Produced by: Mark Mitchell
Website: Forum posting at the Cartographer’s Guild
This is an ambitious project to create a realistic heightmap of Britannia using such tools as Photoshop, Terragen, and L3DT.
This in turn would be useful for some Ultima project developers, since I know for a fact that tools exist for some game engines (Neverwinter Nights 2 especially) that allow for the automatic creation of terrain based on imported heightmaps.
But that’s not the reason Mark has undertaken this project for himself. As he creates this work, he also wants to consider: “size and scaling of the continent, political and demographic issues, economy and trade routes, [and] geology and land formation.” In that regard, it’s as much an anthropological study as it is a really cool piece of artwork. You can see just how cool by clicking on the project’s image there on the left; that’s a sample/preview image he sent me a couple months back. It can be viewed in somewhat better detail at Aiera’s Flickr page.
Produced by: Andrew Brozyna
Website: Ferrous Lands
Andrew’s intriguing project involves taking various 28mm metal figurines and repainting them (with physical modifications if necessary) in order to reimagine Ultima as a tabletop wargame.
Thus far, he’s added a number of monsterforms to his collection — ettins, orcs, goblins, and headlesses to name but a few — and has fashioned a model of the female Avatar and a few of the companions as well (Dupre is pictured here). He has even begun work on a to-scale tavern model, inspired by The Modest Damsel (New Magincia’s tavern in Ultima 7.)
Produced by: Enrico Ricciardi
Website: Enrico Ricciardi
Mystik is a calendar of photographs of European models posed with props and backdrops that represent the virtues and principles of the Ultima universe, as well as the associated character classes.
Ricciardi put a fair bit of thought into understanding and conveying these aspects of Ultima’s backstory, and is offering the calendar in support of Village for All (V4A), which appears (I cannot read Italian) to be a charity devoted to helping those with disabilities travel.
This effort even has the support of Richard Garrriott, which is pretty darn cool.
Produced by: Chgowiz
Website: Chgowiz’s Old Guy RPG Blog
Releases:
*
Rulebook (390.2 KiB, 62 hits)
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Game Referee's Guide (378.3 KiB, 52 hits)
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Hawkwind's Gazeteer: Perinia (470.1 KiB, 59 hits)
A pen-and-paper RPG inspired by the first three Ultima titles, Siege Perilous is not (according to its author) a faithful representation of the canonical timeline — it is instead a “hybrid” game that can represent any point within the Ultima timeline, or serve as the foundation for a completely new, “off the cuff” Ultima adventure.
It was developed from an adaptation of the Swords & Wizardry White Box, in addition to several other sources.
The game is complete to the point that it can be playtested; Chgowiz has additions to make to the list of magic items (including potions and spells), character creation rules, and game setting information. Reviews of the game are welcome.
Posted by: Withstand the Fury Dragon Tags: D&D, Diablo 3, EUO, LUA, Neverwinter Nights, RPG, Ultima, Ultima 4, Ultima 5, Ultima 6, Ultima Online
Produced by: Max Breedon
Website: EUO
Releases:
* [drain file 77 url EUO Installer] ([drain file 77 size])
* [drain file 76 url Patcher Update (use only if needed)] ([drain file 76 size])
* [drain file 16 url Launcher (Client Configurator)] ([drain file 16 size])
* [drain file 75 url Map Editor] ([drain file 75 size])
* [drain file 103 url 3D Client] ([drain file 103 size])
Borrowing a fair bit from other RPGs, EUO is intended to be a real-time, single/multi-player, persistent-world RPG…one that looks and plays much like Ultima 4 or Ultima 5. The project site proudly proclaims that those looking for mouse support and Diablo 3-style graphics should seek their fix elsewhere.
EUO uses a Ultima Online-like skill system, without player classes. Combat is based on dice rolling like in Neverwinter Nights (and with more Ultima Online influences, apparently). Although the original EUO did feature a U4-like tileset, the current iteration is completely original (although most monsters and traps will be familiar to Ultima 5 fans). Spells can be cast using either the Ultima 5 runes, or through a simpler list for the less-than-Ultima-proficient.
Also, the game now incorporates the LUA scripting language, meaning that the player can influence the dungeons to a greater degree through certain key actions. Leveling is done at shrines, with stats being upgraded along the same lines as happened in Ultima 6.
The game features over 100 NPCs and over 50 quests, with more being added all the time. And now, a 3D client is even available!
Posted by: Withstand the Fury Dragon Tags:
Produced by: Gordon McNutt
Website: Nazghul CRPG
Releases:
* Windows Binary v0.6.0
* Mac OS X Universal Binary v0.5.6
* Source Code v0.6.0
* Nokia 770/M800
Still in development (although you can download and compile the source, which is currently at version 0.6.0), Nazghul is a 2D single-player computer role-playing game (CRPG) engine in the grand tradition of Ultimas 1 through 5. Much as with EUO, the developer proudly states that if you are looking for gorgeous graphics and squad-based combat, you should look elsewhere.
Haxima is the game being developed concurrently with the Nazghul engine, and features an Ultima-inspired tale of adventure.
Posted by: Withstand the Fury Dragon
Produced by: Andrea B. Previtera
Website: Ashes
Ashes is a 3D RPG inspired by, and using similar textures to, Ultima VII. The author is aiming to create a game that has a very similar feel to the classic Ultima title in terms of graphics, world interactivity, and other aspects.
Not to be confused with Exult 3D, which is a 3D visual environment for the actual Ultima VII world, Ashes is definitely a spin-off that has been inspired by the Ultima tradition. It looks very promising, and should be very interesting to play when completed!
Posted by: Withstand the Fury Dragon
Produced by: Arkane Studios
Website: Arx Fatalis Online (English site)
Releases:
* English Demo
* German Demo
* French Demo
* Version 1.17 Patch (English)
* Version 1.17 Patch (Italian)
* Version 1.17 Patch (French)
* Bonus CD Content
Arkane Studios developed this game in honor of the Ultima Underworld series, out of recognition of the superior gameplay style of those games. Featuring a strong plot with many subquests, multiple NPC races – each with different dialogue styles, character customization, exceptional world interactivity and even runic magic, this game could very well have been titled “Ultima Underworld 3″.