Editing Treasure map (Dragon Quest IX) (section)

===2. Grotto content generation===
After computing the quality value, the game randomly selects one of 32768 maps for that quality value. Since quality can range from 2 to 248, the total normal map possibilities can be computed as:

<pre>
(248 - 2) * 32,768 = 8,060,928 different maps
</pre>

Hence the reason high quality maps are so rare. Even with the highest quality value (248), there is still only a 1/32768 chance of getting a specific map. For higher quality values, the possible maps contain grottos which are much longer and hold more powerful enemies, bosses, and treasures. The following table shows the relation between the quality value and the map contents.

{| cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" border="1"
! Quality !! # of Floors !! Monster Rank !! Boss #
|-
| 2-55 || 2-4 || 1-3 || 1-3
|-
| 56-60 || 4-6 || 2-4 || 1-3
|-
| 61-75 || 4-6 || 2-4 || 2-5
|-
| 76-80 || 6-10 || 1-5 || 2-5
|-
| 81-100 || 6-10 || 1-5 || 3-7
|-
| 101-120 || 8-12 || 2-6 || 4-7
|-
| 121-140 || 10-14 || 2-6 || 5-9
|-
| 141-160 || 10-16 || 3-7 || 6-9
|-
| 161-180 || 10-16 || 3-7 || 7-10
|-
| 181-200 || 11-16 || 4-9 || 8-12
|-
| 201-220 || 12-16 || 5-9 || 1-12
|-
| 221-248 || 14-16 || 9 || 1-12
|}
Using this table, the game randomly selects an eligible value from each column according to the computed quality value. For example, for the highest quality brackets (201-220 and 221-248), a random boss is selected from all 12 possible bosses.

====a. Monster Rank====
The monster rank value is used both for determining monsters and treasure chest rank within the grotto. Higher values equate to more difficult monsters and better chest contents.

Monster Rank increases in value on lower floors of a grotto. The increase can summarized as:

<pre>
r = b + floor((f - 1) / 4)

r: rank of floor f
b: base rank of grotto, where K = 1 ... C = 9
f: floor number
Note that floor() is the mathematical floor function.
</pre>

More simply stated, the rank increases by 1 for every 4 floors completed. So for the largest grotto (16 floors), the break down would be:

<pre>
floor 1 rank = C (9) + floor(0 / 4) = C (9)
...
floor 5 rank = C (9) + floor(4 / 4) = B (10)
...
floor 9 rank = C (9) + floor(8 / 4) = A (11)
...
floor 13 rank = C (9) + floor(12 / 4) = S (12)
floor 16 rank = C (9) + floor(15 / 4) = S (12)
</pre>
Therefore, rank S (12) is the highest any grotto can contain, and can only appear from the 13th floor. Also note that not all monsters within a particular rank may appear on a floor. Which monsters within the rank appear and their frequency is determined randomly. This fact is tied to the popularity of the [[Masayuki map]], as it contains a floor where only [[metal king slime|Metal King Slimes]] appear.

For the list of monsters in each rank, see [[List of treasure map monster ranks in Dragon Quest IX]].

====b. Treasure chest rank====
Treasure chest rank is derived from the monster rank value. Treasure chest rank only has 10 values rather than 12.

{| cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" border="1"
! Monster Rank !! Treasure Chest Rank
|-
| 1 || 1-2
|-
| 2 || 1-2
|-
| 3 || 1-3
|-
| 4 || 1-4
|-
| 5 || 2-5
|-
| 6 || 2-6
|-
| 7 || 3-7
|-
| 8 || 3-8
|-
| 9 || 4-9
|-
| 10 || 5-9
|-
| 11 || 1-10
|-
| 12 || 5-10
|}

Treasure chest rank is determined on a per chest basis. This means that for a floor with monster rank 5, each chest could have a rank between 2 and 5. Each chest permanently retains its rank, so a rank 8 chest will always contain rank 8 items. The treasure map must be closed and reopened in order for chests to respawn their items.

The number of actual chests on any one floor is determined randomly. This variability in the number of chests and their rank is the reason for the [[Locker map]]'s popularity, as it has a high amount of rank 9 and 10 chests.

For details on treasure chest rank items, see [[List of treasure map treasure chest ranks in Dragon Quest IX]].

====c. Normal map bosses====
There are 12 possible bosses for normal treasure maps. These bosses are indexed below in increasing order of difficulty:

{| cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" border="1"
! # !! Name
|-
| 1 || [[Equinox]]
|-
| 2 || [[Nemean]]
|-
| 3 || [[Shogum]]
|-
| 4 || [[Trauminator]]
|-
| 5 || [[Elusid]]
|-
| 6 || [[Sir Sanguinus]]
|-
| 7 || [[Atlas]]
|-
| 8 || [[Hammibal]]
|-
| 9 || [[Fowleye]]
|-
| 10 || [[Excalipurr]]
|-
| 11 || [[Tyrannosaurus Wrecks]]
|-
| 12 || [[Greygnarl]]
|}

{{spoiler|start}}
The first ten bosses are implied at several points throughout the game (and stated outright by Fowleye) to be aspects of the Almighty, who was fragmented by Corvus and sealed into the grottos to ensure that he would not regain his power.
{{spoiler|end}}

After defeating a boss, the treasure map must be closed and reopened in order for the boss to reappear.

For a full list of treasure map bosses, see [[List of treasure map bosses in Dragon Quest IX]].