This pondering was worked out during the spring 2002 with the help of the Horizons Tavern community. The material presented here is an altered version of the original posts. The altering has been done in order to heed critique of obscurity and in order to present the material in a way, which avoids insider references.
Ever since the game came out there has been disappointed voices concerning the plot. They all, one way or the other, claim, that the Ultima IX - Ascension plot is impossible. Things could not have happened the way they did. As evidence of this they present their own interpretation of the lore and history of Ultima. These interpretations are both learned and skilfully crafted, yet the question remains:
Why do these interpreters and their interpretations seek to undermine the Ultima IX - Ascension plot instead of trying to understand and explain it?
The direct motivation behind the nature of criticism concerning the plot of Ultima IX seems to be one thing only: Disappointment
This disappointment takes two forms:
1. A subjective form i.e. The Ultima IX - Ascension plot is not impossible, but I just did not like it.
2. An objective form i.e. The Ultima IX - Ascension plot is impossible due to facts.
Both forms are indeed valid. Yet the interpreters, who seek to undermine the Ultima IX - Ascension plot make use of the objective form only. Therefore we will concentrate on this form. The interpreters, who seek to undermine the Ultima IX - Ascension plot, find that they are forced to do so due to facts. The kind of facts they have in mind are plot-holes. They find, that plot-holes make the plot of Ultima IX - Ascension impossible. They find these plot-holes by approaching the plot of Ultima IX - Ascension with the following two assumptions:
1. The whole truth is known about what happened in the previous lore and history of Ultima.
2. The present Ultima IX can only be understood in the light of the past Ultima 0-VIII.
These are indeed valid points of view, but one must ask:
What would prevent anyone from taking the opposite point of view. A point of view, which would not only make the plot of Ultima IX possible, but also quite plausible? i.e.
1. The whole truth is not known about what happened in the previous lore and history of Ultima.
2. The past Ultima 0-VIII can only be understood in the light of the present Ultima IX.
Apparently nothing would prevent anyone from taking such an opposite point of view except a lacking wish to do so.
This interesting discovery leaves us with a question, which the makers of the upcoming Ultima games or Ultima MODs might wish to lend thought to:
Is the plot of an Ultima game only good if it assumes and follows the approach of those who now seek to undermine the plot of Ultima IX - Ascension? i.e.
1. The whole truth is known about what happened in the previous lore and history of Ultima
2. The present can only be understood in the light of the past
As a final note of interest one could begin to wonder if the disappointment, which is the motivation behind the nature of criticism concerning the plot of Ultima IX, did over time gain strength through the effects of group pressure and camp following. Yet, such psycological speculations are far too complex to handle within the framework of this pondering and would also change its original aim.
I wish to thank all who one way or another contributed to this matter and who thus helped to at least deepen my own understanding of the nature of criticism concerning the plot of Ultima IX - Ascension