Downloading and Installing the Software
All the software you need (and more!) to play NUO is linked on our Downloads and Aids page. First, download the OSI-UO software. NUO is an emulator of UO. As such, it requires lots of .mul, art, sound files and more that originate from UO. It will likely take some time, an hour or more depending on your machine and internet connection. Once downloaded, dbl-click the file to extract the files. It will prompt you as to whether you want to install the 2D or 3D version. I recommend the 2D as certain colors/art dont translate appropriately in the 3D install but either should work. You do NOT need to create a UO account and you do NOT need to install DirectX 8.0.

Once the install is done, start Ultima Online client from your start menu or the shortcut it put on your desktop. That will begin an autopatch where your client automatically downloads and installs up-to-date files. You DO NOT want to patch too far! Watch the patches being installed and stop the process immediately once Version 5.0.6a begins. If you patch a version beyond 5.0.6a you will likely have to uninstall the software and start anew. If an error occurs, cancel the patch download and start it up again. The patch files are newer art and sound files and such that are required to play NUO.

Now download UOGateway. This is a portal program of sorts. It allows you to log into NUO with an account NAME and PASSWORD of your choice. Download the latest version. At the time of this writing, it is a 1.9 Beta version. Once downloaded, dbl-click the file on your desktop to install. This whole process should be very fast. A matter of minutes. Once installed, run the program from your Start > Programs menu button on your Desktop Toolbar. Look for the tab at the top left that reads, "NEW LOCAL SERVER". Click that. You want to fill out the following fields with the following information:

• Server Name: NUO
• Server DNS/IP: jcardali.dyndns.org       Port: 2593
• Encryption: Remove Encryption

After you've entered the above information in the appropriate fields, click the SAVE SETTINGS button at the bottom. This will bring you back to the "MY SERVERS" tab. Click the word "NUO" to open the login page for playing NUO and have fun!

Registering an Account
NUO is not an Auto Account server. This means you must Register an Account with the NUO Administrator before your account will be playable. Follow the Register an Account link and fill out the appropriate form to have your account created. You will receive a reply, usually within 24 hours, saying that your account has been Activated. You are now ready to play NUO. Simply run the UOGateway program, click on the My Servers tab, click on the Noster Universitas icon, and then enter your account NAME and PASSWORD on the login page. The Name and Password are case-sensitive.

Congratulations! You should now be logged into NUO!

Ingame Verbal Commands
It will help you to know that there are many commands you can invoke as a player by "speaking" them. To speak in NUO, type what you want your character to say and then hit the "Enter" key. It will appear above his/her head in text form. You can use the following commands ingame:

• help: to get a list of general verbal commands you may use.
• motd: to display the Message of the Day gump.
• [time: to display the ingame Date and Time.
• [grab: for looting corpses to which you have looting rights en masse.
• [c or [chat: to bring up a global chat/messaging system.
• bank: say this when near any Banker npc(non-player character) to access your secure Bank Box.

Are you new to NUO and Ultima Online?
NUO is very unlike any other Massively Multiplayer Online RolePlaying Game(MMORPG). It is extremely non-linear and has an unparalleled depth to its gameplay and character customization. As such, it might seem a bit daunting upon playing for the first time. You might create your character, find yourself in the starting town of Homestead, only to be hit with a serious case of "what do I do with my life now?". And of course the unavoidable and unfulfilling answer is always, "that is entirely up to you".

It might help to first think on what type of player you want to be. Do you want to be a roleplayer, adventurer, crafter, merchant, PvP-er(Player vs. Player combat) or a combination of the above. Notice I didn't say 'decide' but rather 'think on'. This is because in NUO, character development is dynamic. You are never stuck on any one path and you can always restructure you character in just about every element save for Race. And also because no matter what career path you choose, they all start out with one need in common. Gold. But we'll get to that in a minute. If you're not sure what Race to be, I'd say just go with whatever suits your fancy for now. Ultimately you'll have to get to know NUO a bit better before you can make a good decision. I'd also recommend reading the website link on Races and Skills.

• Roleplayer: The only limitation to playing as a roleplayer is your imagination. Any Race and character skillset will work wonderfully. Though rping isn't mandatory in NUO, some people will be engaging in it. We only ask that you respect their style of play and politely communicate that it isn't your style if it bothers you.
• Adventurer: There are literally dozens of "class" types or skillsets that make a good adventurer. These are the type of players that mostly like to hunt npc monsters and "farm" their loot. That is hunt npc monsters repeatedly to recieve the items and gold they get off the monster corpses. The Bard-ish sort of character (any Race) and Animal Tamers (Werewolf only) seem to do the most efficient work here but any class of character and Race will do.
• Crafter: This is where your choice in Race is most important as each Race has a monopoly on at least one crafting skill. For instance, only Humans can Tailor clothing and leather armor. A crafter makes his way in the world by collecting the resources of his craft himself if he is able to do so, or from npc vendors, player-owned npc vendors, or players themselves. Then crafting these resources into end-products usable by other players and selling them. All craftables in NUO are typically much more lucrative than in most other UO emulators.
• Merchant: Typically, a crafter will wind up being a merchant and vice versa. However, some players do not craft at all and still can setup a very profitable business as a middleman. Acquiring goods in bulk at low prices and selling high.
• PvP combat: Whether fighting other players for Guild/Territorial conquest, Tournament fighting, or playing as a cold-blooded Murderer, the pvper is usually not rich nor diverse in their skillset. They are simply playing for the rush experienced in competition and to be good at it requires devoting most if not all of your skills to pvp.

You have 2,500 in your bank account to start with along with a few basic supplies. Everything you need to get started is purchasable in Homestead. So grab only what you need, maybe a weapon and armor or some bandages and get to killing. But not before you bank the rest of your gold! The last thing you want to do is die fighting a monster with the last of your gold being left to rot on your corpse, along with your last sword.

Killing npc monsters is the most common way to get your hands on some quick gold. So get to it! It would be a good idea to start with the Brigand npcs just south of Homestead. Individually, they do moderate damage but are lightly armored and slow moving, so you can easily run right back to town if things go badly for you. I'd recommend working on them for a while until you can bank another few thousand gold, grab a few weapons off their corpses (if you use weapons), and have some backup gear in the bank like an extra suit of armor or extra spell reagents if you're a mage. From here, the sky's the limit! Sell your services as one of the most accomplished pvp mercenaries to aggressive Guilds, establish a vendor mall bordering on the colossal in size and wealth, or settle NUO's Oldest and Greatest Elven City and Gardens. It's all up to you!