Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss/Gameplay

Sound configuration
On modern systems, or when using DOSBox, you will need to set the sound during installation. For most users, the option to pick is the Sound Blaster Pro for both Sound and Speech. The installation utility will automatically detect the sound card - if it is non-standard run  and enter the parameters there.

The version distributed with GOG.com has an incorrect sound configuration, expecting a Roland MT-32, when its version of DOSBox isn't emulating the correct card.

DOSBox
Digital re-releases of the game use DOSBox to have it run. If installing it from a retail release, DOSBox has a few settings that can be changed.


 * In the configuration file, change cycles=auto to either cycles=max or cycles=30000.

Character Creation
As an Ultima game, you will need to create a character just before you journey into the dungeon. You will need to enter a name, gender, class, and select associated skills.

During the character creation, an identical sequence of inputs will result in the same stats, determined from the start of launching the game. If you dislike the character, you can discard the stats, and try again at creating the character.


 * Fighters choose three skills: one of attack or defense, one of unarmed, sword, axe, mace or missle, and one of Swimming, Traps, Search, Charm, Acrobat and Appraise.
 * Mages choose one of Mana or Casting,
 * Bards choose one of Lore or Charm, one of Appraise, Acrobat, Sneak, Picklock, Search or Swimming, and one of Mana, Casting, Sword, Axe, Mace, Unarmed or Missile.
 * Tinkers choose one of Unarmed, Sword, Axe, Mace or Missile, and one of Picklock, Traps, Search, Appraise or Repair.
 * Druids choose one of Track, Lore or Search
 * Paladins choose one of Appraise, Charm, Acrobat or Repair, and one of Unarmed, Sword, Axe, Mace or Missile.
 * Rangers choose one of Traps, Acrobat, Sneak, Search, Swimming or Repair, and one of Unarmed, Sword, Axe, Mace, Missile, Attack, Defense or Track.
 * Shepherds choose one of Unarmed, Sword, Axe, Mace, Missile or Defense, and two picks from Traps, Sneak, Appraise, Track, Lore, Search, Acrobat, Swimming, Casting or Mana.