Ultima Online: The Second Age
| Ultima Online: The Second Age | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Origin Systems |
| Publisher(s) | Electronic Arts |
| Designer(s) | Raph Koster |
| Platform(s) | Windows |
| Release date(s) | October 31, 1998 |
| Genre(s) | MMORPG |
| Mode(s) | Multiplayer |
Ultima Online: The Second Age was the first expansion for the Ultima Online MMORPG. The expansion added several features to the game, including a new region called the Lost Lands, new creatures, and support for player-built cities. The expansion is popularly referred to as "T2A," (The Second Age).
The Second Age was developed by Origin Systems and published by Electronic Arts in 1998. It was the last Ultima Online expansion designed by Raph Koster.
Added Content
The Second Age expansion introduced many new gameplay features, creatures, monsters, and areas to Ultima Online.
Lost Lands
The Lost Lands are a continental landmass added to the playable area of the game that featured two cities, Papua and Delucia, and one dungeon, Terathan Keep. In Ultima lore, these lands were discovered or activated as the result of geological activity caused by the casting of the "Armageddon" spell by the Followers of Armageddon (or Zog Cabal).[1] There are 11 entrances the Lost Lands, all of which can be accessed by either boat, foot/mount, or teleportation.
Papua
Papua, nicknamed "Swamp City"[2] is the smaller of the two towns introduced in T2A and is located on the northeastern edge of the central landmass of the Lost Lands. It can be easily accessed by saying "recdu" while standing on a certain pentagram in the city of Moonglow. Conversely, one may stand on the pentagram in Papua and say "recsu" to be teleported back to Moonglow. Papua has a dock for ships, making the town accessible by water as well. The city is composed of grass huts and features several interactive NPC's: an alchemist, baker, blacksmith, butcher, carpenter, healer, jeweler, provisioner, shipwright, stablemaster, tailor and tinker all reside in the town. The styling of the town and the surrounding marshlands mimick the look of real-world Papua New Guinea.
Delucia
Delucia is the larger of the two towns introduced in T2A and is located in the southwestern corner of the Lost Lands and may sometimes be called the "City of Ruins." Cotton fields, minable mountainsides, harvestable lettuce and turnip fields, a bank, a mage shop, a healer, and a provisioner can all be found in the town.[3]
Mobs
The Second Age expansion added various new creatures and monsters (also known as mobs) that are unique to the Lost Lands and are meant to fit the lore surrounding the areas in which they can be found.
Creatures
- Bullfrog
- Frost Spider
- Giant Ice Serpent
- Giant Toad
- Ice Snake
- Lava Lizard
- Nightmare
- Forest Ostard
- Destert Ostard
- Frenzied Ostard
Monsters
- Cyclopian Warrior
- Frost Troll
- Ice Elemental
- Ice Fiend
- Imp
- Mummy
- Ophidian Apprentice Mage
- Ophidian Avenger
- Ophidian Enforcer
- Ophidian Justicar
- Ophidian Knight-Errant
- Ophidian Matriarch
- Ophidian Shaman
- Ophidian Warrior
- Ophidian Zealot
- Snow Elemental
- Stone Gargoyle
- Stone Harpy
- Swamp Tentacle
- Terathan Avenger
- Terathan Drone
- Terathan Matriarch
- Terathan Warrior
- Titan
- Wyvern[4]
Reception
Although critical reaction to the game was mixed, The Second Age was awarded "Online Roleplaying Game of the Year" at the 1999 Interactive Achievement Awards.[5] Many reviews criticized The Second Age for not expanding the game enough, especially since gamers were anticipating the 3D MMORPGs EverQuest and Asheron's Call.
In 2007, an independent emulation of Ultima Online: The Second Age was made available as a "free shard." While not supported by Electronic Arts, the original gameplay of this expansion is re-created through use of third party programs such as RunUO and Razor.
References
- ↑ "Lost Lands". Retrieved 20 October 2013.
- ↑ "T2A Cities and Towns". Stratics. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
- ↑ "T2A Cities and Towns". Stratics. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
- ↑ "T2A Guide - Creatures and Monsters". Stratics. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
- ↑ Academy Of Interactive Arts & Sciences. "Interactive Achievement Awards Category Details". thinking2.com. Retrieved 20 October 2013.