Big-ish news from Broadsword Online Games and Ultima Online this morning: the first part of the Time of Legends expansion will be released on the Test Center shard (TC1) this evening:

We are excited for the first TC1 release of the Time of Legends! This is only part one of what you can expect to see in Pub 90 and can expect to see part two in the next week. Make sure you patch your client before testing anything on TC1. We look forward to seeing you on TC1, if you have any feedback please send it to uo@broadsword.com. We will be pushing this tonight so expect TC1 to go down for a short period of time.

Please remember this client is not manditory as of yet, but if you wish to check out all the new and exciting features please make sure you patch up completely.

This Publish is a significant one, and it brings a number of changes and additions to Ultima Online. Here, for example, are the changes related to just two Virtues:

Humility & Spirituality

• This feature does not require the Time of Legends expansion entitlement.
• Humility & Spirituality Virtues are now available via the virtue menu.
• Humility
  • Method of Gain
    • To begin the Humility Hunt, say the words “lum lum lum”.
    • During the Humility Hunt players, pets, and summons receive a -70 resist debuff to all resists.
    • Hiding via hiding skill, spells, potions, or turkey feathers is prohibited while on a Humility Hunt.
    • Players receive Humility points for killing evil aligned creatures while on the hunt.
    • To end the hunt a player can speak, “lum lum lum.” After 30 seconds resists return to normal. There is a 60 second cooldown to re-initiate the hunt.
  • Using Humility
    • Through the virtue menu, double click the Humility virtue to bring up a targeting cursor.
    • Targeting a pet will provide that pet with a 20 minute Hit Point Regeneration buff based on Humility path and consume some Humility points,
      • Seeker: +10 HPR
      • Follower: +20 HPR
      • Knight: +30 HPR
• Spirituality
  • Method of Gain
    • Spirituality is gained by using targeted heals and resurrections on other players including bandages, close wounds, heal, greater heal, gift of renewal, cleansing winds, and rejuvenate.
  • Using Spirituality
    • Through the virtue menu, double click the humility virtue to bring up a targeting cursor.
    • Targeting a living player or pet will grant a Spirituality shield that will absorb incoming damage based on Spirituality path and consume some Spirituality points,
      • Seeker: 5% shield, with 50 shield HP
      • Follower: 10% shield, with 100 shield HP
      • Knight: 20% shield, with 200 shield HP

Significant changes or expansions have also been made to Ultima Online’s currency conversion, skill masteries, housing craftables, and housing tiles.