Ultima: Quest of the Avatar - Humble Shepherd Run Part 1

Channel:

Master Knight DH

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Published on August 6, 2019 11:38:33 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLCfvrW-nT0

Game:

Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (1985)

Duration: 29:37

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3

Rules:
-Shepherd Main Character
-No deaths
-No Orbs
-Bow only allowed for either Janna equipped with Club, or anybody else equipped with a + Melee weapon or better
-No Crossbow, +1 Bow, or Magic (IE +1) Axe
-No Virtue drops or farming
-Given spells may be banned as deemed fit

I think in light of the recent mass shootings, I'd want to get a good project off the ground. Obviously, anything involving guns casually (Advance Wars or Lost Frontier) is out, but why not involve something involving welcome messages. Obviously, Ultima 4 is dated with Guide Dang It handling and other questionable handling of its own virtue system, but the ideas are certainly there at least, and I'd rather make it clear that #VideogamesAreNotToBlame no matter how messed up video game communities in general are. Besides, I'm for going with something tame enough at the moment after my venture with Startropics, even if 2x Speed would be recommended for usage with this series, because the combat system IS rather dated.

Explanation for each rule:
-Shepherd MC - the Shepherd has virtually nothing going for them when all is said and done. Avatar Shepherd is still worse than any Avatar anybody else as well because the Shepherd's non-magic range is STILL limited to the Slingshot.

-No deaths - goes without saying. This also avoids exploiting respawning at Lord British or dumping all Gold on given purchases and then dying intentionally.

-No Orbs - breaks individuality, for one. The Orbs also infinitely respawn by exiting and leaving the dungeons and their only punishment is HP loss that can be healed off, though the Hythloth ones do instant kill by dealing impossible to survive damage, so their usage will already break the No Deaths rule.

-Bow restrictions - range attacks already have a free damage factor. In Ultima 4, the factor is INSANE, so incentive to fight up close is underwhelmingly bad. I don't include the Wand because it's prohibitively expensive anyway.

-No Virtue system exploitation - the game is supposed to encourage morality. There's a problem if I could do things like run into towns and grab all the Gold, then try to pass it off as playing Robin Hood. These rulers aren't even tyrants to begin with.

As for what happens in the first part, I'm obviously making use of the Inns to keep myself fresh--ANY battle is guaranteed to provide more funding than a single Inn stay--and Moongate route memorization to get moving where I want to. There's actually a faster Moongate route to Britannia (Gibbous Waning to Trinsic, then Crescent Waxing to Britannia) than what I take, but it's easier while also providing me only 1 companion on this path instead of the 2 I get. We want some sense of uncertainty or none of this 30 minute movement means a thing. There's still nothing overwhelming anyway, but the thought is there.

There isn't much to the battle system. It does at least involve mobility on a tile-based space, but characters only move 1 space per turn, which is why range combat becomes VERY good. Spells can only do so much when you especially need, in addition to the MP, resources that don't get replenished by a simple stay at a local Inn. Next part would showcase why range attack spells are actually junk because of that, but I'm sure you can guess how anyway.

Of course, I'm not doing this because of a dated battle system. My interest lies in showing the game's Virtue system. Obviously, there are issues with execution, but the ideas are absolutely sound and especially get by on a sense of mnemonics. Interestingly, the Beggar at Skara Brae ends up punctuating the sense of karma in the way the poor is treated.

Spell ingredient learning of note ATM:
-Tremor: Ash, other ingredients unknown (Beggar at Skara Brae)
-Squish: Ash, Silkweb, Moss, Manroot (lady at Yew)

Coordinates of note thus far:
-69,105 - unknown so far, could just be a joke by all indications

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