Easy to Get Into!

Everything about Shadowcove makes it easy to get into, whether you are experienced with other ORPG's or not! We have extensive online guides on the site, and a server full of players who genuinely enjoy helping other players out - not people who just see newbies as a way to scam someone.

Software Installation

Even our software makes it easy! Simply download our software, install it as directed, and run it, and don't worry about your UO client being 'damaged'. You don't have to open up confusing files in a text editor, download clunky third-party programs that 'break' every couple weeks until an 'update' is made available.(The 'Dangers' of emulators) More than any other UO emulator, we've professionalized and streamlined our install and update process! Download your files, or have them mailed to you via Priority Mail! (U.S. only)

Character Development

Our character development process won't require you make Shadowcove a full-time job, either! Skills and stats are gained in a streamlined, smooth, and even manner. Plus, players can gain skills and stats online or off! Feel free to play casually, because you'll never feel like you are left out and powerless when it comes to taking on challenges the world can throw at you. In fact, we're sure that you'll even enjoy the character development process, in addition to finding it much easier on your wrists and your real-world commitments!

Join & Play!

You can join us free and easily, download the software and try us out. No need to send us credit card numbers, bank account information, or anything at all. Just apply, get your activation e-mail, then sign up and get going! When you've decided that you absolutely love the game, we make it easy for you to refer your friends, too!

We recognize that you want to play ORPG's to enjoy yourself; not wrestle with complicated software and a game itself that assumes it's the only thing you ever do in life! All we ask is that you give us a try, and bring a friend with you. Give us a month to show you how enjoyable Shadowcove can be!

Find More of What You Want

MMOG's these days seem to be all about 'levelling' and collecting loot. While building your character and your treasury are certainly worthwhile past-times, even for a game, we just think there should be more than that to a game. We think a game like this should be about friends, adventure, cooperation, challenge, skill, and simply enjoyment.

High-Quality Setup

For starters, our setup is professional-grade. We're not on an old computer in someone's basement running on a cable modem, the server running a website, FTP, a game, and a handful of other things all at once. Shadowcove is run on it's own dedicated, modern, high-end server running a professionally optimized system made with only Shadowcove in mind. The website you are reading right now isn't even hosted in the same state, much less the same server. And we spared no cost in securing Internet connectivity, as well. The fruit of our efforts is that most people find Shadowcove to be much more reliable than even some of the 'big boys'. While Shadowcove is hosted in the Midwest U.S.A., players from the East to West Coasts of the U.S., Europe, and even Australia have found that our setup simply works!

No PK's, Exploiters, Griefers; etc..

Shadowcove's staff works hard to assure that we are free of PK's, Exploiters, Scammers and other people you probably have no desire to spend your online time with. For starters, we have an application process that weeds out most of the people that just would not 'fit' here. Beyond that, we take the quality of our player base seriously; We are perfectly willing to get involved, and be sure that no one disrupts players' enjoyment of the game.

Shape the World

Town-centered systems are built into the game. From the town stone system which allows the elected mayor of each town to spend tax funds in various ways to improve the town, to the invasion system, where if left unchecked, monsters will flow from the dungeons, march to the cities, and take them over. The players have ultimate control over the fates of the cities in the world!

Players may also own their own houses, to decorate or use how you choose. Live in-town, or find a secluded place out of the way of everyone! Choose from dozens of possible designs, with more added by staff or players frequently!

Save Your Wrist!

Many automation features to save your mouse hand! Even though character development isn't a macro- or leveling-treadmill like in other games, we've gone even further and made sure that there are easy methods to do what would otherwise be the most difficult of tasks! We guarantee you won't miss that 'helper' program you might use with whatever game you might play now. And when was the last time you had a direct channel to the developer(s) of a game you played to ask for other such features?

Web Site Integration

The game and the website itself interact in various ways, with the website enabling players to get in-game information in ways that are much easier than in-game. Search for goods and services you need on the website, rather than walking all over the world looking for that special magical ring you've always wanted. Find information on who rules what city, what tax rates are, and even use your web browser to fix those rare occasions when your character simply gets 'stuck' somewhere. More ways to simplify tasks by using the website are being conceived, too!

We're Unique

We challenge the 'norms' in everything we do. While we're not immune from borrowing great ideas from other games, big and small, we're also busy all the time thinking of fresh new ideas for everything, and listening to the ideas our players have, as well! Once you get your account and read over the newbie guide, and the skill and feature guides, we think you'll begin to get an idea what we mean. We think you'll find Shadowcove to be of professional quality, while keeping a 'home town' feel to it, especially with access to those who do the 'moving and shaking'. Just try that on Everquest!

The Best Staff and Player Base - Anywhere!

We believe that our technical prowess - with new features, exciting challenges, and innovative integration - is not even our biggest asset, however. By far, our biggest asset is the people. Between our high-quality staff, and our top-notch player base, we think you'll agree that even if Shadowcove was a simple text-based adventure game, it would still be great!

Great Staff

For starters, we have a reasonably sized staff of Game Masters who devote time and energy as a team to providing enjoyment in the form of ongoing story lines in which players may participate, or upon which players may base their own characters' stories. Game Master 'positions' are not given out willy-nilly, but instead only among interested members who have shown an exemplary ability to entertain others, and a decided lack of a drive to have to 'win' everything. Our Game Masters also have the ability and the desire to allow the actions of the players to actually - sometimes literally - shape the world!

Professional Developer

Shadowcove also has the benefit of an experienced developer and server administrator, not just a 'script monkey'. Whether automating account creation, allowing the web server to query information from the game and display it on the website, adding whole new systems and features to the game, or simply making sure things run smoothly, our developer has dedicated lots of time and hard work to Shadowcove, and plans to continue the tradition started in 1998 with Chessienet, UO Chesapeake, the original Shadowcove, and other related endeavors.

No Overcrowding Here

Finally, and most importantly, are the players themselves. First is the simple fact that we are small; You won't find every hunting spot you and your friends wish to travel to already clogged with a dozen players. You won't have to cringe every time you want to visit a gathering place. You won't have to spend all your time re-reading your logged conversations to be able to see what a companion of yours said. You won't have to camp at the market to hope to get lucky this time and be able to purchase the items you need.

Our Players - The Best!

But beyond quantity, the quality of our player base also sets us apart. There are hundreds of online games out there that are small, but frequently because the staff and/or players simply are jerks. And the large companies with huge games out there all seem to only be concerned about one thing: How many players they gained this month. Features seem more directed to attract new players (or encourage players to buy more accounts), and at times it seems like someone would have to commit murder to get kicked off. Then again, even that doesn't get you kicked off some of the games!

The point is that here, our main concern is that all our players fit in, and that everyone adds to the enjoyment of everyone else with whom they come in contact. We're not the 'role play police' or anything of that nature, but we aggressively enforce our rules of play. Turns out we've seldom had to make any effort to do so, though; Since our main source of new players is through already established relationships with people through other games and referrals from current members, everyone so far has fit in quite well, with only occasional discussions needed just to clarify things. Although we stand ready to do so in an instant if needed, it has rarely been required that we ban anyone.