Etrian Odyssey takes to the seas -- with inscrutable map icons!
Etrian Odyssey 3
This post tackles the game’s second set of map icons – the Etrian Odyssey 3 ocean icons. These are the icons that you use while exploring the ocean in your ship. Hard as it is to believe, these are even more confusing than the dungeon symbols! Seriously, I feel like I just failed some kind of IQ test. Here’s my best shot.
Even more confusing than the dungeon map icons -- how is this possible?
- Whirlpool – At least they started with an easy one.
- Frogs? Seaweed? – Anyone? Update: Most likely seaweed, as this is an obstacle to movement. Thanks to Slayn for this and other helpful comments below!
- Rocks? Shallow water? – I’m going with shallow water, as that would be pretty useful to mark on an ocean map. Update: Also known as shallow reefs.
- Arrow up – Northward moving current – I love arrows. So easy to interpret!
- Arrow down – Southward moving current.
- Event – Same as the dungeon map icon.
- Arrow left – Westward moving current.
- Arrow right – Eastward moving current.
- Something! Very! Important! – I’m pretty sure this one appeared in Etrian Odyssey 1.
- Memo – Use this to annotate your map.
- Pirates? Dead people? Monster? – I’m pretty sure it’s not for marking something cute and cuddly. Update: One vote for pirates so far. Update 2: Reader Fer recommends using this one to mark places where you automatically die (e.g., via giant evil bird)
- X – I’m guessing this is for marking the location of treasure, as in X marks the spot. Update: Make that sunken treasure.
- Tree – Now the icons are starting to get really weird.
- Tree with more leaves? – Why would you need more than one icon for tree?
- Even more trees – What’s with the freakin’ trees?!!
- Vine? Plants? – Or is it another tree, swaying in the gentle ocean breeze?
- Flowers – How romantic! (At least it’s not a tree!)
- Other flowers – But these look poisonous.
- Mountain – Or a blob monster with bad posture. Probably a mountain.
- Smaller mountain – Or a large hill, depending on whether you are a “glass half full” or “glass half empty” kind of RPG player.
- Really little hills – Atlus, are you serious?
- Helmet? – I don’t get it. Anyone? Update: One vote for tombstone. Update: AlohaJo comments that this icon is used to identify a small hut, used to represent small fishing villages.
- House – Use this to mark all of the ocean-view real estate that you find during your travels. Update: Icons 13 through 23 are apparently intended to give you a larger artistic palate rather than to signify specific gameplay elements. Update 2: Thanks to Sir Eagle for pointing out that Armoroad is marked with an icon like this one, suggesting that it may be intended to identify towns.
Clearly I need help with this one. Please leave a comment so we can make this list a little more useful, and Etrian Odyssey 3’s ocean map icons a little less vague.
2. this is seaweed stuff that you can’t move through originally
3. this is shallow reef, another kind of obstacle you encounter
11. probably meant to be pirates. I’ve seen no other use
12. I use this for spots with sunken treasure in the water
13-23. These merely match the scenary you will see on the various islands. They serve no functional purpose. More decoration than anything.
Thanks for the comment, Slayn. I have updated the post with your suggestions.
11) I use that to indicate where you automatically die, like where that big bird swoops down and kills you
22) tombstone maybe? could be useful in place of what I use 11 for if pirates are stationary?
Thanks, fer. I like your suggestion for the skull and crossbones. I never marked the killer bird on my map, but I should have.
Number 22 is a small hut, used to represent small fishing villages, like the one just southeast of Amoroad, where you get the Casting Net.
Thanks, AlohaJo. That makes sense.
23 – Armoroad is marked with an Icon like this one, so I think it’s probably for towns or something.
I used 22 to mark the lighthouse, don’t ask me why, it just seemed right at the time. And I’ve also been using that skull for the same purpose as what fer- said above, to mark where that god awful bird guarding the lighthouse insta kills you.