Familiar Faces in Ultima Forever

Okay, technically, Linda Sue’s face isn’t familiar, because there weren’t exactly character portraits in Ultima 4. Be that as it may; the Ultima Forever team have, via the game’s Facebook page, released an image of another in-game NPC…who recalls fondly a Stranger from Another World who helped her turn her life around:

I run the poorhouse. A long time ago I was a beggar, but then I met the First Avatar. He turned my life around, and since then I’ve tried to help as many folks as I can.”

As well, the team pose the following question. Questions, really:

Is Linda Sue talking about you? Set 21 years after the events of Ultima IV and players will encounter new experiences set in a familiar locations. What are you looking forward to in Ultima Forever?

Over to you, Dragons and Dragonettes. What are you hoping to see in this return to Britannia?

12 Responses to "Familiar Faces in Ultima Forever"

Ultima Forever: Familiar Faces says:

February 23, 2013 at 2:43 am

[…] technically, Linda Sue’s face isn’t familiar, because there weren’t exactly character portraits in Ultima 4. Be that as it may; the Ultima […]

Reply
Sanctimonia says:

February 23, 2013 at 5:03 am

Can someone make a clarification on Britannia time versus Earth time? It’s my understanding that Britannia time is faster than Earth’s, meaning 10 years passing on Earth would equal 100 (guessing) years on Britannia. If so, then 21 Britannian years later the Avatar would look nearly identical to when he visited previously. If you indeed turned Linda’s life around you think she’d recognize you. Then again, Mary apparently didn’t recognize Jesus three days after his death, so maybe they’re pulling the “it’s not possible that it’s the same person” card. Hopefully there’s a good explanation and this isn’t the first of many WTF (big T, Ken) moments in the game.

Reply
1. WtF Dragon says:
  
  February 23, 2013 at 5:29 am
  
  As far as I know, it’s never firmly established anywhere in canon what the exact time disparity is, but it seems to be fairly significant, as it is rare to see the same NPC appear in successive Ultima titles, Earth-born characters excluded.
  
  Oh, and also, it’s been established that the character you play in Ultima Forever is not the same Avatar as appeared in Ultima 4.
  
  Reply
  1. Sanctimonia says:
    
    February 23, 2013 at 10:32 am
    
    Awesome, didn’t realize your player character wasn’t the canonical Avatar from Ultima IV. Perhaps you are given the chance to become his disciple by interpreting the Eight Virtues unto yourself. Still, the reference to “First Avatar” is troubling. Perhaps there were one or more false prophets while you were away?
    
    Reply
    1. Walter Slugg says:
      
      February 25, 2013 at 2:34 am
      
      Please remember the Ultima events in 7 8 9 no spoiler here but there writen events that would disprove your suggestion 🙁
      
      Reply
      1. WtF Dragon says:
        
        February 25, 2013 at 4:09 am
        
        U4E is set temporally prior to U7/8/9, and also occurs in what is arguably a different timeline.
    2. sirklaus says:
      
      February 25, 2013 at 8:22 am
      
      Well, the Avatar status wasn’t meant to be a title for a single person. But I feel that between the end of U4 and the start of U5 that interest in the Quest for Avatarhood (and by extent living a -balanced- virtuous life) was gone. Nobody ever achieved that status beyond the player and I feel that it is there that it failed, LB wasn’t able to keep the fire of the Virtues burning in the heart of the Britannian Citizenry.
      
      That’s why U4E is interesting, the moral question are still at the heart of the life of adventurers.
      
      Reply
      1. JC John Sese Cuneta says:
        
        March 28, 2013 at 3:58 pm
        
        It feels like we will be one of the “Peers of Virtue” member in Lynn Abbey’s “The Forge of Virtue” and “Temper of Wisdom” books.
        
        We’re not the Avatar (or Avatars), but we are trying to follow in his/her footsteps to take on each virtue, again just like the Peers.
        
        And, the first book begins right after Lord British disappeared and right after the Shadowlords showed up and influenced Lord Blackthorn.
        
        U4E, though not exactly based on the book or following the Prime timeline which leads to U5, does appear to have taken elements from the book. Ordinary Sosarian citizens taking on the path of the Avatar but no one can finish it, ending up being called just the Peers of Virtue.
    3. Sanctimonia says:
      
      February 25, 2013 at 8:38 am
      
      @sirklaus I always thought of it as a title owned by only one (the player). In spirit it makes sense though that there could be multiple Avatars, each earned, and they’d inevitably disagree and oppose each other (or ally). People in some areas might run if fear if they think they see an Avatar based on their previous encounters. Good setup for an Ultima story.
      
      Reply
sirklaus says:

February 23, 2013 at 8:44 am

Well, beyond the earthling some mages were able to live for a loong time like Rudyom and Nystul. Horance doesn’t really count 😉

Reply
darren says:

March 29, 2013 at 6:02 am

I like this.

Reply
Ultima Forever & The Eight Virtues: City of Sacrifice says:

July 4, 2013 at 5:08 am

[…] in Ultima Forever closely parallels its layout in Ultima 4. The Poor House, incidentally, is where Linda Sue (from Ultima 4) can be found; she runs the place, in […]

Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply