MORDHUO
=======

Classic, pre-T2A Ultima Online with free 360-degree movement and realtime, skill-based melee in the
spirit of Mordhau, plus aimed archery and magery, drawn with UO's original sprites.


GETTING STARTED
---------------

1. You need Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit) and the Ultima Online Classic client, a free download from
   EA. Install it and let it update once. MORDHUO reads its files and never changes them.
2. Extract this folder anywhere and double-click mordhuo.exe. It finds your UO install by itself
   and is already set to connect to the MORDHUO server.
3. Log in with any new account name and password: the account is created on the spot. Keep the
   password, because it's the only way back into that account. Then create a character.

If mordhuo.exe says it can't find Ultima Online, open settings.json in this folder with Notepad
and set "ultimaonlinedirectory" to your UO folder (the one with tiledata.mul in it), writing each
\ as \\, for example:

    "ultimaonlinedirectory": "D:\\Games\\Ultima Online Classic",


CONTROLS
--------

The combat keys work in war mode (Tab). In peace mode, clicks do what they always did in UO.

  Right mouse, hold ..... Move toward the cursor: far from your character you run, close you walk
  W A S D ............... Move up, left, down and right on screen. While a key is held you keep
                          facing the cursor, so moving away from it backpedals and across it strafes
  Shift ................. Sprint when you'd otherwise walk
  Ctrl .................. Crouch (standing still)
  Tab ................... War mode on and off
  Left click ............ Strike. Hold to charge a heavier strike; it fires when you let go.
                          With a bow or crossbow: draw, hold to aim, release to shoot at the cursor
  Wheel up / down ....... Stab / overhead
  Right click, tap ...... Parry toward the cursor (front and sides). Needs a weapon or shield
  Q ..................... Feint: cancel the attack you're winding up, let a draw down, or break
                          off a spell
  R ..................... Heater, kite or round shield: hold 1.5 s to raise a held block (R again
                          lowers it). Empty hands: hold for a fist block. Buckler: throw it.
                          Weapon and no shield: throw the weapon at the cursor
  Space + W/A/S/D ....... Dodge: a quick 1-tile slide, for stamina
  E ..................... Pick up the item under the cursor
  G ..................... Drop what's in your hand
  Enter ................. Open and close the chat line, so typing doesn't move you


THE FIGHTING RULES, BRIEFLY
---------------------------

- Every attack has a windup, a release and a recovery, timed per weapon. Only the release hurts,
  and only where the blade has actually reached. There is no chance to miss: reach, timing and
  movement decide whether a blow lands. Skill and gear set how hard it hits, as they always did.
- A missed attack costs stamina and a landed one gives some back. Run out and a guard can't hold.
- A parry that catches nothing leaves you open for a moment. Attacking straight after a
  successful parry (a riposte) winds up much faster.
- Another attack input during a windup morphs it into that attack; one during a release queues a
  combo. Answer a blow with the same attack at the very start of your windup to chamber it.
- Swings stop on walls, pillars and trees, so stabs are better in tight spaces.
- Archery and the missile spells are aimed: lead moving targets. A raised shield or a parry stops
  an arrow.


FILES
-----

mordhuo.exe keeps settings.json, your profiles (Data\) and its logs in this folder. To move or
update the game, keep settings.json and Data\ and replace the rest. LICENSES\ holds the licences
of the components inside.

Ultima Online is a trademark of Electronic Arts. MORDHUO is a fan project, not affiliated with or
endorsed by Electronic Arts or Triternion.
