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Ultima/ gs
for Apple IIgs from Vitesse
Ultima
If you've seen the original game's manuals, you know the
Vitesse versions are stronger in some areas (like monster
descriptions) and weaker in others (like describing Space
travel). Vitesse neglects to say much about the use of
the Sector Scan.
Space
Space is laid out on a 7x7 wrap-around grid. Pressing I shows
a rough map of all 49 sectors. You can locate your ship and also
get a pretty good idea of what is in each sector.
Sector Scan Key
+ is a space station which may also have one or two ships
you can use
H indicates presence of one or more hostile ships
^ a yellow diamond indicates there is a star here
. dots indicate an empty sector
Space combat is a good deal more difficult in Ultima I/gs. It
helps to use the keypad (instead of the arrow keys) and to know
that the 5 key works for "down". Getting used to using SPACE for
quick re-centering and F to fire takes a while. After a bit of
practice I've managed to do okay. Still, it is fair to criticize
the new Ultima I for mixing-in a rather rough arcade sequence.
There should be some other way for 'arcade challenged' players
to become Space Aces-- like, for a lot more $$ you can purchase
a better ray gun, sector bomb, or whatever.
Overflow
The new Ultima I does seem to have fixed the overflow problem.
That is, if an attribute like Intelligence is at 99, then visiting
a place where the attribute is boosted (like the Tower of
Knowledge) has no effect. The attribute does not reset to 0.
Unfortunately, the game does not let Hit Points or Experience
go beyond 9999.
Diddling ...
You may wish to change the value of some attribute that gets
messed around-- for example, Intelligence can be lost when
battling Mind Whippers. If so, just edit the saved game file.
Attributes start at byte $6E with Strength. The order is the same
as that shown via a Z-stats display. Each attribute is stored as
two bytes. So, for example, a Strength of 92 will show up as
5C 00. These are hex values with, as usual, the low byte coming
first. $5C is 92 in decimal.
Why two bytes? Evidently, this has to do with the 65816 being
in 16-bit mode when it reads/writes values to the saved game file.
Obviously, since the program tops-out at 99 for attributes, the
2nd (high) byte is always going to be $00.
Time Machine
So far, no player seems to have located the Time Machine-- even
after becomming a Space Ace and rescuing the Princess. (In fact, I
rescued all eight princesses and got the "You are ready for Time
Travel... Time Machine is to be found far to the Northwest" message
each time-- still, no Time Machine!) Even if there really is some
way to locate the Time Machine, the absence of adequate clues
amounts to a game bug.
A player can 'find' the Time Machine by diddling a Saved Game
file. First, go to the town next to the King's castle on the Lands
of Lord British continent and buy some cheapo transport, like a
Horse or Cart. Leave town and BOARD the new Horse or whatever.
Move to an open area (say, a bit to the north of the town and
castle). Now, press Q to Save the game (while still on board).
Exit the game.
Using Block Warden or some other block editor, edit the Saved
Game file (it will occupy a single block). Byte $1A should have
a value of $01 if you are on a Horse, $02 if you're in a Cart ....
$05 for an Air Car, .... . Change the value in byte $1A to $07.
Save/Write the changed block. The $07 means you are aboard the
Time Machine.
Start the game and load in the changed Saved Game. You will be
aboad the Time Machine. Do an X-it and move. The Time Machine will
remain on the map. It's a good idea to save your game here. When
you next board the Time Machine and have all four Gems, you are
transported to Mondain's domain. (In fact, there is no option to
exit!) You can board the Time Machine whenever you're ready to
take on Mondain. (HINT: Use the GET command to GET/Destroy
Mondain's Gem of Power.)
Continent Names: Ultima/IIgs and Ultima/Original
Lands of Lord British Ho
Lands of the Feudal Lords Eyoh
Lands of the Dark Unknown He
Lands of Danger & Despair Hum
Continent Order on the Globe
---> He <------> Hum <------> Ho <------> Eyoh <---
| |
Ho Hum
Misc Saved Game Info
$0008-$000B H/V location of character (2 bytes each)
$001A ID code of current boarded Transport (bit 3 is 0). $00 = None
$003E- ... These appear to be counts of each transport type (Air Cars @ $42)
$006E- ... STRENGTH and other Character Attributes (2 bytes each)
$007E, $007F $$ (max is 9999)
$009E- ... Horizontal location of transport at $013E- ...
$00EE- ... Vertical location of transport at $013E- ...
$013E- ... Vehical ID codes (bit 3 is set): Horse= $09, Shuttle= $0E, ...
$018E- ... Possibly, continent Location for transport at $013E- ...
Note 1: Evidently, the program creates a new H/V record for a vehical
which moves to a new continent. (i.e. another byte at $013E ... is
used for the ID code, etc.) Really, this looks like a bug.
Note 2: One can change the type of an existing Transport by changing
its ID code in the $013E ... area. For instance, to change an
existing Horse to a Time Machine, change $09 to $0F. The program
is pretty good about adjusting counts, etc. when the game is saved.
R/