Flagship - The Independent Magazine for Gamers

Ultima Online is one of the oldest multiplayer online games, going for some 10 years and based on the Ultima board game and computer game series. Its not got the latest graphics or gee-wiz appeal that some of the newer games have, but it can be run on a low-powered computer, and has other advantages. It is particularly suited to more dedicated roleplaying than is comon in multiplayer online games.

By this I don't just mean by the way the character dresses or looks, or race, alignment etc. Players create a background history for their character and take part in a social world that the community together sub-creates.

The largest of these is on the Europa shard (server), but there are also significant role-playing communities on other shards, such as Pacific and Catskills. They create thematic guilds that simulate different social groups, aristocrats (Duchy, barony), roughneck frontier soldiers, mercenaries, brigands, pirates, etc. and hold events like markets and tavern open hours, as well as design role-playing scenarios. The communities have a high proportion of women and also older players for whom monster-bashing is only of secondary interest - if that.

There is an article on this ("Online roleplaying communities" in Flagship Issue 116 November/December 2005 pp.40-41).

There is a Wiki devoted to the Europa Roleplaying Community, for anyone interested in learning more about it. The Moongates Wiki gives a flavour of the extent and inventiveness of the sub-created social, political and military world of Ultima Online roleplaying on Europa shard.

Roleplaying forums: Europa, Europa RP Guilds, Pacific Roleplaying Community.