Submitted by sam on Mon, 07/18/2005 - 02:12.

This weekend I tried helping a few people get their Sea Serpent Grotto maps. We had partial success, but were largely mired by the problems associated with trying to guide groups of people through hostile areas. So, for those who need help, here's how to do it.

Step 1: Get a Key

The map for Sea Serpent Grotto is a lot like other maps in the game. You obtain it by finding a chest or coffer key, and then opening a chest or coffer. With Sea Serpent Grotto, the chest is sufficient for obtaining the map, and the chest key is by far the easiest to get.



Start out by killing Ghasts and Ironshells. Other mobs in the area drop the key, but the Ghasts and the Ironshells are the weakest ones to drop the key. After 55, you probably will be able to solo them (some jobs more so than others). If you are a Monk, then focus on the Ghasts as your natural strength against bones will make them easier to kill. Likewise, if you are a Ranger, then the Ironshells may be what you will want to focus on.



These mobs can be found by the Norg entrance, but you will probably have better luck farming the Ghasts deeper in around C-8 and D-8. The nice thing here is a Notorious Monster "Namtar" spawns here who is roughly the same level as the surrounding bones, so you can get a small extra bonus if you find him.



Once you have the key, now the fun begins: Finding your chest.

Step 2: Get a Chest

Before heading out to get your Chest, be sure to have one silver beastcoin. The silver beastcoin is needed to open a gate behind which most of the chest spawns are.



Once you have the coin, travel the following path from Norg to this gate:

You will note that there are two spawns on this first map just north of the gate. It would probably be a good idea to check these spawns for chests before going behind the gate, but don't worry if you do not, you can get back here rather easly.



Beyond the gate, you will find a "figure-eight" style loop with the vast majority of chest spawns for Sea Serpent Grotto:




There are 2 drops here where you will drop down to a dead-end with a Bonze (Sea Monk type mob) in it. Simply loop around, looking for the chests, and you will eventually find it.



Finding the chest will only be difficult if you grab aggro. The key back here is to avoid all confrontation. Everything aggro's to sound, so if you are lower than 60 or so, you will want to sneak yourself.



Chests have a respawn rate of 15-30 minutes, so, if you travel with a lot of other people looking for the chest, expect to take a while obtaining a map for everyone.



Ultimately, it really isn't hard. I'd recommend doing it alone with a level 1 job and your HP in Norg. Load up on Sneak Oils and head out. If you go alone, you reduce the risk of aggro (because you don't have others with you that may mess things up).



Getting your Sea Serpent Grotto map really isn't difficult. Keep your wits about you, and it will be yours.



After I return from my business trip, I'll write up some other guides for getting maps in other places (like Boyada Tree :-)