Beautiful Britannia Project Info (2009 Oct.)

General Information:

BEAUTIFUL BRITANNIA will our first release and is based on the knowledge and possiblities we got within the last years.

It will be created using Firstknights self-developed ingame-creation methodics, combined with hex editor coding and the usage of an self-written tool for automated code changes. The removement of the monster generators (a nessecity in this type of building process) will give the player the possiblilty make the overworld completely free of enemies. This makes the game something for adventurers. Because of the fact that no changes will be made to the textfiles, the modification will be compatible with all localized versions of Ultima IX Ascension.

Features and Changes to Ultima IX:

• Massive Upgrade of the existing worldmap, providing lush landscapes full of hidden treasures
• Addition of reused content in form of “Addin-Maps”
• Removement of monster generators (no respawning of monsters)
• Movement of quest related items and important treasures to new locations
• Replacement of Ruins of Empath Abbey
• Compatible with all localized versions of Ultima IX

Details:

Overworld Upgrade:

At first the existing overworld map will get an massive upgrade, the result can be seen best when looking into the media section. No movement or enlargement of buildings is planned, with exeption of The Ruins of Empath Abbey. They will replaced into a location west of Yew and also enlarged in size.

Addin-Maps:

The next is the addition of “Addin-Maps”.These are maps, which will be included into the game world without changing the overworld itself. This methodics allows to expand the game  with several generic overworld wilderness maps as well as many free-exploration dungeons, which open fantastic possibilities for adventurers. For this both previously unsed maps, but also redone versions of existing ones will be used. The advantage of this concept is, that all those complex event triggers (Boat Travel for example) on the main worldmap have not to be decoded (which would be a massive task) and repositioned later. They can simply remain where they are.

Details and Examples for Addin-Maps:

• Expansion of the main overworld with several “Addin-Maps” (Overworld ones), allows Exploration while on the way
• Many, many free explorable dungeons can be entered mainly from this new added Maps, some even directly from the main worldmap.

• An upgraded version of “Old Cove” (Map.5)  will expand the “Way to Despise” (Accessible through a Teleporter from Despise Entrance). The backway is direct to Britain (just as in the original game)
• A free explorable version of “Hythloth Lower Levels” (Map.24) will be used for “Britain Sewers”

Item Movement:

Expect many quest related items as well as important weapons and armor to be found on new locations.

Examples for moved Items:

• Fire Sword
• Lighthouse Gems 
• Blackrock Armor Parts

Known Problems:

While testing the actual build we found out, that there are at least 2 major bugs included:

• The “Save the mother” quest (between Britain and Paws) cannot be finished
• At the Beginng of the game, Aidon the mayor is making a speech. Now the speech doesn’t start anymore.

I have to say, that I cannot make sure, that those bugs can be fixed later, but of course we will try to fix them.

Release: 

TBA (This all will take some years for sure)