Creating Your Character

The creation of a character is something that is very special to the community. Your character will leave an impact upon the world for better or for worse. They will forge friendships to last a lifetime and enemies that may bring on an early grave. Ultimately before submitting an application, it is your responsibility as a player to familiarize yourself with the lore of Equinox and the rules of our community.

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 things may not be explained to you out of game. There are some mysteries that can only be learned through in game interaction. That being said, if you need assistance in the creation of your character please feel free to use the forums or chat room to voice your ideas and get feedback.

Character Application

Once your character is fleshed out, an application must be written and submitted here. The character application has been provided for you in the forums as well as on the website. Please copy the template into word or notepad and answer each section to the best of your ability. 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 a pleasure for you as it will for the entire community.

Downloading Files

When your application is approved, you will be instructed to download the necessary files if you have not done so already. All the downloads you need can be found here on the forum posting under the section "Getting in Game." Please do not update your Ultima Online game client as this will cause conflicts with our files. Please read the following section "Installing the Files" before proceeding.

Installing the Files

We recommend use of the Ultima Online game version “Age of Shadows” as previous players have had no issues with it. First you will need to install the game client of Ultima Online. Follow the installation directions and allow it to create a folder in "Program Files" of your C drive. For players using the windows operating system “Vista,” please take care what directory you use to install. Your directory for all installations should be “Program Files” and not “Program Files (x86)” or else you will have problems with your game play.

After you have installed Ultima Online (again do NOT update the game client) you will need to
install Equinox's specific files in order to begin play. The shard files are placed in an installer for your convenience. After downloading, simply unzip or unrar the executable file to your desktop and double click the Equinox icon. Ensure the directory the installer chooses leads to your Ultima Online folder in C drive Program Files. If it does not, you must browse and select the appropriate folder. Typically only Windows "Vista" users will need to do this. Follow the installation through and you will be ready for entering Equinox!

Character Creation in Ultima Online

When your application is approved, your account information will be sent to you as a private message over the forums. Open your game client using the icon that says "Equinox" with our special logo and use your account information to log in. As a reminder to all our players, novice and veteran alike, if you take too long in the character creation area you will idle out. .

If it is the first time you are logging in with this character, the client will ask you to create your character. On the first screen, you will have to choose "Advanced" which is the last circle on your screen. The following screen will allow you to pick three skills that you will start with. The third screen will allow you to adjust your intelligence, strength, and dexterity. The fourth and final screen is where you will choose your gender and name based upon what is approved for your application. You can only make characters you have been approved for and just how they have been approved. If your character name is longer than the window will allow for, staff will assist you in game with this. You will only need to put a request on the forums. 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 Equinox

Once inside the game you are “born” outside of the University’s gates in a special one room building. Take time to look around you and be sure to read the signs on the wall! Click once on the signs for them to reveail their messages. Enter through the magical portal found over the rug and select your character race and class there. Please remember to create only the character you were approved for with the proper selections.

After you have finished your time in the magical portal, please use the command “.spec” as this will allow you to set up your character’s skills. You may want to do this before you leave the room as it is very important. You will not be able to do specific actions in the game until your .spec has been completed, such as make gains or change clothing. To help you make the appropriate selections for your character, please use the skill guide. It can be found under “Character Options” on the toolbar at the top of each webpage and then look under "Classes" for your class.

Specialization of Skills

When the dot command ".spec" has been used, a gump that looks like a book will pop up. Press the little dots to open another window from which you can select skills. The first selection you can make
is the "Specialty Skill" which will raise to 110 skill. Each class has their own skills that are able to be chosen as specialty skills. If you select a skill that is not listed as a specialty skill in your class guide,
it will not raise to 110. By the same token, only the specialty skill you select will actually reach the skill cap of 110. If it is not selected it will not raise as high.

The next two dots, going down, are your primary skills. Each of these will raise to 100 skill, but only the skills listed as primary skills for your class will raise to 100 skill. You may also use a specialty skill in your primary skill slot, but the skill will only raise to 100 skill not 110.

The three dots on the opposite page are your secondary skills. These have a skill cap of 80. Only skills listed as secondary, primary, or specialty skills for your class can be selected for these slots and actually attain 80 skill. They will only attain 80 skill. A skill that is not specific to your class and does not fall under the specialty, primary, or secondary lists will not raise to 80 skill even if you
select them.

Finally you will need to select a trade skill. This is the skill you will use when you do jobs for NPCs. It is also the skill with which you craft. You will be able to raise your trade skill to 80 but it must be an approriate crafting skill or it will not reach its potential cap of 80.

When this is done, click save changes. You can change these selections anytime by using the dot command ".spec" again.

Almost Done!

Finally, use the command “.look” on your own character and fill out your character profile. It should include information such as your character’s age, height, and appearance to aid others in their role-play interaction with you. As a general rule, players only list details in their character profile that another character would notice upon first glance. This can make a great difference in the role-play.

You will be able to use this dot command (.look) on others to help with your own role-play as well. To later edit your own character profile, use the dot command on yourself.

Done!

After this has been completed, you are free to leave the room and enter the University. You are all ready for your adventure! It is recommended you remain in the University until you better understand how Equinox works, but you can leave and return at anytime. Other players can also come to visit you at the University!

Enjoy and goodluck! Welcome to Equinox!