Abacus



An abacus is a counting tool which may be used to perform simple arithmetic. Such devices appear in Ultima VII, Ultima VII Part Two and Ultima VIII.

Description
An abacus consists of a wooden frame, which houses several rows of beads on wires or polls. The abacist may use these beads (which represent certain decimal or hexadecimal values) to perform computations, and may therefore make a quick tally of goods and money.

Using abaci in Ultima VII will calculate the sum total of gold coins carried by the party. In Ultima VII Part Two, the use of an abacus will reveal the amount of Monetari, Filari, Guilders, gold bars, gold nuggets, gems, and jewelry the group is carrying. In Ultima VIII, an abacus may only tally obsidian chits and only when they have already been gathered into a single pile.

Trivia

 * Iolo begins Ultima VII with an abacus, and will offer to explain its function to the Avatar when asked.


 * In Ultima VII Part Two abaci may be purchased from Bucia at the Capessi Canton Moonshade. One can be found earlier for free in the palace of Fawn.


 * In Ultima VIII an abacus may be found in the home of Mythran, the sage.