🚀 go-pugleaf

Hello gods at Origin

       After reading all of the ultima9 requests,  I'd like to post mine. It is
    just some random thought that either nobody else has coverd of that is was
    only covered in a little detail.  I just wanted to say that I have
    completed Ultima 8 and I happened to like it.  Of course there were it's
    bugs, and it's problems, but the name is ultima and I think that they
    thought, or rather you thought it was the "most ultimate" way to make the
    avatar.  I completed u1 - u3  and u6-u7(all4)  and many other roll playing
    games.  I also have played a lot of Paper D&D games, and the best thing I
    think that they had was the ability to do everything.  I think that this
    is what we need here.  The ultimate Ultima.  The game that will rival
    Doom, (which I'm startimg to hate because it is so damn popular.)  I know
    that this sounds excessive,  But the first thing that I would suggest is
    have it 9 cd's yeah nine.  That way we can cram in everything.  In old
    paper games the DM (I'm sure you're all familiar with him) you controlled
    the game.  Every aspect.  If the players hated a certain way of doing
    things he would change or improvise.  That is what I think is most important
.
    Diversity and changeability due to likes.

        The first thing that I would like to suggest is linking.  I beleive
    that this is possible.  Just bear with me while I try to explain.  Have
    the whole dungeon, for example written in positions.  each object is
    determined to be in a certain place.  i.e.     ________
                 The (+) would be a monster        |   +  |   _/
                 The (|) and (_) would be walls    |      |__/  _/
                                                    \__________/

    During the game you would be able to select what type of view that you
    would prefer.  in a 3-d  Like underworld (which I think as well as most
    people that I know prefer to scramble around dungeons in.) the (|) would
    be a 3-D wall as with the monster.  In overhead mode an overhead
    representation would be used.  just by rotating the objects to an overhead
    view,  new drawings would not have to be used.  I don't think that this is
    needed in an outside world.  But if it is all written in 3-D code then
    one could scale the perspective up and down to the desired height.
    Rotation, as sombody also mentioned could just as easily be implimented.
    By making the world in this 3-d style, the world could be so much bigger.
    just drawing a square, and linking it with a grass looking texture will
    eliminate the need for drawn scrolling landscapes.


   The Next big proposal that I wis to make is in reguards to fighting.  The
   regular battle is nice, but like in u7 when you hit combat you had so
   little control that it didn't seem like fighting.  And when the battle was
   done, half of the party would run off to slay some sickley deer a quater of
   a mile away.  I was thinking along the same way as before, diversity of
   choices.  A battle selector.  For those who want quick uncontrolled fights
   give it to them.  the same with thoes who want in turn, non real-time
   fighting.  I know my roomate loves just going around trying to kill things
   in the most creative way possible "hey, I just kicked an orge to
   death, heh heh!"  This combat turn would bore him.  I personally like solo
   one on one, and ary battles.  With the state of things how they are, origin
   needs to sell as many of these puppies as possible.  And what is the rage
   these days (besides Doom)?  fighting games.  now it would be rediclous to
   say that every fight has to be this way.  but wouldn't that be fun.
   (Before you judge me, I am still a hard core RPGer; but diversity is the
   spice of life.)  For example this would only be able to occur on lone
   battles. let's say the avatar is sent on a lone quest to the mountians.
   you incounter a snow beast.  The screen zips to a side by side fighter.  It
   doesn't have to be that complex with flipping jumps (you try that in full
   plate) but to see the avatar in all of his glory. Now the difficult part is
   not to let this digress into a simple fighter.  There has to be the roll
   playing part in it.  So I suggest that if you say hit the F12 key the game
   would pause giving you selections. such as changing weapons, using potions,
   using magic....it would be the think menu.  Then you could esc and continue
   fighting, after implimenting you decisions. The more that you progressed
   the more complex moves you could do.  you could go to expert fighters to
   improve your skills (shit, wait...there seems to be a problem, did anyone els
e here finish, or
   see the ending of u8? if your a titan would you need training?  i think
   that this will be resolved in the plot line).  advancing in levels would
   mean something.  strength would weild better blows.... using the same 3-d
   as before anything could be used as a weapon.  The enviroment,  the EXACT
   enviroment to the tree, could be seen.  even cool things like breaking
   branches or fighting near rivers could be used.  I also think that stragic
   combat should be implimented.  where youattack, retreet, what not.
   Now I personally do RPG's to releive my self from reality for a while.
   just walk around and bash some   heads, solve some puzzles, goto bed.
   I think that this fighting, unless anyone disagrees would be exellent
   and if I had Time I would go into it further.

          The next thing that I wish to talk about is sound.  I hear people say
Yeah make voice through out the whole damn thing.  Yeah that would be cool.
but does that really take president over game play and graphics.  We can only
have a certain ammount or room.  and speach especially for a game as vast as
the ultima's I think should not be implimented.  wait that is not to say that
some speach, hell a lot of speach is not wanted.  I loved the deep rumble of
the Guardians voice taunting me. and me cursing him out and playing even
harder.  I don't think that Text would have the same effect.  Just important
places.  a lot of important places.  what I think is more important is Sound.
>From the digatilized whistle of birds, to the rumble of thunder.  I mean
BOOOOOOM! clashing of swords the footsteps gave me a headache after a while.
but sound is the best.  murmors in bars. howling of near by wolves. the
scampering and crashing of a deer through a forrest.  back to speach.  When
talking to people I beleive there should be the two ways.  the regular get to
the point, I have a clue of what I'm doing, just like Wiz7 typed text.  and of
course the new find the info if you look long enough.  maybe a b.s. button to
tell the person to tell of himself if you care to here, but wouldn't like to
for the second time.  Oh and I think that your party should talk to you more
than anyone else, suggestions, spottings.  stories.  back a week or so ago,
somebody mentioned ilho going off on a walk. and comming back to tell of his
stories.  Dupree going to the bar, things like that.  your party constantly
breaking reforming.. We need personalities that we come to love.  people we
long to hear from.  I hate when one of these fools would walk inenvertantly
into a poisonous swamp.  the frist time is understandable.  but all of them
time and time again, until I steal a pair of swamp boots?  that's just silly,
the've lived here all of their life and should know better.
    Another suggestion that I heard sombody nention was the effect of my
    actions on the town.  I slay the evil lych king of the dismal swamp and I
    want people loving me hugging me sleeping with me,  I don't know. I just
    want them happy.  I want to feel good. as with the monsters. I know that
    large onscreen objects can at times be hard to handle memory wise, but
    let's make these dragons big, or don't include them.  In D&D there was a
    slight chance that If you saw a dragon you would die. yes just die from
    fear.  I want to be scared, like when I summon Pyros and I say holy $hit.
    he is evil. just wow....that's a lot of evil.  I beleive he will hurt me.
    I also think that more monsters are needed.  cut out all the animation.
    I'm running a pent 90 with a 64-bit graphics card. and it looks beautiful.
    but most of the people I know don't have that. I even started playing it
    on my previous computer a 386sx. it took close to 8 minuintes to save.
    (oh that's another problem. could the save game file be reduced in anyway
    it takes sooooo long, but this is not that important since all of the
    jumping is gone? is it?) so any how more monsters are needed but may be
    less frames.

     As far as the avatar and party members go, I think that when I put on all
     of my clothes I should see them If I take them off I should be naked.
     (oh Could you make the avatar bathe, Not that I care to see it but it
     makes it so much deeper.  It could increase you charisma) new helmets
     would look new. I understand that there is a problem with drawing all of
     that, but if you cut the animation we could see how we look.  If I want
     the avatar in all black, then I should be able to do it.  suppose I
     wanted to sneak around at night.  oh and if I was sneaking, there should
     be a hide button just so I could sneak past guards and such.  I like the
     night and weather by the way, but constant thunder and lighting was so
     anoying, try fog rain, with puddles, floods, hail, tornatoes....and at
     night maybe don't make it so dark.  weather should also be able to be
     controlled to a certain extent in the options menu.   The people should
     have the faces that they did in the serpent isle, it made it so much more
     interesting.

     The world around should be diverse. and above all interactable.  I should
     be able to cut down trees, plant crops, burn down houses,  build ny own
     house,  build a castle.  fish. sail a boat ride a horse.  different
     levels should be added, mountionous terrain.  I mean huge mountians.
     that I can take a cart path up to.  there should be lot's of races.
     competing races,  town fairs.  a calander-auto marking.- an auto mapping
     option.  seasons where the trees change color and die...I really want my
     own house.  with my own key. how about if it is given to me. I also think
     that moon gates should be reimplimented. I need my own house so that I can
     stowe all of my stuff. swords, maps, coins, Horses.  And I want to be
     able to farm maybe hire others such as a cook,sombody to make me dinner.
     before I diverge further, let me explain.  what I mean is that I want to
     be able to do what I want.  I don't want to have to be tied to my quest.
     I mean I'm the Avatar DAMN IT, I can do what I please.

     Next thing, hot keys. And right mouse buttons.  I want to be able to use
     the right mouse button to do things. just to make it easier.  Hot keys to
     say,  sleep. drink potions, fight, yell at my party if I wan to.  I would
     also like to get a tent.  and be able to go camping, why?  I don't know
     but there could be great adventures spawned off of that. I agree with
     just about everyone when I say that the world should be as big and
     explorable as possible.

     I want to be taught.  I'd like also an auto notebook to track of all
     that is said to me. just so I don't have to write it down.  May I ask
     what is wrong with that type font.  Is it all the computers that I use or
     is it just hard to see?  Secondly is svga out of the question?  And with
     memory. I personally liked vodoo.  Not having to deal with it, but
     letting ultima take as much memory as it possibly can.  I would like to
     do an ultima boot.  please include an actual boot disk.  oh and the
     instalitation program. let's make it festive use a meg on it, we have
     pleanty to spare.  let's see graphics, music.  nothing big.  and I want
     to see the files, so I know what's happening.  waiting as it slips from
     68% to 69% is boring. somebody nentioned I think modem play. wow.  wow I
     don't think that that would happen because then it would become the
     greatest game ever.

     Now for an opening.  I think that the opening of ultima 7 was by far the
     best.  Just a simple butterfly.  flying.  it helped make the transition
     from reality easier.  I think that that is what we want here.  How about
     this. a dark screen dark purple and blues sqeak out of the just
     reconizable horizon.  The clouds lighten and the sun suddenly bursts
     through. in a flash of white.  the landscape is rendered in a Vista Pro
     fasion.  as the sun rises, there is a faint showing of clear letters and
     as the sun rises on the horizon it can be made out better.
     Ultima9... any how the sun passes upward and the letters
     dissapear from sight.  The landscape is covered with trees and a cliff
     overlooking a ocean or plain.  small birds flutter around and chirp.
     clouds pass on the horizon and overhead.  have the intro change maybe
     differnt pallets for things such as rainy days,  cloudier.  not too
     ofter, but just enough so that it dosent get boring.  Maybe a frog,
     jumping by. soon the sun sets behind our back it gets dark the moon rises
     to reveal asencion in the same position. actually the two could and
     should be reversed.


     Now I would like to get to the plot.  Is the avatar going to be a titan.
     that's cool but it would really change the outcome of u9. You could just
     go aroung and bash stuff, fun for a while...ok, how about this for a
     plot.  you are hanging around this white place and you face the guardian.
     I think that we can just kill him outright. but what would that leave us
     with.  rebuilding britanina?  could be intersting.  maybe using all of
     your God abilites in the process of killing the guardian.  If we don't
     kill him we have to do the same thing throughout the game again, get all
     the armour that you lost, get you sword. go kill the guardian..(u7?)  I
     don't know I've been thinking about this for a long long time, since I
     saw the last quote of u8 "mdir u9" (that was worth playing the whole game
     for.) but what can we do.  how about going back into time before the
     guardian ruled, and killing him there, but that would be a contradiction
     to all games in the time peroid before it. how about this first of all
     you go back to britania. Find the guardian has lied to the people.
     turning them against you. actually it is for rightfull cause.  You have
     swayed from you virtues, but you fate is to become a God.  and you will.
     leaving your virtues has caused you temporay fall. and just like any epic
     tragedy,  the rest of the people fall with you. but you have yet to come
     to knowledge of your faults.  that is what the guardian was for.  don't
     forget he is you teacher. showing you how to get to godlike state and
     beyond.  Ultima 8 was a mistake.  most people didn't like it.  I think
     they were afraid to play the avatar and follow the story. I have complete
     faith that it will end up for the good.  This was just the most difficult
     part of the journey, and the avatar will not make that mistake again.
     You must win back the people's love and faith and do away with all the
     damage that the guardian created.  certain things must be cleared up if
     this is to be the final Ultima.  Mythril. in pagan. who is he, why does
     he know so much.  the Guardian, why is he there, where did he come from?
     did the avatar in his god form send it back in time to teach himself a
     lesson? lord british married, as some say?  Will I ever return to earth?
     Do I belong there anymore. ?  finally I have a few suggestions as to the
     ending....you are this huge almost god-like figure standing miles
     above the world.  there looms the guardian. it is a battle to the death of
course you win, maybe some interaction here.  an interactive cinema. beginning.
     you could punch him cast ether destructive magic...his hot feet step of
     of the previously ravaged landscape and into the water. it sissles and
     steams.  The guardian crashes to the floor. vaporizing the water
     revealing death and decay.  you I think that to kill him a thrust through
     the chest. and pausing "this is for ruining my world."  then speaking the
     oldest and probably best known magic words "IN LOR" light eminates from
     your hand enveloping him he crumples to the ground. the light flows
     through the landscape bursting it with light.  still beneith where the
     old seas once stood there is evil.  the evil that prevented you to swim.
     you must finally kill off these evils. at that point. the people gather.
     and their prayers flow through you.  you get flash backs of previous
     adventures. all that you encountered and defeated. the peoples voices
     raise high you become a god., but if it is the last ultima, it cannot
     end here, you must teach you people, fight against all hatred and
     establish virtues in all the kindoms of the new world of britania.


     I thank any of you who actuall read it this far.  I hope some of my
     suggestions helped sombody.  I apoligise for spelling errors because the
     spell checker is currently down on all nodes.  And although I don't mind
     you criticism flames are unessary because it was just so damn long and I
     didn't even get in half of my plot and landscape suggestions.

     Thanx
     The Illuminari
Kris----Happy Halloween!------------8lastmemowroy1.NMA