From the Update/FYI Center at UO.com, all shards will be getting the Publish 43 update. For many, this will be friday morning.

World Wide Publish Schedule - Publish 43 Oct 27 2006 1:58AM GMT (PST +08:00)
During the evening of Thursday, October 26, 2006 PDT we will begin deploying Publish 43 to all shards during their next respective maintenance times.

For the Publish 43 change list, please click here.

We expect no additional downtime due to this publish.

Publish 43 Information

From the Update/FYI page at UO.com

On Thursday, October 26, 2006 at approximately 7:00PM PDT (October 27 - 2:00AM GMT), we will be deploying a Publish 43 update to the Origin shard.

The update will contain the following changes:

* New Live Event content
* Black pumpkins now have a chance of spawning with any Dev name
* The 9th Anniversary Shadow Fire Pit now opens and closes
* The Globe of Sosaria now animates

For the complete Publish 43 change list, please click here.

We expect the Origin shard to remain offline for approximately one hour.

More Publish 43 Information.

From the Update Center at UO.com:

Character Transfer Disabled Oct 27 2006 1:32AM GMT (PST +08:00)
The Character Transfer service has been disabled for maintenance. We estimate that it will return to service within 24 hours, however that is subject to change. Keep an eye out on uo.com for additional updates.

From the Update Center/FYI at UO.com, it looks like Atlantic and Origin received Publish 43 this evening.

On Monday, October 23, 2006 at approximately 5:00PM PDT (October 24 – 12:00AM GMT), we will be deploying Publish 43 to the Atlantic and Origin shards.

For the Publish 43 change list, please click here.

The update will contain the following changes:

* Fixed an exploit that allowed players to bypass the skill timer
* Base Damage in the Animal Lore gump will no longer clip double digit numbers
* The Time Lord will no longer offer to train players in Arms Lore or Blacksmithing

We expect the Atlantic and Origin shards to remain offline for approximately one hour. Please note that character transfers will be turned off on these two shards until after Publish 43 has gone world wide.

New runes are on on UO.com:

Translation: PATHS CINDER IF KNIGHTS TIP

If you’d like to translate them yourself, see the runic libraries listed here.

The Britannia News Network has word of something that should of interest to many: Ricardo will be going on trial very soon.

Britannia Rejoices
Zilo the Scribe Oct 18 2006 5:12PM

The infamous Ricardo, recently captured and secured in the Trinsic jail, shall be brought to trial within a fortnight. Officials plan to move the villain, under heavy guard, to the Court of Truth. Citizens are to be assured, that while Ricardo is known as something of an escape artist, he will find himself outmatched against his new bindings.

Using a specially designed carriage, the Paladins of Trinsic will test their new transport to its limits on this maiden voyage. The mobile cell, crafted of thick oak, and plated with steel, bristles with weapons. The carriage can hold up to 15 occupants, but for its inaugural run, the only unwilling passenger on the manifest is Ricardo.

Seemingly clairvoyant, the good Sheriff of Trinsic, addressed our concerns about Ricardo’s upcoming trip. The mobile prison that shall house him, is not only inescapable, but highly resistant to damage, and fireproof as well. Ricardo has earned a dubious reputation throughout the underworld for his uncanny ability to escape incarceration. The virtuous Paladins of Trinsic seemed inspired by this challenge, and rose valiantly to meet it.

While this reporter passes no judgment on the accused, I feel it is my obligation to express heartfelt gratitude towards our magnanimous legal system. A system championed with heroes like Casca. A system which eternally strives to keep us safe and secure from our lesser brethren.

Citizens make way for this titan of singular purpose. Clear the roads for this juggernaut of justice. Trust in our judicial champions to bring this scoundrel, and all those like him, down low.

This week’s Five on Friday is online at UO.com

A categorized listing of all previous Five on Friday questions can be found here.

October 20, 2006

1. Are you going to make any changes to the Bushido ability Evasion in Publish 43?

John “Wilki” Wilkinson, Community Coordinator: Yes, the following changes will be made in Publish 43:

* Evasion duration will scale with your Bushido skill. Range is 3-6 second duration, with a 2 second bonus if your bushido is above GM and both tactics and anatomy are GM or better
* Evasion parry modifier will scale with your Bushido skill. Range is 16-40%, with a 10% bonus if your bushido is above GM and both tactics and anatomy are GM or better

For more information about Evasion changes and other changes in Publish 43 please check here.

2. I missed out on getting one of those special coins from the Castle rat invasion. Will I have another chance at these?

Sherry the Mouse: *squeak* I think the rats have gone back down into the sewers…

3. Whenever I use stealth, I seem to be passively revealed by other players almost every time. Are there any plans to change that?

John “Wilki” Wilkinson, Community Coordinator: Yes, we’ve made some significant changes to passive detect in Publish 43. We have adjusted passive and targeted detect hidden for both players and monsters so stealthers aren’t as easy to detect. For more information about Stealth changes and other changes in Publish 43 please check here.

4. Are we going to have another Shard of the Dead?

Anne “Silvani” Pitkin, Assistant Producer: We are indeed! Shard of the Dead II will be a wonderfully frightening experience on Halloween. This test shard will be full of spooky fun, with some new surprises. There will be crazy Dev Team appearances and other various forms of insanity.

5. Are we doing anything for Halloween on production shards?

Anne “Silvani” Pitkin, Assistant Producer: Yes, besides Shard of the Dead II, we’ll also have some scary surprises in store for regular shards! The Festival of Fright will be a game wide event on all shards. There will be some special treats given out during this time, however be wary of your local graveyards! This event will last one to two weeks.

From the Update Center at UO.com:

On Thursday, October 19, 2006 at approximately 7:00PM PDT (3:00AM GMT), we will be deploying a publish to the Napa Valley shard.

The update will contain the following changes:

* Turning off Treasures of Tokuno
* Live events update

The remaining shards will have the world wide publish deployed at their normal shard maintenance time tonight.

Bummer about the Treasures of Tokuno being turned off, but here’s hoping they (or something similar) will be turned back on in the future. As for the “live events update”…..

If anybody is wondering why Napa Valley and not Origin, it’s probably because Origin is testing Publish 43.

According to UO.com:

Australia Celebrates Nine Years of Ultima Online

Fans in the Land Down Under will be able to buy the Ultima Online: 9th Anniversary Collection at Electronics Boutique and Games Wizard. The package will be available November 9. Sorry, no online ordering if you live in Oz - you’ll have to head to the store to get it.

So, for those of you paying attention, here’s who can order right now:

USA (Maybe Canada)
Japan
United Kingdom (and soon Germany)
and of course Australia. There maybe others available as well already.

FYI/UO.com has news of Origin receiving Publish 43 tonight:

On Wednesday, October 18, 2006 at approximately 6:30PM PDT (October 19 - 1:30AM GMT), we will be deploying Publish 43 to the Origin shard.

For the Publish 43 change list, please click here.

We expect the Origin shard to remain offline for approximately one hour.