New Magincia Prefab Released!

I've completed enough of the New Magincia Prefab to get it released on the Vault. I'll be updating it of course with the finished version which includes the caves, house interiors and the Gargoyle inhabitants.

For now however, you can check it out.

New Magincia Prefab Nears First Release

I have a small update about New Magincia. After getting inspired, I slammed out the second and third isles and have NM close to first release status.

The first release will be the external isles (4 total) in a 32x32 area. There is the small village of New Magincia as well as docks, a ring of stones for moongate travel, and the Shrine of Humility which is accessed via other means.

I'll be updating this of course with house interiors a small cave system and some final polish. That will be part of version 2.

Magic, critters, & wine oh my!!

It's been a couple weeks since and update, but things really haven't been sitting still. Here's the latest:

Work begins on the Realms of Ultima Gameplay System
Jason White has joined the team and started work on the RoUGS which will be a large revamp of the NWN2 magic, class and racial systems to bring them more in line with the Ultima universe. This isn't a small task and Jason is awesome for taking it on. Here's a brief summary of the changes to the classes:

Classes change to 8 core classes: Warrior, Paladin, Mage, Tinker, Druid, Ranger, Monk, and Bard. Each class would have a patron virtue and city.

Here's the breakdown:

• Warrior - Basically a merge of the Barbarian and the Fighter (one mean raging sword swinging maniac)
• Paladin - This is the Knight of the classes. Keeps all it's abilities, just no gods. (small fudge, but I can live with it. Patron Virtue is Valor.
• Mage - This is a merge of the wizard and sorcerer, using mana and reagents.
• Tinker - Basically the Rogue, but without the thief mythos. Tinkers picklocks, and know how to hide and disarm and use traps.
• Druid - Virtually unchanged except that they use mana and reagents, but access the druid spell line. No gods, just nature. This becomes the primary healer class. Perhaps move all the healer spells to the Druid line.
• Ranger - Unchanged, just use mana and reagents for ranger spells.
• Monk - Warrior of Humility, basically unchanged.
• Bard - Unchanged except uses mana and reagents for the bard spells.

A note about the Warlock - The warlock is disabled for RoU. Doesn't fit, never will. PrCs will be either disabled or changed to fit with the Ultima mythos.

RoU Custom Critters
I started to put together some custom critters for RoU prefabs and here's the result. I'll add more as time goes on, but these will be part of the RoU Starter Module available on the Vault.





Time to Make Wine!
A while ago TeLLan created a wine press model but it was not released in the proper format for NWN2. Thanks to Baron Rosencheckl from RWS we can now have our monks of Empath Abby making wine. Tavern owners rejoice!!

Merry Christmas to all from the Grumpy Strumpet!

RoU Discussion Forums Added for Developers

I've added a simple forum to aid in development. Right now only moderators are able to post, but people can follow along with what's going on.

Realms of Ultima Forums

JasonNH joins the team!

JasonNH has jumped aboard the RoU ship and has been a busy bee starting with an Empath Abby prefab. He sent me some screenies and I have to say I'm excited, as he knows what he's doing! Great job Jason!

He's put the abby together using the Building Construction Kit (BCK) 2.1 by Nytir which proves just how versital a pack like that can be.

You can find JansonNH's other work here!

If you'd like to help out bringing Britannia to life in NWN2, email me!

Here's some screenshots of his work:

OMGsh!!!!! Colour Of Magic!!

I just got wind that production is underway for a TV adaptation of The Colour of Magic which is one of the best Terry Pratchett books.

I'm a HUGE TP fan and I'm absolutely beside myself that I will most likely not be able to see it because it's being made for the UK and I'm in the USA. I wonder how I can immigrate...

Hopefully it will do so well that it will make it to the USA on DVD.

Incidently Hogfather (released in 2006) went on to break British broadcasting records as the highest rating original satellite commission in UK TV history.

Any of you UK people want to mail the Strumpet a Hogswatch present?

The Gypsy Fortune Teller

What Ultima would be complete without a stop at the Gypsy Fortune Teller? I'm almost finished with the first area of the Gypsy camp and have the fortune teller conversation complete with virtue question finished. I'll be releasing this soon with the content packs.

My Appologies...I had a Crysis

Well, between wanting to actually play through NWN2 & MotB and then finding the Crysis demo, I haven't made an update in a few weeks. That doesn't mean there hasn't been work done...'cuz there has.

I've pretty much finished the custom content packs that I'll be using as well as made some headway on a RoU module that I'll be announcing officially after the Ultima 7:Serpent Isle remake gets out the door. I've jumped on that bandwagon now and will be helping out where I can to get that module finished so they can help me. I've also done a little work with the custom spell system and the Spell Point system that is on the Vault.

If you haven't played Crysis and are a FPS fan even a little, you are missing out. Easily the best shooter I've played since the Half Life series. Once it hits the shelves, most shooter fans will be saying "What's Halo?"

I've also been playing through the NWN2 OC on my way to MotB and I have to say that I'm not really all that impressed with the story or the writing so far. The transition between chapter 1 & 2 was really choppy and seemed unfinished. Hopefully the rest will make up for it. I'll write a review when I'm done with the series.

RoU Content Packs

I've started releasing the RoU content packs for use with the prefabs. This first in the installment is the Item Icon Pack. A pretty simple collection of icons for moonstones, charms and the blackrock serpents for Serpent Isle prefabs.

I'll soon be releasing the VFX pack and then the Placeable pack.