Transmogrification Chest earlier, please!

[Susramanian]

Let's have the chest drop off the first boss killed, along with the Rod of Recall. Anybody who's survived long enough to get their hands on the Chest probably already knows the pain of having to start a new character that *doesn't* have the chest. The selling minigame should go the way of food and oil and identification.

I don't think we need to worry about lessening the value of finally finding the Fortress-- it has plenty going for it even if we already have the chest when we first enter. We also don't need to worry about the strangeness of finding this amazing Sher'tul artifact outside the Fortress; after all, that's exactly what happens alredy with the Rod of Recall. Seems perfectly natural to find the Chest right alongside the Rod. Probably the same adventurer stole them from the ruins of the Fortress in the first place.

The chest and rod could come with a note that details the findings of the previous owner when the player first finds them. Sample text: "I'd give my left arm to know where that thief found these artifacts. They're amazing! The rod whisks me to safety from the deepest, darkest pits, and the chest appears to consume whatever it's given and turn it to gold! I need to find whoever made these and persuade him that he'll be the richest bastard in Eyal if he can make more of them."

For first time players, discovering the secret behind the item-consuming, gold-crapping chest will be great fun. For everybody else, we'll just be relieved at not having to get gold the tedious way.

[Hedrachi]

Maybe institute a cap on what the chest can give until you get to the fortress and take control of it? Something that'd make transmogrifying purple items a risk of losing gold, call it having the chest running at half power?

[Grey]

Maybe have it in Bill's hoard? Makes sense with the treasure element.

[marvalis]

Sounds like a good idea.

[Aquillion]

Yeah, this seems like a good idea. Constant trips back to the store are annoying but don't actually cost the player anything in-game with respawning monsters gone... annoyance shouldn't be a gameplay element.