Cartography is an essential skill for those who wish to go treasure hunting, as it is required to decode treasure maps.
A Cartography Pen is required to start creating cartography items, such as blank scrolls used for the inscription skill. A workstation is not required; items can be created anywhere.
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The Cartography skill is used to decode treasure maps and dig them up at the location revealed. The following table explains the Cartography skill required to decode various maps:
Training cartography can be done two ways: decoding maps dropped from mobs and treasure chests, or crafting books, which takes blank scrolls purchasable from town vendors. Any level map can be decoded to gain skill all the way to GM.
Cartography can be trained via the crafting of books, using the the Cartographer's Pen tool. This method of training is rather expensive however. Here is a guide and estimated cost to train cartography using the book crafting method:
If going this route, starting from 40 skill to 95 skill (to start decoding Deviously Drawn Maps) expect to invest at least 550k minimum on blank scrolls. Cost from 40 - 100 (GM) Cartography skill using books pathway alone could be in excess of 750,000 gold pieces.
The above gains and costs assume use of Power Hour skill bonus times.
(Book path information compiled by Dr Pepper - Master Cartographer)
2500 Plain Treasure maps from 50.0 to 87.0
500 Expert Treasure maps from 87.0 to 95.0
Crafting 2500 already decoded Plain Treasure maps in to Expert Treasure maps from 95.0 to 97.0 (Use a Cartographer's pen for it)
314 Expert Treasure maps crafted from 2500 Plain Treasure maps 97.0 to 98.2 (These Expert Treasure maps will easly destroyed by decoding)
98 Adept Treasure maps to 98.2 to 100.0
Gains each power hour in dungeon from 50.0:
56.7 71.1 77.0 81.0 84.0 86.5 88.2 91.3 93.9 95.3 96.2 97.5 99.5 100.0
Compiled by Thornx