“Press Alt-C and dbl-click me”
Those were the first words a player said to me, five seconds after I logged onto UO for the very first time.

Ten seconds later I was dead.

That’s right, laugh at will. Ten seconds after I logged in not only had I attacked another player, I had managed to get myself guardkilled. I insta-rezed as the newbie I was so I didn’t loose anything other than a few stat points and a serious dent in my reputation, but alas my benefactor ran away as I tried to speak to him. This happened in the “good old days” of UO, more precisely January 17 1998. As a new player you could start in any town you liked (I choose Britain) and there was only one facet, which had the rules we now associate with Felucca.

“Press Alt-C and dbl-click me”
Those first ten seconds shaped my UO life. No other incident in all my ten years of playing UO stand out as clearly in my memory, no other single incident have taught me as much as that first contact with another player. While there have been many great moments, and a score of not so great ones, that is the one I will take with me now that I have left the game. Pk’s and thieves, guildmates and friends, beautiful graphics or plain ugly ones, the creation of Trammel and the housing disaster, bugs, patches and updates, I‘m sorry guys but nothing you have done to me since come close.

“Press Alt-C and dbl-click me”
I said my benefactor ran away as I tried to speak to him. I call him that since he taught me such a valuable lesson, one that cost me close to nothing. The first thing I learned from my untimely death might seem trivial and obvious but it is fundamental. This is a multiplayer game. There are other people playing, doing things that you don’t know why, and with completely different motives than you might have for your gaming. Everyone plays for their own enjoyment, not yours. While I knew that when I started, it didn’t really hit home until I saw gray.

“Press Alt-C and dbl-click me”
The second thing I took with me from the incident was never to trust anyone you meet in UO until they have proven themselves to be trustworthy. This is an important lesson. No matter how friendly people are or how good a deal they offer, always consider what you stand to loose and what they might gain. This doesn’t mean you can’t be friendly back, but if the deal looks to good to be true or doesn’t make any sense to you then back away. Politely decline, and ask why. If the player truly is friendly then he will explain his reasons, if he gets insulting or pushy you made the correct choice.

“Press Alt-C and dbl-click me”
The third thing that got clubbed into me by the heavy blow of the guard was knowledge. Knowledge is power. I didn’t know that pressing alt-c would put me in war mode and that clicking another player would then make me attack him. I was new and ignorant. Never again! From that moment I made sure to know as much as I could about the game, be it the fastest way to get to legendary tailor or how place a house, I learned. There are lots of great sites on the internet that will tell you how to do just about anything in UO, reading up on the skill you are about to train or the monster you intend to kill will save you a lot of time. To some part of the fun is to explore on their own, but for me knowledge is king. At the very least know where to go look if needed.

“Press Alt-C and dbl-click me”
As I continued to play UO over the years I also realized the importance of the first moments/days in the game for any new player. The game is complex and confusing at first, it’s easy to just call it quits if the people you meet are unfriendly as well. While I have never been a great fan of handouts to new players (as I believe you value your belongings more if you have to work for them rather than just given to you as handouts), help in the way of advice or just a friendly word can mean the world to a new arrival in the lands of Britannia.

I left UO almost to the day ten years after I first walked the streets of Britain. I have met many great people and ignored some not so great. I have fought monsters, I ran a successful scribe shop, I have GM:ed most of the skills in the game and I have become an Legendary runner from trying to flee Pk’s. All in all I had a great time in UO.

But one thing sums it all up.

“Press Alt-C and dbl-click me”

hum... login...


“Press Alt-C and dbl-click me”!

You know... I think the motto changed... now it is...

"INSURE!"


Miss you... Brother...

Very nice post! There were many things that taught us when we were new players.

Good to see ya around, please visit us sometime.

Very true,and it isnt any different today, for ANY online game,not just UO.

Thanks for sharing.