Character transfer

In Ultima V and Ultima VI it is possible to perform a character transfer from a previous game, which normally is quite an advantage due to the higher stats compared to that of a freshly created character. However, the process in both games do have their quirks.

The Transfer Procedure

Below are the procedures for the IBM PC versions of the games, which essentially are the only ones available nowadays.

Ultima V

Ultima V character transfer

Ultima V can accept a character from Ultima IV. However, the transfer option was made with floppy disks in mind. In order for it to work, the party.sav file from Ultima IV has to be copied into the game directory, then it can be read by the game.

Conversion of the Avatar's statistics then goes as follows:

• Experience is divided by a factor of 10 (eg. 9999 becomes 999), with the last digit of the original amount being set to 0 for the process. Thus accordingly this affects the level of the Avatar, which nonetheless will be higher than that of a fresh character.
• The stats of the Avatar (STR, DEX, INT) are divided by two (eg. 50 becomes 25), which is less of a punishment than it sounds at first, since the upper limit at the same time is lowered from 50 to 30.
  • Strength has a minimum value of 20.
  • Dexterity has a minimum value of 13.
  • Intelligence has a minimum value of 16.

The name and sex of the character can be changed as well, if desired.

Ultima VI

Ultima VI drive select

Ultima VI character transfer

Ultima VI can accept a character from Ultima IV or Ultima V. However, the transfer option was made with floppy disks in mind, even if hard disks are already acknowledged. In order for it to work, the party.sav from Ultima IV or the saved.gam and saved.ool from Ultima V have to be copied into the root directory of the hard disk partition in which the game got installed, then it can be read. For DOSBox, the selected root directory is, where the files have to go and drive C: has to be selected. If saves from both games are present, Ultima IV takes priority, thus one has to decide which one to use.

Conversion of the Avatar's statistics then goes as follows:

• Experience is divided by a factor of 10 (f.e. 9999 becomes 999), with the last digit of the original amount being set to 0 for the process. Thus accordingly this affects the level of the Avatar, which nonetheless will be higher than that of a fresh character.
• The stats of the Avatar (STR, DEX, INT) are divided by two (eg. 50 becomes 25) if being imported from Ultima IV, which is less of a punishment than it sounds at first, since the upper limit at the same time is lowered from 50 to 30.
• The stats of the Avatar (STR, DEX, INT) are left untouched if being imported from Ultima V, which accordingly translates into a massive advantage in the game.

Additionally, name and sex can be changed this time as well, and of course a portrait has to be chosen.

Other Ports

The transfer rules for the character are the same in several ports of the games, while how exactly the transfer is done differs according to the architecture of the systems in question. Since all of them worked on floppies, it should be no problem with emulators.

• Ultima V can also import characters on the Apple II, C64/128, Atari ST and FM Towns. However not on the Amiga. The status of the Sharp X68000 and PC-98 on the issue are as of now unknown.
• Ultima VI can also import characters on the Amiga, Atari ST, PC-98 and Sharp X68000. Not on the C64 and FM Towns.

This effectively means that only on an IBM PC or Atari ST do have both games the transfer options available, but only for one of the games on the systems mentioned above.