Outlands has refined the Ultima Online experience by introducing various progression systems, providing players with numerous options for character development. This allows for a vast range of builds and playstyles.
However, the amount of information can be overwhelming. The goal of this guide is to streamline the learning process so that new players can better understand their character's potential while minimizing confusion and frustration.
The Six Core Elements
A PvM character consists of six key progression elements that contribute to reaching end-game content.
These elements, along with their primary improvement methods, include:
- Raw Skill Points – Primarily gained through AFK macroing, with some gold grinding.
- Codex, Bestiary, Tome, etc. – Requires experience grinding.
- Aspect – Progressed through experience and gold grinding.
- Strongbox – An unlockable feature that reduces the weight of gold.
- Mastery Chain – Improved through experience grinding and society tasks.
- Echoes and Character Customizations – Advanced via gold grinding.
Your final character build will be the result of synergies across these elements, optimizing damage output and gold farming efficiency.
To benefit from codex bonuses, you must first meet the necessary skill point requirements. The chosen aspect will further amplify skill and codex effects. Strongboxes, which can be unlocked twice, help extend dungeon time by reducing gold weight. Mastery chains enhance specific areas of your build, and character customizations allow for additional improvements in gold farming potential.
Additional Quality of Life Upgrades
Beyond the primary progression systems, several quality of life upgrades can improve gameplay:
- Runebooks (with a runebook bless deed)
- Inn rooms (providing benefits similar to house ownership)
- Storage shelves or lockers (for quick restocking)
Many of these resources are available through the guildhouse, ensuring all members have access when needed.
We’ll delve deeper into leveling each progression system, but first, let’s examine how each element functions and contributes to your character’s overall development.
Raw Skill Points
Your skills form the foundation of your build. Every character begins with 700 skill points that can be allocated freely. By default, each skill can be raised to a maximum of 100 points. A skill reaches its peak effectiveness when maxed out at 100, though special items can further increase it to a maximum of 120. The Outlands community has developed a variety of creative builds, meaning skill allocation is not always as simple as maximizing seven skills.
With the exception of gathering skills, most skills can be trained through AFK macroing. While macroing may involve some costs, reaching the initial 700 skill points typically takes only a few days, making it advisable to complete this process early on.
Your total skill cap can be increased from 700 to 720 using skill balls. Each skill ball increases the total cap by one point, requiring 20 skill balls to reach the maximum limit.
Individual skills, initially capped at 100, can be expanded up to 120 with skill scrolls. Each skill scroll increases the cap by one point, allowing further training up to the new limit.
Key Points
- Skill balls increase your overall skill cap by 1, up to a maximum of 720.
- Skill scrolls raise an individual skill cap by 1, up to a maximum of 120.
- PvP-related skills, such as magery and weapon skills, cannot exceed 100.
- Skill balls and skill scrolls are costly, so acquiring them early may not be feasible.
- Macroing guides for each skill are available on the each skill's individual page.
Proper skill management is essential for optimizing your character, so plan your progression carefully!