- go here
- dig this
- go there
- dig that
- 3 to go
From a gameplay standpoint that isn’t very fun and from a lore standpoint no legendary pirate is gonna leave his shit with the same 5 methods of finding it.
Here are some ideas that might appear instead of “Dig it out of a really specific peak in this island.” All of them will have a lower chance of spawning compared to digging stuff, however.
Co-Captain
This clue will only appear once per chart. When the clue is revealed, it will spawn a non-damageable NPC called the Co-Captain. The clue will state that the next part of the treasure was entrusted to them, and tell you where they might be. “Part of my treasure is entrusted to my co-captain Albertson, who is taking care of it on Limestone Key.” When the player with the map (and only them) approaches, the NPC will turn into a combat NPC and fight. When defeated, the chests will pop out of their spawn points
Marker
When the clue is revealed, a marker will be placed down on an island. This can be a sword in the ground, a gravestone, a odd rock formation, a colored flag, etc. If possible, make it client side for only the map holder and his party to see. The clue will say something like “Part of my treasure is buried under a silver lamp on Wind-Row island.” When the map holder destroys it, then it will reveal a patch of dirt you can dig in, which the treasure will come out of.
Ship
This will only appear once. When this clue is revealed, a ship will spawn patrolling a certain route and will have a specific sail pattern. The clue will say something like “Part of my treasure is with the rest of my crew aboard my ship, the Black Greed, and this is where we normally patrol.” A point on your map will be marked (or described) and when you enter that area, the ship will spawn. When all the crew is dead, no matter if you sunk the ship or not, the treasure will spawn though sinking it will provide additional loot.
2 slot NPC clues
These clues take up 2 slots, and are slightly longer but give double loot. A common chart will never have these, an uncommon can have one and no other steps, a rare can have one and another step, an exotic can have one and 2 others, etc. Only one of this per chart.
This clue will say “I have decided that writing all this down was a bad idea. Clarke, if you’re reading this, don’t put this clue with the treasure, just move to Frostmill and lay low” or “The next part of my treasure is entrusted privately to a friend of mine named Pendleton. She is using it to start a new life in Palo Town.” These clues will spawn an NPC at a town where a deckhand might be. You need to speak to them and they will then tell you the clue.
“Treasure? Fine, you look dangerous. I helped bury it on a high cliff on the southwest edge of Shell Island.”
“You’re asking the wrong person, bud. Wallace took it all and fled to Whispering Caverns and hasn’t said a word since.”
“Oh, another treasure hunter asking about the Captain’s loot. I’m sick of you people, so I’m ending this. It’s under an obelisk at goso jungle. There.”
“You’re just as confused as I am. This caravel full of thugs, I think it was called the Queen of the Sea, stole it and they’re now somewhere around the circle I put on your map.”
“The treasure? You can’t have it, we threw it overboard to be food for the Obolus! But in case you wanna die, you can die right… Here.”
“Are you sure you want it? It’s in the second range of the dark sea, south southwest of Harvest Island on a frozen isle. It’s a lot of gold but I’ll be damned if I’m ever going out there.”
ULTIMATE CASES
These take up three step slots and are really rare. They always spawn as the last step. These have over triple loot, maybe even five times to make up for the effort. Also farther dark sea ones will have yet more loot than that. There are two:
Diving
The treasure is located at a diving spot. This is a newly generated one and is filled to the brim with loot. Bonus loot for the dive. The chart will say something like “The rest of my treasure is forever unreachable. This map is only where we dropped it, but the loot itself is submerged underwater. I’m afraid whoever’s been hunting my treasure has wasted their time.”
Dark Sea
This clue will spawn an island and lock it in place so it doesn’t despawn. The island has a vault that will only open to the map bearer. The directions will speak of a bronze sea island at the edge and then tell you in what direction you must sail into the dark sea from said island to get there. The clue looks something like “The rest of my treasure is in my own private vault on a desert island in the dark sea. If you wish to see it, you must sail northeast from Frostmill into the first range of the dark sea”
Other misc ideas
- a shark ate it. Here he is, go kill it and it vomits the shit out
- my guy is a prisoner in silverhold. Either break him out or interrogate him
- fish it out of the shore of this island
Yeah