Talk:Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar

Hiya all,

I've got a quick question for people who played the original Ultima 4.

I'm just trying to wrap up my Flash game and I got a comment from somebody who told me that player characters usually started the game with a couple of reagents: garlic, and ginseng.

This way the player can mix any cure spells that they might need from wandering around in swamps.

Can someone confirm this for me? Was this perhaps a console version thing... or perhaps it's been sooooo long since I started a character in the old game that I've completely forgotten about it.

Cheers to anyone and everyone who can help,

WebMonkey741 23:17, May 18, 2010 (UTC)WebMonkey741


 * Tested it with a Paladin on the PC. Got 4 Garlic and 3 Ginsing to start with. So the information seems to be correct.--Tribun 23:21, May 18, 2010 (UTC)

A Further Question
Thanks for the update. Do you know if those values are consistent, or are they randomly generated on start-up?

Plus, could you test what happens if you use up the reagents and then die??? Do you get another batch when you restart at LBC?

Thanks for all your help on this,

WebMonkey741 23:31, May 18, 2010 (UTC)WebMonkey741


 * The reagents are the same for all classes. When you die, you keep 300 food and 200 gold. You will keep EQUIPPED weapons and armor, as well as QUEST items and spells that you have already mixed. Everything else, and that includes reagents, is lost. This is why dying is a pain in the ass.--Tribun 23:52, May 18, 2010 (UTC)

Original Sound Effects
Ok so here's my new question for people who have played the original Ultima 4.

What were the in-game original sound effects?

So far I've been able to figure out the following:
 * Walking (when your party icon moved around)
 * Horse Trot / Gallop (when your party was on a horse and moving around)
 * Attack (when a character/monster attacks in combat)
 * Damage (when a character/monster takes damage)
 * Tremor (sound when tremor was cast or any other time the screen shook)
 * Healing (sound when getting healed in town)
 * Level Up (sound when LB raises a character a level)
 * Moongate (sound when going through a moongate)
 * Cannon Fire (sound when shooting a ship's cannon... or was this the same as attack?)
 * Spell (sound made when casting a spell)

Was there anything else? Any help that people could provide would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

75.157.172.63 18:58, May 29, 2010 (UTC)WebMonkey


 * For a totally exhaustive list (but not all the sounds themselves), I'd download xu4 and take a look at the .xml file in the package that has the list. I'd go off the top of my head but I know I would forget some. --Polygoncount 19:01, May 29, 2010 (UTC)

Fair enough... but I just wondered if anybody remembered from the original game. I played on an Apple IIe and I think things were a little different between the C64 version. Also, I don't know which sounds might have been added when they did xu4. But you might be right... I can just review the sound list XML and go from there... THANKS! WebMonkey741 19:19, May 29, 2010 (UTC)WebMonkey741

Well I looked through the xu4 files and here's what I found:
 * Blocked
 * Error
 * Evade
 * Flee
 * Magic
 * NPC_Attack
 * NPC_Struck
 * PC_Attack
 * PC_Struck
 * Poison_Damage
 * Poison_Effect
 * Title_Fade
 * Walk_Combat
 * Walk_Normal
 * Walk_Slowed

This is a good list. But I do remember there being different sounds for when you are travelling on a horse. Also, I remember there being sounds for getting healed and gaining a level.

I think I could probably merge my memories list with the xu4 list and do just fine... but if anyone has anything else that they remember from playing then PLEASE add to this list.

Thanks again,

WebMonkey741 19:44, May 29, 2010 (UTC)

Various editorial opinions
There are several opinions in the article which may or may not be appropriate. These are the ones I'm thinking about. They are all in or after the "Differences between platforms" section: AngusM 05:56, September 15, 2010 (UTC)
 * 1) "the introduction sequence and dungeons looked better on the Amiga and Atari ST" Maybe it's clearly true, but I can't verify that
 * 2) "although the graphics aren't as simplistic" Are they clearly not?
 * 3) "is suprisingly accurate and has good graphics and sound" Actually, I'm almost certain that this appropriate, not unless someone produces a very involved case defending it.
 * 4) "with obvious limitations only on conversations" Why "obvious"?
 * 5) "Ultima IV was a sensation in 1985. Because of its unique story, it sold very well and inspired many other developers." this is quite probably true, but I'd feel more comfortable if there was a reference to accompany it.