The Treasure Map

[makofan]

I never give out Treasure maps. Reading "Monsters and Treasures" has shown me the error of my ways. There is a very high chance to get a Treasure Map as part of a treasure when you check for magic items. So I converted the Treasure Map generation rules to Tablesmith and generated the treasure for 50 maps - see if this sparks any ideas!

A map to a RING: Protection +1, 5'radius, a WEAPON: 10 arrows +1 and a SCROLL: Knock, Infravision

A map to 40000 silver pieces and a POTION: Diminution

A map to 40 gems worth 50 gold pieces each and 16 items of jewellery worth 2000 gold pieces each

A map to 20 gems worth 100 gold pieces each and 9 items of jewellery worth 4000 gold pieces each

A map to 40000 silver pieces, 15000 gold pieces and 66 gems worth 10 gold pieces each

A map to 40000 silver pieces, 5000 gold pieces and 41 gems worth 100 gold pieces each and a POTION:Longevity, a SCROLL:Invisibilty 10' radius, Hold Person, Detect Invisible, a POTION: Poison, a ARMOR: Shield +1 and a WEAPON: Sword +1, Lawful, Int 6 Ego 0

A map to a POTION:Speed, a ARMOR: Plate Mail +1 and Shield +1, a WEAPON: Sword +1, Lawful, Int 8 Ego 5, See Invisible Objects, Note Shifting Rooms and Passages, Empathic and a ARMOR: Plate Mail +1 and Shield +1

A map to 30000 silver pieces and 7 gems worth 10 gold pieces each

A map to 40000 silver pieces and 15 gems worth 500 gold pieces each

A map to 10 gems worth 100 gold pieces each and 15 items of jewellery worth 6000 gold pieces each

A map to 20000 gold pieces and 22 gems worth 100 gold pieces each

A map to 10000 silver pieces and 30000 gold pieces

A map to 40000 silver pieces

A map to 30000 silver pieces, 25000 gold pieces, 20 gems worth 100 gold pieces each and 8 items of jewellery worth 3000 gold pieces each and a POTION:Clairvoyance, a SCROLL: Levitate, a SCROLL: Protection from Undead and a ARMOR: Shield +1

A map to 20000 silver pieces, 20000 gold pieces, 30 gems worth 10 gold pieces each and 5 items of jewellery worth 900 gold pieces each

A map to 10000 gold pieces and 10 gems worth 100 gold pieces each

A map to 20000 silver pieces

A map to a WEAPON: Sword +1, Locating Objects ability, Chaotic, Int 7 Ego 8, Locate Secret Doors, Empathic

A map to a WEAPON: Sword +1, Lawful, Int 4 Ego 0

A map to 40000 silver pieces, 10000 gold pieces and 33 gems worth 100 gold pieces each

A map to 30000 silver pieces and 5000 gold pieces

A map to 10000 silver pieces and 5 gems worth 100 gold pieces each

A map to a ITEM: Gauntlets of Ogre Power

A map to 30000 silver pieces

A map to 40 gems worth 100 gold pieces each and 4 items of jewellery worth 4000 gold pieces each

A map to a ARMOR: Plate Mail +1 and Shield +1 and a WEAPON: Sword +1, +2 vs Lycanthropes, Lawful, Int 2 Ego 0

A map to a POTION: Dragon Control

A map to 40 gems worth 500 gold pieces each and 13 items of jewellery worth 1000 gold pieces each

A map to 20000 silver pieces, 15000 gold pieces and 87 gems worth 1000 gold pieces each

A map to 30000 silver pieces and 11 gems worth 100 gold pieces each

A map to 25000 gold pieces

A map to 10 gems worth 500 gold pieces each and 16 items of jewellery worth 1000 gold pieces each and a SCROLL: Protection from Magic, a ARMOR: Plate Mail +2 and Shield +2 and a WAND: Fire Balls, in the current dungeon

A map to 40 gems worth 100 gold pieces each and 12 items of jewellery worth 800 gold pieces each

A map to 5000 gold pieces and 22 gems worth 100 gold pieces each

A map to 15000 gold pieces and 12 gems worth 100 gold pieces each

A map to a WEAPON: Sword +1, +3 vs Regenerating (Trolls, Clerics), Neutral, Int 9 Ego 2, Detect Sloping Passages, Locate Secret Doors, Note Shifting Rooms and Passages, Empathic

A map to 30000 silver pieces, 25000 gold pieces, 30 gems worth 100 gold pieces each and 3 items of jewellery worth 6000 gold pieces each

A map to a SCROLL: Protection from Elementals

A map to 30000 silver pieces

A map to 5000 gold pieces and 12 gems worth 50 gold pieces each

A map to 20000 silver pieces, 5000 gold pieces, 50 gems worth 100 gold pieces each and 2 items of jewellery worth 1300 gold pieces each and a POTION:Clairvoyance, a ARMOR: Plate Mail +1 and Shield +1, a POTION: Diminution and a SCROLL: Protection from Elementals

A map to 30000 silver pieces and 13 gems worth 10 gold pieces each

A map to 20000 silver pieces, 5000 gold pieces and 21 gems worth 500 gold pieces each

A map to a POTION: Giant Strength

A map to 15000 gold pieces and 19 gems worth 50 gold pieces each

A map to a SCROLL: Protection from Lycanthropes

A map to 20000 gold pieces and 11 gems worth 100 gold pieces each

A map to 20000 gold pieces

A map to 40000 silver pieces

A map to a POTION:Giant Strength, a WEAPON: War Hammer +2, a SCROLL: Protection from Magic and a SCROLL: Hold Person

[sham]

I like what you did here, Makofan. What I find of particular note is that Maps, as presented in OD&D, almost feel as though the location of treasure is not defined until the Map itself is deciphered (which by the way requires an MU using Read Languages!).

I really enjoy this aspect of OD&D Treasure Maps as it adds the type of abstract gameism I like so much.

There's no need to draw out exactly where that treasure is. As soon an an MU casts Read Languages, the party can move to the undefined location, take on a random monster or find the invisible chest, and viola! claim the treasure from your list.

No need to fret over actually drawing player hand out maps. No need to plan ahead of time. Just add a secret chamber or whatever on the fly.

[makofan]

Hmm, I hadn't thought of that. I envisoned the map to be a hook for the next adventure. The books do give the guideline for a random Table 5 or table 6 guardian of the treasure, but I left that out of the table.

[sham]

As with everything else, you should handle it the way you like. I just wanted to mention that I rarely used Treasure Maps in the method laid out in OD&D, being the type that carefully drew up actual player handouts with detailed maps.

Echoing your observation, the fact is Treasure Maps should be found in one-quarter of the treasure troves discovered.

60% of them lead to monetary treasure
30% to magic items
10% to both

The above is only a concern if you use the random guides at all. Many refs, myself formerly included in this bunch, hand pick everything.