UO Second Age

you could make a "compromise" and lessen items in chests OR just chests outside cities or only in select buildings - instead of every chest.

just some thoughts.

I am not sure if this is the same thing as I am thinking about, but during T2A (early) chests within town still spawned items (non-magical) - that were building oriented (like a guard house would have armor/weapons). The chests relocked when the timer was reset, so you had to lockpick the chest then...