan of randomness, and of having random quirks and such to roleplay around, though I will give some thought to allowing players to choose their birth date and town of birth.

I will also give the cleric class some thought.

Again, thans for the feedback! Please keep it coming, if and when you wish.

 

[Bhenadryl]

Continuing my Journey on the Path of Virtue...

((This post will ramble and meander around, you have been warned. Things by me as the player will be in parentheses, while things in character will be in quotes.)) ~ Bhenadryl, the wandering Ranger.

"I have continued my journey. Secure in my skill and new equipment I set to venture far and wide. To get a better lay of the land, and to help those I can along the way. I now find myself less a hunter of beasts, and more a hunter of men. I would say that this saddens me, but truth be told, some injustices can only be solved with the end of a rope, point of a blade, or the nock of an arrow."

"While journeying past the cemetery of Vesper I was set upon by a foul hood. The wretch was crafty, and no matter how many arrows I let loose the brigand would mange to slip away and heal themselves in full. I would not win a battle of attrition. While in Britain, I had come into the company of a stalwart paladin. So, I set off an penned a missive and sent it by carrier bird. My missive found its home, and soon I was joined by companion. ((Keeshi, the Anhkless)) Together we burst into the graveyard, hacked our way past the vile undead to find our quarry. The battle was long, and arduous, but towards the end we won the day, and the villain lay vanquished."

((This battle was tough, I quickly jumped behind Keeshi and starting bandaging while letting arrows fly. Then all of a sudden the hood jumps the fence! I keep shooting and poor Keeshi has to run out and all the way around. Finally catching up to the hood Keeshi hits it a few times only for the hood to jump back over then fence, and I watch Keeshi run back again. lol, it was hilarious.))

"I bid my companion farewell, as we both had different destinations in mind, and I readied myself for my return. While I had previously used the Moongate to transport myself to Minoc and Vesper, I though that perhaps I should take the trade road south on my return to Britain. I follow the road and come across more brigands. This land is awash in villainy. With my previous encounter fresh in my mind I make use of the trees. I dart to and fro, like a serpent that has had too much wine. I check my quiver to find that I'm running low... I'll need to save the last few for when I'm most in need. I draw my tree felling axe from belt loop and charge in. Snicker-snack went my axe, the last brigand at my feet. I wipe down the axe head with an old rag, looking at the surrounding carnage. What grim work I have wrought, grim work indeed, but a necessary one."

((trying to solo all those bandits wasn't easy, and by the time I got the last one and the key it de-spawns. Side note, all around town there are bounty hunting posters saying inquire with in. There is no one to inquire with. I already told Arch about how if you carve bandit corpses the parts fall under the bones and makes it damn near impossible to loot the heads. Could we take these heads and then turn them in these bounty offices for gold/fame/karma?))

"I make my way to the bog between Cove and Britain. In my hubris I though that I could cross it quickly and be done with it. I was wrong... Poison! The swamp was a churn with filth and pestilence. I had not done my due diligence and prepared properly. I had forgotten a pair of swamp boots. If it had not been for my hardy constitution I would have sunken beneath those fetid waters. ((It's a cool throw back that swamps are poisonous. Now where do I get swamp boots, and how do they work? Are they made from the hide of giant carnivorous frogs?))

"After making my way free of that accursed place, I traveled towards the coast line. Mostly to wash the filth from myself and grant myself a moment of respite. After a few moments, and feeling much refreshed I returned to the road. On the final length of my journey I heard the crackle and twisting of branches. Yet nothing abounds? Puzzled I look up... the tree is bewitches, a reaper! I grab for my axe, and swing. It has fell many a tree, but I worry... Will it hold against this creature? The blade is dull, yet I swing with all the might I can muster. Crack! It bites hard and deep. I hack, hack, hack again. This tree falls like any others. I muse to myself that perhaps I should dub my axe Treesbane. I laugh out loud in spite of myself. I continue on, to Britain." ((The reaper only drops regular wood, for a magic tree why not magic wood. Reaper Wood.))

((This came about from a long discussion on the discord. There are many skills which are under used, are extremely limited, over lap one another, or are so dependent on each other that you need both but they essentially function as one skill. So why not merge certain skills together. With so many skills being condensed it might be necessary to drop the total skills know down.

*Hide & Stealth together for a true Stealth skill.

*Pickpocket & Snooping into an all purpose Theivery skill.

*Lockpicking & Remove Trap into an all purpose Mechanical skill, or "Locksmithing Skill". It could get a % bonus from Tinkering.

*Herding & Taming into a "Beastmastery" skill.

*Item Identification & Arms Lore into an all purpose Appraisal skill.

*Taste Identification would fall under the Cooking skill. What cook doesn't taste their own fare to make sure it is seasoned correctly, and to make sure it is "not bloody raw".

*Healing & Anatomy into Medicine. One can not heal the body if one does not know the body

*Veterinary & Animal Lore into a condensed Veterinary skill. One can not heal an animal if one does not know the animal.

*Begging transformed into Persuasion. Still functions that if you use it to beg a person then you get coin and a karma penalty. However, if used in an alternate way it could give better buy/sell prices at shops, creating more of a merchant skill. Maybe by saying out loud <shopkeeper i wish to haggle> or something along those lines.

*Fletching, a craft that has barely anything to it's name. Now if the skill was to expand, then I'd say leave it be. There are many types of bows... Short, Long, Great, Hunting, War, Horse, Compound, Recurve, Composite, Siege, Japanese Yumi. There are many types of crossbows... Light, Heavy, Recurve, Compound, Hunting, Repeating, Reverse Draw, Arbalest. Finally, if you are trying to siege a castle, the Ballista. If fletching was expanded, then by all means it should be its own craft, if not then it would be better off under Carpentry.

Sorry if this was a long one.))

 

[Archaaz]

Very well written and entertaining! I look forward to the next installment. You should check out the bookbinding system. It includes sealing wax for sealing books (crafted with WaxCrafting) so they can no longer be written in, as well as a lot of cool books you can craft.

Swamp Boots are craftable using Spined Hides from serpents and related mobs. I got this script from an old, now defunct UO server based on Ultima III. The owner was nice enough to share many of his scripts on the website, before it closed down for good. I was a bit late and never got to try it, but it looked quite interesting.

As for combining the skills, I will discuss it with the others. I have some ideas as well for making certain skills more attractive. Some really good suggestions here.

Reapers do have a chance to drop certain items, though not magic reaper wood…not yet anyway.

Regarding the bounty posters and bailiffs, these used to be a thing. Bailiffs would offer a contract to kill x amount of a certain mob. Basically, you targeted the corpse and it deleted it and put it on the bounty. The bailiff offered gold and the possibility of other rewards upon turning in a completed bounty. I want to bring it back, but I want to use carved and dropped items from the particular mobs to complete the bounty. A system for bounties for special NPC bandits (like the head of the bandit leader) and other criminals would be neat too.

 

[Bhenadryl]

((This post will ramble and meander around, you have been warned. Things by me as the player will be in parentheses, while things in character will be in quotes.)) ~ Bhenadryl, the wandering Ranger.

((This is a semi-rewrite of chap one so it feels more like chap two. It's posted as a flash back.))

"I woke up in a cold sweat. I hadn't realized I'd had been screaming until I felt the innkeeper's hand on my shoulder. He looked at me with concern in his eye. I apologized profusely, I must have awoken every other patron here tonight. He told me to pay it no mind and offered me a seat by the fireplace. Handing me a mug of spiced cider, he told me that he had a familiarity with such things as he had been a captain in the local militia before he retired to run this, his family's inn. He had taken an arrow to the knee and had decided to turn in his colors, never did heal right he said with a wry grin. I sat there eyeing the crackling flames."

"Bandits, I told him. I had recently stormed the encampment south of Yew. I had sought to end their villainy and return a semblance of justice to the lands... but had I? The innkeeper, old Archaaz gave me a knowing look. He said he had seem my armor and kit as I stumbled into the inn exhausted. I thought I had done my best to clean the blood and gore from myself. Had a seasoned eye he said, knew the signs of a battle. I looked down into my mug and began telling my tale of how I started this journey..."

((In character creation the birth city I got was Yew, so I decided to roll with it. Also for my character portrait I have an eye patch, but haven't lost the eye yet. I mean whats cooler then a one eyed ranger am I right?))

"I remember my times as a lad. I had been born a child of Yew, surrounded by the sights and sounds of the forest, and the towering presence of the Yew trees. Of running around, swing sticks in mock sword fights. The felling of trees, and the shaping of wood."

"There was this younger lad you see. Young Chern, he had the dream to become a mighty and powerful mage. He would chase the local birds and chickens yelling CORP POR, as he tossed stones at them. The other children and I had taken to calling him Corpo because of this. I let out a small chuckle in remembrance. His family had pack a wagon full of goods, they where headed for the capital to hopefully make good coin from their wares. Corpo had jumped into the back of the wagon. He exclaimed that they where off to Britain, and that he would become a great mage, that he would apprentice to Archmage Nystul himself. The other children and I had all laughed, "Sure! Sure!" we all had chuckled in unison. They had never arrived."

"I spent the rest of my youth chopping wood, making arrows, and hunting game. When I was of age I made my way to Skara Brae, I hoped to join the league. I had walked the same road that... Well, I had made it to the guild hall... Even saw the legendary Shamino, though I dare not speak to him. I managed to find the guildmaster, and I inquired about joining. One thousand gold coins?! I could only laugh, where was a lad to find that kind of money. Britain the guildmaster said, always coin to be found in the capital. I gathered my things and set off once more. To Britain, of all places, to where... No, I didn't want to dwell on it again."

"As I made my way down the road I manged to shoot a few rabbits and strung them up, tossing them over my shoulder. I had spotted a regal buck cresting over a hill, and had thought to make sport of it, but I reconsidered. Even if I manged to drop the beast there would be no way for me to carry it all the way to Britain. Years of swinging an axe had given me quite the bit of muscle, but with all my other supplies and kit it would have been a daunting task. I eyed a grouse rustling out of a nearby shrubbery, and let lose an arrow. I trussed the bird up, making my way to the grand gates of the city. Furs and meat would sell. What butcher wouldn't be in need of fresh game? Only question was if I would get good coin for it."

((FYI the butcher is broken again, she refuses to take my meats. I'm no bard, but I shouldn't need that much charisma... right?))

"I sighed, what a pittance... I would have done better to save it for myself and make a meal of it with what the vendors would charge for a meal. I made my way to a near by inn on the water, I would need lodging for the night lest I camp outside the gates. Luckily, I had enough between my saves and my hunting."

"The innkeeper had poured himself a drink. Not speaking, just listen to my tale. I looked up. Continue, when you are ready he said. I down the mug of cider in one go. He poured me another. I continued with my retelling..."

(To Be Continued...)

 

[Bhenadryl]

Thanks for all the positivity guys.

 

[Bhenadryl]

Continuing my Journey on the Path of Virtue...

((This post will ramble and meander around, you have been warned. Things by me as the player will be in parentheses, while things in character will be in quotes.)) ~ Bhenadryl, the wandering Ranger.

"After few more ciders, and an eve half filled with words I could hardly remember I released a breath. One that, I had not known I was keeping this whole time. I lean back on the chair. A weight seemed unburdened from my chest. The innkeeper once again clapped his hand to my shoulder as he started cleaning up the bottles strew about the place."

"I thanked the innkeep once more, he nodded and returned to his room. I sat there, by the fire, watching the embers smolder and die. What was it that I wanted? Surely not this? I had chosen to be a ranger because I was born with a strong arm, a quick eye, and surrounded by the majesty of the forest. I had sought out beast and monsters, both men and otherwise. Was it justice I sought? Was it a compassion to put villainy down so that it not rob people of both life and prosperity? I knew not, perhaps it was best to leave such thoughts to sages and other wise men. It was a grim business I was engaged in, yet it was what I did best."

"I returned to my room, retrieving my kit and belongings. As I made my way out I passed the innkeeper and gave him a nod, one which he returned wordlessly. I place bag of coin on the counter, enough for my room, and with more then extra enough to cover the drink from prior. I exited, making my way to the waterside where I found a bench near by. I sat, retrieving my crossbow from under my cloak. I had purchased it from a local peddler. He claimed that it was crafted than non other then Iolo himself, at which I scoffed, pointing out it had no makers' mark. It was a fine thing indeed, sturdy and accurate, and far better then I could do myself with my meager skill in the craft. I managed to haggle myself a good price for it, a boy of Yew would know his way around both arrow and bolt. I drew back the arm, with a sturdy *clink* it locked into place. I checked my quiver, good, plenty. With another two bundles in my pack and fixings for more I'd be set."

"As I walked down the main road I manged to over hear the town crier. A dire wolf had been terrorizing the flocks of Skara Brae. Luckily its rein of terror was ended quickly by a fellow adventure, though I did not catch their name it would be good to make their company. I lamented to myself, had I not been wallowing I might have done some good the other day. I vowed to redouble my efforts."

((Congrats to Snowdogg. Idea, when ever an event finishes why not have the town criers talk about. Like have them yell out, many thanks to the valiant Snowdogg... the terror of the dire wolf is ended, Skara Brae safe once more. Right now they don't do much. If you do use them, please give them a long timer, the npcs can sometimes be overbearing with how much they spam over and over. Mostly the escorts.))

"I was about to exit town when I felt something bump into me. My arm darted forward grabbing the wrist of a lad who had his fingers wrapped around my coin pouch. That was a poor choice lad I let out with an exasperated sigh. The boy yelped. Please spare m'lord he cried. He was starting himself down a bad path, one that wouldn't end well. It was one that I didn't want to see myself at the end of... for his sake, and perhaps my own I should nudge him onto a different road. I did my best to make my self sound more gruff and grizzled that I was already becoming. Do ye know I'm called in these parts lad? From Vesper, to Britain, to Skara Brae, to Yew. I'm know as Rider lad, and ye best not get trampled upon. Quickly he chime, but you don't have a horse? I gave a stern glare, and it seems to hit harder then a bolt. I ride the wind I remarked. Beg'n yer pardon m'lord he let out with a winced, cowering down. Now where are yer parents, ye don't want to end up my quarry. The boy deflated, lost them some time ago sir he said. I maintained my steely gaze, it would do him no good if I relented here. Was taken in by the Sisters of Compassion he let out in a puff. I grunted, my grip still firm, I dragged him off in what I hoped was the direction of the orphanage. Words where to be had..."

((It is my own personal head cannon that Brit would have an orphanage, it's clearly a large enough city, and as the capital/central location it would make sense to have one there. Knowing Arch I may have just given him the idea to go and build one now... don't do it Arch, you've already got enough on your plate, let it exist in the ether of this story.))

((To be continued...))

 

[Bhenadryl]

Continuing my Journey on the Path of Virtue...

((This post will ramble and meander around, you have been warned. Things by me as the player will be in parentheses, while things in character will be in quotes.)) ~ Bhenadryl, the wandering Ranger.

"We arrived at the at the orphanage, and to call it run down would be unkind, but clearly it had seen better days. Lifting my hand I gave the door a few good thumps. There was a stir. The door opened and I was greeted by a young lass, not old enough for a trade but old enough to manage the other children. I grunted the words trouble maker as a hoisted the lad towards her. She let out a glare at the kid that seemed far beyond her years. Clearly she had much to deal with. Turning my eyes to her, is there anyone to speak with about this I rasped. Quickly she chimed out to see Mother Etheria in the back and that she would tend to the boy."

"I made my way to the back office. A withered matron was busy sorting tomes, papers, and ledgers of some sorts. As I grunted she look up from he work. She inquired about my business, and I recounted my encounter with the young lad. She drooped, looking even more frail. She apologized profusely. I told her that it was fine, however if the lad continued his ways he'd meet a bad end. Apparently the lad had gotten mixed up a group of some sort, and that this group was even eyeing the other children. "I'll look into it." I said, at which she seems slightly relieved."

((Slight writers block as to how to push the story forward. But its been awhile since I posted and didn't want to leave you guys with nothing so here's a short.))

((To be continued...))

 

[Archaaz]

Another excellent installment in the series! I am sure the rest will come to you. While we do not have an orphanage (yet), there is a poor house in Minoc.

 

[Bhenadryl]

So, I've come to the decision to move this to the RP board and separate it from the out of character stuff. Think that will help me focus better. I'm still struggling with that hump chapter in the middle so I'm skipping it for a bit and jumped a head a chapter and will have to circle back. Wish me luck.

 

[Bhenadryl]

I've moved it over here...

The Journal of Bhenadryl, the wandering Ranger.​

 

[Bhenadryl]

Honestly, it's so much easier for me to write based off in game events then trying to make stuff whole cloth. The next chapter is the hotness.

Warning : Graphic Violence

If you are not a fan of blood, or the kind of stuff you'd find in 80's action movies, you should skip this chapter.

 

[Archaaz]

That is great to hear! It is the same for me, and has informed my approach to creating PoV. I like a game world to fully immerse me such the roleplaying becomes organic and players are creating the hitsory of the world together as events unfold. That is the goal, anyway.

It really fills me with joy to see a roleplay thread on the forum. I absolutely loved this latest installment, and can't wait for the next.