To prepare for — and celebrate — the sixteenth anniversary of Ultima Online, Mythic have pushed Publish 83, the latest update for the game, to the TC1 test shard. This latest Publish brings a number of adjustments to the game, including a new quest:

Exploring the Deep

A New Quest & Encounter have been added. Visit Hepler the Salvager Master at the Sons of the Sea in Trinsic. This is the first part of a three part content Arc which will be developing over the next few months.

Changes have also been made to city governance, the character transfer any copy processes, level requirements for Protection, Hardening, Fortification, and Invulnerability.

As well, a new title — Veteran — has been added to the game, with different sub-titles unlocked at particular years of participation in the game. Which, the clever Ultima fan will note, reference the various single-player Ultima games:

New Titles: Veteran

• Unlocked at 2 years : Explorer of Darkness
• Unlocked at 4 years: Avenger of the Enchantress
• Unlocked at 6 years: Slayer of Exodus
• Unlocked at 8 years: Quester of the Avatar
• Unlocked at 10 years: Warrior of Destiny
• Unlocked at 12 years: Fulfiller of the False Prophecy
• Unlocked at 14 years: Destroyer of the Fellowship
• Unlocked at 16 years: Survivor of Pagan
• Unlocked at 18 years: Ascendant of the Guardian

There’s also a new piece of fiction being featured on the Ultima Online website, evidently the first part of a short series. It’s called Enchantment of the Royal Sea.