Talk:Shroud of the Avatar

Why is this here?

Sorry to be the one to say this... but why is this here? As much as I'm looking forward to SotA, it isn't an Ultima game. If we are going to include spiritual successors, where is the Arx Fatalis page? If its because its a Lord British game, where is Tabula Rasa?

Just to be objective, I'm not adverse to having information from this page somewhere on the wiki, but it feels like it should be on Richard Garriott's biography page, not as its own topic. That page should probably also have information added about Destination Games and Portalarium (with redirects added). --Browncoat Jayson 12:48, 9 March 2013 (PST)

I've also been debating this question. I think it really depends on how explicitly this game is supposed to be connected to the Ultima series. Arx Fatalis and Tabula Rasa both inhabit their own distinct universes, but Shroud of the Avatar blurs that line with details like the map essentially being U3-era Sosaria, as well as the title itself. We have to wonder, are those just a nod to the fans or actually intended as a continuation of the Ultima fiction as much as possible without violating copyright? I don't think we really know for sure yet, but if it's the latter, I'd say the game deserves to be here; it's certainly no more extraneous than having an article for Escape from Mt. Drash. --Terilem 03:16, 10 March 2013 (PDT)

I agree. If anything should go it's Mt. Drash, but I think it should stay, because it sets the record straight. Same goes for this article, which has Ultima references in its name. So even if it becomes as irrelevant as Mt. Drash, it's still relevant to the wiki. The Ultra-Mind 16:10, 10 March 2013 (PDT)

Speaking of Mt. Drash on one of the pictures of the maps concept art it has 'Mt. Drash' scribbled in the margin.

Right now there are too many Ultima-esque things for us to not have it. Map looks like U3 Sosaria, 'Avatar' in the title, 'Virtues' in the title, moongate-like things in the concept art. If later on it the difference becomes more vast then we can look at removing it.

What one could argue for is that a full new game may require its own wiki for all the detailed information... -- Fenyx4 20:08, 10 March 2013 (PDT)

And should it come to that, I think it would be best it to have created here (Ultimacodex) as its own section, before it pops up in a wikia site and starts competing us. --Time Lord 23:01, 10 March 2013 (PDT)

The more I think about this, the more I warm up to the idea that this might be something we should include in canon and coverage sometime. The fact that EA owns the property rights, and licenses them, means only that. Not being a lawyer, just how much weight should that carry w/me? It seems that the very mind which created the undisputed canonical material is also applying the same creativity to this project and it's clearly not a Wing Commander or Autoduel, and, for no reasons other than legal ones, is not an explicit Ultima. Isn't that all that really matters?

Once it comes out, I think we should have a precedent-setting debate on what role this is going to have in the Ultima universe, as we see it. The Ultra-Mind (talk) 16:10, 16 May 2013 (UTC)

You make a good point. In the end, it is up to us to decide what to do with the wiki in a way we feel is more useful for everybody.--Sega381 (talk) 18:07, 18 May 2013 (UTC)

Connections

New Britannia is the Ultima III Sosaria shaped continent on the world of Novia, sometimes vice versa. During the great cataclysm 400 years ago, also known as "the fall," the two moons collided to form Daedaelus, implying the world is Britannia 400 years in the future, and Britannian history is now a forgotten age. When the moons collided, obsidian shards fell on the surface of the planet, an event known as the "shardfall." These stones were the source of great magic, like the moonstones of old Britannia. Just as Black Rock created conflict among mages, the shards inspired the Obisidian Empire that rose and then fell. Though the meaning of the virtues is said to be forgotten, the virtues and principles are still worshiped. In addition to the Shrine of Spirituality in Fortus End, the Shrine of Honesty in Etceter, the Shrine of Compassion in Brookside, the Shrine of Valor in Point West, the Shrine of Justice in Jaanaford, the Shrine of Honor in Kiln, the Shrine of Spirituality in Fortus End, and the Shrine of Humility in Eastmarch, the symbols of the virtues can be found on pieces of armor, and town devotionals can be placed, each representing the eight virtues and three principles with its corresponding symbol. Placing a devotional attracts the attention of the Obisidian Cabalists, remnants of the Obsidian Empire, representing the anti-virtues Deceit, Despite, Dastard, Injustice, Punishment, Dishonor, Carnality, and Vanity, sharing some of the names and themes of the Britannian dungeons. Avatar is now a title based on the mythical Avatars, champions from other worlds and paragons of virtue. Lord British is a mythical outlander, said to be the first visitor to the world of Novia, who fought off Darkstarr, one of the first mages of chaos. The virtues and principles make up the ethos upheld by the New Britannia Empire. The Order of the New Britannia Empire is bestowed on certain individuals. The emblem of the New Britannia Empire shows a blue snake, possibly representing the serpent of order opposed to chaos, as Darkstarr followed the chaos school of magic. There are more remnants of the old world. The capital of Regalis is Brittany, with the Serpent's Spine mountain range to the west, and the Shimano River to the south. There is the town of Jaanaford on the Jaana river. Every month a portal opens to the land of the Lost Vale. Merchants sell reagents including black pearl, garlic, mandrake root, nightshade, spider silk, and sulfurous ash, though the schools of magic are closer to the elemental schools of Pagan, with the ankh being the symbol for life magic.

Moondials show a planet with continents resembling Britannia, and eight orbiting bodies, indicating the same solar system as Britannia. A serpent wrapped around a hand represents the great serpent that once traveled the path of the moons, possibly the serpent of balance. Space is divided into twelve sectors, with constellations for the three principles, eight virtues, and infinity. Aetheric energy shows the symbols corresponding to twelve constellations shaped like each symbol. Ultima IX ends with the Avatar, the Guardian, and Britannia becoming the Ankh constellation.