History VideoGame / UltimaIV

* MagikarpPower: The Shepherd class for the main character, but only in the NES remake. While it has no special powers itself, the main character eventually gains access to all capabilities regardless of his/her starting class... Hence, if you start as a Shepherd your final party will be stronger, since you won't have to bring a useless non-Avatar Shepherd to the final dungeon.

* PotionBrewingMechanic: Mixing up alchemical ingredients in just the right order is required to prepare spells, which, much like consumable potions, come in a limited supply and are expended with every use.

[[quoteright:256:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ultimaiv_partial_avatarhood_4528.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:256:Whew! Only 7 more to go...]]

** FakeFirstPerson3D: Used in the dungeons.

* MagicWand: The strongest ranged weapon, equippable by Mariah and Jaana.

* GenreShift: The NES remake (developed in Japan) plays much more closely to an Japanese role-playing game than a western one, streamlining much of the gameplay and introducing RandomEncounters.

In 2013, EA released a free-to-play MMORPG re-imagining of the game on mobile devices, called ''Ultima Forever: Quest for the Avatar''.

!!The game provides example examples of following tropes:

* TheHighQueen: In ''Forever'', Lord British is replaced with Lady British.[[note]]Due to rights issues, not RuleSixtyThree.[[/note]]

* PurpleIsPowerful: In ''Forever'', Lady British's CoolCrown and [[PrettyInMink ermine-trimmed]] [[RequisiteRoyalRegalia robe]] are largely purple.

A {{freeware|Games}} version was distributed on the Internet in 1997. In 2011 Creator/ElectronicArts began issuing C&D orders to people distributing it after 14 years of salutary neglect. This has caused some concern in the community, but the game remains legally free on [[http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/ultima_4 Good Old Games]] and should be played by anyone with even a passing interest in [RPG role-playing games].

''Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar'' was a 1985 video game, the fourth installment of the legendary ''VideoGame/{{Ultima}}'' series by Creator/OriginSystems. No one can deny that ''Ultima IV'' was a masterpiece (even if modern gamers [[SeinfeldIsUnfunny are likely to wrestle, at best, with the interface]]) that took the still-nascent concept of the "role-playing video game" and turned it completely on its ear in a way that, even three decades later, ''still'' hasn't really been replicated, but has informed virtually every [[WesternRPG Western-made RPG]] that came after it.

In the MagicalLand of Britannia... all of the {{Big Bad}}s are dead. The [[VideoGame/UltimaI evil wizard Mondain]]. Dead. His [[VideoGame/UltimaII apprentice Minax]]. Dead. Their [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot child/demon/computer]]... thing, [[VideoGame/UltimaIII Exodus]]... destroyed. While there are still [[LockedInTheDungeon dungeons]] and RandomEncounters, there is NoAntagonist to fight. [[PostModernism Nothing for the people to hope for; no more heroes for them to emulate.]]

A {{freeware|Games}} version was distributed on the Internet in 1997. In 2011 Creator/ElectronicArts began issuing C&D orders to people distributing it after 14 years of salutary neglect. This has caused some concern in the community, but the game remains legally free on [[http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/ultima_4 Good Old Games]] and should be played by anyone with even a passing interest in [=RPGs=].

** Sadly, played straight in the NES version. No monster you encounter in the game will run from you, forcing you to kill any monster you randomly encounter.

* ArtifactOfDoom: Mondain's Skull (remember, the villain from ''VideoGame/UltimaI''). Using it would instantly wipe out every living thing in the player's current location, except for Lord British (even Lord British in the NES version). It also drove your KarmaMeter (all of them!) to 0. Since many players at the time didn't realize there ''was'' a KarmaMeter...

* DialogueTree: One of the earliest examples of the concept; in PC versions of ''Ultima IV'' one could have limited conversations with everyone in the towns. Later games would make it easier to come up with topics; this one made you type each one out. "Name" and "Job" were the common opening lines; and then later ArcWords tended to be important. The only three words that all [=NPCs=] were guaranteed to respond to were "Name" "Job" and "Health". Occasionally an NPC in their dialog would let slip a subject that you could then bring up to another NPC. Since this could lead to SequenceBreaking, later games made them spell out the conversation topics depending on what information flags you encountered.
* DoingInTheWizard / DoingInTheScientist: The elves, dwarves, halflings, and [[Ewoks fuzzies]] that were playable races in the previous three games have been retroactively corrected out of existence, as have the spaceships, time travel, and other anachronistic elements.
* [[LockedInTheDungeon Dungeon]]: There ''is'' still fighting in this game; and 8 dungeons with various {{MacGuffin}}.

* DungeonBypass: The white stone is hidden up in the mountains north of Britain and to get to it you need to descend to the bottom level of a dungeon via a hidden entrance behind Lord British's castle, climb your way back up to an exit on the other side of the world, board a hot air balloon, and guide yourself to a landing space the size of a single tile with the wind-change spell. You can also just use the Blink spell (warp a distance on the world map) in the right spot and warp to it.

* EmbodimentOfVice: There are eight sins or vices that are the opposite of the eight Virtues. While the Virtues are represented by seven shrines throughout the land [[spoiler:and the eighth in the Ethereal Void]], the Vices are represented by seven dungeons [[spoiler:and the eighth in the vast underworld.]]

* FighterMageThief: The first three character classes are called Mage, Bard, and Fighter, though the Bard class doesn't have any abilities related to music, and is actually a generic RPG "thief" character in all but name. According to the WordOfGod, the class was called "Bard" because "Thief" implied dishonorable behavior, and therefore didn't fit the game's theme of becoming virtuous. The other classes are variants of the first three, except the Shepherd, which has the strengths of none of the other classes.

* FissionMailed: Many players RageQuit and reloaded when their boat was sucked into the whirlpool, since the game went black and you got the same initial text that you got when you died. Except... it's one of the only ways to get to a town with a PlotCoupon. D'oh!
* FunctionalMagic: Like traditional games, required the correct MagicPoints, skill levels, and such; but also required you to have the right combination of magic ingredients. ''You'' were expected to know and remember each recipe; whether by instruction guide or {{NPC}}.
* GenderFlip: For some odd reason in the NES port, Julia, a woman companion, was replaced with ''Julius'' a burly looking male.
* GenreShift: The NES port plays much more closely to an eastern RPG than a western one, streamlining much of the gameplay and introducing RandomEncounters.

** On the NES version, you will probably wonder why some of your virtues such as honesty keeps going down despite answering to the best of your ability to be virtuous. There are glitches in the game code where giving an honest answer will result in losing honesty where giving the lie instead increases it. It takes a bit of trial and error to identify which conversations hold this trap.

** On the other hand, there is a MagikarpPower potential here. If you know what you're doing it's fairly easy to level up quickly. Once you ''do'' master the powers of the Avatar, you can equip anything and cast any spell, even if you're a Shepherd. Since you still need each of the other classes in your party to get to the bottom of the Abyss, you no longer have a useless party member.

* MagicMusic: Katrina can play the flute in the NES version to put enemies to sleep. Also, the Silver Horn drives devils away when played.
* MagikarpPower: The Shepherd class for the main character. While it has no special powers itself, the main character eventually gains access to all capabilities regardless of their starting class... and you are ''required'' to have one member of every class in your final party (the main character replaces the party member of their starting class.) Hence, if you start as a Shepherd your final party will be stronger, since you won't have to bring a useless non-Avatar Shepherd to the final dungeon.

* MergingTheBranches: You have eight possible party members but you can never recruit the one of the same class as yourself. Nevertheless, all eight are regarded the Companions of the Avatar in later installments.
* MonsterTown: Magincia has become this since its location has become so uninhabitable that every human [[spoiler:except for Katrina]] is either dead or has moved away. The monsters will only attack you if you attack them first, though. ...except for Nate the Snake.

* NintendoHard: Of all the playtesters, only Richard Garriott himself actually ''finished'' the game before it was released. If you can complete the game without using internet spoilers, you deserve a ''medal''. Also, ironically, the version released on the NES itself is a lot easier than the original.

* RandomEncounter: The NES version does this in a sneaky way, as they aren't step based; they are time based. Meaning if you wait long enough on the overworld map in one spot, a battle will start. Averted in the PC version as the encounters are not random at all, and in fact you can actually see enemies coming toward you. Still somewhat meaningless, as unless you have a method of transportation such as a ship or horse, the terrain will inevitably slow you down until the monster catches up and attacks you (though non-evil animals will wander more randomly).

* SchrodingersPlayerCharacter: Whichever class you choose; the same character of that class will still exist in their corresponding town; but will not join the party. Similar to SuperheroSpeciation.

* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: Iolo and any other bard in the NES port.

* ArbitraryHeadcountLimit: Averted, because headcount is strictly defined by specific rules: you can have one party member for each level you gain (meaning that at level 1 you only have one slot--for yourself). And the level {{cap}} is [[ArcNumber eight]].

** '''8.''' The game revolves around 8 virtues. Each virtue corresponds to one of 8 shrines, one of 8 cities and one of 8 stones. Each shrine has one of 8 mantras and one of 8 runes. Each city has one of 8 companions (party members) and one of 8 moon gates. Each moon gate corresponds to one of 8 moon phases. Each stone is found in one of 8 dungeons. Furthermore, since party size is determined by the experience level of the hero and there are 8 party members, the maximum experience level is 8.

** '''3.''' The 8 virtues are based on 3 principles. Each principle corresponds to one of 3 strongholds and to one of 3 underground altar rooms. Each stronghold has a lord who knows one of 3 syllables of the "Word of Passage" and an inhabitants who knows one of 3 artifacts. Each altar room holds one of 3 parts of a key.

** '''8'''. There are ''eight'' virtues with ''eight'' shrines dedicated to them, ''eight'' character classes represented by ''eight'' recruitable [[NonPlayerCompanion companions]] (although there are only ''eight'' slots in the PlayerParty, including one for the Avatar), ''eight'' major towns in Britannia, and ''eight'' dungeons with ''eight'' levels each.
** To a lesser degree, 3. Each of the eight virtues are comprised of certain combinations of the three governing Principles (Truth, Love and Courage) which are honored in three respective castles, Lycaeum, Empath Abbey and Serpent's Hold." Additionally, all NPCs the Avatar can chat with acknowledge at least three words: Name, Job, and Bye.

''Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar'' was a 1985 video game, the fourth installment of the legendary ''VideoGame/{{Ultima}}'' series. No one can deny that ''Ultima IV'' was a masterpiece (even if modern gamers [[SeinfeldIsUnfunny are likely to wrestle, at best, with the interface]]) that took the still-nascent concept of the "role-playing video game" and turned it completely on its ear in a way that, even three decades later, ''still'' hasn't really been replicated, but has informed virtually every [[WesternRPG Western-made RPG]] that came after it.

** To a lesser degree, 3. Each of the eight virtues are comprised of certain combinations of the three governing Principles (Truth, Love and Courage) which are honored in three respective castles, Lycaeum, Empath Abbey and Serpent's Hold.

* ArbitraryHeadcountLimit: You can have one party member for each level you gain (meaning that at level 1 you only have one slot--for yourself). And the level {{cap}} is [[ArcNumber eight]].

** To a lesser degree, 3. Each of the eight virtues are comprised of certain combinations of the three governing Principles -- Truth, Love and Courage -- which are honored in three respective castles, Lycaeum, Empath Abbey and Serpent's Hold.

* DoingInTheWizard / DoingInTheScientist: The elves, dwarves, halflings, and Ewoks that were playable races in the previous three games have been retconned out of existence, as have the spaceships, time travel, and other anachronistic elements.

** FauxFirstPerson3D: Used in the dungeons.

* FissionMailed: Many players RageQuit and reloaded when their boat was sucked into the whirlpool, since the game went black and you got the same initial text that you got when you died. Except - it's one of the only ways to get to a town with a PlotCoupon. D'oh!

* JokeCharacter: If after taking the intro quiz your highest virtue is humility then you get the shepherd class. Leather armor, a marginally better weapon selection then the mage, no magic, a poor trap disarming ability (though no worse then that of over half the other classes), and you start the game at a lower level than the other classes, stranded on an island infested by demons with no shops and no clear way out.
** On the other hand, there is a MagikarpPower potential here. If you know what you're doing it's fairly easy to level up quickly. Once you ''do'' master the powers of the Avatar, you can equip anything and cast any spell; even if you're a Shepherd. Since you still need each of the other classes in your party to get to the bottom of the Abyss, you no longer have a useless party member.

* LighterAndSofter: According to ''The Official Book of Ultima''. The concept for the game came about when Garriott noted MoralGuardians' response to the first 3 games. He realized that while they were wrong for the most part, the StrawmanHasAPoint, and so the concept for the fourth game was born. This is one of the few examples of this trope where the series actually gained more depth and character because of it, rather than the opposite.

* PlayerPersonalityQuiz: Quite possibly the TropeMaker. Unlike the previous games where you specified your characters' class and stats directly, you now have to answer seven simple questions on how you would act in certain dilemmas. This determines your character class, starting location and your initial standing on the game's eight [[KarmaMeter Karma Meters]].

* ShoehornedFirstLetter: The games has both a command and a spell for each letter of the keyboard, leading to some oddities like [[XtremeKoolLetterz (x)-it, (k)limb and (z)tats]].

* KarmaMeter: The TropeNamer. "Karma" was how well the character acted in the 8 Virtues. Honesty, Compassion, Valor, Sacrifice, Justice, Honor, Spirituality, and Humility. Each of the 8 were determined by actions you made. Run from a fight, and lose points in Valor. Unless you're running from a natural animal who is just hungry; such as a common serpent; and then you're adding Compassion. It gets complicated.

* PlayerPersonalityQuiz: Possible TropeMaker. Unlike the previous games where you specified your characters' class and stats directly, you now have to answer seven simple questions on how you would act in certain dilemmas. This determines your character class, starting location and your initial standing on the game's eight [[KarmaMeter Karma Meters]].

''Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar'' was a 1985 video game, the fourth installment of the legendary ''Franchise/{{Ultima}}'' series. No one can deny that ''Ultima IV'' was a masterpiece (even if modern gamers [[SeinfeldIsUnfunny are likely to wrestle, at best, with the interface]]) that took the still-nascent concept of the "role-playing video game" and turned it completely on its ear in a way that, even three decades later, ''still'' hasn't really been replicated, but has informed virtually every [[WesternRPG Western-made RPG]] that came after it.

* TheHighQueen: In ''Forever'', Lord British is replaced with Lady British[[note]]due to rights issues, not RuleSixtyThree[[/note]].

In 2013, EA released a free-to-play MMORPG re-imagining of the game on mobile devices, called ''Ultima Forever: Quest of the Avatar''.

* PostModernism: The only goal is to live virtuously.

* MagikarpPower: The Shepherd class for the main character. While it has no special powers itself, the main character eventually gains access to all capabilities regardless of their starting class... and you are ''required'' to have one member of every class in your final party (the main character replaces the party member of their starting class.) Hence, if you start as a Shepherd your final party will be stronger, since you won't have to bring a useless party member to the final dungeon.

* GenderBender: For some odd reason in the NES port, Julia, a woman companion, was replaced with ''Julius'' a burly looking male.

* MagicMusic: Katrina can play the flute to put enemies to sleep. Also, the Silver Horn drives devils away when played.