I'm guiding a new player to UO at the moment through the game. We have run into many scenarios on where he has asked how would he know something in-game without being told, and I didn't know the answer.
For example, where in-game does it tell you Bushido makes it so it is more effective to parry with a weapon instead of a shield and the honor virtue gives you a stacking dmg increase buff with bushido?
I know if you mouse over a weapon w/ bushido skill, it'll tell you the parry % which can inform the player that way. Although besides knowing to check the weapon, it doesn't seem a new player would know this. Same with the honor virtue changing.
On the same note, where would a new player discover that combat-related skills give a stacking buff to LMC for special moves? There doesn't seem to be a good in-game source of information outside of UO Guide or the official UO website.
UO is a sandbox where you can do whatever you want. There is no end game or real point of doing anything. Being a sandbox there is no in game guidance.
The only real information will be found by user trial and error or rely on the decades of information provided by other players found spread over numerous sites.
So in short - seems like the answer is no. Just because a game is a sandbox doesn't mean they can't explain basic game mechanics in their UI or other means in-game. I love UO, but to excuse away simple things like mousing over an ability and not having it fully explained to what it does is not reflective of good game design. Neither is devs not having time to describe their skills.
When I started three years ago, I did not have a mentor and had the same problem your new player is having. The answer is to search the internet. There is no single source. The in game help as a rule gives you background information that helps you figure out how some things work but somehow manages at the same time not to give you any useful information on how to play your character. The internet often refers you to posts in this forum and other forums where you have a much better chance of finding a definitive answer. Occasionally, you run into a player that helps newer players and that makes you the best source for the player you are helping.
By the way, asking the question here as a discussion post works quite well too.
I think part of the problem with this game is that it is designed to be played by players playing together as a team. If you had a question or needed help the designers planned on someone in your team helping you out. Think that might have worked back in the day but don’t think the developers assumption that newer players will become part of a team holds much water anymore. Think developers tried developing tutorials for new players at some point in the past but gave up on that a long time ago.
UO is by far one of the most complicated games you will ever play. There are so many builds, yes some are way out there and not very practical but you can still build them, could you imagen the tutorial that covered every interaction with ever skill build possible it would be like the largest library you could build with all the different possibilities. And now add in all the different equipment possibilities and the different mobs, you think VS is bad could you imagen sorting through this monster with I want build XYZ with equipment ABC to fight MOB LLL. UO was meant to be played and learned as you go with your friends/guildies or solo on the lesser MOBs. UO was meant to be played and when needed to research/ask questions in forums and other info sites or other players in game.,
RG had a brilliant design. I say this with absolutely no offense towards anyone but he didn't make a hand holding game. He made a mystery that was meant to be discovered as you paid him month after month of subs trying to figure things out.
I'm 100% positive there are things that have yet to be discovered in this game.