Version 1.1.2 May 1996: Removed unnecessary reference to a Low-Memory global. Added lots of Balloon Help. Intelligently dim the 'Save' button. Improved dialog updating.
Version 1.1.1 October 1995: Fixed a minor bug that occurred when trying to edit an empty Roster file; updated address and e-mail information; fixed a typo in Version 1.1 explanation below:
Version 1.1 August 1995 (a few weeks later): Changes include a re-write of all code responsible for manipulating character information, improved user validation, and some general house keeping. Players can now max out their characters stats a little easier than before. User interface is still cosmetically challenged.
Version 1.0 August 1995: Initial release.
Solofl-Exodus
~~~~~~~~~~~
This could be your Elf. These could be your Stats. This could be your +4 Axe. This is the way Lord British looks at you when you advance 26 levels without killing a single creature†. This is could be your Ranger. This could be your Mark of Kings. This is the number you call: 1-800-324-7774.
Do you want to pump up your stats? Sure we all do! Now you can take classes in the privacy of your own home. You can choose from:
Health and Fitness
Arcane Magicks
Tattooing, Branding, and Body Art
Armor Smithing
Weapons Play
Punch-Card Operated Computer Programming
Gun Repair
Or you can get your bachelor's degree. You can major in Music and Computer Science, and then write the Ult. 3 Character Editor.
Etu Balrog?
~~~~~~~~~
When I heard about Ultima III, as ported by Leon McNeill, I was ecstatic!! I consulted the WWW page daily, drooled over screen shots, and hoped the commercial powers that be wouldn't refuse distribution out of ignorance. Then, the day finally came: Ultima III rose from the ashes, and was installed on my hard disk.
That weekend, I unplugged my phone, stocked up on chips and Pepsi™, and created my party — Thorbjorn, Selaekii, Paragrin, and Pat. These four fearless adventurers were the talk of all of Sosaria, or at least the grassy knoll surrounding Britannia, Yew, and British's Castle. After a gory battle against fighters, wizards, and other nasties, my party sought shelter in Yew; they sorely needed healing and rest. No sooner had they entered the mountain pass west of Yew than the party was ambushed by a collection of Balrogs. As they approached, Thorbjorn hailed them. "Good Day!" they called back, in a coarse computerized voice. Then the slaughter-fest began.
I thought "What have my Level 2 party done to deserve this fate?" After they died, I re-started, hoping to find myself back at some previous position. The game, evil to the end, demanded that my party was dead. My thoughts turned to my fallen comrades. "Why?? Poor Paragrin — he finally was able to afford his first set of Chain; Poor Selaekii — who never got a chance to steal from merchants; Poor Pat … whatever it was …" Oh, the humanity!
Then I got angry. "My Apple II version never threw Balrogs at a 2nd Level party! Did it? I don't remember. I remember playing it - I remember winning it … " Then I remembered! THE CHEAT PROGRAM!!
After all, what would Ultima III be without some way to give your characters all that you desire - even from beyond the grave?
Caveat Emptor
~~~~~~~~~~~
Ult. 3 Character Editor was conceived, and (mostly) written in about 6 hours. It was a lot of fun, and I got to try out a bunch of new things (here I use the word "things" in place of the word "hacks"). Then, after releasing version 1.0 to the public, I re-wrote 60% of the code and released it again!!! And, then, after some heckling, I cleaned the code up. I'm still casting a lot of data, but I'm a C programmer so it's OK. No more low-level globals for me though.
Anyway, If for some reason it doesn't work right, it takes your 15th Level characters and reduces them to lepers, or just trashes your hard disk, causing its seek head to dig furrows in its platters, you were warned. No, I wouldn't go as far as to say "I told you so!", because to the best of my knowledge, the software works great. The previous sentence should not be construed as a commitment, guarantee, or promise of any kind.
I'll try to fix any problems that people can find in it. The user interface could be a little nicer — say, allow you to switch between applications without special help, have real pull down menus, etc. — but honestly, I'm not willing to invest a lot of time into a silly cheat program. Still, I've tried to make the UI as functionally cool as possible.
Cheaters never prosper
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ultima III - 1995 is shareware. If you play the game, please register it. Until you register the game, your characters won't be able to go to Ambrosia, they won't be able to raise their stats, and they won't be able to possess Cards (If you have no idea what Ambrosia or Cards are, don't worry yet - if you have no idea what your character's stats are, you should stop playing now).
In fact, it turns out that Leon McNeill was so forward thinking, that if you use some Resource Editor — or better still, Ult. 3 Character Editor — to give your characters higher stats or whatnot, the Ultima III application will simply ignore the changes. In other words: You can't use Ult. 3 Character Editor to beat the shareware fee. After all, the famous minstrel did sing:
"You don't get something for nothing
You can't get freedom for free
You won't get wise with the sleep still in your eyes
No matter how good your Cheater might be!"††
Licensing agreement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ult. 3 Character Editor is free. It may be distributed freely, subject to the license agreement below. Note that the Ult. 3 Character Editor is no longer Public Domain.
Legal Stuff
~~~~~~~~~
Although copyrighted, Ult. 3 Character Editor may be freely distributed by electronic means, provided that it is not modified in any way and that it is accompanied by all of the original documentation unaltered. However, ownership of and interest in this software, together with all associated codes, techniques, software tools, formats, designs, concepts, methods, ideas, and documentation (excluding formats, designs, concepts, etc inherited from Ultima III) shall remain with the author. Use and distribution of this software is governed by the following terms in an effort to reasonably ensure that this software will remain freely available and that no one other than the author will derive a commercial benefit from distributing this software.
You may:
1. Use this software on as many computers as you want.
2. Make as many backup copies of this software as you want.
3. Freely distribute this software via wire or electronic communications (BBS's and online information systems) for the sole purpose of use by their customers.
4 Terminate this agreement at any time by destroying all copies of this software and derivatives of this software and cease distributing the same.
You may not:
1. Create any derivative works from this software for distribution.
2. Charge money for this software other than reasonable charges for downloading time or shipping expenses.
Disclaimer of warranty:
In using this software, you understand and agree that this software is provided “as is” without warranty of any kind. The entire risk as to the results and performance of using this software lies entirely with you, the user. The author does not make any warranties, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, with respect to this software.
In no event shall the author be liable for any consequential, incidental, or special damages whatsoever (including without limitation damages for loss of critical data, loss of profits, interruption of business, and the like) arising out of the use or inability to use this software. Because some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages, the above limitations may not apply to you.
Although the author would appreciate any feedback and bug reports, the author shall not be responsible for correcting any problems which you discover or otherwise help you maintain and use this software. Furthermore, the author may at any time replace, modify, alter, improve, enhance or change this software.
Complete agreement:
This agreement constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes any prior agreements between you and the author concerning this software. This agreement cannot be amended, modified, or waived except in writing.
General:
If any provision of this agreement shall be found to be unenforceable, it shall be deemed severed from the remainder of this agreement.
_____
† And if your characters did find that they had to kill a creature, they surely would try to look at it from the creature's point of view.
†† "Something for Nothing" — Words by Neil Peart, Music by Geddy Lee. Lyrics butchered without permission.
"Pepsi" is a registered trademark of Pepsico, Inc. While Michael Trent heavily endorses the use of Pepsi™ products while coding, Pepsi™ in no way endorses him.
