This is a re-post for this new discussion tab. Cleaned it up a bit as well.
When the tide is low and the moon is a no show. A mystery will arise and along with it, cries.
So far there is only one type of raid and it challenges strength and endurance. That's good but what about wits and dexterity? I'm talking about your crew out smarting another crew, racing towards a vaulted treasure. My idea is a raid that only comes during a new moon. An Island raises out of the sea on this darken night gathering loot once lost to the waters below. But not only bringing lost treasures but a great mystery. The raid would also be marked with a marker just like the forts now with the skull. However since they are a timed trial they will alert you a day ahead of time.
The Sunken Islands
This raid would encourage a race against time and other crews seeking more than lost treasure. Time because at sun raise the island will start to sink back into the sea where it came from. A bell ringing from the island indicating that your time is almost up and that you better hurry (rings every minute giving you 5mins) or you'll be brought down to Davy Jones locker.
These islands look like forgotten ruins of an ancient civilization. Mayan perhaps? These islands will also be engulfed in darkness, not only because of the hidden moon but of the curse on these islands.
Play Styles
Different objectives would be a prominent feature. As i said these islands gather lost treasures from the seas floor. Throughout the island treasure is all about, but that only matters if you can find it before anyone else and get away with your newly found treasure. The other objective would be solving the mystery before anyone else and finding the vault of forgotten treasures, while also racing the clock.
Day/Night Cycle
The days in Sea of Thieves last 24 mins, minute per (in game) hour. A New moon only come about once a month (one month=12 hour). So to make it easier for everyone's schedules i would cut that time in half. So every 6 hours the raid would start (4 raids a day). Also to give players more time to solve the mysteries i would say the day of the raid should be dark the entire day. Meaning 24 minutes to loot and/or solve the mystery.
The Mystery
These island mysteries would be very challenging riddles. I want riddles that don't hold your hand. Not like the riddles the gold hoarder gives, however randomly generated like them. I'm talking 6-8 steps of difficult riddles or at least 2-3 difficult riddles per raid. Making your crew think to solve each step.
To get the first clue you would need to talk to any tavern keep at any outpost. They will have a story to tell and once single clue to start. The clue will be written down and placed in your quest wheel just like any treasure map. The last clue would tell you where the forgotten vault is.
Forgotten Vault
Now this vault is different from the raids you know. The raids now are all about opening a vault with a massive haul. However this vault doesn't hold much. That doesn't mean the contents is worthless. Inside there will be an ancient chest, and if your lucky maybe evens some small forgotten treasure including an ancient skull. These rewards giving about the same amount of gold as the stronghold rewards. You might be thinking how is harder, more challenging, and less rewarding worth the trouble. That's where your wrong. These ancient rewards once looted and turned in gives cosmetic items.
Vault Cosmetic Rewards
The crew that turns in the chest will receive one random cosmetic from an exclusive set that only this raid gives. I do mean there's one cosmetic for every thing in the game. From each piece of clothing, to each vanity item (hair included), equipment, weapons and even ship cosmetic. Making this raid the only way to get these rewards and very re-playable. You might also be thinking what if you eventually get all the cosmetics. Well turning in a chest will never give you the duplicate cosmetic, and once achieving all rewards turning in other ancient chests would give you 500-1500 extra gold. Giving you the chance of getting about 33% more than it and the strong hold.
Island Threats
Now it is not a raid if theirs no enemies, well other than other pirates. With the rising islands comes a dark threat, Cursed Skeletons.
Invisible to the naked eye, and with the help of the darkest night they are almost impossible to see without a lantern. These cursed skellies wonder the ruins of the forgotten island, never to escape, living at the bottom of the sea. Only to see the stars with the rising islands.
These skellies wouldn't aggro on you unless your way too close to them with a lantern. They do not like being seen for they hate eyes looking upon them. One scratch will take the life right out of you, cursing you with every hit.
The curse the skellies inflict rip out a portion of your soul. Making you unable to restore a portion of your health. Eventually only leaving you with 25% of your health. Now there are a few ways to rid of the curse. Leaving the island is one. Another way is to bathe in the light of the pure flame. The ancient ruin had these spiritual flame pits, believed to be used to reach into the spirit realm and communicate to their ancestors. Relighting them and staying in them for a few second will slowly cure you. The pure light is also a safe area where the cursed skellies can't enter. However light cannot last long on these cursed islands of darkness. Meaning lighting a fire pit wont stay lit long, also meaning while using your lantern it will slowly dim till no light is left.
Once the vault has been open and the chest in hand the skellies enrage, with a cursed flame ragging out between their bones. They do not care if they are seen for they do not like their belonging stolen. So whoever is holding the chest know that you'll be making new friends soon, that is unless your crew can protect you from their deathly advances.
If this was a raid in the game how do you feel about it? How would you play it? Search for the lost treasures or solve the mystery for the cosmetics.
So how is this idea of mine. What do you think i could do better? Share with me your thoughts. Maybe if i'm lucky this could reach RARE and be something they're interested in.
