Atlantic Roleplay Community Boards

[SlyFox]

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Just saying that I am considering a return sounds odd to me since picking up a game and playing it shouldn't take much thought, right? I mean you play if it's fun and you stop when it's not... but this is UO and that logic doesn't apply!

My history on Atlantic shard is as old as anyone you will come across. I played from the dread days at launch (witnessed Raynz kill Lord British!) until late 2003 actively, and not so actively after that. My names were many in UO but Edmond The Black my mule, Slyfox my blue dexxer and Overlord my red were probably my most played. At first the game was a free-for-all for me and I would pick fights anywhere I could but it evolved from that, the friends I met became family at the time.

That's what made UO for me, the community. I've rampaged Atlantic along side Gohan of the guild SSJ and later helped protect players from reds in the guild G*B (Guardians of Britannia) with Shadowcaster, Myst, VoiVod and others. I ran my own guild for a while when these disbanded (Warriors of Valhalla) and later ran a rune library with website out of Vesper. Some of the names I remember like Elronde inspired me to play for the community and not just myself.

I played when guilds were featured on uo.com and before wintermoore was a glint in anyone's eye. I was turned onto rune libraries before there were runebooks while helping build Goodman's rune library on Magincia beach. My account had old items that can't be had anymore like a sandstone inside the fel Britannia guard zone with 4 other homes for my alts. I had armor pieces from players like Zym Dragon because I enjoyed standing around the brit forge selling my GM wares. That was before skill locks were introduced too, how frustrating it was to take a parry gain only to see blacksmith go back to 99.9!

That's what makes it a tough decision, should I return or not? Playing UO is an investment in something more than just a game, you make friends and work together in forging something fun for everyone. All of the friends I once knew are gone and so I'd have to make new ones. All of the things I loved most about UO are now changed by young players who play to gather items instead of build communities. If I return I'll probably retire my gaming career when they retire UO which is another question... how long before EA shuts it down?

When I left UO I did so for DAoC which from 2001 to 2004 was also one of the best games I ever played. The community was there, everyone worked together and Mythic got PvP (called RVR) right... and then they killed the game in one expansion but that's another story.

From 1997 thru 2004 I spent my time working and playing with friends. Now I spend my time working, with family, on projects off the computer, doing things with the kids interests and so my game time is limited, a few hours per week which I can stretch for events. I want to come back to UO for good, the world of online games has changed and it no longer embodies all that was good in my UO playing days. But is UO up to my expectations? Will I make new friends and draw new players into the game and enjoy selflessly doing it... or is that highly unlikely now?

UO isn't what it once was but the tools are there to make it something awesome for the next 20 years and beyond. Is it wise to revisit your past even if it's only a game? Why is this such a tough decision, lol. I have to admit, the cracking sound of the pickaxe hitting the mountain is one of the sounds I remember fondly. Ore was always in demand and I once mined every single minable square in UO while making 'colored ore' runebooks. EVERY single tile over the entire map in every zone including inside mines where PKs had their way with me! (my red was always nearby when they persisted a little too long.

OMG the rush of seeing a red name fly onto the screen.... good times. Leaving my 8x8 door unlocked while it had all my belongings and a thief got in... not so fun. Do merchants outside of Luna even exist nowadays? Wow, I just remembered selling 100k gold for $40 on ebay once in order to pay for a domain name and web host for our guild. By the time I left it was selling for $20 per mil and I imagine it's now 100x cheaper? Is it still ok to buy/sell it? While I can afford to pay for a domain name many times over the thought of having the game pay it for me appeals to me somehow...

Alright, my minds gotten nostalgic enough for one post. How do you decide if returning is right for you? I see some returning and leaving again and I wouldn't want to do that. Is there any glaring reason I should/shouldn't return to UO?

[Gnarlug Varguk]

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To play or not to play???? First off.....it's a VASTLY different game than what you remember. Save for a few sparsely populated areas Felucca is all but empty, the various facets all have Trammel rulesets, and items insurance has made it a kinder, gentler Ultima. The artifacts, repair deeds, and reforging have made most of the crafting skills like smith and tailor and what not basically support skills for the Imbuing skill. So gone are the busy city smiths. Global chat, Luna, and searchuo.com have killed the bank spamming method of salesmanship. The game lacks the definitive sense of danger everyone who played in the late 90s knows all too well. In fact nowadays you have to go looking for danger, and sadly, sometimes it's just not there......The community certainly has changed and most of the things you talked about are long gone.......HOWEVER, a lot of those negatives have a positive flip side. Instead of smith's churning out mass quantities of carbon copy items to replace the rapid loss of equipment, now with reforging imbuing each and every piece of armor is almost a piece of art as different and customized as the player it's being made for and a state of the art suit is a large investment of time and resources. And with such a wide variety of options in armor customization it allows for infinite opitons in template creation. Allowing for combinations that just would never work before being able to add certain things to your suit. There are still a lot of people who are dedicated to creating a sense of community and making things better for everyone. That ha'snt changed, however, the things they do and can do has changed. Bottom line is it's just a different animal now. Some of the things you mentioned are there just in different forms. A lot of the things you mentioned are gone completely never to return.....Best to give it a shot and see for yourself......I also sent you a PM
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Inkari 1:02 AM Where you been man?
?????? 1:03 AM Technical difficulties.....
Inkari 1:05 AM Virus?
?????? 1:05 AM No, that pic you asked ppl to make with the boy and girl in a fantasy setting....i tried...started to look way too much like child porn so I had to light my harddrive on fire.....

[Molly]

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I do hope you decide to return. I am of the ages past you describe. I lived in Rivendell for many years. I was part of 2ST then took over BWC from Grimrick. If you know those names you most likely would know me too. There are still some dinasaurs left here.
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Grand Duchess Molly Kaldhel
Oracle of Truth
The House Gauntlet
Sanctus, Luna, Malas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXoGDbJ5nLU
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"In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman."
-Margaret Thatcher-

[Starfire]

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I have played since Renaissance and play everyday. I get th e shakes if i miss my day of UO. I always advocate come back. Renew freindships, make new ones. Yes the game has changed mightly, some better some not so good but it is still fun and not near as expensive as other hobbies, 13 a month is cheap entertainment. With community, all other things can be found or/and given. Fel is stays busy at the champs, I scout them daily. There are so many new places to go and so many new things to do, everyone is spread out all over, killing pirates at sea, killing rats in the abyss, killing reds in despise......as always!!!
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aka: Tatiana Thorn nee Alexi; Summer Kane; Ivory Skyfire; and others

[Zrell]

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Hey Slyfox,

Long time no see. It's Raith from G*B. How are ya doing buddy? I'm hoping you'll make your way back to this post before long. I've been wondering what the people from our guild were up to these days and would love to get in touch with some of the people we played with. I remember you were in SSJ and G*B. Fun times back then! I even remember meeting Shadowcaster and his mom and dad in person one time as they passed through Georgia on a trip to Florida. Good people. If I remember right, they all played UO. There were some all around amazing people in G*B, and in UO. The friendships and relationships I made in G*B had a huge impact on me which is why after years of gaming, taking a break and then returning, I decided to name my most recent guilds in honor of the first (Guardian of Brittania). My newest guilds are listed in my signature.

Anyway, if you happen to read this, feel free to PM me. I'd love to hear what you're up to. That goes for any other G*B out there who might read this, or anyone else who is still gaming and looking for a guild/gaming community. I have a Discord server set up that is open to all gamers and will be happy to send an invite if you're interested. Well wishes and happy gaming!
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Current Leader/Founder of Eternal Order of Guardians [EOG] and Order of the Ascension [EOG] - Guild Wars 2 guilds
Co-Leader of Guardians Everlasting - Destiny 2 Clan
Former Leader of ∞Guardians∞ - Order and Chaos 2 guild
Ultima Online character - Raith -member of Guardians of Brittania