Gold Hoarder Voyages are fun but finding them Random Treasure Maps can be tricky. So I was trying to think of a quick way to Code and Identify an Island so it can easily be logged into a Table/Database for easy searching and tracking.
The issue is there are no names on these Treasure Maps. Only a standard 8 by 6 grid with the Columns being lettered A through H and the Rows being Numbered 1 through 6. That’s when I thought up the “MAP CODE” idea which helps easily identify each island by shape of its West Coast.
It may sound a bit complicated but all in all it’s pretty simple. The goal is to be able to quickly look over a Treasure Map and give it a 6 Digit Alpha Code (example DDCDBC). You could then look up that code in a table of Islands by Map Code.
You get a Maps Code by just following each of the 6 horizontal Rows starting at 1 then moving your finger from Left to Right making note of the first vertical Column the West Cost of that Island Lands in. Doing this for all 6 Rows will give you your 6 Digit Alpha Code. (see examples below).
If a Row doesn’t intersect part of the Island from Left to Right then that Map Code Digit can be represent as just X (for nothing). Beyond tracking where on the Big Map each Island falls we could also track common goods typically used by the Merchant Alliance such as Gun Powder Kegs, Chicken, Pigs, and Snakes as well.
Sure there may be some cases where a couple of islands due to similar West Coast shapes have the same Map Code but searching by it would only return a couple results which would be easy enough to pick the right one out.
Once people get to know the maps well enough they'll surely be easier to find just by knowing them in your head but this kind of tool would still be useful for tracking common goods.
With the communities help we could get all of the islands and their typically available goods logged and categorized pretty quickly. Let me know what you all think? Any teaks to make this idea even better? Or did you have your own ideas that would make it even easier? I look forward to crewing up with some of you in the future ;c)
