Post: #1

I have a (very) tentative idea for a shard, and am searching for the best possible emulator match, if I decide to go through with it. I have been researching various emulators, and posted on a few forums last year. At this point, esp. with SotA in the works, and with the plethora of unpopulated shards out there, I am even less sure about this idea than when I first formed it a couple of years ago.

Thus far, I like the way RunUO works and runs, but the learning curve (for a non-programmer such as myself), is rather steep with C#. So far POL seems like a decent fit; the language is not quite as difficult to manipulate, and there are quite a few pre-made scripts. I downloaded it and tinkered with it a bit, but nothing serious yet.

I read through the ten chapters of the Sphere programming tutorial, though my eyes glazed over about halfway through, and I will need to read it several more times. It seems fairly straightforward and well explained, and everyone here seems very helpful. I also pursued the script section and found a few that would fit my project quite well.

So, to the point, without going into great detail here, I hope to create an RP-centric (and probably enforced, to a degree, though casual) shard based on, and a sort of homage to, the lore of the Ultima series (up to Ultima V). I have a lot of (I think) original ideas, but want to start small for now. Much of my project is centered around a certain, personal aesthetic and approach which will not appeal to the vast majority of UO players for various reasons, more to hard core Ultima fans and RPers. I definitely do not want to do what has already been done.

First things first. How difficult would it be to create a basic shard with a Pre-T2A, T2A, or UO:R (with only one facet) look and feel, using only the original map of Britannia, decorate it, and spawn it, mostly OSI style? It does not have to be perfect, but the vast majority of things added after these eras are not compatible with my project. Just a basic foundation from which to start.

Secondly, how versatile is Sphere? Can skills be removed, altered and added? Can certain skills be made to lower as others are raised? How good is the A.I. for PvE (though I hope to implement some sort of factional PvP system as well)?

Sorry so long, and thanks in advance to anyone who took the time to read through it, much less answer.