Remember the information you got in the Ultima IV "reference card." You can use the words "name" "job" "health" and "look" with each character.

In the Lycaeum, when you talk to Zajac, you can ask him about his "health" to find a trigger word. Ask Zajac that trigger word, and he'll give you another trigger word to ask Chuckles. Ask Chuckles about that trigger word to figure out that there is an NPC in the castle that you didn't think you could talk to, and a trigger word. Talk to that NPC and give it the trigger word that Chuckles gives you to find out more information about the altars.

Also in the Lycaeum, when you talk to the injured fighter on the ground, you can ask him his "health" to find a trigger word. Ask the fighter that trigger word, and he'll give you information about the altar.

From your conversation in the grove about "love," you know what virtue relates to "love." Then, when you go to the city that embodies that virtue, you can find information about the stone that relates to that virtue.

The virtue that relates to "truth" is pretty obvious, and in the town that relates to that virtue, one of the NPCs tells you which stone relates to that virtue.

You can ask Lord British about each virtue and about each principle to figure out which keep relates to each principle and which town relates to each virtue.

I totally get it. Everyone has their favorites, as well as things that make intuitive sense to them and things that seem like they totally out of the blue. Play what you like and ignore the ones you don't like. I do enjoy the exploration part of the Ultimas, and I enjoy replaying them without any notes or maps every once in a while to remind myself how fun it is to explore these little computerized worlds.

Worth noting that you can also ask Lord British about "health", then say "no" when he asks if you are well.

Yes, for a free healing.

So, If I understand, the keywords cannot be asked directly, the program checks it the player already had been told the previous trigger words or talked to previous persons. No wonder they don't talk if I skip the first parts of the chains.

No, if you already know the trigger words, you can ask them at any time.

It's just that the trigger words vary depending upon the character. They're not always "stone" or "altar" or "dungeon."

For example, when you ask the injured fighter at the Lycaeum about his "health," he replies "My wounds are grievous!" That indicates to you that you should ask him about his "wounds." After you ask him about his "wounds," he replies "I lost in a dungeon altar room! Hast thou seen one?" If you reply "No" he will reply "They connect the dungeons unto each other!" If you reply "Yes" he will reply "Notice that each of the three rooms connect to four dungeons each!" So he will really only tell you about the altars after you ask him about his "wounds." The trigger word there is "wounds," not "altar."

There are many, many different trigger words in the game. You only learn about the trigger words by talking to various NPCs, initially using the default trigger words that are provided to you in the Ultima IV "reference card," but by asking follow-up questions you'll be able to piece together the hints that allow you to eventually beat the game.

The reason why I'm telling you how the chain works is to explain to you how a gamer back in the day would have eventually figured out which words to use on various different NPCs in the game.

This is also one of the reasons I have multiple savegames (I've attached a couple of screenshots here so you can see what I mean). The game will only save one game at a time, but I will back up the entire savegame directory into various "backup directories," each with its own name, like "Moonglow" or "Britain" or "Empath Abbey." That way, when I learn a new word from one NPC, I can easily just save my game, backup that directory, then I can overwrite that directory with a different directory in a different area, andI can ask the NPC in that area the trigger words I just learned. After I've had that conversation, I can overwrite the directory with my original savegame and continue on my merry way. Otherwise, I'm crisscrossing across the entire continent to bounce between NPCs to piece together the more involved hints.

That's actually how the SMS version works. If you haven't been told of the trigger word, the option simply won't appear. Given that the SMS version doesn't take keyboard input (the game uses a gamepad, like other console games), that's pretty much the only realistic way they could do it without scrapping the system entirely (as the NES version did).

Again, sometimes the "Down" spell does not work although I am higher than eigth level. No explanation though, just "failed". I have prepared 99 ot them and magic points are there otherwise the game would state it instead of just saying "failed". Had to find a ladder in those cases.

By the way, I play as a mage. You know, they start at Moonglow and I wondered how I could survive there as a level 1 character. Planned to level up with Lord British near (knew he heals free of charge). But rather soon there came a ship and I won the battle. Sometimes one gets lucky :o)

Of course, I could have used the moongate or die in battle (don't like it in any game however, I rather reload).

@bliznik
So far I copied the whole Ultima IV folder for saving the savegame. So it is only necessary to copy the .sav files? Furthermore, in my game folder there are only dngmap.sav, monsters.sav, outmonst.sav and party.sav. In your folder there are also lcb_1.sav, lcb_2.sav and townmap.sav which I don't have (they are not hidden as I have the option of showing hidden files active).

I actually like playing as a mage for non-NES versions. You get maximum MP and the strongest ranged weapon. There's the drawback of nothing between the Sling and the Magic Wand, but in practice that's not a big of a deal because money is easy to come by (especially before recruiting any companions), and if you max Strength the Sling does decent damage (and max Dexterity ensures that you never miss).

In fact, I've even soloed the Abyss with a Mage. Just be aware that it's quite difficult (probably impossible without that poison trick or TAS-level luck), and if you don't have the companions in your party (dead is OK), you'll be kicked out of the dungeon after the last combat but before the ending.

On the NES version, I actually prefer Druid as the main character, as there are a few differences that are relevant:
* Money is *not* easy to come by in the NES version. Getting that Wand is going to take a while. Hence, it would be nice to be able to use some bow in the meantime, instead of being stuck with a Sling (and a Club for melee) until I can get enough money. (Needing 2000 gold for the key doesn't help.)
* The Sling isn't as good with high stats as on non-NES. Thing is, the effect of stats on damage is proportional here, so you're not going to get massive damage out of a weak weapon no matter how high the stat is. Also worth noting that damage from ranged (non-spell) attacks is dependent on Intelligence. (The English translators goofed here; Dexterity and Intelligence have their names mixed up.)
* When you reach avatarhood, your max MP increases to 99, so the Mage's advantage doesn't matter in the long run. (Note that this doesn't apply to companions, but you can't take your companions into the Abyss on the NES version.)
* Worth noting that the Wand isn't the only optimal option for the final dungeon. You can equip a bow (but not a Wand or +1 Axe) at the same time as the melee weapon, and the game will automatically switch. It turns out that, since the Mystic Sword is usable by any class (but only by the Avatar, unlike on non-NES), and the Druid can actually use the +1 bow, the nest melee + bow setup is available to the Druid.
* (If you're thinking that Bard would be a good choice due to being able to use the Wand and MP not being an issue long term, I unfortunately have bad news for you: In the NES version, the Bard is not able to use the Wand. Why they changed this, I don't know (whereas I generally like most of the changes to the battle mechanics in the NES version).)

I remember, in Ultima 5, that the Down spell would take you to the same spot on the next level down, and if there's a wall or room there, the spell would fail. On the other hand, in Ultima 5 the spell actually works on the 8th floor of the dungeon, regardless of where you are (but won't work at all in Doom).

Speaking of which, make sure you're not trying to cast Down in the Abyss; it won't work.

It's very possible that there's a wall directly below you, so it "failed" to prevent you from teleporting into a wall and insta-killing yourself. If it fails, try restoring and then moving one tile in a direction and trying again.

Funny, I'm the opposite of you and play as a Fighter. Mainly b/c I find Geoffrey a rather boring character. I think the other characters are more interesting later on the series, but I found Geoffrey much more two-dimensional, and therefore don't really like him in the party.

Honestly, I think only the party.sav and the monsters.sav files are really *necessary*, but I just save every *.sav file just in case. Yeah, you don't need the entire directory tree, just the files in the "cloud_saves" directory (or if you're playing on a different operating system, the equivalent directory structure).

Oh, those other *.sav files I have were created b/c I was experimenting with something at the time. I think I was trying to recreate a bug that someone posted about. You only need the 4 *.sav files that are in the "cloud_saves" directory.

The problem is that the game was not kind to the Fighter class. Basically, this class has these issues:
* You get no MP. This is, perhaps, reasonable, if the class is otherwise good (as it typically is in other RPGs), but unfortunately, it isn't for other reasons.
* You don't get any magic weapons other than the Mystic Sword. Seeing as non-magic weapons apparently don't work in the Abyss, this means that you're stuck with the Mystic Sword in the Abyss.
* Worth noting that this locks the Fighter out of using the strongest ranged weapons, and even worse, locks them out of being able to use any ranged weapons, at all, in the Abyss. Seeing as how magic isn't even an option, either, this makes this class easily the second worst, and in the Abyss, is actually tied with Shepherd for being the worst.
* Unlike Shepherd, which seems to be intentionally terrible, it feels like Fighter ought to have at least been decent, but sadly that is not the case in this game.

For the record, the NES version did somewhat address these issues:
* The Avatar gets 99 MP on reaching avatarhood, so even if you're a Fighter (or Shepherd), you get 99 MP for the Abyss. (It's a good thing, because the NES version expects you to do the Abyss alone, and I'm not sure if it would be possible without magic, even if it's the easier NES version of the Abyss.)
* All ranged weapons work in the Abyss, so the X-Bow, even if not as good as what other classes get, is still usable. Furthermore, you can equip it and the Mystic Sword at the same time, and the game will automatically use the appropriate weapon.
* There's a Fighter exclusive weapon in the NES version, the +2 Axe. Unfortunately, it's only melee, so long-term it's only useful if you have Geoff (his name was shortened) as a companion.

Don't forget that you can't teleport into a room.

Also, there's no mechanic to kill you if you somehow manage to teleport into solid rock. Rather, if you somehow manage to do this, the behavior I would expect is as follows:
* If there is an empty square next to you, you can move into that square.
* If you are in a room, and on the edge of the room, you can move out of the room in that direction. Do, however, note that if the rest of your party can't reach that particular exit, then you are trapped in the room and can only get out by killing everyone; if you are unable to do that, it's a softlock.

Incidentally, I try to avoid using the Up and Down spells myself, except for leaving the dungeon (Up on level 1, or in Ultima 5 Down on level 8.) Might use it to bypass the bug in Hythloth, though. (But who bothers to trek all the way through Hythloth, anyway?)

Worth noting that the NES version of Ultima 4 does not include those two spells.

Another alternative: Don't recruit Geoffrey. If you want to experience the final quiz and ending, you can just recruit him right before you head to the Abyss, then let him die on purpose, leaving him dead for the rest of the game. After all, 8 party members really is too many and tends to bog down the gameplay severely, particularly when you've cleared the room and need to leave.

Yeah, I'd rather not recruit characters and then kill them off. I prefer to actually *play* with all party members, including the Avatar. Which is another reason I prefer playing with a patched version, or using xu4. After combat, you can select a party member and move just that party member, instead of cycling through each and every party member one at a time while looking for hidden triggers and passageways.

It is also for that reason why I don't mind playing as a Fighter. Since I prefer to use all my party members, and not just drag around their carcasses for the majority of the game.

The strategy isn't to carry around the carcass for the majority of the game; it's to play solo until you're ready to go into the Abyss, and only then do you recruit and kill unwanted party members. (This is how the SMS version's speedrun does things. Note that the NES speedrun is not relevant here because that version is so different it might as well be a different game.)

Incidentally, in the NES version, you *can't* use all the party members. You are only allowed 4 party members, with the main character being one of them.

Another curious difference is that, in the NES version, the main character's death means game over, unlike in other versions where your party can continue to fight with a dead protagonist (and can even cast resurrect on them).

One other NES-specific aspect to choosing who to play with: In the NES version, you don't get to select your character's gender. Instead, your gender is the same as that of the companion of your class. Thing is, I prefer to play a female character, which limits my options, which now look like the following:
* Mage: In the NES version, Mage is not that good until later. It can be fun being in a situation where casting spells is important, however.
* Druid: As I mentioned, this is my favorite choice for NES.
* Shepherd: This class is terrible. (With that said, at least you get the Flute, which can put enemies to sleep and is Shepherd exclusive.)
* Tinker: Actually not an option if you want a female Avatar. Thing is, for whatever reason, they removed Julia and replaced her with a man named Julius. Why they did that? Who knows, but it could have been the developers not wanting to make a female tinker sprite.

In related news, I just killed Lord British.

Turns out that, in the NES version, Lord British is *not* immune to the Skull. Hence, it's possible to kill him by using it. Of course, he comes back when you leave the floor (and will not disappear if you kill him during battle).

(Needless to say, I did not save afterwords, because using this Skull resulted in the complete loss of all 8 virtues, making my Avatar no longer an Avatar.)

(Does this work in the DOS version? Note that, if you want to test this, make sure to try it both in and out of battle.)

If you've saved in the final dungeon, dungeon, right at the end, there are a few ways you might be able to get out (in order of most preferred to least preferred):
* Try answering one of the questions incorrectly.
* Cast spell X to warp out of the dungeon. Y and Z don't work in the Abyss, but X might still work.
* Get everybody in the party to die. This should bring you back to Lord British, with the usual penalties (food/gold set to 200, unequipped weapons/armor lost (but you're an avatar, so it's easy to get new ones by getting mystic gear and selling it), but you will be able to explore the land.
* (My least preferred option) If you still have the Skull of Mondain, use it (you will lose all 8 Eights), then attempt to use the Codex. You will be warped out of the dungeon.

Edit: I remembered another possibility, one that isn't as bad as using the Skull of Mondain: Get into a hallway battle with only evil enemies, then either have the whole party run away, or have a character who is at full health run away. This will result in a loss of Valor, at which point the Codex will kick you out. (Note that this won't work with room battles, or in battles against non-evil creatures (but I don't know if any can spawn on level 8). Also, killing a non-evil creature doesn't appear to cause loss of virtue in this game.)