Let's see. I started UO before the split to Felucia. Back then I played on Lake Superior(At that time reds roamed and and mingled with blues in a single land) and by chance, or fate depending on how you look at it, I was terrorized by a red named HO CHI MIHN. Back then there were bounty boards and Ho Chi Mihn was worth millions. Long story short, That guy owned my like a cheap suit, but no matter how many times he whacked me - I always came back for more. Eventually, through not so gentle persuasion, Ho Chi taught me a valuable lesson. Loot from murdered blues was much sweeter than loot of any other kind and the ultimate compliment was a string of OOoooOOOooooOOOo's and a ghost so frantic to insult you that he lost all sense that his message wasn't even intelligible. So i did what all frustrated miners do when the ingots stop flowing - I turned to the dark side. I created a chest trapper.
Back then, UO had a vibrant community and the devs had yet to restrict the more nasty means of disposing and reaping the profits from such disposals. Basically I would go into the dungeons, trap a chest with a greater explosion pot, and wait. Sooner or later, in would port a blue in a fresh suit of armor and who knew what else(There was no insurance at the time), he would shuffle around a moment, get his bearings and then invariably move to the chest. At this point, one of two things would happen. I would hear a rather large explosion and the sweet sound of aHHHHaaaHHHHH, OR I'd hear the explosion and see my target stumbling around in confusion with little health, in which case I would run out with my deadly poisoned Kriss and poke them in the behind gleefully watching them try in vain to avoid a fate that was sealed the moment they ported in. Either way, I always left with the goods and I always waved goodbye to a ghost who would forever despise my evil genius.
That is just a microcosm of the universe of experiences I carry from my days of high adventure in the lands of Sosaria.
Ah, those truly were the good ole days and no matter how many new MMO's I play, no matter the improvements in eye candy, or the so called Improvements in mechanics, game play, and community - Nothing has ever had the impact, or given me the joy UO has. Twenty years of MMo's from Uo, to EQ, to WoW, Rift, EQ2, and every other pitiful attempt at entertainment in the genre and I STILL remember HO CHI MIHN! I have slain multitudes of enemies, I have looted hoards of treasure, I have crafted,camped, ganked, stealthed, stolen,befriended, fought, and died in every world modern day high fantasy games have to offer and one truth remains - NONE of them have ever matched the simple, pure, unadulterated fun that UO delivered. I always come back and am always lured away by honeyed words and promises of greater adventure. Not this time! This time I'm back to stay. Maybe I'll be the lonely miner, or the lone wanderer seeking mysteries in the lands i have yet to travel. Maybe I'll be that red who carves out a special hatred in that blue who just want's to mine peacefully(Even though he doesn't realize that my presence only makes his enjoyment that much more rewarding). Maybe I'll just sit in an Inn and await a traveler to befriend and school him in the arts long lost to the newest generation of Sosarian's.
Wherever Ho Chi Mihn is today - I salute him! He gave me a gift that has never left my mind. He, and others like him, made UO great! The population has thinned, and UO has changed much in the years that followed, but even today, after all of the supposedly greater games I have enjoyed, nothing compares to the simplistic enjoyment UO provides! Heck, I might just become a tanner and skin great hart's for a living - Such an endeavor, even though frowned upon by some, would not be without it's moments in the lands of Sosaria - THAT speaks volumes in and of itself!
Nathan Blight
