Excelsior

Greetings, denizens of Excelsior! I'm Jay.

I'd like to say, this is one of the most developed and complex private UO shards I have ever encountered. My head is swimming...

Some background: I am a long (long, long, long) time RPer. I'm an older dude, and I began at the beginning with UO, in 1997 and Origin Systems. I later left Origin for a variety of private shards, including The Darklands, Journey's End, Sanctuary, Medieva, Heartwood Paradise, etc, etc.

In 2004 I stopped playing Ultima Online. For some that year may be familiar,as that is the year World of Warcraft came out, and that is why I left Ultima Online. Mechanically, WOW sucks as an RP game. However, the vibrancy of the visual experience is obvious compared with UO, and I found, when WOW was first released, the RP servers they opened had a relatively good, immersive atmosphere. But through time, Blizzard stopped enforcing the RP rules on those servers, non-RPers began to realize that the general experience on the RP servers was more mature than the open servers, and began to move there but refused to RP, and the RP servers became like all the other servers. There were pockets of good RP, but those were few and far between. Then it was just a game, and though I do enjoy the challenge of fighting monsters and questing, my real love is RP. Eventually, a couple of years ago, I tired of it and quit WOW. For the past couple of years I have kind of aimlessly wandered, trying a few different games, but none brought me the same RP enjoyment that UO had years ago. But, I didn't think to still find any shards with a large, active population.

Well, apparently, in at least this case, if what I read is to be believed then I was wrong. Over 100 people on line regularly, can this be? Without near paralyzing lag? No non-consensual PVP, no PK? I think maybe I'm home.

But... well... it's been 8 years since I played UO. I don't remember how to play, even with the scripts I used to play with. And here... there is so much. Much of it I don't understand. I read the Wiki and Codex fully and I'm still somewhat lost. OK, really lost. I logged into game once, felt overwhelmed, and logged out. There were people in the start room, I believe players, and I couldn't remember how to do anything and felt embarrassed.

So a question or two: Is the Portal a chat room, similar to the old Mirc? Where I might find players and staff that I could badger endlessly while I learn how to play again? If so, I noted that it had the same log in as the game. Does that make that log-in your user name for Portal? If so, I'd really like my initial account deleted so I can remake it with a different log-in, preferably my player name. Would that be possible?

Anyway, glad to be here. I'll get it figured out eventually. I'd like to introduce a friend of mine. This is Gericho Dagon...
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Gericho Dagon looked around furtively, then quickly snuck off the unloading freighter when no one was looking. A handsome, swarthy young lad of 19, he heaved a sigh of relief at making the journey as a stowaway without being caught. He was hungry, dirty, and tired, but at least he was alive and free. Finally! But where was he...? He hadn't a clue. He knew one thing: It wasn't the Keep where he'd spent his life as a slave, working for the Lord's fletcher hour after hour. He was free! He noticed a Llama nearby, saddled but otherwise unmarked and unremarkable. "I bet no one would notice this missing", as he climb quickly onto the docile animal's back and urged it into a trot, glancing down at the saddle bag he had missed before on the beast's off side with a wry grin. "This is an even better start than I could have hoped", he thought, leaving the dock area quickly before being spotted, and melting into the city streets to begin his new life...

Well met by moonlight, Friend Gericho. Im glad(and hoping) that you have found a new home. Lots of people on here willing to help ones who help themselves(by reading the WIKI first hehe) If you have any questions in game feel free to ask in global chat [c to chat. If there is anything I can answer I will take a stab at it. Just about everyone on here knows more than me but I will give it a try. Pm Kagan ip Lee in game Oh Yes [pm to private message someone. Again Welcome!

it seems we are both willing to help.. must be due to our FIRST training

So a question or two: Is the Portal a chat room, similar to the old Mirc? Where I might find players and staff that I could badger endlessly while I learn how to play again? If so, I noted that it had the same log in as the game. Does that make that log-in your user name for Portal? If so, I'd really like my initial account deleted so I can remake it with a different log-in, preferably my player name. Would that be possible?

Portal is basically a JS script interface to access the in-game global chat without logging into the game (or even having it installed). So you can chat with your friends while at work , review chat history, check the PMs (you can see the recieved and sent ones, but you can't compose them from Portal, unfortunately), access the forums and wiki. Think of Portal as you Journal deluxe and then some. I am not sure about the name issue - I log into portal with my account name, but anything I type is displayed with my char name. Perhaps it displays you currently active (or the most recently active) char's name. But it's a guess only.

Thanks all for the words of encouragement and offers of assistance. I am certain I'll be taking you all up on the offers when I have some free time to get in game and try to figure out again how to play.

OSI didnt have world chat, here you use "[c yourtext " and hit enter to post in world chat.. most folks here are more than willing to help if they arent in the middle of fighting something. Feel free to PM me anytime I am online with questions and i will do my best to answer them for you.
RP;
I do not recall the guild names, but a bit of searching will find you at least one RP guild.. I gave up on RP quite some time ago, due to the lack of quality and skill, and don't really miss it much.

"Lowers his bow, and returns the arrow to his quiver, stepping back into the shadows of the alley. Wondering why he just allowed the theft as he watched the young man ride off into the crowded streets beyond the docks. Something was telling him, they would meet again. What remained, was if that meeting would be one of mutual benefit, or if it would be a meeting of enemies."

Myself and a couple others have recently started a Guild for the intent and purpose of Role-Playing. Both myself, and my Girlfriend are UO Vets as well. Each of us started playing years ago on OSI and left for basically the same reasons you did.

My girlfriend, Piper, has even written and had published two books based on the RP from our OSI days. And is currently working on a third book in the series about RP that is going on now, here on Excelsior.

Our guild is called "Mysfitz By Nature" (MBN) and we would love to RP with you anytime. If you happen to see Piper or myself, Nin-Ja, in and about, strike up a conversation, or stop by our 'base of operations' which can be found on the World Tele, under "SHOPS".

Hope you enjoy your stay here as much as we do.


*Nin-Ja, the Shadow Imp smiles at the sight of yet another tourist coming to the world he has learned to call home. "I wonder how long this one will last." He chuckles to himself. "If he stay's on Piper's good side... he just might make it." Making a mental note to himself to keep an eye on this new traveler, for he might make a sweet addition to the Clan. After all... he's only been here a short time, and already stealing mounts in broad daylight.
Pulling his dark hood up over his head, he steps back into the shadowed corner of the nearby shop, and vanishes.