Re: Ultima 2 strength increase bug

[Poake <Poake@hotmail.com>]

"SloppyMagoo" <joeseeley@gmail.com> wrote in
1135064898.344431.55360@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:">news:1135064898.344431.55360@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com: 

> Hi All,
> 
> This message is directed towards Linards Ticmanis.
> 
> Back in 2002 you posted that there was a bug in the Ultima 2 Program
> Disk image that did not allow the increase of strength during the
> progress of the game.
> 
> http://groups.google.com/group/comp.sys.apple2/browse_thread/thread/c1
c
> 2be2bddce6ee9/5940e3dcce0462db?lnk=st&q=ultima+2
+increase+strength&rnum
> =2&hl=en#5940e3dcce0462db 
> 
> I am replaying Ultima 2 for the first time in while with my children
> and have been frustrated that I cannot increase my strength past the
> initial amount no matter how many times I give money to the clerk at
> the Hotel California.
> 
> In desparation I finally consulted my trusty old "Book of Adventure
> Games" ( circa 1985) by Kim Schuette for advice. Sure enough, it
> confirms this problem:
> 
> "Strength, however, is never augmented, so start out with at least 30
> (and preferably 40), because that's all you'll ever get."
> 
> Now that my memory is kicking in I remember running into this with the
> big box version (original Sierra release). I'm not positive about the
> small box one (also Sierra but later on) but I ended up playing both
> and consulted this same book to get past the problem.
> 
> I am impressed you were able to isolate and fix this bug after so many
> years. I would be very interested in hearing how you achieved this
> feat. Well done!
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Joe
> 
> 

I have a few different dsk images of Ultima II I've collected over the
years. 

1) 1982 Original? On-Line version
2) 1989 PRODos version
3) Cracked DOS file version (has DSR DOS on it. BRUN HELLO to start it)
4) My own hacked version of the 1982 copy to allow IBM keyboard arrow
key movement for up, down, left, right. The PRODos version already does
this. 

I remember back in 96/97 when I first found Asimov and the Apple
Emulators, I wanted to play U2 and was annoyed with having to use / and
return to move. So I loaded up Tricky Dick and changed the routine. My
first Apple hack using an emulator =p 

Let me know if anyone is interested in these files.