Hello, I'm new to the ultima series having just started with the fourth game and I'm having an absolute blast with it so far. However I ran into a bit of a problem today in Jhelom while exploring. I found Nostro, the architect who was walled in while building the town's battlements and agreed to help him. I led him out of his prison but he doesn't seem to realise he is free and just keeps following me around. How do I 'trigger' the end of the quest? Should I leave the town or will that reset him like the locks and bariers?

Hope you can help!

Also I'd like to hear people's opinion on the companions. Is it necessary to recruit them all to enter the Abyss? I quite fancy sticking with Dupre, Iolo and Shamino (I'm playing as a mage) as my party. Will I be able to complete the game with just them or do I risk being overwhelmed by the horrors of the Abyss?

I should probably mention I'm playing the sms version of the game.

Yes you need a party of 8 to finish the game, it's not so much that you need them to survive the abyss as much as you can not enter the final area of the abyss with out a party of 8, the key of 3 parts, the sacred word and be of the 8th level. I don't recall if the companions have to be level 8 though..

They don't have to be level 8. I soloed U4, recruiting the companions at the last minute and immediately getting them killed. Then I resurrected them all just before entering the section where they're needed. Not very virtuous, I know, but there you go.

Is the game much more difficult this way? Should I be ok with 3 lvl 8 companions?

It's not actually any harder, as generally the number of opponents in a given combat scales to the number in your party. There might be some set fights that don't scale, but considering you'll be 8th level, not really a problem.

EDIT: Just saw that you're playing the sms version. In that case, not sure if it applies as I played the PC version. You should notice whether or not it's true for that version as soon as you've done a couple of fights, though. If you're not struggling, you'll be fine. Incidentally, the fights don't scale in 5, making that a somewhat harder game to solo.

Thanks guys.

I think the sms version Is pretty much the same as the pc version (pretty good port to be honest) so I'll just stick with my current companions instead of busting my ass to level Katharine.

It is the same as the computer versions save for the dungeon view which is overhead as opposed to first person and I don't think it has the hyloth dungeon bug where the exit in the lowest level was bugged and so you couldn't leave by way of the altar rooms(all dungeons in Ultima 4 save for the Abyss are connected at the lowest level).


Oh and don't forget to talk to everyone especially in the SMS version since in that version you can only bring up things you already know about as you NEED to learn the 3 parts to the axiom to enter the final area plus there are a few characters who will give you clues to the answer to the final question the Codex asks you.

Is there a penalty for using a ranged weapon in close quaters? If I shoot the nasty orcs at point blank range with a bow will it be less effective?

Not that I am aware off, don't think they really thought about stuff like that back then.

Curious. There doesn't seem to be a real downside to using missile weapons. Off to grind some more gold coins so I can get the magic bows for my guys.

Once again thanks for help (+1)