UO Blog - Improving the World - Oct 21nd, 2008

We all appreciate the non-tiring effort the game developers have put into UO to improve and enhance this fantastic game. We all are looking forward to the upcoming changes and enhancements. However, some of us think that increasing the breadth of the game (instead of the depth) might favor us veterans, while new players will still have difficulties accessing the game. And what UO needs most at times of dwindling activity, is new fresh players!

I have put together some facts. Maybe I am able to point out a few weaknesses of this otherwise great game. With the upcoming expansion of SA and the new kick-ass client, you will have the unique chance to start another era of UO, and get many new subscribers. You must seize this opportunity!

General Statement

• Ultima Online needs more interesting low- and medium-level content for (new) players who can not or do not want to enter the doom-artifact-runic-item-treadmill.
• The surface of Britannia has many landmarks, but they are usually deserted and not interesting at all. Landmarks should have stories and riddles tied to them, so people can go out and venture again. Such secrets should be scattered all over Britannia.
• The world (surface and dungeons) should contain more dynamic and entertaining quests, send the adventurer(s) on challenging journeys, and to introduce this complex world to new players step-by-step. (With the Royal Council Homicide you have proven that you CAN make interesting quests!)
• Hacking and slaying monsters is fun, but we also need more riddles and adventures!
• Monster spawn is not intelligent. Monsters re-spawn always in the same place over and over again, and the creatures act always in the same predictable way. If intruders stay too long in an area, monsters should retreat or call for reinforcements. Monsters should be able to change their attacking strategy.

Some Statistics

Dungeons and Underground Monster Spawns (Trammel only)

13 Britannia Dungeons
Wrong, Deceit, Covetous, Despise, Shame, Destard, Hythloth, Prism of Light, Solen Hive, Orc Cave, Sanctuary, Blighted Grove, Painted Caves

06 Lost Lands Dungeons
Ice Dungeon, Fire Dungeon, Delucia Passage, Khaldun/Felucca, Palace of Paroxysmus, Terathan Dungeon

14 Ilshenar Dungeons
Sorcerer Dungeon, Volcanic Lair, Rock Dungeon, Meer Catacombs, Exodus, Ankh Dungeon, Spider Dungeon, Spectre Dungeon, Blood Dungeon, Ratman Mine, Cyclops Dungeon, Wisp Dungeon, Serpentine Passage, Kirin Passage

03 Malas Dungeons
Doom, Bedlam, Minotaur City

03 Tokuno Dungeons
Fan Dancer Dojo, Yomotsu Mines, Citadel

Those are a total of 39 dungeons!!! Many of these places are deserted; nobody ever ventures there. (Anyone been to Rock Dungeon, Volcanic Lair, Wrong etc.?) ALL of the dungeons are pure monster-bashing locations. Only few of them have minor riddles, but they are either too easy, not working, or not rewarding. Exception: Doom, but the rewards spawn at ridiculously low intervals. Most of the dungeons are boring as hell, although they would have great potential. Best examples: Anti-Virtue Dungeons, Khaldun, Volcanic Lair, Rock Dungeon, Meer Catacombs, Exodus, Ratman Mine. Treasure hunting in all of those places is boring and not rewarding. The few quests available are very easy and boring (go there, bring me this, slay that).

Overground Monster Spawns

10 Britannia Major Spawns
Yew Crypts, Yew Orc Fort, Desert of Compassion, Bog of Desolation, Cove Orc Fort, Brigand Camp, Hedge Maze, Fens of the Dead, Daemon Altar, several Haunted Ruins

13 Lost Lands Major Spawns
Kos Heb West, Kos Heb East, Wyvern Point, Oasis, Ophidian Lair, Wyvern Isle, Cyclops Valley, Terra Sanctum, Terathan Keep, Haunted Ruins, Hoppers Bog, Savage Fort, City of the Dead

22 Ilshenar Major Spawns
Cyclops Camp, Pass of Karnaugh, Ancient Wyrm's Lair, Montor, Gargoyle Camp, Bandit Town, Lava Villa, Citadel, Lord Blackthorn's Castle, Humility Graveyard, Meteor Crater, Ratman Villa, Earth Elemental Huts, Savage Village, Undead Fort, Lizardman Village, Burned Forest, Cyclops Pyramid, Brigand Tower, Reg Volom, Bet-Lem Reg, Enchanted Forest, Harpy Nest

11 Malas Major Spawns
5 Brigand Camps, 4 Orc Outposts, Grimswind Ruins, Forgotten Pyramid

16 Tokuno Major Spawns
Revenant Jima, Beetlescape, Winter Spur, Bushido Dojo, Yamandon Point, Field of Echoes, Kitsune Woods, Lightest Dark, Hiryu Forest, Tsuki Garden, Mt. Sho, Hotaka Plains, Mt. Hakonu, Lotus Lakes, Crane Marsh, The Waste

Those are a total of 72 spawn locations!!! Most of those are not visited by players at all. ALL of those places are pure monster-bashing locations. Only few of them have minor riddles, but they are either too easy, not working, or not rewarding. Most of those places have a great potential! They would be perfect places for quests, riddles, treasure and adventure. Best examples: Yew Crypts, Hedge Maze, Haunted Ruins, Terra Sanctum, Graveyards, etc. Most of those places are not even known to the majority of players.

This shows why adding new dungeons and landmasses should not have top priority. UO has a gigantic potential with all those dungeons and places of interest. Improving those places, making them interesting, making them dynamic and challenging for both new and veteran players, should be a primary goal. UO doesn't need another monster-bashing location; it needs more quests, riddles, challenges and adventures instead.

Let us dig holes in the wilderness to randomly discover an old skeleton with a secret message inside.
Let us cut down a bush to discover a lost pouch containing a riddle.
Let us examine trees to find an engraving on the trunk.
Let us dig up an old grave to find a trace of a lost treasure hunter.
Let us fish up an ancient casket from a pond somewhere in the jungle, containing mystical items.
Let us mine some rare ressuorce from the depth of a dungeon, that is needed for a quest.
Let us find a secret message of a castaway while digging in the sand of a beach.
Let us find lost journals leading us on challenging and rewarding quests in dungeon treasure chests.
Send us on journeys, quests and adventures, to discover the beauty and the secrets of Britannia.

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