Ultima Online: Kingdom Reborn

The Kingdom Reborn (UO:KR) expansion was announced as part of the Inu Storyline. It is scheduled for release in spring 2007 and will feature a brand new client referred to by Darkscribe as being 2.5, not 2D or 3D. The client will be a free download to everyone. If and when the client reaches 95% usage by the player base, the other clients will be discontinued.

Expansion Confusion

An early announcement on the Japanese UO website confused players into thinking the next race and other details were released prematurely. What was actually released was news on the next UO expansion called Stygian Abyss. It will feature Gargoyles and a playable race and the largest dungeon in UO to date. Currently, Kingdom Reborn is almost entirely about upgrading the client and graphics of the game.

New Features

Enhanced New Player Experiance

One of the most difficult aspects of getting new players is the difficulty in learning the different systems and basic actions. Kingdom Reborn will feature multiple tutorials to explain this to new players and help them get their UO legs.

New Interface

Everything about the interface has been rebuilt and redesigned to make UO easier to play. Fewer clicks and actions to get things done are a high priority for the development team.
Players will have a new page in a Paperdoll which allows them to view all item properties affecting their character.
Clothing and armor will be separate pages on the paperdoll.
Containers will work with lists and slots to make organization easier. A classic interface option is being considered for implementation also.
Hot bars will replace loose spell and skill icons. Drop in the actions you want to preform. Up to 5 hot bars are currently allowed. Potions can be added to the hot bar.
Skinning the client may be possible, but is not definite.
Targeting is described to be a "whirly 3D effect".

Graphics

Spells are particle effects like the 3D client, but resemble their original 2D effects more
Monsters may look very different from their originals and have unique attacks. For example, Earth Elementals throw rocks.
The development team is looking at original design documents when enhanced creatures.
A zoom feature will be implemented. Currently, it is being decided whether a mega zoom will be allowed showing 2-3x the current screen size. Zooming in will stop before items/creatures get pixelated.

FAQ

What is Ultima Online: Kingdom Reborn? Just a new client or more?

We are re-drawing the graphics and building a new user interface that will be easier-to-use for players new and old. (At the same time, we’re working to give long time players UI options that will let them play almost exactly the way they play now.) We are also adding new content that you’d find in most other UO expansion packs, such as a new player race, new features, a new dungeon and other surprises. We will be polishing and improving some areas of UO game play, but the core sets of rules, systems and content will remain intact. The idea is to give current, former, and new players a vibrant, thriving world that looks and plays like it’s new, that also takes advantage of Ultima Online’s nine years of features, content and culture.

Will there be a beta? If so, when? How long will it be?

Yes, we will have a public beta test. Dates will be announced on www.uo.com.

Is the new client 2d or 3d?

Yes! In a way, it is both. It’s a 3D engine that will look and play like a 2D engine, except for some special effects, lighting and other small details. Our goal was to preserve the look and feel of Ultima Online, while also providing the benefits of a modern graphics engine.

Will we be able to rotate or otherwise change the camera angle?

To preserve the charm and feel of Ultima Online, we’re re-building the world with highly detailed 2D tiles. This allows us to have the visual detail we want, but does prevent us from creating a rotating camera.

Will the new special effects be scalable? If I have a fast computer, can I enable more cool effects to make the game look better?

There will be some effects that will be scalable according to what 3D card you have. However, our goal is to give players with low system spec machine a visually vibrant and inviting game.

Will we still be able to play with the old 2D or 3D client after Kingdom Reborn launches?

Yes, we will continue to support the older clients after the launch of Kingdom Reborn. However, the long term plan is to support a single client for the game.

Will there be a macro bar or hot key bar? Will we be able to drag and drop a spell or potion into the one slot and press one key to activate it?

Yes, we are creating a hot bar that will simplify using spells and items. Our goal is to make everything much, much simpler for players both new and elder.

Will there be new music?

Yes. We have several new songs, but we’ll also be keeping many of the old favorites as well. We’ll release at least one of those in January.

Are we going to have to move shards? What about my house and all my stuff?

Nope. It is an "in-place upgrade", drawn tile for tile to replace the current art. When you log into Ultima Online using the Kingdom Reborn client, you’ll see your house in all its higher resolution glory.

What’s next with PvP?

What’s truly next in PvP is a project that is being planned for after the launch of UOKR. As with all future plans, we aren’t going to talk about details right now because they will change dozens of times before you ever get to play it. The core idea is to give a much more compelling reason to PvP, which is what factions was supposed to do but never quite got there. That’s all for now.

Screenshots

Click the image for full size view

Newest

Players fighting what appears to be Lizard men in Covetous	More dungeon fighting
An NPC house perhaps	Another house

Older

The Yew Orc Fort	Are those Mongbats or are we getting winged monekys?
That guy is sitting on a bed! ON A BED!
A mage attempts to strike down a foe with Lightning	An area inside the city of Wind
Players are battling in an unknown location	The entrance to the Lyceaeum on Verity Isle
The area near the rear of the Lyceaeum	The apartments behind the Lyceaeum