Treasure Maps

[xbachix]

I would love to see treasure maps for all the wilderness zones. A couple ways i thought of how this could be done.

1) Getting the map and/or pieces
1a. A NPC who gives you a quest to collect fragments from monsters or chests in the zone, then upon handing in the fragments the NPC gives you a map with a X on it where the treasure is.
1b. A map has a chance to spawn in any chest in that zone.
1c. No quest necessary but map pieces can be collected from in rubbage piles or chests or something then combined by the player or combined by a NPC.
1d. Treasure hunter rare spawns that already have a completed map.

2) Getting the treasure
2a. A persistent chest that can only be opened if you have a completed map.
2b. The map has a random location on it and if the map is "used" or activated near that spot then the chest of loot spawns.
2c. If the map is used in the right spot then it turns into a box of goodies in the player's inventory.

I know DDO is limited by the engine and smaller dev team so maybe some of this isn't doable.

3+) Some things I'd love to see.
3a. An interactive map that can be viewed from your inventory in a new window (because we need more windows
3b. Or a temporary X placed on your minimap when you get the treasure map to show you where the treasure is
4a. The loot being randomly generated somewhere in the zone and not 1 fixed spot (i think it'd be hilarious to have it spawn right behind the quest giver 1 out of every 1,000 times)
4b. A couple fixed locations where it could spawn would also be alright.
5. A pile of dirt instead of a chest

[Alrik_Fassbauer]

I like this idea in general.
Reminds me of Crystal Cove,

[Annex]

As Alrik_Fassbauer states, Smuggler's Rest already includes a Treasure Map system. Every so often, a slain pirate will drop a Treasure Map. Using a Treasure Map activates a beacon on the Smuggler's Rest map. When the character using the map approaches the beacon, a treasure chest appears. Only the character who activated the map may loot the resulting chest.

Treasure chests only spawn at perhaps a dozen locations. With time, a player will learn all the locations. The chests only hold random loot so established players have no real incentive to loot them.

A better system would probably involve dedicated dungeons and special event items, much like The Night Revels.
* Kill enemies throughout Eberron to find Treasure Map Pieces.
* Assemble Treasure Map Pieces to make Treasure Maps.
* Use a Treasure Map to access one or more special dungeons.
* Fight through the dungeon and loot the Treasure Horde.
* Treasure Hordes include event specific items but you never know what you will find.

If I were designing the system, the contents of the Treasure Horde would vary wildly.
1) Someone already looted the Treasure Horde. You gain nothing.
2) A young dragon distributed the Treasure Map Pieces.
2a) The dragon asks for a kiss.
2aI) You kiss the dragon. The screen goes black. "What was I thinking?" The dragon disappears and you gain nothing.
2aII) You kiss the dragon. The screen goes black. "Thank you for a lovely evening." You gain one event item.
2aIII) You kiss the dragon. The screen goes black. "Wow. I... Wow." You gain two event items.
2b) "I do not actually have any treasure. I am in the process of amassing my own horde. Would you like to make a contribution?"
2bI) You give the dragon 10,000 Platinum Pieces. "Oh, thank you! Such a giving person. Here, I actually do have one small item." You gain one event item.
2bII) You give the dragon 10,000 Platinum Pieces. "Oh my. You are so wealthy. So very wealthy." The dragon attacks. If you win, you gain nothing.
2bIII) You give the dragon 10,000 Platinum Pieces. "Such riches! I just cannot get enough!" The dragon attacks. If you win, you gain one event item.
3) The Treasure Hoard contains a Mimic and random loot.
4) A lamia awaits the treasure hunter.
4a) She says, "Well, it's about time someone found me!", then grants one treasure item.
4b) If you solve a randomly generated, complex circuit puzzle, she will grant you one event item.
4c) She offers a riddle with four possible answers. If you successfully solve the riddle, she grants you one event item.
5) A princess awaits at the end of the Treasure Dungeon.
5a) When you speak with her she says, "I am not the princess you are looking for." You are then teleported to the sky over the marketplace.
5b) When you speak with her she says, "Oh, thank you for saving me, brave adventurer! If you give me a kiss, I will reward you!" If you kiss her, she gives you one event item. Cindy Robinson voices the princess.
5c) When you speak with her she says, "Oh, thank you for saving me, brave adventurer! If you give me a kiss, I will reward you!" If you kiss her, she turns into a Night Hag and attacks. If you defeat her, you gain one event item. Scott McNeill voices the princess.
6) A Beholder awaits the treasure hunter.
6a) "What is my favorite color?" The monster prefers one color, chosen at random. If you choose the correct color, you gain one event item. If you choose the wrong color, the beholder attacks. If you defeat the monster you gain one event item.
6b) "Oh you poor thing. Here. Let me give you something to improve your hideous apparel." The monster gives you one event item.
6c) "Snagglenibbleplex!" You are teleported to Atraxia's Haven.
7) You encounter a bear with a thorn in his paw.
7a) If you attack the bear and win, you gain one event item.
7b) If you make a Strength 40 check, you remove the thorn and gain one event item.
7c) If you make an Intelligence 40 check, you remove the thorn and gain one event item.

Anyway, you get the idea. I would add new encounters and treasure items with every patch so that player's never know exactly what to expect. This may seem to fly in the face of my desire for more serious dungeons, but I consider events very different animals form story driven dungeons. Events get funny stuff. Adventures get serious stuff.

[Alisonique]

I really like these ideas, not too dusty at all.

The variety the options and the potential all sound great and very traditional, bring em on!