Training in Ultima Underworld
Training in Ultima Underworld is done with mantras at shrines to increase skills, but not attributes.
Training System[edit]
In Ultima Underworld training is done to increase a character's skills. Attributes (strength, dexterity, and intelligence) cannot be changed. They are set during character creation and will remain at those values throughout the game.
Training in Ultima Underworld is not done by actual trainers, but instead by praying with mantras at shrines. In order to train, these things are needed:
- A shrine - Each one of the eight levels of The Abyssal Colony has at least one shrine, and some levels have more than one.
- A training mantra - Three mantras are given in the Player's Guide and many more can be found in the game. Some train a single skill and some train a group of skills.
- A training point - Training points come to a character as that character gains experience. In Ultima Underworld II it is possible to see the number of available training points on the character statistics page, but unfortunately in Ultima Underworld there is no way for a player to know their character's training points. They just need to try training and if it fails then they likely don't have any training points.
- A trainable skill - Most character's skills can be trained up to 30 but some character can only train some skills up to 25.
Once you have all of these things you are ready to begin your training.
| “ | When thou dost see a large, plain ankh standing on the ground, thou hast found a shrine to Virtue.
It is said that if thou hast been virtuous, and dedicated to increasing thy abilities, praying at a shrine with the correct mantra will allow thee to enhance thy abilities. – from an Unnamed Outcast (the first level)
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To use a shrine in the PC version, either right-click and drag on it in default mode or right-click on it in USE mode. The game will be paused and you will be prompted to enter a mantra. Enter a mantra using the keyboard and press enter. It doesn't matter if the letters are in upper case or lower case. You may enter any valid mantra, it doesn't matter if your character has actually found that mantra in the game yet or not.
To use a shrine in the PSX version, do a use on the shrine. Since the PSX does not have a keyboard, you must select a mantra from a list. Unlike the PC version, you cannot select a mantra that the character has not yet found in-game.
One thing to know is that every skill has an associated base attribute. For a list of skills and their base attributes, see: skill system of Underworld and Underworld II
The base attribute will affect the amount of traing you can do to a skill with a single training point. If the base attribute is very high and the skill is very low then the skill will advance very quickly but it will slow down as it reaches the base attribute level. If a base attribute is low you will train that skill more slowly, but it should always advance at least 1 point per training.
After using a mantra on a shrine you will see one of these messages:
| Message | Meaning |
|---|---|
| You are not ready to advance. | You do not have any training points available. |
| That is not a mantra. | You have not entered a valid mantra. |
| None of your skills improved. | That was not a training mantra. |
| You cannot advance any further in that skill.
You cannot advance in skill |
You are at the maximum skill level your character can train. |
| Knowledge and Understanding fill you.
You have advanced in skill You have advanced greatly in skill |
Your skill(s) have improved and a training point has been deducted. |
Lore[edit]
| “ | Another way in which you progress is through raising your skill scores. Such increases only come as the result of study and deep reflection, and so you must visit an ankh shrine and recite the proper Mantra. Ankh shrines are located throughout the Abyss. Reciting a Mantra is not enough to receive the skill bonus — you must first qualify for it by having accumulated enough experience points. You always qualify for a skill bonus after you gain a new character level, but you can sometimes receive skill bonuses between level increases. Whenever you come upon a shrine, Talk to it. The words “Chant the Mantra:” appear in the message scroll. Type in a Mantra followed by ENTER. If you are not yet ready for a skill increase, the shrine will respond by saying “You are not ready to advance.” If you are ready for an increase, the shrine tells you which of your skills improves. The amount and nature of the skill increase is determined by the Mantra you choose to recite. Three Mantras are commonly known: Summ Ra Improves some of your attack skills. Mu Ahm Improves some of your magic skills. Om Cah Improves some of your other skills. Speak one of these Mantras and you increase in a few of the skills affected by that Mantra. However, as you explore the dungeon, you will learn Mantras that apply not to categories of skills, but to specific skills. Chant one of these Mantras and you will improve dramatically in the skill affected by the Mantra. – from Player's Guide (Ultima Underworld)
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Mantras[edit]
- Main article: Mantras
Gallery[edit]
Training with a mantra at a shrine
PSX Port version at level 1 shrine
PSX (English patch), Mantras
PSX (English), Training successful
PSX (English patch), Training failed
