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Ultima seriesQ: About Ultima 1, hand-drawn dungeon maps, and graphing paper...(6 posts)solved(6 posts)solved
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Posted January 06, 2012
So, I bought every Ultima game here. I intend to play them all, starting with the first one, and have made the decision to hand-draw my dungeon maps with graphing paper (and pencils, naturally).

My main concern (besides the risk of losing some sanity; this'll be the first time I try something this, uhhhh... bold?) is, when I Klimb a ladder, should I map the other end of it precisely above/below of the point I Klimbed it?

Meaning, if Dungeon "X" has 2 Levels, and Level 1 is 30x45, will Level 2 have the same dimensions as Level 1? I'd like to know before I start mapping... wouldn't want to waste time, paper, or sanity, you know... :P
This question / problem has been solved by TheCycoONEimage
Posted January 06, 2012
I don't think so, with Ultima 4 and 5 dungeons were all 8x8 but they would wrap at the edges so you might go south 16 tiles and not actually be any further south on the floor below. I think Ultima 1 is similar. If this is the case it's important to look up the dimensions before graphing or else could be a frustrating experience.

Edit:
Actually, it seems like Ultima 1 dungeons were somewhat simpler. The short answer to your question is yes the ladders will line up. The longer answer is that all the dungeons follow a pretty well defined template described here: http://shrines.rpgclassics.com/pc/ultima1/dungeons.shtml

Of course dungeon exploration isn't a big part of Ultima 1, or any ultima up until 4.
Post edited January 06, 2012 by TheCycoONE
Posted February 21, 2012
Thanks for the link! I'll check it out and get started!
Posted March 25, 2012
I am too lazy for this and will just muddle my way through. I can always consult the hintbook if I get too lost to find my way out. Maybe it is different for the earliest ones but I don't remember ever mapping or writing down much of anything when playing Ultima VII and VIII and I got along just fine.
Posted June 14, 2012
I found it much easier (as a FAQ suggested) to forget about layouts and buy a crap ton of ladder down/up spells. Mostly because after tearing my hair out trying to find the first ladder in Montor (even with a map) it seems there was no way of reaching it. Since leaving a dungeon also gives you HP based on your kills it's usually better to run in and out that way, though it's not too tough to get used to the layout if you wander around a bit.
Posted June 14, 2012
One more thing to keep in mind about dungeons in Ultima I is that they are semi-randomly generated, based on the name you enter for your character. This is a vestigial remnant of Akalabeth, which generated random dungeons based on a "lucky number" you entered at the outset; in Ultima I your name serves the same purpose. If you keep using the same name you keep getting the same dungeons.

In other words, while keeping a map is a good idea, bear in mind that it may not be able to help you in multiple playthroughs.
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Ultima seriesQ: About Ultima 1, hand-drawn dungeon maps, and graphing paper...(6 posts)solved(6 posts)solved
(6 posts)solved