Ultima 1- The First Age of Darkness
Hint File- Revision 2 5/5/95
Written by Plaid Dragon
For the latest version of this file, look at:
http://www.lm.com/~joepran/ultima.html
Note from the author- This is one of three hint files for Ultima 1. This file is called the hint file and
should be U1HINT.TXT. The other two are the walkthrough and the technical file,
U1WALK.TXT and U1TECH.TXT. If you are stuck, I highly recommend this file first as it deals
with general Q&A. If you are still stuck (besides sending whatever is your question to Plaid
Dragon for possible addition to this file), you should consult the walkthrough. The Technical file
is where you would look for general info, such as shop lists and prices and other such information.
Table of Contents
1 Exploring the World
1.1 Overworld
1.2 Dungeons
1.3 Space
1.4 Combat
2 The Quests
2.1 General
2.2 Lands of Lord British
2.3 Lands of the Feudal Lords
2.4 Lands of the Dark Unknown
2.5 Lands of Danger and Despair
2.6 1000 Years Ago
3 Ultima Information
3.1 Future and Past
3.2 UDIC
4 Question Credits
Section 1: Exploring the World
1.1 Overworld
This section contains questions reguarding the world of Ultima 1 and walking around. It does
NOT deal with any quest in general.
Q: My God! The world is big! How is it arranged?
A: The world is arranged in 4 continents. Each continent has 2 castles and 8 towns. I don't know
how many caves. Unfortunately, all of the continent's towns mirror each other except for the
name. For instance, the cities of Britian and Arnold are exactly the same except for the name.
Ditto for the castles. I'm not sure if the dungeons follow this pattern or not.
Q: How can I get to the other continents and islands?
A: In some towns, there is a transportation shop. Any boat or airship EXCEPT the shuttle will do.
Q: What are the signposts?
A: The signposts are aparrantly holy places simular to the Shrines of later Ultimas. By 'entering' a
signpost, you can gain valuable weapons or abilities. I think that there are 8 of them. (Also the
same as the 8 Virtues) However, there are only 2 on Britain.
Q: My map appears to be wrong, what are the actual locations on the continents?
A: Clockwise from the upper right, they are: Lands of the Feudal Lords, Lands of the Dark
Unknown, Lands of Lord British, Lands of Danger and Despair.
Q: I seem to have lost my maps (*wink* *wink*), where can I find new ones?
A: Try on the Ultima Dragon's Ultima 1 homepage: http://www.why.com/ultima/ultima1
Q: What is the best way to gain experience?
A: Fighting in the dungeons is the best way. That way, no food is used and you gain hit points
every time you return to the surface.
1.2 Dungeons
Q: How big are the dungeons?
A: All of the dungeons have 10 levels. Some of the dungeons, however require magic to travel all
the way to the bottom.
Q: Help! I'm lost in a dungeon. What can I do to get out.
A: By far, the easiest way to get to a certain level of a dungeon or to get out of one, is the 2
ladder spells: Ladder Up and Ladder Down. They are cheap. Stock up.
Q: But that doesn't help me! I need out NOW. I can't very well get a spell while I'm in a dungeon,
can I?
A: No, you can't. Try the old getting out of a maze trick: Follow a wall. Keep going until you find
a ladder up. It is possible, that there is no way to get to the ladder up from where you are. Try
decending and looking for another ladder. If all else fails, restore.
1.3 Space
Q: How do I get into space?
A: Buy a shuttle. They are availible in numerous towns, usually a town by a castle.
Q: Now that I'm in space, what do I do?
A: A shuttle can either land on a planet or pull into stardock. Try carefully, flying to the one
nearby.
Q: What is the differences between the ships?
A: The shuttle is the oly one that can land on a planet, but it can't hyperjump. The fat ship is a
cargo ship: lots of feul but little staying power. The smaller one is a fighter. It has good shields,
but can't go very far.
Q: Ok, I've jumped across the galaxy. Now I'm running out of feul and want to return home...but
I can't find it! Where is it?
A: Close to the center of the map. It is shown as a + instead of a o, even though it has a sun.
Q: Are any of the ports important?
A: No. But you can refuel or change ships.
1.4 Combat
Q: Do you have any pointers on overland combat?
A: Stay away from the oceans unless you have to. A magician should use a magic missile spell. If
you have one, fire a range weapon to weaken the opponent before he can get to you.
Q: How about while in the dungeons?
A: Do not decend to the next odd-numbered level unless you know what you are doing and are
prepared to deal with it. (3, 5, 7, etc.) the same that applies to range weapons in overland combat
applies to here as well.
Q: And in space?
A: Stay at speed 1. Keep tracking the enemy until the ship has a visible passenger section (a
center to the H) Aim slightly above the target and try not to waste energy on foolish shots. Do
not approach a ship that is on the end of the screen, it isn't worth it.
Section 2: The Quests
2.1 General
Q: What in the world is the point of this game???
A: Try talking to the bartender. A lot.
A2: The point of this game is to travel back 1000 years in time and defeat the evil Mondian and
destroy a gem which he would later use to try to take over the world. You must perform quests to
get the gems and the time machine in which to use.
Q: How many quests are there?
A: 8. 2 on each continent. 4 continents. There are 4 "Kill" quests and 4 "Find" quests. Only the
"Kill" quests need to be solved. In addition, you must travel in space and become a "space ace"
for a side quest that you discover in the Lands of the Dark Unknown.
Q: In what order should the quests be completed?
A: There are 2 schools of thought: Solve all of the quests on each continent before flying/sailing
to the next. They would be done in the following order: Lands of Lord British, Lands of the
Feudal Lords, Lands of the Dark Unknown, Lands of Danger and Despair. The other way, is to
either not do the "find" quests, or do them first, gaining experience and levels for the harder "kill"
quests. This (and all of my documents) assume the first way.
2.2 Lands of Lord British
Q: Where can I find a gelatinous cube?
A: On the 3rd or 4th levels of any dungeon.
Q: Where can I find the Grave of the Lost Soul
A: Look in the Lands of Danger and Despair
2.3 Lands of the Feudal Lords
Q: Where can I find a carrion creeper?
A: On the 5th and 6th levels of any dungeon.
Q: Where is the Souther Sign Post?
A: Look in the Lands of the Dark Unknown
2.4 Lands od the Dark Unknown
Q: Where can I find a lich?
A: On the 7th and 8th levels of any dungeon
Q: Where is the Pillar of Ozymandias?
A: Look in the Lands of the Feudal Lords
Q: How do I become a space ace?
A: The tavern keeper knows...
A2: Get a shuttle and blast off. Destroy 20 alien fighters and return.
Q: How do I "save" a princess?
A: Enter the castle and attack the Jester. He has a key. It *might* open the door in the prison. If
it doesn't, too bad. If it does, lead the princess outside (killing the guards on the way...).
2.5 Lands of Danger and Despair
Q: Where do I find a Balron
A: On the 9th and 10th levels of any dungeon.
Q: Where is the Tower of Knowledge
A: Look in the Lands of Lord British
Q: What happens when I take 9 things from Shamino?
A: Beats me. I can't figure it out...
2.6 1000 Years Ago
Q: How do I beat Mondain?
A: Use a missile weapon. Try to get him on the far left side of the screen. Just keep pounding him.
Section 3: Ultima Information
3.1 Future and Past
Q: What towns/etc will appear in later games?
A: Hmmm.... Here's a list, it may not be complete:
Britania uses gold coins as the money in all games.
Lord British appears in U1-7 and UW2.
Iolo appears in U1-7.5
Gwino appears in U1-3
Shamino appears in U4-7.5
Shamino's Castle appears in U1 and U7.5
White Dragon appears in U1, U7.5
White Dragon's Castle appears in U1, U7.5
LB's Castle appears in U1-7
Paws appears in U1, U3-7
Moon appears in U1, U3 and a version in 7.5
Fawn appears in U1, U3 and 7.5
Montor appears in U1 and 7.5. 2 versions are in U3 (west and east).
Yew appears in U1, U3-U7
Linda appears in U1-2
Lands of Lord British is later called Sosaria and Britania
Lands of Danger and Despair is later called New Sosaria and Serpent Isle
Q: I really didn't want to know that bad... Where can I buy these fabulous games?
A: At a store near you. U1-6 are currently availible in one CD package. UW1 and 2 are also on a
CD.
Q: What are all of these games called?
A: Here's another list:
1. First Age of Darkness
2. Revenge of the Enchantress
3. Exodus
4. Avatar
5. False Prophet
6. ?
7. Black Gate and Forge of Virtue
7.5.Serpent Isle and Silver Seed
8. Pagan
9. Acension (not yet released)
And the Underword series:
1. Stygian Abyss
2. Labrinth of Worlds
And the Worlds of Ultima series:
Maritan Dreams
?
3.2 UDIC
Q: I really want to learn more about Ultima as I really enjoy the games. Is there someplace that I
can go to learn more?
A: Try UDIC. They are located at http://www.why.com/ultima and you can become a member
just by filling out a form. They post to alt.games.ultima.dragons, you don't have to be a dragon to
post there either. You can learn lots of stuff.
Section 4: Question Credits
The following people suggested questions:
*no one*
