Random events | Maps & Secrets AC IV: Black Flag Guide
Last update: 02 February 2017
Couriers
The couriers appear at random during your stays in big cities (Havana, Nassau, Kingston) and they start running only after they spot Edward. Therefore, you can sneak up to them over the rooftops. It is necessary that you run up to the courier and knock him down. As a reward, Edward receives a small sum of money and ammo for all the types of weapons that he currently owns.
If you do not feel like running, you can deal with the courier by shooting him or using a dart, and then search the body. You need to hurry, though. Some of the couriers run pretty fast, at short distances, and escape quickly from the range of shot.
Rescuing of pirates
This activity activates when you come close to the pirates under threat. There are three variants of the event. In the first one, one, or two pirates are under attack from a group of soldiers Your task is to kill the soldiers before the pirates are killed. The second variant consists in a quiet elimination of soldiers guarding pirates who are tied up, after which you need to free the pirates. The third variant is similar to the second one, and the difference is that the pirates are executed after a predetermined amount of time passes. In each case, you receive additional men for your crew and a small amount of money.
Survivors
Every once in a while, at sea, you can encounter a raft with a survivor on it. Taking him aboard results in the increased numbers of the crew.
Abandoned cargo
During the sea voyages, you will be encountering crates floating on the sea's surface. They appear at random, or where a ship was sunken. Inside, there is ammo or goods, numbering from several to several tens of units.
Sometimes, an abandoned cargo can also be found on the maps of locations. Such crates contain several units of goods of one kind.
Treasure fleets
You can learn about their whereabouts in taverns, or by steering nearby. Such a fleet consists of several guard ships and one ship loaded with Regals only, so do not engage them into fight if the Jackdaw is not strong enough. The fleets stay in one location for as long as you sail by, so you do not need to worry that they sail away.
Waterspouts
A weather phenomenon that obstructs sea voyages. After you near one, your control over the ship becomes obstructed and, after you approach it, you lose, temporarily, the control over the Jackdaw.
Dangerous waves
In spite of what the map suggests, the dangerous waves do not occur only in the spots where the marker appears. It is much wider and it can reach the Jackdaw even if you think you are safe.
After it hits, the wave damages the hull, and some of the crew fall overboard. to counteract that, press and hold down the X button at the right moment. The crew will then grab onto whatever is stable. Release the button when the wave moves away. Just in case, you should hold the button down for a bit longer than you actually should. The wave is quite tall and you may happen to release the button too early. In such a case, you will take damage and lose some of the crew.