Stygian Abyss : this is REALLY awesome

[Taylor]

Counter-thread. Looks really good so far. I love the 2d enhanced client, especially. Makes me happy.

 

[It Lives]

So much stuff my head is going to explode! Woot!

 

[Stupid Miner]

Well the surface is kinda bland, reminds me of Malas. Better than Malas of course, but same style. I'm liking the place quite a bit, but too few areas with purpose to them.

But to keep the positive mood going. Gargoyles + Throwing has me really excited. Hybrid bladeweaver/swordsmen would make for a short range range fighter with near full melee capabilities as well. (doesn't require a change of weapons)

Makes for the most unique new skill we've ever had in any expansion.

 

[Dermott of LS]

...

Contentwise, SA is probably the best expansion that UO has ever had in terms of quality, quantity, and especially the fact that it is more based in actual Ultima canon than the rest of the UO expansions combined.

The new client is coming along well from a features standpoint, but still needs a high resolution option.

 

[jack flash uk]

Counter-thread. Looks really good so far. I love the 2d enhanced client, especially. Makes me happy.

i downloaded the SA enhanced client, you say there is a 2D client? are there 2 downloads?

 

[Taylor]

The champs and dungeon areas seem enormous. Also, at least one champ I can think of is fought vertically, as well as horizontally - more akin to the terathan keep, than an ordinary champ field. I like.

 

[Mapper]

i downloaded the SA enhanced client, you say there is a 2D client? are there 2 downloads?

Theres a link in the FoF to a 2d client that allows you to play in the open beta but it isn't any different to normal 2d, just lets you play the beta shard.

 

[Taylor]

Yes! You can play retribution in 2d with the 2d enhanced client. The link is on the uo.com home page, first article (Open Beta Begins).

 

[Mapper]

Yes! You can play retribution in 2d with the 2d enhanced client. The link is on the uo.com home page, first article (Open Beta Begins).

Its not really an enhanced client tho, its just the classic 2d client.

 

[Taylor]

It's enhanced in some ways. For example, you can use the new crafting gump in 2d - a huge plus.

 

[guum]

Yeah, I'm excited. Actually, I'm kinda stunned at the sheer quantity of poo-pooing going on here. I guess I shouldn't be -- it's UHall. But still, I think there's a lot of stuff that looks fun/useful/convenient being added to the game here.

 

[Dermott of LS]

...

You're not supposed to like ANY enhancement that came from that client that "everyone!1!!11!!" hates

 

[Petra Fyde]

'enhanced' is the name for the new client, formerly and confusingly called 'the SA client' the 2D client currently available for download for open beta is simply your regular, familiar client but with the SA content patched in.

oh and, chicken lizards are going to take chicken fights to a whole new, fun level. Breeding up battle chickens and training them up.

 

[Mapper]

It's enhanced in some ways. For example, you can use the new crafting gump in 2d - a huge plus.

Fair point! Just its name is confusing with the SA client which is now the enhanced client. *implodes* Too many names!

 

[Taylor]

Hehe, right? The reason I say "enhanced 2d client" is because I thought that's what it was called, per this post:

http://vboards.stratics.com/showthread.php?t=152141&highlight=enhanced

But once SA is released and the old 2d client goes to the graveyard, I spose it'll just be called the "classic client."

 

[calibek]

I have to stand up and give the UO devs credit...after years we as a community FINALLY get things we want and they took their time and put out a solid expansion instead of rushing it out

Imbuing is freaking awesome, I LOVE IT!!! Especially since all the items used for it come from crafting components, no peerless ingredients. This has to be the most impressive thing ever.

Gragoyles are a kick-ass race and just fantastic with the lore (thank you for this)

Finally get to "Stain" our metal armor different colors.

Mysticism looks freaking cool.

Haven't played around with throwing yet but I hear it is great.

Scroll binders, I feel, are a fanstastic addition.

Again this is the first time in a LONG time where I just can't wait for this expansion to come out cause it is the most awesome yet...

 

[Storm]

All I can say is wow there is so much new stuff it will take me months and months to master it all great job best expansion so far in my opinion.... and the most daunting question for me is where do I start when it goes live on my server!!!

 

[jack flash uk]

downloading now, ty for that, cannot wait, this is going to be BIG!!!!!!!!!

 

[calibek]

All I can say is wow there is so much new stuff it will take me months and months to master it all great job best expansion so far in my opinion.... and the most daunting question for me is where do I start when it goes live on my server!!!

Yeah i came back just for this and I must say for the first time EVER I am not disappointed...

My only major problems is I'm gonna have to do A LOT of mining, lumberjacking, and T-hunting just to get the materials to work up imbuing but I don't care cause it is soooooooo greeat!!!!!!!

 

[Eyes of Origin]

I love that seeds now stack!
I'm still prefering the Classic Client over the Enhanced Client, but I'm still messing around with both, but I have a feeling I will stick to the Classic Client, its comfortable and some things still just dont look right in the enhanced client.
The dungeons and spawn areas are just huge! hmm I dont know what its called, but theres a spawn with gore fiends and vampire bats at the 1st level and I did find some of the tiles in there are black and have writing on them. A bug I guess that needs to be fixed yet.
Theres so much to explore it's going to take me months to expierance it all for the 1st time. lol I havent even looked at the new pets, the new tinkering items, etc. Oh, are we getting a Tinkering Runic with this expansion???
Imbuing is cool, but its making me wish I had held onto a lot of stuff I threw out. hehe
KEEP Scroll Binders! oooooo and staining is just awesome! I'm glad I kept my colored plants instead of tossing them
This is my first expansion since playing UO, but I'm excited for it to be released and I really hope it will bring people back to UO or bring new people in. We shouldnt hear anyone say they are bored with UO once this comes out. If they do, they ought to be shot.

 

[Serafi]

Just the thread I was looking for. Had some time to peek around last night and went Oo and Aaa on so many things. I am trying to keep myself unspoiled for the majority of it, especially the new places - right now i am fiddling with the crafter gumps and peeking at all the new stuff. Thumbs up, and can`t wait for this to be released.

 

[Petra Fyde]

there are lots of lovely things still to discover, like:
you can make blank scrolls
there is actually a use now for beeswax
we can make coloured baskets
and more.

Serafi, have you seen the page on staining? You'll like that one I think. (miscellanous, right hand menu uo.stratics.com)

 

[The Craftsman]

...
The new client is coming along well from a features standpoint, but still needs a high resolution option.

No thanks. Let KR die.

 

[Dermott of LS]

...

Don't like it, then don't use it, some of us have equipment newer than 2001 and could use an OPTIONAL setting to allow the client to display clear graphics at a higher resolution than 640x480 WITHOUT pixelating and distorting.

Perhaps you forget the idea of OPTIONS?

Oh, wait... I forgot who was posting against such options... I'm sorry for having offended your narrow minded 2d worldview.

 

[Taylor]

Both the classic client and SA client will be supported. Not sure what's to complain about here.

The devs really were considerate toward those of us who prefer the 2d client. Not only did the NOT force the SA client on us, they doubled up work on the land/creature art so that it'd have that classic, 2-d look and feel. I'm very, very pleased.

 

[Hebus]

No thanks. Let KR die.

Sure, if mediocrity in graphics is what keeps you satisfied.

I'm still amazed that there is internet in trailer parks...

 

[Taylor]

I'd hoped this thread would serve as an encouragement to the devs (who, by the way, were still working at 2am last night).

Personal attacks will get this thread locked. :-(

 

[Dermott of LS]

...

I don't really consider feedback a complaint... my main bit of feedback is to give the option for higher resolution graphics (the easiest and fastest way to do so being for the KR artwork option as a complete redo of original graphics to raise the effective resolution would take quite a while).

I have no desire to start a client war, however as usual, any attempt to raise a perfectly valid bit of feedback about the graphical degradation of SA (both compared to KR and compared to earlier in SA's closed beta when even the legacy graphics and character models scaled more smoothly than they do now) gets turned into one by a small subset of 2d posters.

I don't mind that they made the Legacy artwork the default for SA, I (and others) just want the OPTION to allow the client to render a higher resolution of artwork so that we're not stuck with distorted or miniature graphics. Unfortunately, some people have the mindset of "we got ours, **** on what you want" and troll every attempt to provide such thoughts until the thread gets locked.

Really it's unfair to the posters who can have a more civilized thread that legitimate concerns get trolled to the point that it closes the thread entirely.

As I stated originally, from a content standpoint, SA is amazing. From a UI features standpoint, the SA/Enhanced client is great, from a graphical standpoint though, SA to me and others is a step backwards, but has the ABILITY to provide the option to take that step forweards again... we just want that chance.

 

[Taylor]

Cool.

 

[EnigmaMaitreya]

Yes! You can play retribution in 2d with the 2d enhanced client. The link is on the uo.com home page, first article (Open Beta Begins).

Its not really an enhanced client tho, its just the classic 2d client.

Not really the Enhanced 2D I was playing today had modifications to at the very least the Crafting menu in terms of functioning more like the SA / KR crafting menu's.

And I still swear that the Enhanced 2D is smoother in its performance than the 2D.

 

[The Craftsman]

Sure, if mediocrity in graphics is what keeps you satisfied.

I'm still amazed that there is internet in trailer parks...

Im against it simply because UO cannot support a 3rd iteration of the client. Which in effect is what would need to be maintained should a KR graphical option be included. 2 clients to maintain is enough. In fact its 1 too many but I think history has proved that UO is a 2 client game ... 2d and the 'alternative' client. This was the '3d' client for while then KR. Now its SA. We do NOT need SA to include a graphical option for KR graphics .. this would just sprerad thinner the resources that are available for the game.

And as for the trailer park comment .. only you yanks live in trailer parks ... dont brand the rest of the world with the same stigma.

 

[Der Rock]

Sure, if mediocrity in graphics is what keeps you satisfied.

I'm still amazed that there is internet in trailer parks...

who cares about graphics as long as playing the game make fun

 

[Hebus]

Im against it simply because UO cannot support a 3rd iteration of the client. Which in effect is what would need to be maintained should a KR graphical option be included. 2 clients to maintain is enough. In fact its 1 too many but I think history has proved that UO is a 2 client game ... 2d and the 'alternative' client. This was the '3d' client for while then KR. Now its SA. We do NOT need SA to include a graphical option for KR graphics .. this would just sprerad thinner the resources that are available for the game.

And as for the trailer park comment .. only you yanks live in trailer parks ... dont brand the rest of the world with the same stigma.

Then use arguments like you just did above and not only "No thanks. Let KR die"...

This way I won't need to use bad jokes with trailer parks and maybe start a normal discussion

I really like all the features in the SA client, hopefully it will mantain the game for a few more years, but you need to understand that for a lot of players the downgrade in graphics quality was a shock.

We will get used to it because we love the game, but if an option was later made available to use higher resolution graphics, we wouldn't say no.

BTW I'm not a yank : there isn't trailer parks in Switzerland

 

[Madrid]

...

I don't really consider feedback a complaint... my main bit of feedback is to give the option for higher resolution graphics (the easiest and fastest way to do so being for the KR artwork option as a complete redo of original graphics to raise the effective resolution would take quite a while).

I have no desire to start a client war, however as usual, any attempt to raise a perfectly valid bit of feedback about the graphical degradation of SA (both compared to KR and compared to earlier in SA's closed beta when even the legacy graphics and character models scaled more smoothly than they do now) gets turned into one by a small subset of 2d posters.

I don't mind that they made the Legacy artwork the default for SA, I (and others) just want the OPTION to allow the client to render a higher resolution of artwork so that we're not stuck with distorted or miniature graphics. Unfortunately, some people have the mindset of "we got ours, **** on what you want" and troll every attempt to provide such thoughts until the thread gets locked.

Really it's unfair to the posters who can have a more civilized thread that legitimate concerns get trolled to the point that it closes the thread entirely.

As I stated originally, from a content standpoint, SA is amazing. From a UI features standpoint, the SA/Enhanced client is great, from a graphical standpoint though, SA to me and others is a step backwards, but has the ABILITY to provide the option to take that step forwards again... we just want that chance.

Thanks Dermott for the time and effort you've put into the boards posting about the desire and need for KR graphics/higher resolution. You've been level headed about it and been a voice of reason despite the constant trolls that don't want that option available for other players.

I'm all about options and choices and doing it what it takes to make players happy...it's just good business sense.

However right now it looks like it's falling on deaf ears and that there are in fact plans to 86' the UOKR client.

It's really mind blowing to me that I've been playing UO on the UOKR client for 2 years now and that they're gonna pull it.

Seeing the improved graphics of UOKR on the Ultima Online Wikipedia is actually what got me to come back to playing. Anyways I love the graphics and it's been a completely new gaming experience for me since my return 2 years ago.

If the decision is made to get rid of UOKR I will stop playing and start exploring other games. Britannia will always be home as I played all the UO's on my commodore way back in the day and I'll check up periodically on UO to see if they have in fact given players an OPTION for either KR Art or higher resolution graphics. If they end up doing that then I'll make another return.

But again thanks for the time you've spent speaking up for myself and other players!

 

[Zodia]

Please, don't say "enhanced 2D client" -- you are going to confuse a lot of people.

There is the Classic Client (aka the 2D client) and there is the Enhanced Client (formally the SA client).

Try to help us out, please?

 

[Hebus]

who cares about graphics as long as playing the game make fun

The game is still fun and SA looks like a really nice expansion Der Rock.

You just need to understand that after getting used to KR high res graphics, it is a little hard to give them back for low res ones.

Bah, we lost 3D, we lost KR, we surely will adapt to the future loss of Enhanced and even go back to 2D

 

[Der Rock]

The game is still fun and SA looks like a really nice expansion Der Rock.

You just need to understand that after getting used to KR high res graphics, it is a little hard to give them back for low res ones.

Bah, we lost 3D, we lost KR, we surely will adapt to the future loss of Enhanced and even go back to 2D

don´t get me wrong here,i was also sick for losing the 3D client
i ever hated the 2D client,but we have to adapt ,for now
i realy hope the dev´s make it possible to get highres graphics for SA in the future

 

[Hebus]

don´t get me wrong here,i was also sick for losing the 3D client
i ever hated the 2D client,but we have to adapt ,for now
i realy hope the dev´s make it possible to get highres graphics for SA in the future

Agreed

*goes back to test and enjoy the new full of nice features and content expansion*

 

[Spree]

I was playing with the new SA client. It blows the KR out of the water. It has the old backpacks, you don't have to hit enter to type and you don't lag up like KR did and it might be faster then 2d.

 

[MikevonHammer]

Needs a linux and mac option as well . I bet it would look nice on the 1980 x1020 monitor/TV

 

[Coppelia]

SA is awesome... until you die.
No wandering healer, stupid landscape... my experience went from "niiiice" to "don't-slit-wrists-don't-slit-wrists-..."

There are still a lot of problems. I know it's beta but it's supposed to be released on 8th of september. So clearly it will be all bugged and I foresee a dreadful experience the first months.
Just as they come, on classical client : huge city = not practical, inn where you can't properly log out, gargoyles sitting improperly on chairs and thrones, horns disappearing from paperdoll when dead, entrance of the healer shop totally screwed (on a side you can't see and with a blocked tile), moving an item in a container that can't hold more weight make it vanish into oblivion (only tested in the bank with all the Test Center craps), you may have to disable the target system several times before it's actually disabled, wings aren't grey when dead, red name creatures in the gargoyle lands using an improper hue making them ugly as they lose their shape, irritating landscape with blocking hill slopes and annoying blocks of mountain forcing you to go by a long roundabout way...

And I've not even tested the systems themselves yet...
Good point is that gargoyles look great.


Oh BTW, why more empty landmass? :x
Will there be server merges?

 

[It Lives]

I noticed in the gate room there was a gate for all virtues, I have been using sacrifice to self rez when in far away locations.

I havent tried everywhere yet, but marking runes every so often in your travels sure makes getting back to your body much easier.....

If bank sitting is your thing I am afraid most of the good stuff is more than two tiles away.

 

[Coppelia]

I noticed that there aren't such gates on live shards.

Marking runes doesn't help when your dead. I wasn't even thinking of recovering my body.

There's absolutely no link between banksitting and not having a huge town that looks flat in style. Skara Brae is ugly, Britain is ugly, Vesper is ugly, but those are old towns. It's time to do better.

 

[Aristillus]

Great job so far Devs.
So far the new content I have experienced is awesome!
Love the gargoyles, love imbuing, and the Thrasher of Veils is Way cool...even though he beat me up and took my lunch money

 

[Heartseeker]

Counter-thread. Looks really good so far. I love the 2d enhanced client, especially. Makes me happy.

Agreed.

Thank You Devs.

New client is great, and the expansion could be some of the best work since UO's inception.

 

[Sneaky Que]

There are still a lot of problems. I know it's beta but it's supposed to be released on 8th of september. So clearly it will be all bugged and I foresee a dreadful experience the first months.

Nope, the Devs are doing the smart thing here. The SA client was renamed "Enhanced Client" for a reason; because it is not being released with SA anymore. The expansion is released on the 8th, the enhanced client will remain in beta until it is done. Thankfully, it would seem they have learned their lesson from KR.

 

[Sneaky Que]

SA looks like being the best post-Ren expansion (t2a will always be number 1 in my book) by a long, LONG way. Well done Devs, and well done MYTHIC. Ever since EA moved production of UO to Mythic things have been getting better. It has taken awhile, but things have been slowly improving ever since the move. UO has not been in better hands since Origin.

 

[Coppelia]

Nope, the Devs are doing the smart thing here. The SA client was renamed "Enhanced Client" for a reason; because it is not being released with SA anymore. The expansion is released on the 8th, the enhanced client will remain in beta until it is done. Thankfully, it would seem they have learned their lesson from KR.

I mentionned problems that aren't from enhanced client. If they release SA before the enhanced client, that means we're going to have to use the classical client. And that's where I found the problems. For example, one more : the double gargoyish leather armor entries in Tailoring menu.
Also there are problems which don't come from the client.

 

[Tomas_Bryce]

It is very difficult to judge an expansion before it has gone live, but so far, SA is the most exciting expansion I have had a chance to play. I am trying very hard to stay away from all the spoilers but it is becoming increasingly difficult.

I just wish I could make the new client work on my computer to give it a try.

 

[Fink]

Will there be a test server hosted closer to Australasia before the release?

Coming from this side of the world (Australia, Asia, etc), it's very laggy and difficult to test adventuring type stuff. I've done all the craft testing etc in closed beta, want to explore further afield and test some things out. Even if the server was only up for a week it'd be great to try.