Ultima VII: The Black Gate Spell Listing FAQ Version 0.5, 4/11/2000 Started on 4/11/2000 Copyright 2000 by Earthshaker
Anyone may reproduce this FAQ electronically, but do not sell it for money. If you wish to place this on your website, do so with this disclaimer intact, and be sure to contact me before you do so at Earthq3846@aol.com. If you do not do so, I WILL find out, and there will be some serious legal trouble!!! You can also email your comments, questions, gripes, suggestions, etc. to the above address as well. <<<<>>>><<<<>>>><<<<>>>><<<<>>>><<<<>>>><<<<>>>><<<<>>>><<<<>>>><<<<>>> >---------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS-------------------------- -- <<<<>>>><<<<>>>><<<<>>>><<<<>>>><<<<>>>><<<<>>>><<<<>>>><<<<>>>><<<<>>> >
1. Revision History 2. Introduction 3. Reagents 4. Linear Spells 5. Circle Spells 6. Repeat Copyright
Ultima VII has got to be my favorite game for the PC (mainly because I do not have a very good one and can't get games that are very high in memory.) But that's irrelevant: the question is, why am I writing this FAQ? Mainly because when I went through the help file, I found that some of the information was inaccurate, and some things didn't even include the reagents needed! So, in this FAQ, I will describe all the spells, as well as their usefulness, and the reagents needed to cast them. And, as a bonus, I will describe what each reagent is generally used for, so you know what to buy in excess if you want to cast numerous spells. Let's begin.
There are eight reagents used for the spellcasting in Ultima VII. Three of these reagents can be found in the wild, and one that regenerates when not in the wild. I will say where these places are located in each of the listings. Starting off...
Sulfurous ash looks like a yellow pile of dust. This reagent is used in many fire spells, as well as any other spells that require a burst of light or energy. Sulfurous ash is generally cheap to buy, but can also be found south of Dungeon Destard, following the mountain range.
Ginseng is another common, cheap reagent, but cannot be found anywhere in the wild. This reddish herb is used in many curative or protective spells. In rare cases it is used for destructive purposes, such as in the spell Mass Death.
Mandrake root is a powerful, expensive reagent. It can't be found anywhere in the wild. This brown, five-pointed root is used in pretty much every spell that uses the Vas runestone in its chanting or any spell involving death, and since mandrake is highly poisonous, it is used in poison spells like Poison and Poison Field. In rare cases, it is used in helping spells, like Create Food.
Blood moss is a reddish moss that can be either expensive or cheap, depending on who you buy it from. This reddish moss can't be found in the wild, and is mostly used in spells that affect time, space, or the earth. For example, blood moss is used in the all powerful Time Stop.
Garlic is a common kitchen element, and very cheap off of Mariah (1 gold per unit!) You can find garlic in a kitchen in Empath Abbey, and it looks like what a normal clove WOULD look like (whitish, very like an onion.) Garlic is used in any and all dispelling spells, as was proved by the popular vampire stories. This dispelling can be of the flow of time, or it can be the dispellation of disease and wounds. Rarely, such as in Conjure or Summon, will it be used for non- dispelling purposes.
Black pearls rank up with mandrake root as an expensive reagent. Black pearls look just like that: pearls that are black. Black pearls, being small and lightweight, are easily thrown, and therefore used in spells where you must transfer magic away from yourself (such as in projectile spells or spells that must affect other people than yourself.)
Nightshades are rare reagents, and can either be found in small quantities in a group of mushrooms near a lake, or bought for expensive prices from mages. Nightshade is a black piece of fungus that is used in spells that require hallucinatory or telepathic states (for example, the nightshade used in the spell Wizard Eye allows you to see places farther away than the line of sight of your character.)
Spider's silk looks like a miniature spider web, and can either be bought for a moderate price or found in VERY large quantities west of the Nightshade patch. Spiders rely on thin threads of spiderweb to support their heavy weight, which shows spider silk's durability. This durability is manipulated in spells that require a strong tie to be kept (such as in the Resurrect Spell... the Spider's Silk keeps the powerful magic from dispersing.) It is also used in binding spells such as Charm, which needs the Silk to magically bind the opponent to the caster.
Your first spellbook will always contain all eight linear spells. Linear spells are unlike the Eight Circles of Magic, because they require no mana points or reagents to cast them. Like each of the Eight Circles of Magic, there are eight spells in the Linear Spell level. They are as follows (along with their descriptions and overall usefulness):
AWAKEN When you cast this spell, crosshairs appear, signifying that you must select a target. When you click on a sleeping target, that target will wake up and go about his normal business providing his/her hits are above 0. It is useful, because with this spell, you don't need any orange potions :-D
DOUSE Casting this spell makes the crosshairs appear. If you select a lit item such as a torch, sconce, or lamp, it will be extinguished. This is an extremely pointless spell to cast, because light is good.
FIREWORKS When you cast this spell, bright, colored lights dance around you. If you have a high level and you are fighting a low level monster, you may cause them to run away. Use this only if you dislike being bugged by Gremlins or headlesses.
GLIMMER Using this spell eliminates the need for white potions, because a glowing light will eliminate the darkness. This will not last for long, however, unless you uncover a certain bug in earlier versions that make this last indefinitely (like my version :-P) Thus, for these earlier versions, this is DEFINITELY a great spell.
HELP This useful spell teleports you to the throne room of Lord British. Very useful, because it is like a Recall spell without using any reagents or mana! However, MAKE SURE YOU PICK UP ANY DEAD COMPANIONS FIRST! And remember... Lord British will heal you for free.
IGNITE This pointless spell is the exact opposite of Douse: cast it on an unlit, unspent torch/candle/sconce/lamp/etc. and it will burst into flames. Using the double click command is an all too easy replacement.
THUNDER Thunder booms in the sky when you cast this spell, and outdoor creatures may flee in fear of a storm. Strong ones won't, however.
WEATHER Using this spell either causes a storm or stops one in progress. It is useful only if you get bugged by a darker screen or the whooshing of the rainfall.
Ultima VII: The Black Gate Spell Listing FAQ Version 0.5, 4/11/2000 Started on 4/11/2000 Copyright 2000 by Earthshaker
Anyone may reproduce this FAQ electronically, but do not sell it for money. If you wish to place this on your website, do so with this disclaimer intact, and be sure to contact me before you do so at Earthq3846@aol.com. If you do not do so, I WILL find out, and there will be some serious legal trouble!!! You can also email your comments, questions, gripes, suggestions, etc. to the above address as well.