Went away at the end of 1998

[Dragon__]

Played UO from the beta to the end of 1998 when unfortunately, I had to cancel my account. I finished my masters and was posted to a humanitarian relief job in Rwanda and continued in the field for ten more years, finally moving home (Toronto, Canada) permanently. The nature of my job had me going years without a decent computer with internet access and when I did I wasn't able to browse leisurely.

Anyways, tonight I allowed my mind to wander after I found a binder in a box that held all the Stratics profession guides that I printed out, and I remembered the amazing fun I had with UO. Unfortunately, I can't remember the log-in for ICQ anymore so I can't get in touch with the abundance of close guild-friends I had on Catskills.

So, it has been almost 12 years since the game has launched and it's still going!? I have to admit, I'm surprised that Stratics is still around (I held my breath when I typed "uo.stratics.com").

I really don't know what the point of this thread is but I miss the feeling of fun I had whenever I logged on to UO for hours upon hours. I've done basic research and newer MMOs all seem to be level based; something I would not be happy with.

To be short: Is UO still popular? Would it be worth it to start up from scratch? Is it still dangerous to mine/do anything around Britain? I loved the feeling of danger that accompanied me whenever I left the town limits.

Any response would be much appreciated!

PS: Is Rainz active to this day?

 

[Petrify]

To be short: Is UO still popular? Would it be worth it to start up from scratch? Is it still dangerous to mine/do anything around Britain? I loved the feeling of danger that accompanied me whenever I left the town limits.

No.

 

[Viquire]

Its a very different game now, but some of the places will be familiar to you. You no longer have to play outside of town zones in fear of you life, if you so choose, but there are greater rewards available for those who do.

There is a LOT of catching up for you to do.

We hold fairly steady at around 100k in subscriptions.

 

[Beleg Megil]

Yes.

 

[Dermott of LS]

...

To be honest, the game you left in 1998 is LONG GONE. UO while still running has evolved pretty constantly throughout the years Rules have changed content has been added and removed, people have come and gone, entire game systems have been written and rewritten.

If you come back expecting what UO was in 1998, you will be VERY disappointed (or relieved depending on what you liked about UO in 1998).

Regardless of anyone's opinions of what has happened 1998 - 2009, one thing is fact. UO, like Windows has changed. When you left, Windows 95 was still the standard, 98 was brand new. Since then there has been ME, XP, Vista, and now Win 7. Accordingly, you have missed the introduction of the reputation system, Trammel and PvP ruleset changes, Factions and Champ Spawns, Ilshenar, the creation, use and elimination of the 3d client, the Kingdom Reborn client, Malas, Doom Tokuno, Treasures of Tokuno, Customizeable houses, Lockdowns and secures, No more house keys, no more guild stones, Pack beetles you can ride, Fire beetles which are a rideable portable forge, AOS item mod changes, Artifacts, Treasures of Tokuno (twice), Blackrock, the Destruction of Magincia, and enough other changes that it would take a phone book to list them all.

But for all of the changes, UO remains the MMOG that is skill based, isometric, and with a depth of character development and gameplay that has yet to be equalled.

The question is... what will you make of it when you log in again?

 

[Lord Patapon]

It's not a thing I usually do, because I don't play there, but if you're looking for that old UO, the only solution you have is Siege Perilous now ... or play regular shard and watch how the game has turned, and eventually decide or not to play Fel only.

But, basicly, if you liked the danger back then, go for Siege.

 

[Maplestone]

To be honest, the game you left in 1998 is LONG GONE.

Bah! The spirit of the game is not in its numbers or quibbling about exactly what you can or cannot do. The deer and ogres still wander the woods, shepherds still tend pens of sheep by Yew and the seas are still filled with fish.

If the memory has stuck with you, you will find it again. That people now ride fancier mounts or segregate themselves a little more in efficient harvesting of their favored system will not change to roar of an ettin or the wild joy of seeing another pile of pixels wander past you on a street, knowing that a living breathing human is connected to them.

 

[Morgana LeFay (PoV)]

Played UO from the beta to the end of 1998 when unfortunately, I had to cancel my account. I finished my masters and was posted to a humanitarian relief job in Rwanda and continued in the field for ten more years, finally moving home (Toronto, Canada) permanently. The nature of my job had me going years without a decent computer with internet access and when I did I wasn't able to browse leisurely.

Anyways, tonight I allowed my mind to wander after I found a binder in a box that held all the Stratics profession guides that I printed out, and I remembered the amazing fun I had with UO. Unfortunately, I can't remember the log-in for ICQ anymore so I can't get in touch with the abundance of close guild-friends I had on Catskills.

So, it has been almost 12 years since the game has launched and it's still going!? I have to admit, I'm surprised that Stratics is still around (I held my breath when I typed "uo.stratics.com").

I really don't know what the point of this thread is but I miss the feeling of fun I had whenever I logged on to UO for hours upon hours. I've done basic research and newer MMOs all seem to be level based; something I would not be happy with.

To be short: Is UO still popular? Would it be worth it to start up from scratch? Is it still dangerous to mine/do anything around Britain? I loved the feeling of danger that accompanied me whenever I left the town limits.

Any response would be much appreciated!

PS: Is Rainz active to this day?

The UO you know is not dead, as long as there are players alive that remember what it once was...because it was us. And it still is.

 

[sandersism]

Bah! The spirit of the game is not in its numbers or quibbling about exactly what you can or cannot do. The deer and ogres still wander the woods, shepherds still tend pens of sheep by Yew and the seas are still filled with fish.

If the memory has stuck with you, you will find it again. That people now ride fancier mounts or segregate themselves a little more in efficient harvesting of their favored system will not change to roar of an ettin or the wild joy of seeing another pile of pixels wander past you on a street, knowing that a living breathing human is connected to them.

Are you high?

 

[Schuyler Bain]

I, for one, say it is worth trying out.

I came back a few months ago after a break of 3 years or so. I started playing on launch day and played for many years through a number of the changes. I have beta tested and/or played pretty much every major MMORPG since UO and have searched in vain for all the things I loved about my "first." Reading your post I think you will find a lot of the same UO you loved back then and you might even like a change or two as well.

Dermott provided a really nice summary of the major changes since you left. I don't know if you will find all of the friends you knew back then still paying, but chances are you may find a few. As pointed out above 100k is the average number of subscribers and that is pretty damn good for a game that is almost 12 years old. In fact it must be worth something for EA to keep the servers running (although we could argue over some upgrades for said servers). A lot of those 100k subscribers are long-time players and there are a number of players that have been active the entire time! I think this, most of all, should answer your question.

Oh and BTW - Stratics was made the “official” UO forums several years ago. I don't know if they are still the “official”, but I do know they are still the most popular and if there was still an "official" forum Stratics would be it.

You may have some luck getting your old account login info from customer support, but honestly starting over will help you learn the new game mechanics.

Best of luck no matter what you choose to do, but I say give it a go.

 

[Viquire]

The UO you know is not dead, as long as there are players alive that remember what it once was...because it was us. And it still is.

Agreed, the truth of this statement is beautiful in its simplicity.

 

[Morgana LeFay (PoV)]

Excuse me for a second, Dragon ... I need just need to edit my stratics ignore list again.

I don't ignore anyone. Even stupid free speech should still be free.

 

[Viper09]

Yes it is worth coming back to, ignore these bashers here who say it isn't worth coming back to, even they still play the game so obviously it is still good. If not to stay I would recommend coming back to see all the changes and everything! You can customize your own house The only real downside to this game right now is the lack of population.

 

[Dermott of LS]

...

I'm not saying it's not worth coming back to, I'm simply saying that the game has changed quite a lot from 1998 and depending on what type of UO you enjoyed then, you may or may not find it to your liking.

 

[sablestorm]

Why not try the free trial and see how you like it these days. It can't hurt.

Played UO from the beta to the end of 1998 when unfortunately, I had to cancel my account. I finished my masters and was posted to a humanitarian relief job in Rwanda and continued in the field for ten more years, finally moving home (Toronto, Canada) permanently. The nature of my job had me going years without a decent computer with internet access and when I did I wasn't able to browse leisurely.

Anyways, tonight I allowed my mind to wander after I found a binder in a box that held all the Stratics profession guides that I printed out, and I remembered the amazing fun I had with UO. Unfortunately, I can't remember the log-in for ICQ anymore so I can't get in touch with the abundance of close guild-friends I had on Catskills.

So, it has been almost 12 years since the game has launched and it's still going!? I have to admit, I'm surprised that Stratics is still around (I held my breath when I typed "uo.stratics.com").

I really don't know what the point of this thread is but I miss the feeling of fun I had whenever I logged on to UO for hours upon hours. I've done basic research and newer MMOs all seem to be level based; something I would not be happy with.

To be short: Is UO still popular? Would it be worth it to start up from scratch? Is it still dangerous to mine/do anything around Britain? I loved the feeling of danger that accompanied me whenever I left the town limits.

Any response would be much appreciated!

PS: Is Rainz active to this day?

 

[CORRECTUO]

Played UO from the beta to the end of 1998 when unfortunately, I had to cancel my account. I finished my masters and was posted to a humanitarian relief job in Rwanda and continued in the field for ten more years, finally moving home (Toronto, Canada) permanently. The nature of my job had me going years without a decent computer with internet access and when I did I wasn't able to browse leisurely.

Anyways, tonight I allowed my mind to wander after I found a binder in a box that held all the Stratics profession guides that I printed out, and I remembered the amazing fun I had with UO. Unfortunately, I can't remember the log-in for ICQ anymore so I can't get in touch with the abundance of close guild-friends I had on Catskills.

So, it has been almost 12 years since the game has launched and it's still going!? I have to admit, I'm surprised that Stratics is still around (I held my breath when I typed "uo.stratics.com").

I really don't know what the point of this thread is but I miss the feeling of fun I had whenever I logged on to UO for hours upon hours. I've done basic research and newer MMOs all seem to be level based; something I would not be happy with.

To be short: Is UO still popular? Would it be worth it to start up from scratch? Is it still dangerous to mine/do anything around Britain? I loved the feeling of danger that accompanied me whenever I left the town limits.

Any response would be much appreciated!

PS: Is Rainz active to this day?

You are in for a massive dissapointment. The game is completely item based. Unless you are a full artifact suit, you're toast. Oh, and good luck getting those artifacts. They are impossible to get, unless you're either A.) a multi-billionaire in game or B.) in a guild big enough to run doom or a peerless. Even then, you're not guaranteed to get the item youre after. Hmmm, sounds familiar. Oh, wait, thats right, thats the stuff that happens in WoW and every other EQ clone out there.

GM means nothing. Unless you have a 120 power scroll to get that skill up to 120, its a joke.

As for 100k subscriptions, that number is a bit too high. Its more like 70k, and of that 70k, 50k are asian gold farmer accounts or bots. So, in all actuality, there are only 20k real players left.

The stealing skill is completely useless, as is most of the lore skills, with the exception of evaluating intelligence.

In all likelyhood, the people you used to play with are long gone from UO.

This may sound like a negative post, but, is the harsh truth as to what has happened to UO.

Try the trial version. You will see for yourself.

 

[hawkeye_pike]

If you do not despise roleplaying, join a decent guild and enjoy non-item based fun in UO!

P.S.: UO has its flaws, and having become an item-based game is one of them. However, it always depends on what YOU make out of the game. How you pressure yourself concerning items. And whether you decide to follow the group of lemmings who dived into the item madness, or just play the game your way.

 

[Heartseeker]

No.

Play the original somewhere else.

Ea's version is for sissy's and whiners.

 

[kelmo]

*smiles* There is always Siege... It will be the closet "official" shard to what you remember of the game. *nods*

 

[Connor_Graham]

You are in for a massive dissapointment. The game is completely item based. Unless you are a full artifact suit, you're toast. Oh, and good luck getting those artifacts. They are impossible to get, unless you're either A.) a multi-billionaire in game or B.) in a guild big enough to run doom or a peerless. Even then, you're not guaranteed to get the item youre after. Hmmm, sounds familiar. Oh, wait, thats right, thats the stuff that happens in WoW and every other EQ clone out there.

GM means nothing. Unless you have a 120 power scroll to get that skill up to 120, its a joke.

As for 100k subscriptions, that number is a bit too high. Its more like 70k, and of that 70k, 50k are asian gold farmer accounts or bots. So, in all actuality, there are only 20k real players left.

The stealing skill is completely useless, as is most of the lore skills, with the exception of evaluating intelligence.

In all likelyhood, the people you used to play with are long gone from UO.

This may sound like a negative post, but, is the harsh truth as to what has happened to UO.

Try the trial version. You will see for yourself.

Then why are you here wasting your time? Not to mention ours.

Go away and solve everyone's problem.

 

[FrejaSP]

Siege Perilous will be the closest you get to old UO, however devs made it had for old returning players like you to choose the shard.
On Siege Perilous, there is no Trammel zone, it's PvP zone on the whole shard, except the guards will try to protect you in towns.
Trammel was made for players who hate to get killed of other players. Normal shards only have 1/5 of the shard with open PvP, the rest is to restricted for players who love UO as it was in 1997-1998.

I hope to see you on Siege

You need to login to one of the normal shards and say "I renounce my young player status."

Siege Perilous is a shard for advanced players only. Players with "Young" status cannot access it.

If you wish to access Siege Perilous with a new account, you will have to renounce your Young status as described above. Keep in mind that if you renounce your Young status, you will permenantly lose all benefits and protections of being Young.

If you wish to access Siege Perilous with a new account, you will have to renounce your Young status as described above. Keep in mind that if you renounce your Young status, you will permenantly lose all benefits and protections of being Young.

What does "new player protection" mean?

While you are "young," you have access to certain forms of protection not available to more experienced players, called "New Player Protection." They include the following:


New players cannot damage other players.

Other players cannot damage new players.

Monsters that would normally be actively hostile to a player do not attack new players, unless they are quest monsters.

New players are teleported to a healer when they die. They retain their belongings.

New players cannot loot a monster they did not kill until the creature has been dead for at least two minutes.

Other players cannot loot a monster killed by a new player.

New players cannot steal from other players or NPCs.
New players can insta-log anywhere, as if they were in an inn.

 

[Dragon__]

Thanks for all the replies!

From what I've read thus far, it seems as if the game did a complete 180 in regards to what I liked about it in 1998. I'm happy I wasn't playing when they introduced Trammel as I would have been extremely disappointed.

With that said, I'm also very happy to find out that the "old" rules/ways of playing the game have stayed in Siege Perilous and will definitely start up an account and play on this server.

Gotta run out to a store to buy the game though... only have the original version of UO.

Freja, I'm going to PM you, if you don't mind, to get more information about start-up on Siege.

Thanks again for the replies!

 

[Nyte Doombringer]

You can install your first copy and patch it. Wont take that long. Then you go to
http://www.uogamecodes.com/ and buy modains legacy and that will bring you up with all the content. You could dl a trial from www.owo.com as well and then buy the upgrade ML. Either way you as I am not sure you will find a copy out there now.
Check out the new UO on other servers and SP

 

[kelmo]

*smiles* There are some down loadable versions of UO as well. Come visit us on the Siege Perious forums...

 

[Tazar]

Dragon

If you still have your original CD's - do you also have the account code-key? If you do, a quick call to EA at 1 (866) 543 -5435 will let you reclaim your original account. You may have familiar characters there, veteran rewards waiting, and maybe some old valuable rares tucked away in banks and backpacks that can be sold to get you off to a good start. Even if that stuff is on a production shard and you choose to play on Siege, you can do an x-shard trade to get gold or other items on Siege in exchange for your items on another shard.

Either way - welcome back!

 

[the 4th man]

Dragon, Maplestone's right, Morgana's right...........UO is and always will be what you make of it.

It's not some high minds thoughts as Sandersism says...(loser)

Heartseeker, man, you're like a laugh and a half......you bash the game, yet you bring you're basement dwelling face here and comment on something you know little about. Try therapy.

Yes, the game has gone to the pixel heads.....what game hasn't?
It is what it is.....don't do the free shards, you can't trust them to your pc, if you do, you deserve what you get.

later and welcome back.

 

[wrekognize]

Unless you are a full artifact suit, you're toast. Oh, and good luck getting those artifacts. They are impossible to get, unless you're either A.) a multi-billionaire in game or B.) in a guild big enough to run doom or a peerless. Even then, you're not guaranteed to get the item youre after. Hmmm, sounds familiar. Oh, wait, thats right, thats the stuff that happens in WoW and every other EQ clone out there.
.

You can build a pretty decent suit using even the basic faction artifacts with a few additional pieces to add to them. And anyone can farm 3k silver easily.

 

[Lord Drakelord]

During your day [1998] you feared being PK by reds when mining or logging, today there is no fear for such an event as the lands of Trammel are free to wonder. Of course those that PK hate the birth of Trammel, they would rather have you return to the lands of Felucca. Another target for them.

I have been playing UO since 1999 online. We started with one account, today we have five. Our primary shard is Sonoma, mainly play there because of the people that are there. I have to say I love this game and will be here till they pull the plug on it. I'll be the one they drag off screaming when they do that

Oh you can still order the 9th anniv CD online! that was the last time they put disk out on UO.

 

[HD2300]

If you like PvE/PvM definitely come back. The last expansion Mondains Legacy which was released 3.5 years ago, has awesome PvM content. You will either have to upgrade to ML or buy a 8th or 9th Ann box.

If you like lots of people in the environment as it was 10 years ago, play a freeshard, which is free.