(1) Remove the quest from the mast because it can cause controller players to get hung up on it accidentally.
(2) All crews on the server automatically receive the map for the chest and the map for the key in their quest radial if a SoSS is active and if both are still waiting to be dug up. No need to opt-in to take part. If one or both of the quest items have been dug up players will be able to track their location using the beacons they emit or the map table.
(3) The ending of the quest needs a total rework so that it’s just not a matter of who turns in the skull first. This allows for super easy keg traps which just kills the fun because it’s over right after with no counter play possibilities.
Instead of turning in the skull to Briggsy and the quest just ending what now happens is Briggsy takes the skull and uses it to perform a ritual that takes several minutes to complete maybe 3 to 10 depending on feedback during testing. But basically this is the perfect event to deliver the island TDM experience many players have wanted for so long. A great event to practice the use of the weapons in the armory against real players.
During the ritual a massive battle will ensue with phantoms spawning attacking players and players attacking players. Think like a Legend of the Veil Belle chapter but more intense maybe even a visit from the Ghost of Graymarrow attacking players and spawning skeletons as well would be fitting and epic.
Anybody who dies on the turn in island during the ritual will respawn in one of several SoSS specific, turn in island respawn points. Even if their ship is sunk. As soon as the ritual is over if you die you spawn back on your ship.
After the ritual is complete a player must go and interact with Briggsy one more time to claim the reward and this interaction takes several seconds of holding primary interact. The length of the claim reward interaction with Briggsy could be scaled to crew size so all crew sizes have a fair shot at claiming the spoils.
This will make the ending of the quest much more climactic and exciting rather than being over very soon after the skull arrives on the island without much time for fighting.
(4) Make the skull of siren song function like a really valuable mermaid gem so that it can earn an emissary bonus if the crew who manages to claim the spoils has one raised. For all companies even AF.
And voila we have a really cool, useful event.
Edit:
I forgot to mention how to explain what to do to complete the quest now that the quest isn’t on the mast anymore.
So the new Briggsy cutscene trigger is when you place either the Chest or the Key on to your ship for the first time (whether you dug it up or stole it). Once you drop it on the ship somewhere Briggsy will explain that you still need the opposite either the chest or the key and to seek it out.
Then a second Briggsy cutscene trigger will occur when the chest is unlocked for the first time or the skull touches your ship’s deck for the first time if you stole the skull for example. Now Briggsy explains to go to the island with the blue swirly beacon.
These new redone Briggsy cutscenes will be short and to the point just explaining the next step of the quest.
Minimal changes and all are taken from existing gameplay elements so it shouldn’t be super hard to code because it’s nothing new PvE wise but profound enough to make the event more fun with a much more exciting ending and more relevant to all crews with the skull of siren song functioning like a really valuable mermaid gem when the event reward is successfully claimed post ritual.
The phantoms spawning are borrowed from the Belle chapters of LotV voyages.
Ghost of Graymarrow is borrowed from the Fort of the Damned. Just set a boundary that he doesn’t cross so he doesn’t stray too far away from Briggsy as she performs the ritual.
The island respawns during the ritual only are borrowed from how respawns work when you die inside a shrine or treasury and instead of respawning you on your ship the game respawns you in the shrine or treasury.
But what’s brand new is the potential for a multi-crew island TDM organically happening as a result of waiting for Briggsy’s ritual to complete as everyone present fights for the ability to claim the rewards at the end. One death doesn’t mean you automatically lose anymore.
