Introduction to Equinox

Equinox is free to play! This is a roleplay enforced shard. We use the game client "Ultima Online: Age of Shadows" to connect to a privately hosted POL server. Before you begin, please remember to create a login to the forums that reflects your desired character name. Then to join, please begin by familiarizing yourself with the rules and kindly follow through this guide. If you need assistance, you are encouraged to send a private message to any staff member listed on this page by clicking on their name.

Please remember, this guide was not designed as a replacement for reading the website. It is our hope this page will ease the transition into our community as we understand a full website of information (not to mention our forums) can be overwhelming for most.

Together we will walk the Equinox
between reality and fantasy...
between the light and darkness...

Character Concept

When you have learned all that you can from the website, you may find yourself asking a few questions. Please understand while we encourage you to reach out to fellow players and staff for help some roleplay information might not be explained to you out of game. There are some mysteries that can only be learned through in-game interaction.

Brief and basic information on what characters may be applied for are available here. This information is crucial to shaping your character concept. You will learn how different races look in Equinox, their preferred classes, and which races may be applied for. Some races are only unlocked through in-game actions. New players (those who have never had an active character in Equinox) are restricted to options available under the heading "Races Available for First Time Applicants."

Character Application

To ensure Equinox remains a roleplay centered shard, we ask for an application detailing your character's attributes prior to creating an account for you. Only the characters which are approved may be created on the account.

The entry-level application can be found here.

To complete the application...

1. Left click on the webpage and drag your mouse to highlight the words on the webpage.
2. Right click on the webpage to copy the text.
3. Open a word document or notepad document and paste in your selection.
4. Fill out application to the best of your ability.
5. Once your character is fleshed out and the application completed, please click here.
6. Click on the button "New Topic" and an entry page will appear.
7. Enter your completed application and click "Submit" button at the very bottom.

A well written application can be difficult when your character is not alive yet or interacting within the world, but do your best! Giving your character that much more thought and effort will make them more enjoyable for you as it will for the entire community.

The Story of Creation and the different race histories are all backstory written as a base for the world. For more current standing and events that have influenced the world (such as wars your character may have heard of) please take a look at this page. The oldest in-game event is first leading down the page to the most current. We hope this helps you join the world more seamlessly!

Downloading & Installing

When your application is approved, you will be instructed to download the necessary files if you have not done so already. Please review the following installation instructions, any error will require uninstalling ultima online and then reinstalling from scratch.

1. Download UO Client here.
2. Select "2D Installation"
3. When prompted, ensure the game is installing to "Program Files" not "Program Files (x64) or any other variant by "selecting the directory to install the files to" during installation.
4. Unclick the option to run game automatically when installation is complete.
5. Do not use the generic UOAOS icon that will be created on your desktop. (We recommend you delete this icon as it is not needed to play here and can corrupt your game files.)
6. Download the custom Equinox Installer here.
7. Run installer and ensure the game is installing to the "Ultima Online" folder within "Program Files" by "selecting the directory to install the files to" during installation.
8. A special icon entitled "Equinox" with the "E" of our logo for a picture will be created on your desktop. Use this icon to start your game!

Character Creation in Ultima Online

Please take the following steps once your application is approved and your account information is sent to you via private message over the forums. When creating a character, please move quickly through the options or your connection will idle out. Select quickly and pay no attention to the options being offered on the second screen. The options on the second screen are overridden once you enter the game.

1. Open your game client using the "Equinox" icon with our special logo.
2. Use your account information to login.
3. Select "Equinox" on the first screen.
4. Click "New" on the Character selection Screen.
5. Select "Advanced" on the first screen. This is the last option circle the right hand of your screen - in fact it tends to hang just below the grey portion of the screen and resembles a "U" on top of an "O"
6. On the bottom right hand side of the second screen, click on the three places where it says "Click here" and select a skill from the pane on the left. Select any skill and do not waste time making adjustments to strength, dexterity, intelligence, or the sliders to the right of the "Click here" bars. These are overridden once you enter the game.
7. On the third screen, write your name in the white box under "Character Name" and select your gender by clicking the "Male" button under the character to toggle between sexes. Hair style can be selected on the left and skin/hair tones on the right. (Please note, if your name is longer than the window will allow for, staff will assit you in game - just post a request on the forums.)
8. When you arrive to a screen with the Britannia map, enter the world. You will not be taken to Britannia, you will be taken to Equinox.

Entering the World (Equinox)
The Small Room

You will appear in a small room outside the University. You are in a safe place where roleplay has not yet begun for your character. Take this opportunity to flesh out a few important steps.

1. Read the gold signs on the wall by left clicking once to reveal their messages.
2. Double click the book on the table to open it and click on the bended page corners to turn the next page. (This book will give you important information on how to start.)
3. Enter the magical portal (round swirling thing on the carpet) to select your character race and class. Please remember to create only the character you were approved for!
4. Walk out of the magical portal, but remain in the room.
5. Type ".spec" to set up your character's skills. Complete this important step before leaving the room or you will make no skill or stat gains until you do. If you do not know how to pick your skills please see the below section "Specialization of Skills - A Beginner's Guide"
6. Type ".look" and use the cursor to select your own character. Fill out your character profile which should include your character's age, height, and appearance. As a general rule, only list details in your profile another character would notice upon first glance. This can make a great difference in the role-play. (If my character is 5 foot and yours is 6 foot, I would look up at you to speak to you.) This command (.look) can be used on other characters to read their profiles. To edit this at a later time, use the dot command again on yourself.
7. Double click on the doors or use the command ".door" to open the doors and leave the room.
8. Hit "alt + r" to open your radar and walk due north, this will take you into the safety of the university.

Specialization of Skills
A Beginner's Guide

To help you make the appropriate selections here are the links to the various classes you may have selected. If you have never done a ".spec" before then this section will help you.

Warrior - Paladin - Dark Paladin - Rogue - Tamer - Mage - Crafter

1. Type the dot command ".spec" and a book will pop up.
2. Press the golden knot on the left hand side of the pages to open another window from which you can select skills. (Your skills will not raise until you complete all seven options and "Save Changes")
3. The first selection is "Speciality Skill" which is the only skill to reach 110 points. Only skills listed on your class page (links above) as Speciality will raise to 110. If you select a skill that is not listed as a specialty skill, it will not raise to 110.
4. The next two golden knots beneath "Primary Skills" will reach 100 points if they show on your class page as a Specialty or Primary skill. Any skill not listed as a Speciality or a Primary skill will not raise to 100 points if selected.
5. The three golden knots on the opposite page are under your Secondary Skills and will have a skill cap of 80. Only skills listed on your class page as Speciality, Primary, or Secondary will actually reach 80 points. A skill that is not under any of these categories will not reach the 80 skill even if selected.
6. Click the bent page corner on the upper right corner of the book to turn the page.
7. This golden knot is for your trade skill and it is the skill you will use when performing jobs for npcs. It must be a crafting skill (such as tailoring, fishing, etc...) or it will not reach its potential skill cap of 80 points.
8. Ignore the golden knot next to "Default Greeting" - this does not work no matter what you do.
9. Click the bent page corner of the upper left corner of the book to turn the page back.
10. Click the red dot next to the red writing "Save Changes." You are done!
11. You can change these selections at anytime by using the ".spec" command again.

Helpful Guides:

Dot Commands: (for example - use ".door" to open doors instead of double clicking)
List of working Dot Commands

How to earn gold without killing a monster!
Jobs & Player Merchant Quests - along with other key beginner information.

How to train skills - no macroing needed!
But you will need gold! Training in the University.

Enjoy and goodluck! Welcome to Equinox!