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[[image:Avatar Ultima IX.jpg|thumb|300px|The Avatar from ''[[ |
[[image:Avatar Ultima IX.jpg|thumb|300px|The Avatar from ''[[Ultima IX|Ultima IX: Ascension]]'']]'''The Avatar''' is the main (player) character in the ''[[Ultima]]'' series of games. He (or she) is not an embodiment of a [[god]] (as in the traditional meaning of the term "[[avatar]]"), but of a set of ethic guidelines called the [[Virtues of Ultima|Virtues]]. In the game, you must balance your actions and behave according to the Virtues, for it is all that will set you apart from your enemies. |
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The Avatar was first known as the ''Stranger'' (or, more fully, ''Stranger from another world'') in Ultima, when he (or she) defeated [[Mondain]]. He returned to bring an end to the revenge of the enchantress [[Minax]], and to dispatch their hellspawn, Exodus. However, it is widely debated whether or not the Stranger and the Avatar are the same person. ''[[Ultima IV]]'' seems to say they are different persons altogether, but latter ''Ultima''s imply the Stranger and the Avatar are one and same person. |
The Avatar was first known as the ''Stranger'' (or, more fully, ''Stranger from another world'') in Ultima, when he (or she) defeated [[Mondain]]. He returned to bring an end to the revenge of the enchantress [[Minax]], and to dispatch their hellspawn, Exodus. However, it is widely debated whether or not the Stranger and the Avatar are the same person. ''[[Ultima IV]]'' seems to say they are different persons altogether, but latter ''Ultima''s imply the Stranger and the Avatar are one and same person. |
Revision as of 22:37, 2 February 2005
The Avatar is the main (player) character in the Ultima series of games. He (or she) is not an embodiment of a god (as in the traditional meaning of the term "avatar"), but of a set of ethic guidelines called the Virtues. In the game, you must balance your actions and behave according to the Virtues, for it is all that will set you apart from your enemies.
The Avatar was first known as the Stranger (or, more fully, Stranger from another world) in Ultima, when he (or she) defeated Mondain. He returned to bring an end to the revenge of the enchantress Minax, and to dispatch their hellspawn, Exodus. However, it is widely debated whether or not the Stranger and the Avatar are the same person. Ultima IV seems to say they are different persons altogether, but latter Ultimas imply the Stranger and the Avatar are one and same person.
The fourth time the Stranger returned, his quest took a different tack. Instead of defeating an enemy, his goal was to follow the path of the Virtues, and retrieve the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom from the Great Stygian Abyss. In the fifth episode, the Avatar defeated a repressive regime over Britannia, and in the sixth he brought peace between men and gargoyles.
In the seventh, eighth, and ninth episodes, the Avatar battled the Guardian, finally destroying both himself and his foe to rid the world of him.
In all Ultima games (except for Ultima IX), the player is allowed to name the Avatar character how they want. The implied idea is to make the in-game character a mirror image of the players themselves (the character in the game, in a way, becoming an "avatar" of the player), but this is not explicitly mentioned anywhere. In Ultima IV and V, due to graphical limitations, the player could only choose the gender of the Avatar character, but in Ultima VI and onward, several different character portraits were available. However, in Ultima VIII and IX, the choice was once again limited to male character with blond hair.
The Avatar's trademark clothing often includes a chain mail, with a white, red or orange tunic (with a golden Ankh symbol on the chest and back) over it, and a red cape. His appearance varies from version to version, but usually follows this schema.