History VideoGame / UltimaV

* AccidentalPun: Gazers are one of the many enemies borrowed from TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons; resembling [[http://dnd.wizards.com/dungeons-and-dragons/what-is-dnd/monsters/monsters-beholder beholders.]] Starting this game, if you kill one, they release a swarm of insects. In other words, they're [[JustForPun Bee-Holders.]] WordOfGod states that this was [[http://ultimacodex.com/2014/05/how-an-erroneous-tvtropes-entry-led-to-some-fascinating-ultima-lore-revelations/ not intentional]].

''Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny'' is an 1988 video game by Creator/OriginSystems. Things start getting DarkerAndEdgier. Since the the Avatar's success in ''VideoGame/UltimaIV'', Britannia has been busy. It's created a new system of government to act next to Lord British, the towns and city-states are starting something of a renaissance in ship-building, farming, road-building, and even lighthouses.

* BittersweetEnding: Even though you do defeat the Shadowlords and rescue Lord British, there are some things that make the ending a bit less happy. Lord Blackthorn gets banished and has to [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone live with the memories of what he did while under the influence of the Shadowlords]]. Then you return home to Earth and discover that your [[KickTheDog house has been robbed]]. [[spoiler:And that's not counting the next game which probably made the Avatar go "MyGodWhatHaveIDone" quite a lot]].

** The [[OurDragonsAreDifferent dragons]] are the most powerful enemy in the game other than [[FightingAShadow the Shadowlords]] and [[NighInvulnerability Lord Blackthorn]]. They spit deadly fireballs, [[MarathonBoss take a while to kill]], [[FlunkyBoss and can summon demons]]. They are too rare to be considered a DemonicSpider, [[VendorTrash and they leave behind valuable goods]] appropriate for a boss-like enemy.

* EvilPaysBetter: Averted, [[spoiler: The reward you get for betraying LaResistance is basically useless.]]

* PendulumOfDeath: This is how Lord Blackthorne executes one of your companions if you get caught.

* SelfImposedExile: [[BigBad Lord Blackthorne]] goes into self-imposed exile in penance for being manipulated by the [[TheManBehindTheMan Shadowlords]] into imposing his totalitarian rule on Britannia and perverting its Eight Virtues.

* FinalDeath: It is possible for party members to be killed off permanently in Lord Blackthorn's torture chamber, which is all the more reason to avoid being captured by the guards in his castle.

* SequelDifficultySpike: The party members' health has been reduced to 30% of what they had in the previous game, while enemies don't seem to be any weaker. VideoGame/UltimaV is considered one of the hardest games in the series for a reason. However, the newly introduced day/night cycle does help things a bit - monsters aren't too likely to be encountered during the day, so it is now actually possible to travel from town to town without having to fight hundreds of [[{{Mook}} mooks]] along the way. Also, if your party wipes, you now lose experience and even levels.

* PurposelyOverpowered: The [[PlayerCharacter Avatar]] class has all the benefits of the other classes and none of the downsides, as a reward for having attained perfection in the Eight Virtues [[VideoGame/UltimaIV in the previoous game]].

* FamilyUnfriendlyAesop: InUniverse. Blackthorne has taken the Virtues and twisted them ever so slightly, then made them all harshly enforced by the law, creating a horrible police state.

* TheAlcatraz: The Shadowlords sure went to a ridiculous amount of trouble to keep Lord British imprisoned, even though he didn't have the one thing he could have used to escape, which was [[spoiler:the Orb of the Moons that he kept in his sandalwood box.]] Sweet geez, it's not like they couldn't have captured him again if he *had* managed to escape.

* HideYourChildren: Entirely and horribly averted. Children are shown A) enslaved to extort information from their parents B) subjected to brutal punishment along with their parents C) in hiding and starving because their parents are unjustly imprisoned. In one of the rooms of the Dungeon Hythloth, a roomful of hostile children inexplicably attacks the player's party, who must either flee or kill them. (In U5 Lazarus, you hear the children laughing as you arrive and screaming as you kill them.)

* SdrawkcabName: I know, let's invite Saduj to join the team. Good, trustworthy, Saduj.

* FamilyUnfriendlyAesop: InUniverse. Blackthorne has taken the Virtues and twisted them ever so slightly, then made them all harshly enforced by the law, creating a horrible police state.

* AccidentalPun: Gazers are one of the many enemies borrowed from TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons; resembling [[http://dnd.wizards.com/dungeons-and-dragons/what-is-dnd/monsters/monsters-beholder beholders.]] Starting this game, if you kill one, they release a swarm of insects. In other words, they're [[JustForPun Bee-Holders.]]
** WordOfGod very [[http://ultimacodex.com/2014/05/how-an-erroneous-tvtropes-entry-led-to-some-fascinating-ultima-lore-revelations/ strongly]] states that this was not intentional.

* GuideDangIt: None of the [=NPCs=] who give you information guiding your quest mention [[spoiler:the sandalwood box,]] an absolutely vital item to completing the game, and the (unintuitive) steps to finding it are alluded to rather than being clearly explained. Worse yet, by the time you find out you need it, [[UnwinnableByDesign it's completely impossible to retrace your steps]].
** Not entirely true -- Saduj tells you he was sent to get it for the Oppression, if you tell him the password.

* UnwinnableByDesign: There is a hidden box that you can get early in the game, if you happen to know where it is. It's important. You can't open it, even with fireballs or the OneHitKill sword. It is needed to win the game; if you don't bring it to the endgame, you lose. Also, if you lie to Lord British and say you don't have it, you're stuck with the IdiotBall for all eternity. Doubles with GuideDangIt because nobody in the game tells you what it's needed for (and it's the single most important item required to complete the game). Of course, [[RunningGag Smith the Horse]] will tell you that you had needed it if you meet him in ''VideoGame/UltimaVI''!

* FiveBadBand: The leaders of the Oppression make up one:
** BigBad ([[BigBadWannabe Wannabe]]): Lord Blackthorn, the apparent head of the Oppression.
** TheDragon: Judge Dryden, the head inquisitor that enforces Blackthorn's rule.
** EvilGenius: Flain, the dark mage that seeks out information on LaResistance.
** TheBrute: Thrud, the mercenary blacksmith [[RetiredMonster with a history of mass murder]].
** DarkChick: Elistaria, the LadyOfBlackMagic who determines who can join the Oppression.
** [[TheManBehindTheMan The Monsters Behind The Man]]: The Shadowlords, who have imprisoned Lord British and brainwashed Blackthorn into ruling Britannia with an iron fist.
* SdrawkcabName: I know, let's invite Saduj to join the team. Good, trustworthy, Saduj.
** The game documentation includes a record of Lord British's journey into the underworld, written by a scribe named Remoh.

* [[FighterMageThief Fighter, Mage, Bard]]: This game simplified [[VideoGame/UltimaIV the last game]]'s class system into these three categories, and are separated based on their magic ability:

* FamilyUnfriendlyAesop: [[{{In-Universe}} Literally]]. Blackthorne has taken the Virtues and twisted them ever so slightly, then made them all harshly enforced by the law, creating a horrible police state.

''Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny'' is an 1988 video game. Things start getting DarkerAndEdgier. Since the the Avatar's success in ''VideoGame/UltimaIV'', Britannia has been busy. It's created a new system of government to act next to Lord British, the towns and city-states are starting something of a renaissance in ship-building, farming, road-building, and even lighthouses.

* UnwinnableByMistake: There are two ways to enter Lord British's bedroom. Either use the magic keys, or blow open his door with a cannon. If you use the cannon, climb the ladder to the upper level then come back down. The door will relock, trapping you inside. So if you have no keys, and saved since climbing the ladder. You are screwed.

* AbortedArc: In Castle British's Dungeons, you can find a prisoner named Drudgeworth. Who claims he "Did not murder her" and placing the blame on Chuckles. Cementing it further, if you search behind Chuckle's bedroom fireplace you can find a corpse. Chuckles claims to know nothing of Drudgeworth, as well as the prisoner tries to kill you if you free him. So whether he is trying to frame Chuckles, or something more sinister is going on behind the scenes, is never elaborated on, even in sequels containing Chuckles.