Contents |
Sea Monsters
Sea Monsters are the most dangerous and mysterious foes a crew can face in Puzzle Pirates. Unlike the Brigand Kings, whose forces ply the waves on ships like mortal men, Sea Monsters can (and will) take countless abominable forms.
Yet the rewards from sailing into the uncharted waters of a Sea Monster lair are great. Those pirates brave enough to face the unknown can return with extraordinary treasures and stories to match.
Treasure Chests
In addition to pieces of eight, pirates hauling up treasure in a Sea Monster Lair will sometimes receive treasure chests.
These chests are stored in the vessel's booty and can be opened upon reaching port. Their contents will be awarded to the whole ship through additional booty, to the vessel's owner, or to individual pirates at random or in recognition of their performance during the Sea Monster voyage.
The chests come in three varieties from the most common Chest to the less common Locker, to the rarest Treasure Box. Rarer chests will contain more valuable rewards. Reports indicate that the rarest chests are more likely to be found guarded by the most ferocious monsters.
Common Chest
Locker Chest
Treasure Box
These chests are highly prized by the pirates roaming the high seas and are pillaged at twice the normal rate by attacking players and brigands.
Sea Monster Maps
Sea Monster maps are the only way that a crew can gain access to a Sea Monster lair. These maps can be won in pillaging battles or, more rarely, in combat with skellies. The maps mark a route between an island and a unique league point, which are similar to flotilla league point markers.
Sea Monster maps can be used for a limited time before they expire, normally eight days. Prior to their expiration, the map owner can use the map to chart to the hidden location identified on the map.
To use the map to chart, it must be placed on the chart table of a ship to which the map owner has access. The vessel may then chart a course to the Sea Monster lair shown on the chart. A course may be charted to the lair in the same manner as a course is charted to an island. While the vessel is charted to a Sea Monster lair or is at the lair, the chart may not be removed from the vessel. If your vessel is sunk at a Sea Monster encounter, then the chart is lost along with the ship.
While a course is charted to a Sea Monster lair, the vessel can have its voyage configured for "Sea Monster Hunting". This causes any jobs posted to the notice board to reflect the intent of the voyage.
The Bravery Badge
All crew on a Sea Monster voyage must carry a badge as proof of their bravery or be a subscriber if sailing on a subscription ocean.
A ship will be unable to set sail for the uncharted waters of a Sea Monster lair if crew members do not have a Bravery Badge or subscription. To set off on such a quest without a brave crew would surely lead to mutiny.
The bravery badge can be purchased through the Palace Shoppe like any normal badge.
Engaging the Sea Monster
When a ship reaches the hidden Sea Monster location, the vessel will enter a Sea Battle board with the following special features:
- All ships are at risk of sinking. Sea Monsters know no mercy.
- Player vessels enter the Sea Battle board from the side. Placement will be based on the relative strength of the vessel. Stronger ships will be placed deeper into the Sea Battle board where more challenging monsters lurk. A vessel will start in a safe zone to the top-right or bottom-left of the board.
- Each Sea Battle board is persistent over the period in which the maps for that particular Sea Monster lair are available.
- Each Sea Monster lair includes extra engagement types particular to the nature of the inhabiting Sea Monster. Beware.
Coordination and Competition
Like a flotilla location, a Sea Monster lair can be accessed by more than one ship at a time, making coordinated forays into a lair possible. However, a crew should also be wary of other players looking for blood, so keep your eyes open while out on your adventure! You never know if another ship will be friend or foe. Unlike Flotilas, vessels within Sea Monster lairs do not have any protection from the shots of other player vessels.
Escaping from the Sea Monster Lair
When a crew has gathered all the booty they can carry, or their ship has been damaged as much as they're willing to risk, they can safely leave a Sea Monster lair by returning to their entrance point. If they can reach it before the Monsters reach them.
The Atlantean Outposts
The only Sea Monsters discovered so far are the Atlanteans. While little is known about the ocean folk, crews have already begun sailing across their borders in search of treasure and adventure. These Atlantean Outposts are surely only the bare frontier of their mysterious civilization.
