Ultima IV is....still not done. Yeah, finally the series is putting up a proper fight.
The quest for the avatarhood is not that simple. I have gathered companions and levelling up so lot of the combat is not that hard. However, I find it tedious when I have to control 7 characters. The quest itself involves multiple stuff to do and find and I dont think Im even half-way there.
First, I gotta find all the runes and learn the mantras for each virtue. That is done.
Second, I need to do stuff related to virtues, like be honest when paying to a blind saleswoman to show compassion by giving to the poor. When I've done enough, I need to meditate at the shrine of that specific virtue and thus achieve avatarhood in that virtue. Do this for each virtue.
Third, get the book, bell and candle and learn the word. These I need to access the Stygian Abyss so I can read the codex or something like that. Out of these, Im only missing the candle.
Fourth, collect 8 colored stones. Or at least I think there are 8 of them. And from what I've understood, they're in the dungeons, each named opposite of one virtue. What do I do with these stones? Eh, I think I need to use them at specific altars, either at other dungeons or at the Stygian Abyss. Its not 100% clear yet. So far I have found zero stones.
Stones are the biggest problem, because I believe they're in the dungeons. In Ultima 4, they finally put out dungeons that are if not hard, bit tedious. There are certain rooms where it switch to combat view, which with seven characters to move around isnt all that fun. These rooms are usually filled with monsters (worst room so far was full of gremlins, which of course chewed all the food in few turns) and they respawn when you leave.
Floors are notably smaller than in 3, but still manage to be even more confusing (especially thanks to the rooms) and now there's force fields, usually poison ones. There doesnt seem to be that many healing fountains either. I've found few altars, but no stones so far.
So, does anyone have any insightful hints or pointers? Not the kind of "Go here and there and you'll find the candle", but something that would make the combat easier, like how to grind more faster. I'd also like a bit more information about the stones. Am I on the right track with them?
Next time I'll play, I was thinking of just speeding through the floors using spells. Maybe I'll end up somewhere important.
Other than that, Im quite enjoying the game. Its finally giving me a kind of challenge I've been waiting for and is very clear about the goals and such.
I also cant wait to try out the character importing and find out if its any different from just starting a new character. Unfortunately, when I'll beat this, there's probably gonna be short break since I have to get a copy of Ultima 5, and Im short of cash right now (unemployed, trying to get back to school, that sort of thing). 7 too, with add-ons and Id like to try Ultima Underworlds too. 6 and 8 I have ready. I dont have 9 either, but Im not really looking forward to that, so maybe I'll skip that.
Oh, and a bit of funny thing. Remember Father Antos, the priest who I had to track down in Ultima 2? Well, I found him here and yes he's supposed to be the same character. I really like to know how he got back from the planet X, in the year 2112.
EDIT: And could a mod or admin change the thread title to "TC's Ultima playthrough", since it stopped being about just Ultima 1 like, the next day.
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