Re: Ultima 4: Quest of the Avatar - is it this easy?

In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Khendradm wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> I downloaded the freeware classic game "Ultima 4: Quest of the Avatar" a few
> weeks back, and have been thoroughly enjoying it (I dl'ed it once before a few
> years ago, but I didn't bother to finish it).  It's brought back fond memories
> of when my brother used to play it on the old NES platform in the early '90s
> (there are some differences between the NES and computer version, but both
> still incorporate all the basic cool elements).
> 
> Anyway, I can't believe how I have so easily breezed through it, with the aid
> of online notes (it would have taken waaay too long to do if I didn't have
> those).  I tend to kinda suck at games, and have never beaten a RPG before (to
> be fair to myself, I haven't played that many, either - I mostly used to just
> watch my brother win them all the time).  Right now, I am on the 4th level of
> the Great Stygian Abyss.  When I first entered it, I was just checking it out
> to see what it was like - I didn't think I had enough experience/spells/etc. to
> get far in it.  I thought everyone in my party would need 800 hit points,
> extremely high MP and INT, and like 99 of each important spell (like cure and
> tremor), et al.
> 
> But being on the 4th level now, I can't believe how easy it's been.  I've
> actually saved the game now on the 4th level, since I am doing so well.  One of
> my questions is - are the next four levels easy also?  The hardest part so far
> has been just entering the damn thing (getting through the pirate ships, and
> past the poison/volcano spots), and the first level (what with all the lava
> spots and lava lizards, who zapped some hit points from me).  Still, I expected
> it to be much worse - I figured I'd have about 20 balrons trying to put me to
> sleep, or some new high-powered monsters that could shake major hit points from
> me.  There hasn't been any of that yet.
> 
> For your information, here are my current statistics (I just holed up and
> camped out, so almost everyone's maxed out on HP save for Julia):
> 
> Food - 1371 (stockpiled on this)
> Gold - 132 (low since I loaded up on food/reagents/gems)
> 
> 1 - Me, a bard chick
> MP: 50, STR: 46, DEX: 49, INT: 50, Level: 8, 800/800 hit points, 9999 EXP,
> equipped with magic wand & mystic robe
> 
> 2 - Katrina, the shepherd who refused to join until late in the game (what a
> b!tch)
> MP: 00, STR: 33, DEX: 31, INT: 25, Level: 5, 500/500 hit points, 1179 EXP,
> equipped with mystic sword & mystic robe
> 
> 3 - Shamino, ranger
> MP: 31, STR: 30, DEX: 39, INT: 31, Level: 5, 500/500 hit points, 1493 EXP,
> equipped with mystic sword & mystic robe
> 
> 4 - Geoffrey, fighter
> MP: 00, STR: 39, DEX: 32, INT: 36, Level: 5, 500/500 hit points, 1273 EXP,
> equipped with mystic sword & mystic robe
> 
> 5 - Julia, damn tinker
> MP: 18, STR: 31, DEX: 34, INT: 36, Level: 6, 559/600 hit points, 1651 EXP,
> equipped with mystic sword & mystic robe
> 
> 6 - Dupre, paladin
> MP: 39, STR: 46, DEX: 42, INT: 39, Level: 6, 600/600 hit points, 3107 EXP,
> equipped with mystic sword & mystic robe
> 
> 7 - Jaana, druid
> MP: 55, STR: 47, DEX: 40, INT: 37, Level: 7, 700/700 hit points, 4140 EXP,
> equipped with magic wand & mystic robe
> 
> 8 - Mariah, mage
> MP: 74, STR: 43, DEX: 43, INT: 37, Level: 7, 700/700 hit points, 4182 EXP,
> equipped with magic wand & mystic robe
> 
> I have 8 torches, 72 gems, 39 keys, 1 sextant, and all the necessary items like
> the book, candle, 3 part key, and whatnot
> 
> REAGENTS:
> 48 sulf ash, 57 ginseng, 50 garlic, 69 spid silk, 49 b. moss, 75 b. pearl, 78
> nightshade, 36 mandrake
> 
> SPELLS:
> 20 awakens, 4 blinks (what the hell does this spell do anyway - i've never used
> it), 15 cures (probably need to add more of these), 4 dispels (these too), 1
> energy field (what does this spell do?), 8 fireballs, 7 gate travels (never
> used these), 10 heals (might need more of these), 12 iceballs, 14 jinxes (what
> does this spell do), 10 kills, 90 lights, 8 missiles, 3 negates (does this
> negate magic ability of enemies?  I've only used it like twice), 17 opens
> (never used any of these), 0 protections (i ran out when i was trying to figure
> out what this spell did for me), 6 quicknesses (never used any of these), 10
> resurrects, 16 sleeps, 5 tremors (need more of these - LOVE this spell for
> battle), 2 undeads (WTF does this do), 6 views (not many but I have lots of
> gems), 9 wind changes (like i'll be needing any more of these, lol), 4 Xits, 24
> ups, and lots of downs (can't tell how many since the spell list ends at Y for
> me, but I mixed a lot and probably have about 20 of these also)
> 
> So, that's it.  Does it look good for me?
> 
> -Khendra (sorry for the butt-long post, I got carried away :D)

Mmm...well, not to sound bitchy or anything, but, if you are playing the
game with online notes and it's too easy, then why don't you, say, don't
use the notes??

-- 
Eduardo Alvarez                 http://www.great-atuin.net/~punga
                                                (offline, at the moment)
"Stercus, stercus stercus, moriturus sum"
                        -- Rincewind the Wizzard, "Interesting Times"