Ultima V Nitpicks
From Editable Codex
[edit] Introduction
Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny was the first Ultima to remain mostly consistent with the story and general world of Ultima IV. 'Warriors', however, adds a new dimension to the conflict. The engine now has the ability to include chairs, mirrors, hay, gates, etc., and the impressive world is lacking the black-and-white characterizations of Ultima IV. A story this impressive, will have nitpicks; however, since the engine is not yet at the Ultima VII level, some limitations should be ignored.
[edit] Ignorance of Predecessors
[edit] Rune Stones
It’s strange that we don’t hear a single word about the rune stones in Ultima V. They were last seen when the Stranger became the Avatar in Ultima IV, and in Ultima VI, they’ll suddenly reappear in the cities.[1]
[edit] Life of Sentri
The designers missed the opportunity to tell us why Sentri, the lord of Serpent’s Hold in Ultima IV, has suddenly become an adventurer hiding in Bordermarch. I also thought the three castles offer resistance against Blackthorn, so why then is Sentri not with his men in the keep?[1]
[edit] Book, Bell and Candle
Where are the Book of Truth, Candle of Love, and Bell of Courage?[2]
[edit] Isle of the Avatar
According to everybody’s statements, the Isle of the Avatar rose from the sea after the end of the last game. However, the Isle was already there in Ultima IV![2]
[edit] Lord British's Treasury
What happened to the treasure vault of Lord British? (I know: He gave all his gold to the poor and lives off the high interest rates now.)[2]
[edit] Eight City-States
The Book of Lore, Ultima IV history part, reads: "The eight city-states, now townes united under Lord British, were each dedicated to fostering the study and spread of a single virtue."
They obviously forgot about Magincia here. Magincia once was the city of pride, until it was destroyed by daemons (before Ultima IV). It wasn’t until after the Quest of the Avatar that shepherds rebuilt the town. Therefore, that line in the Book of Lore can not be correct, since there were only seven towns in Britannia before Ultima V.[3]
[edit] No Return
At the end of Ultima IV, when you returned to Earth, it said you could always return to Britannia now, because you knew the "secret of the gates". However, all later Ultimas (especially Ultima V) claim that you’d love to return to Britannia but can’t.[3]
[edit] Lord of the Underworld
According to the Book of Mystic Wisdom, Z is the first letter of the unpronounceable truename of the Lord of the Underworld. If we believe Ultima V, the Underworld does not come into being until after Ultima IV, or, if you take Ultima VI into account, you should meet that Lord then. (Any chance this is an unknown name of Draxinusom?)[3]
[edit] Technical Shortcomings
[edit] New Islands
Did the islands that now house keeps like Bordermarch really rise through volcanic activities only? If this is true, then villages and towns should have been affected as well.[2]
[edit] Location of Buccaneer's Den
On the map of Britannia, Buccaneer’s Den is too far to the south! The reason is pretty clear: The spot where the island is located in the game is exactly where the Ultima V logo was placed on the map.[1]
[edit] Language of the Codex
Ultima lore says the Codex always appears in the language of the reader. However, when the Avatar reads it, it shows runes instead of Latin characters.[2]
[edit] Dry Lake
The Drylands throw up some questions. Not only is it most suspicious that the lake suddenly dried up, but it’s also even more strange that the Shrine of Sacrifice remains completely unharmed at the very center of the desert.[4]
[edit] What Kind of Adventuring Clothes Are Those?
The Lord British sprite wears a crown - That’s impossible, because the Avatar has Lord British’s Crown. The sprite also wears a royal cloak, which seems strange, since Lord British originally was on an expedition and surely wore more comfortable clothes.[2]
[edit] Both Dungeon Entrances Sealed
When the Avatar journeys to the Underworld through a dungeon and tries to return to the surface through a different dungeon, the entrance will be sealed! It’s a bit strange that the spell of the Great Council was powerful enough to seal even the dungeon exits at the ground of the Underworld.[5]
[edit] Magic Ban
In the intro it’s mentioned that Blackthorn banned magic use in Britannia, and that any use of magic brought the Shadowlords upon the caster. This raises two possible flaws: 1. If magic was supposedly banned by Blackthorn, then why are apothecaries still allowed to do business? They sell the primary ingredients for spellcasting! Little wonder Blackie’s regime fell with such lax totalitarianism like that... 2. Whenever the Avatar casts magic, should that not bring the Shadowlords to his very location each time?[5]
[edit] Orb of the Moons
Why did Lord British not take the Orb of the Moons with him when he entered the Underworld? If he had done so, then he and his companions could have escaped any time... (The only possible excuse: He did not want to take the risk of losing the Orb. But someone that cautious normally doesn’t undertake dangerous expeditions into unknown worlds, either!)[1]
[edit] Bloody Skeletons
Skeletons leave blood when you kill them. This could easily have been fixed.[6]
[edit] Oppression Guards
In Ultima V, the three castles are supposed to be opposing Blackthorn. However, his own guards guard the castles. (The Oppression does an excellent job, doesn’t it?)[6]
[edit] Mysterious Clearing
When the Avatar arrives in Britannia and the scene with the Shadowlords takes place, you see a stream, a bridge, and a waterfall. However, all this happens in close vicinity of Iolo’s Hut, where there’s no stream or waterfall, or even a bridge, nearby. (Note that the Avatar and Iolo have to carry Shamino to the hut, so it must be close...)[7]
[edit] Quick Change
On the intro picture with the lightning, when the Avatar arrives in Britannia, he wears a helmet. Yet in the very next scene, he suddenly wears a chain coif.[2]
[edit] The Vanishing Stove
The programmers reproduced Lord British’s cell with every detail reflected through the mirror. However, they forgot the stove![6]
[edit] General Problems
[edit] Lack of Resistance
The three castles (Lycaeum, Empath Abbey, and Serpent’s Hold) are said to offer resistance against Blackthorn’s regime. However, the guards don’t keep anyone from entering the keeps, and there is no sign of fighting or even war. Strange.[1]
[edit] Codex Coin
What actually happens to the Codex coin in the course of the game?[2]
[edit] Creation of the Underworld
The Underworld can’t have been created just by the material thrown out of the Abyss, if only because of the Underworld’s size. So it’s nonsense what Iolo says in the introduction.[2]
[edit] Dungeon Doom's Seal
Why is dungeon Doom actually sealed? The Great Council didn’t even know it existed! Likewise, why is the Word of Power for Doom the same as the password for the Codex in Ultima IV?[2]
[edit] Shadowlords' Escape
Everyone keeps saying that the Shadowlords had not been able not leave the Underworld until Lord British shortly opened one dungeon to descend. But why didn’t they simply leave the Underworld by flying up through a whirlpool? If humans survive this, then it’d hardly be surprising if they survived it, too...![2]
- It is not a given that the Shadowlords can fly. Hovering over a pit is not nearly the same as flying a mile straight up.
[edit] Lord British's Descent
They say Lord British descended into the Underworld through a dungeon, which is simply wrong. The expedition went through the waterfall west of Trinsic. This naturally leads to the question how the Shadowlords could escape from the Underworld at all...[8]
[edit] Location of the Lycaeum
Leof in North Britanny says the Lycaeum is located on Dagger Isle, but it is actually located on Verity Isle.[6]
[edit] References and original contributors to Hacki's page
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Originally submitted by Hacki Dragon
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 Originally submitted by Tribun Dragon
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Originally submitted by Flash
- ↑ Originally submitted by Hyena of Ice
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Originally submitted by Blue Claw
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Originally submitted by Dino the Dark Dragon
- ↑ Originally submitted by Trevor Clim
- ↑ Originally submitted by Sergorn Dragon
[edit] External Links
- Hacki's Ultima Nitpicks - hosted byBootstrike
This article includes material originally taken from Hacki's Ultima Page, and is used with permission.
