I started UO October of 98. Had watched a friend of mine and his son play at their house and I just HAD to try this thing!
I believed I'd be an expert because I had played all the Ultima versions on my 386 / 486 based machines running DOS 5 to 6.22, so I HAD to know it all. Plus now I had a fancy Windows 95 machine with graphics and a MOUSE! This was gunna be a breeze.
Started my account and started making a character. Didn't really put much thought into skills because I was an expert already. *cough*
What's this now? Town? Hm, well Minoc sounds fine to me.
Got into the game and was at the inn in Minoc. ICQ'd my friend and told him I was in the game. I had run around a bit in the first 'layer' of buildings in north Minoc and was amazed. So he asked me 'where are you?' Well I'd already forgotten the town, but I told him I was south of an inn standing by a statue of 2 nakid ppl. Between him and his son they found me in about 60 seconds.
They led me to the bank and wanted to show me the 'ins and outs', but I'd have none of that! I was an expert! *cough*
So he gave me 10K and let me be saying "ICQ me when you need"
So I went to the armorer and bought some chainmail and one of those 'Trojan Condom' helmets, then over to get a sword. All outfitted, south I went. Ran into a timber wolf and figured let's hack this silly thing up. Swing and a miss. Growl and off with my thigh. Swing and a miss and I had no bowels and I was red lined. Running back to town I will never forget some vet yelling "Hit and Runner!"
I was embarrassed and my mental expert status went to idiot. I've never underestimated what this game or the people in it can do to you since that moment.
I saw the New Lands open, was the first to come into town riding a llama.
I went threw the first night of Tele-Storming in Tram, placed my castle both nights. It still stands.
I've never stopped and never will till they pull the plug but even then, they will have to rip my Silver katana of Vanq from my cold and dying hands.
*Waves*
