Returning vet with questions!

[Old Wolf]

Hi y'all!

I used to play several years back, and have popped in to see what things are like, and to introduce a friend to the game. A few questions:
1. I used to play on Lake Austin.. I assume I'll have to move shards if I want to interact with other humans? Suggestions on where to move to? I was on Great Lakes a long, long time back. How's GL doing?
2. What should I read up on? I think S.A. was just released when I quit if that gives you a time frame of how long I've been away. What would take me by surprise if I don't look into it?
3. Is there a (free) way to get back on my old accounts and figure out what's what?
4. Any tips for my friend who's new? I had her get on a trial account tonight for fun and she's interested, but I'm not sure what it was the grabbed me about the game when I was new since it was so long ago, so I'm not sure what to show her (we mostly just milled around Haven since we had no money, equipment, or skills, ha ha).
5. Anything else?

Thank you!

 

[Basara]

Some of us are still around on LA - It's been pretty quiet since the Halloween stuff ended, but it should pick back up a little when the Holiday stuff kicks in.

And, LA has a house west of Umbra called he Player Center, where the owner has equipment sets to get a character better prepared (I donate a bunch of stuff to it, that has 60-80 resists per piece, as I only keep stuff over 50 resists, and try to enhance everything before donating it)

 

[Petra Fyde]

This might help:
A Summary for Returning Players – Ultima Online

 

[MalagAste]

Great Lakes is Great... You are welcome to return anytime... it's usually doing quite well.

 

[Victim of Siege]

Do the new haven quests to get reacquainted with the game. to make gold do the escort quests and works skills in between the timer. once you get your skills high enough to leave haven you should be able to start building your suit and bank account. it won't be quick or easy, but why would you want it to be.

 

[sablestorm]

Welcome back! In regards to your old account, they currently have plans to implement an Endless Journeys option (Their version of Free To Play) in March. You might be able to use that to look through your old accounts if you don't mind waiting a bit. All accounts should be upgraded to Stygian Abyss then too.

Atlantic is the busiest shard, but I recommend hopping in General Chat. On Pacific, it is how all the regulars catch up with each other and that's where we all hear about champ spawns or current content hunts going on. You might not be able to access it on trial accounts, but I highly recommend checking it out if you subscribe.