So I was wondering if the following was normal or if I messed up something somewhere.

I am playing UVII:BG+FoV. I decided that I don't want to join the fellowship and that I will just
keep following abraham and elizabeth. I did the whole run around until I arrived at
buccaneer's den where I found the secret hideout behind the fellowship hall and the 2 scrolls
with the list of murders with check marks.

That was the first place where something looked strange since Angalron (sp?) the mage
from new magincia was checked off but when I went there he was still running around quite
happily. "Nevermind" I thought and went to the isle of avatar as the second scroll intimated
that that's where the crown jewel went (Hook was really my main concern anyhow).

To cut a long story short, I made it through the dungeon and to the black gate where I found
all the bad guys (Batlin, E&A, Hook and the gargoyle) they attack ,I slaughter them all
except Batlin. But now nothing else to do the black gate is surrounded by force field.
So I port back to Britannia and everyone is going about their business like normal I can't
tell anyone the fellowship is corrupt and evil Batlin is still in his hall as pleased as
anything.

I don't think I cheated anywhere I even use the 320x200 view. I have a save before
the battle so I guess I'll just reload and join the fellowship but this is really weird.
Anyone have any thoughts on what I did wrong?

I wonder, how did you manage to get past the guard in the casino? Did you acquire the necessary artifact?

You need to join the Fellowship sooner or later, to be able to enter the walled-off island next to Terfin. This particular artifact is there.
You can also reach this island with the magic carpet, a huge oversight from the makers in my opinion.
Also note that using the magic carpet can severely screw up the game, depending on which areas you fly over. Certain 'flags' get activated as you fly over them. I suggest not using it at all.

Ahh, I didn't go through the casino. I went through the fellowship hall in Buccaneer's Den.
You can open the back wall.

If my memory serves correctly you can get in a part of the caves from there, yes, but you can't get to the concrete area (dead crocodile) where the key is that opens the double doors on the Isle of the Avatar.

Edit: Did you use Exult?

Hmm I can go south through a secret wall and then over through a secret door into the
concrete part behind the casino.

And yes I do use exult but with cheats off and size set to 320x200 exactly because I didn't want
to cheat.:D

I wonder: The original version of this game might have had the concrete area made invisible when approached from the adjacent cave, thus making it impossible to doubleclick the secret door.
It's been a while since I played Ultima 7 on my 486+bootdisk, but I do remember having to get the artifact and use the casino entrance. Exult might have an oversight here. :S

Anyway, you should load a game before entering the double gates on the isle of the avatar and proceed to join Batlin's little group of shortsighted misfits. After you've done that, go to the walled-off isle I mentioned and you'll be on track again. :)


EDIT: I did some testing and there's no legitimate way to be able to enter the caves from the bathhouse. I dunno what you did, but it's not possible in normal gameplay at the original screen resolution.

Again I didn't enter through the bathhouse. (that should be impossible the switch that triggers
the bathhouse wall is waaaay far beyond some crates). I entered through the fellowship
hall in buccaneer's den.

Anyhow I marked the end fight went back and did all the time lord stuff used the carpet
to get to the retreat so I could get the black cube and I managed to finish the game
without joining the fellowship or using any cheats I know of. (no high resolution no hack
moving)

Exult might be allowing you to get into the concrete bit in the caves early by not having the
wall from the caves behind the fellowship retreat invisible/untargettable.

My apologies, I need to learn to read it seems.

Used telekinesis on the lever in the cave behind the Fellowship's Hall, huh? I expected the spell not be able to go through walls, but it seems it can. You found quite a shortcut.

The only thing I am wondering now is if Batlin can actually be killed in the final battle if you're not a Fellowship member. (I remember him to be unkillable when in Britain. Could be wrong.) But I guess even that won't be an issue. One can probably just ignore him while opening the gate.

Anyway, definitely not an Exult issue. Just a tremendous developer oversight in my opinion. :S

Yeap used telekinesis to get in. I don't know how much of a shortcut I really found.
I didn't have to join the fellowship true and for some reason alagner didn't get killed either,
but how much does that really skip? 2 fellowship quests pretty much no?
(I actually did the test+the 2 quests but then didn't join at the insistence of dupre,iolo and
shamino.)

As far as Batlin goes I didn't kill him but I didn't particularly try I just went into combat and when
Hook died he did his disappearing trick.

Haha, ofcourse, silly me. Completely forgot that he disappeared. Afterall, he makes a return in Serpent Isle. *ashamed*