The Book of Amber Runes
This article is about manual for Ultima III. For other uses, see Runes (disambiguation).
The Book of Amber Runes is a manual included with Ultima III, which details the arcane spells the player can cast. It is 18-pages long. In-game, the druid Selzhanik is the author of the book. In real life, Margaret Ellen Weigers and Roe R. Adams have written the book.
Description[edit]
The book is written from an in-game perspective, and is presented as a manuscript given to the player upon ascending from jade runes to the more powerful amber runes. Numerous full page illustrations accompany the spells, and it presents the intricate rituals required for casting magical spells in the game, although these rituals play no role in the game itself and are mere flavoring.
The book speaks briefly of the order that authored it. From a letter written by the druid Selzhanik, it is hinted that the cult has a hierarchy of nine circles, and each circle has its own set of runes. The fifth circle has jade runes, the sixth amber runes.
Book Content[edit]
The following topics are part of the book:
- A word to the ascended mage
- The spells of the mage
Other Editions[edit]
In Japan, the book was translated twice, first by Starcraft, then by Pony Canyon. While the book from Starcraft has little to do with the original, Pony Canyon did a faithful translation, with the book being in its original form. The book was later reprinted in the Trilogy Manual, in English and Japanese versions depending on the market, compressing the contents onto fewer pages and removing the old illustrations. To make up for it, several new illustrations were created for it.
There also is a French translation for the release from publisher Ediciel. The book was shrunk considerably and has a different cover. Though it is said to be fully translated, nothing as of now has arisen about the contents.
Alternate Covers[edit]
Japanese cover
French manuals from Ediciel
External Links[edit]
- The Book of Amber Runes (PDF)
- The Book of Amber Runes (PDF) – high quality
| Ultima Game Manuals | |
|---|---|
| Age of Darkness | Akalabeth (manual) ☥ Ultima I (Playbook, manual) ☥ Ultima II (manual) ☥ Ultima III (play guide, cleric guide, wizard guide) |
| Age of Enlightenment | Ultima IV (History of Britannia, Mystic Wisdom) ☥ Ultima V (Book of Lore, journal) ☥ Ultima VI (Compendium) |
| Age of Armageddon | Ultima VII (Fellowship, Isle of Fire) ☥ Ultima VII Part Two (Serpent Pillars, Silver Seed) ☥ Ultima VIII (Chronicle) ☥ Ultima IX (Spellbook, journal) |
| Underworld | Underworld (Memoirs) ☥ Underworld II (Safe Passage) |
| Worlds of Ultima | Savage Empire (Ultimate Adventures) ☥ Martian Dreams (Red Planet, Time Travel) |
| Compilations | Ultima Trilogy I (Trilogy manual) ☥ Ultima Trilogy II (The Age of Virtue) ☥ Ultima Collection (Ultima Atlas) |
| Other | Shroud of the Avatar (Adventurer's Manual) |