Shards

Ultima Online is split up into different servers called Shards that are located all over the world. Players usually select a shard in or near their time zone. This helps reduce latency, which can cause lag. The number of active shards has fluctuated over time. Today, there are 27 production shards, while in December of 1999, there were only 16.

Lore

Mondain the wizard captured the world of Sosaria in the Gem of Immortality. The Avatar (aka The Stranger / The Traveler from the Stars) shattered the Gem of Immortality into numerous shards. Each server is considered a Shard of the shattered gem. In each shattered remnant of the gem dwells a perfect likeness of Sosaria. Britannia that was once Sosaria now exists as a thousand worlds each with its own peoples, history and destiny:

During the earliest span of the age of darkness. Found in only the most aged of manuscripts lived a world born of mystic arts and ancient sorcery: Sosaria. Despite Sosaria's enchanted origin its people shunned magic for its very use corrupted the souls of the unwary. But one man dared to awake the slumbering powers of alchemy. Twisting the awesome powers of the gem of immortality to his will and binding all of Sosaria to his corruption: Mondain the wizard. His power was absolute as the whole of the planet was gripped in his cruel embrace. Only the appearance of a stranger saved Sosaria from impending destruction. From whence he came no one knows, but his strength and courage were without peer. In this stranger lay Sosaria's only hope. Only a traveler from the stars could release this world from Mondain's vile stranglehold. He would prove himself a saviour, shattering the gem of immortality and defeating Mondain. But a deeper and more sinister evil was released with the destruction of the gem, for Sosaria was not free of the stone's power. The planet was still bound to the jewel even as it lay shattered on the floor of Mondain's castle. For within each shattered remnant of the jewel dwelt a perfect likeness of Sosaria. Thus is the world in which you are born, live and die. Britannia that was once Sosaria now exists as a thousand worlds each with its own peoples, history and destiny. This Britannia is but one of many in the multiverse, that is Ultima Online.

- Ultima Online Intro

List of All Shards

There are currently 27 production shards. Production shards are where "normal" gameplay occurs as opposed to a testing or special event shard.

Arirang Asuka Atlantic Baja Balhae Catskills Chesapeake Drachenfels Europa

Formosa Great Lakes Hokuto Izumo Lake Austin Lake Superior Legends Mizuho Mugen (Siege Ruleset)

Napa Valley Oceania Origin Pacific Sakura Siege Perilous (Siege Ruleset) Sonoma Wakoku Yamato

List of Shards by Region

United States East (Maintenance: 5am EST/EDT) Atlantic Catskills Chesapeake Great Lakes Lake Superior Legends Siege Perilous (Siege Ruleset) United States West (Maintenance: 5am PST/PDT) Baja Lake Austin Napa Valley Origin Pacific Sonoma	Japan (Maintenance: 8am JST) Asuka Hokuto Izumo Mizuho Mugen (Siege Ruleset) Sakura Wakoku Yamato
Europe (Maintenance: 5am GMT/UTC) Drachenfels Europa	Korea (Maintenance: 9am KST) Arirang Balhae
Australia (Maintenance: 5am AEST) Oceania	Taiwan (Maintenance: 8am) Formosa

Other Shards

These shards have either closed, were one time events, or had other purposes:

Abyss Baekdu (Siege Ruleset) Farmageddon High Seas Test Retribution Santa's Slay Shard of Screams

Shard of the Dead Shard of the Dead II Test Center Test Sosaria Volunteer Winterland

See Also

• Directory
• Shard Icon Legend - Dec 12, 1999