An Exult build for Ultima VII: The Black Gate
One Avatar. One Britannia. Bring a friend.
Ultima VII, expanded
Quest of the Companions expands The Black Gate without replacing what makes it Ultima VII. Play together, navigate the world from the keyboard, and give every companion a distinct role.
Host or join by lobby code or IP, with optional passwords and host controls. Up to eight players—the Avatar and seven companions—can adventure together, with room for four more spectators.
Use Q, E, and Space to choose people or objects and act without chasing moving pixels with the mouse.
Give every companion three class-based skills, unlocked as they level and built from Ultima VII’s own effects.
Britannia, again—together
I was ten when Ultima VII came out. At school, I drew isometric scenes, character sheets, and replayed parts of the story in my mind, counting down until I could play again. It was single-player, but my brother Marc and I shared it: one played while the other watched, then we swapped. Quest of the Companions is a way to return to that world, this time side by side.
— Xavier, Lifelong U7 Fan
01 / Co-Op
The host plays the Avatar. Up to seven friends take companions, while four more can watch as spectators.
Open a game from the title screen or invite friends into an adventure underway. Join with a short lobby code through the custom worker, or connect directly by IP on port 1992. Passwords are optional.
↗The host owns the story, choices, spells, saves, and party-wide decisions.
Chat overhead, whisper privately, use emotes, and suggest conversation replies.
Press J to switch companions or join one of four spectator slots. Spectators watch the party without controlling a companion.
The minimap and player list keep everyone visible. A green arrow points back.
Press Y to hand your companion to party AI until you move.
The host saves for everyone. Rotating co-op autosaves protect personal saves.
The leash
Each guest controls a companion, but the party still belongs to the Avatar. The leash lets players spread out to explore, loot, or approach a fight without splitting the group across Britannia.
When a companion moves beyond the allowed range, the guest sees “Straying from the Avatar”. A green directional arrow points back toward the Avatar. If the companion crosses the outer range, the Avatar beckons them back—just as Ultima VII handles party members who get stuck or fall behind.
Need to step away? Press Y for Follow mode and party AI takes over that companion until you move or press Y again. Spectators can watch players without controlling a leashed companion.
02 / Target System
A keyboard-first way to talk, loot, use, read, and fight—in co-op or single player.
↗
↗1 / 2
Q cycles characters. Talk in exploration or choose who to attack.
E cycles containers, bodies, items, usable objects, and window contents.
Space follows the context line. Shift and Alt add related actions.
Choose which object groups E includes. Unreachable objects are skipped.
Pick one hostile and stay on it. Clear the pick or walk away to stop.
Items land in a grid. Sort a pack with Shift+C or use Take all.
03 / Companion Skills
Turn on the Class System to add three character-specific skills at levels 1, 4, and 7.
↗Use skills from the bar or press Ctrl+1–3. The Target System supplies a picked foe; smart defaults can choose when you do not.
Unplayed companions use Class AI: Jaana heals, Shamino keeps his distance, Iolo sings when enemies close in, and Dupre shields allies.
Avatar spellbook
The Avatar has three spell quickslots for immediate access to frequently used magic. Drag spells from the spellbook into a slot—a direct nod to Ultima Online’s drag-and-drop spell mechanic.
Click a slot or press Ctrl+1–3 to cast. Spells still use the Avatar’s mana and reagents, and the Target System’s current pick can aim them without opening another crosshair.
↗Lead any free companion. The Avatar and party follow. Press Y to hold the party for scouting.
Hover, focus, or tap a skill to see what it does.
Choose the icon style you prefer
| Companion | Class | Level 1 | Level 4 | Level 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iolo | Bard | |||
| Shamino | Ranger | |||
| Jaana | Druid | |||
| Dupre | Paladin | |||
| Spark | Boy with a sling | |||
| Sentri | Swordmaster | |||
| Tseramed | Huntsman | |||
| Julia | Tinker | |||
| Katrina | Shepherd |
New ways to play
Keyboard and controller play now cover the journey from movement to combat.
Walk with WASD or the arrow keys, press two directions to move diagonally, and tap R to run. With WASD enabled, Shift+W opens the pocket watch.
Cycle people with Q, things with E, and use Space for the contextual action. Skills, spells, inventory actions, and co-op controls stay close at hand.
Play without a keyboard or mouse: move, target, act, and open radial menus for skills and spells. Controller play requires the Target System.
Quick reference
Every system is optional. Standard Ultima VII controls still work.
| Key | System | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Q / Shift+Q | Targeting | Next / previous person or creature |
| E / Shift+E | Targeting | Next / previous thing or window item |
| Space | Targeting | Talk, open, take, use, read, or attack |
| Ctrl+1–3 | Skills | Use a companion skill or Avatar spell |
| J | Guests | Choose a companion or spectate |
| Y | Party | Follow mode, or hold / follow when leading |
| Tab | Co-Op | Hold for the player list; host can kick |
| Enter | Co-Op | Open chat; Enter sends |
| Shift+C | Inventory | Sort a backpack |
Return to Britannia
Windows and Mac builds are maintained and updated throughout development.
Source on GitHubThe repository will open after testing and a complete co-op playthrough.
You’ll need your own legally obtained Ultima VII game data. Connect on any platform with a lobby code through the custom worker, or directly by IP on port 1992.
A fork of Exult, released under the GNU GPL v2.
Roadmap
The core systems are built. Release work and the wider Ultima journey come next.
Maintained Windows and Mac builds, with relay fallback still to come.
Skills for more party members and returning faces from the series.
Bring the three systems to the next adventure.
Keep the quest moving
Quest of the Companions is a hobby project. If you’d like to support development or cover hosting or Cloudflare Worker costs for the lobby service, you can support it here.
