Catskills Shard · Ultima Online
Our History
A tradition forged in Britannia, carried forward by the community that loves it.
"The Friday Night Hunt isn't just an event. It's a reminder that Ultima Online, at its heart, has always been about the people who play it — the friendships forged in dungeons, the stories that outlast any character or shard."
— FNH Catskills
The Story So Far
A Chronicle of the Hunt
The Early Days
The First Hunt
It began simply enough — a small band of Catskills players who wanted to hunt and learn. Many players weren't part of large groups who could take on deadly content. The FNH began to give these players the opportunity to experience all the game has to offer while enjoying fellowship across guilds and play styles.
Finding Our Footing
Growing the Fellowship
As the hunts grew in size, so did the need for organization. The FNH team emerged naturally — experienced players who knew the dungeons, could manage a crowd, and had the patience to wait for stragglers. The tradition of meeting at Yew Gate in Trammel was established, a landmark familiar to every Catskills player. The 8 PM EST start time became sacred.
The Golden Age
Legends Are Made
Some hunts became the stuff of legend. The night adventurers met at Yew Moongate in Fel with cookies and milk for the PK'ers and sang Christmas carols to them. The night the carolers descended into Doom and barely made it out. The naked dungeon runs, peerless encounters, server crashes, the list goes on. These stories are still told today, passed down to newer members like campfire tales.
Through the Years
Enduring Through Change
Ultima Online changed. Expansions came and went. Players came and went. The broader MMO world moved on to newer games. But the Friday Night Hunt endured. Through quiet periods, through the inevitable ebb and flow of a living game community, the hunt kept going. Every Friday, someone showed up at Yew Gate.
Today & Tomorrow
The Hunt Lives On
Today the Friday Night Hunt is one of the Catskills shard's most enduring traditions. Veterans who've been hunting since the beginning stand shoulder to shoulder with players who discovered UO last month. That's the magic of it — the hunt doesn't care how long you've played or how powerful your character is. It only cares that you showed up.
By the Numbers
100+
Hunts Completed
20+ Years
Of Tradition
30+
Avg. Hunters / Night
1
Shard. Our Shard.
Be Part of the Next Chapter
The history of the Friday Night Hunt is written every Friday night by the people who show up. Come add your name to the story.