The game is badly in need of a difficulty balance pass.
While I know for the experienced veteran player base with guild contacts and such, it's less of an issue, I've attempted several times to blind build a character based off the Haven tutorial and the island itself.
While the tutorial area itself isn't great, it does do a nice start of getting you to 50 in certain skills before sending you out in the wild.
The problem is, somewhere over the last year, most of the wild got tuned up for 90-120 skill level or 1-50 and there's not much to do in that 40 skill gap, combat wise.
The dungeon revamps -really- have hurt this, as some of the earlier floors were good spots to skill up but they've all been tweaked too low, or too high.
I would say more "training quests" that encourage a player to explore other parts of the world map, where they get an "alacrity" style bonus like the haven quests, would be a good solution, but overall, the game just seems to be built around being capped in skills, without providing the path to get there.
I would also voice the concern I feel way too much of the game is balanced around entertaining tamers at this point. The pet hp versus player hp has caused a pretty hard balance disparity that makes PVM a pain as most other types. (I realize the sampire is an exception.)
The main concern is that damage from NPC mobs seems based off being able to damage pet HP in the 300+ range, and as a result, players can take 50+ damage hits with max resists and two bad defense checks spell doom. Or something hits for 2-3 damage and is easily shaken off with no threat. There has to be a "sweet spot" DPS wise for mobs to have between the two, but it doesn't seem like most enemies in the game employ it, it's just one of the two extremes. It's extremely discouraging while trying to skill up to the cap where more content opens up.
Just a few thoughts.
While the tutorial area itself isn't great, it does do a nice start of getting you to 50 in certain skills before sending you out in the wild.
The problem is, somewhere over the last year, most of the wild got tuned up for 90-120 skill level or 1-50 and there's not much to do in that 40 skill gap, combat wise.
The dungeon revamps -really- have hurt this, as some of the earlier floors were good spots to skill up but they've all been tweaked too low, or too high.
I would say more "training quests" that encourage a player to explore other parts of the world map, where they get an "alacrity" style bonus like the haven quests, would be a good solution, but overall, the game just seems to be built around being capped in skills, without providing the path to get there.
I would also voice the concern I feel way too much of the game is balanced around entertaining tamers at this point. The pet hp versus player hp has caused a pretty hard balance disparity that makes PVM a pain as most other types. (I realize the sampire is an exception.)
The main concern is that damage from NPC mobs seems based off being able to damage pet HP in the 300+ range, and as a result, players can take 50+ damage hits with max resists and two bad defense checks spell doom. Or something hits for 2-3 damage and is easily shaken off with no threat. There has to be a "sweet spot" DPS wise for mobs to have between the two, but it doesn't seem like most enemies in the game employ it, it's just one of the two extremes. It's extremely discouraging while trying to skill up to the cap where more content opens up.
Just a few thoughts.
Comments
As far as dungeon revamps, Wrong, Shame, Coveteous, Despise (Trammel) and Destard can all much more lethal than the original versions. I suggest you try Deceit, Despise (Fellucca), or the Orc Cave as they are more appropriate for characters under 100 Skill. Overland areas like the City of the Dead in the Lost Lands or the Ettins or Ratmen in Ilshenar might also work well depending on your template build.
You mentioned that you had tried out the various templates based on the tutorial but without more specifics advice is very difficult. Higher level contenf is also very demanding on equipment. If you are using less than Artifact class items you won't survive long even with capped Skills. What are your:
- Skills,
- STR/DEX/INT
- have you hit caps for Resist, Hit/Defense Chance, Damage?
- which spells/special moves you are using?
Blacksmithing, Carpentry and Inscription services offered through afilliated subcontractors.
Exotic beasts available with proper authorization from the Crown.
Ettins/Bandits/Ogres/Orcs/Ratmen/Lizardmen spawn all over Sosoria. If you are having trouble at 50 skill we need to talk about tactics, you may need to equip and use your character differently.
Blacksmithing, Carpentry and Inscription services offered through afilliated subcontractors.
Exotic beasts available with proper authorization from the Crown.
You're acting as though this was a personal appeal for advice, which it is not. I know how to advance my characters, through friends advice and external site guidance.
That is not good game flow design, and reflects on the poor difficulty balance scaling the game currently has.
You claim that the game has "not good game flow". The Devs have already put together a VERY good guide to new players in the form of the RUNIC HUNTING ATLAS. You can read about it in the Test Center Notes. https://uo.com/wiki/ultima-online-wiki/publish-notes/publish-99/
Ultima Store Items
The following items will be available in the Ultima Store and are available for testing at the Britain Commons
Deluxe Starter Pack
What else do you want? A neon sign saying "Skill level 63 hunt HERE"?
As a side, the whole idea behind Ultima Online was a dynamic open game world. Just because other MMORPGs decided to box characters into limited level-based content/regions doesn't mean Ultima Online has to or should go that route. Wiki Link for this Occasion = https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandbox_game
Blacksmithing, Carpentry and Inscription services offered through afilliated subcontractors.
Exotic beasts available with proper authorization from the Crown.
But in all seriousness, the game beats players over the head with where to go... If you play in EC, at least. There's literally a guy spamming come to me for help when you spawn in New Haven on both clients. The whole New Haven island is setup for easy, albeit boring, training.
Besides the NPCs you mentioned, new players could always ASK someone in game....but that would require interacting with another player...eeewwww! LOL
Blacksmithing, Carpentry and Inscription services offered through afilliated subcontractors.
Exotic beasts available with proper authorization from the Crown.
they also need to make one for spell castors