Alpha First Look: Video 5 - Quests and Combat

[Linkurrra]

Here's the thing..

When you play a WoW-like MMO, level progression is always the same.

1. Go to Quest Hub
2. Obtain all Quest in the Area
3. Leave Quest Hub
4. Complete simple Quest Objectives listed above
5. Return to Quest Hub
6. Move to Next Quest Hub

This is mindless, repetitive and boring. Worse than that though, it makes people not want to read the Quests. They serve no purpose but XP. This severely degrades the enjoyability of the game. You might as well be doing an FFXI Party grind. At least in a party grind, your not alone.

The fix, is very simple.

1. Go to NPC Hub
2. Select One Quest
3. Proceed to Location
4. Complete simple Quest Objective
5. Something Dangerous happens
6. Quest Objective - Run for your life
7. Get Saved by something
8. Examine the Previous Danger
9. Get call on your Linkshell from Quest Giver
10. Investigate what caused the danger
11. Get lead to some cool location like a dungeon
12. Unlocks a new area
13. Complete a starter objective in the dungeon
14. Bring your Findings to the NPC

The Quests demonstrated in the Alpha video are the painfully boring cookie cutter WoW-Clone Quests that have destroyed this Genre by turning MMOs in to Single Player games. By simply adding plot twists and adding additional objectives to quests, you remove the boring NPC > Kill > NPC and create a Miniature story progression. Players will become immersed in the world and pushed to explore if the quest spontaneously pushes them away from their original destination and grouping will be Promoted by guiding players to group combat zones or boss fights.

NPC > Kill > NPC is the reason every WoW-Clone has failed to hold the attention of Modern Players.

Umm, what you described was a quest chain. How do you know that in the video that was shown wasn't smaller quests in a quest chain?

And one thing I would like to add, in how quests should flow. Is that some of the quests in the Quest chain have a no win scenario. Where you make a decision and it sends you off on a different quest path because of that decision.

Quests that put value in your actions are the most rewarding. Sure they are time consuming, but it makes things interesting.

And one thing to note about FFXIV, is that since we have one character, it would be nice if you could repeat these quests and pick the different path to take. The NPC just needs to notice that you are repeating the quest and say,
"Welcome back!, decided to take another stab at this quest?"

I would just prefer if the NPC, required you to complete the entire quest chain before you can complete it. That way you can come back with your lvl 15 Pug, Gla, Arc and do the quest but make different decisions to see a different outcome. Such quests take time to plan out carefully, but are worth the effort!

[TomCarroll]

Umm, what you described was a quest chain. How do you know that in the video that was shown wasn't smaller quests in a quest chain?

And one thing I would like to add, in how quests should flow. Is that some of the quests in the Quest chain have a no win scenario. Where you make a decision and it sends you off on a different quest path because of that decision.

Quests that put value in your actions are the most rewarding. Sure they are time consuming, but it makes things interesting.

And one thing to note about FFXIV, is that since we have one character, it would be nice if you could repeat these quests and pick the different path to take. The NPC just needs to notice that you are repeating the quest and say,
"Welcome back!, decided to take another stab at this quest?"

I would just prefer if the NPC, required you to complete the entire quest chain before you can complete it. That way you can come back with your lvl 15 Pug, Gla, Arc and do the quest but make different decisions to see a different outcome. Such quests take time to plan out carefully, but are worth the effort!

THIS. THIS. A THOUSAND TIMES THIS.

Most people haven't realized that this is currently what's happening in World of Warcraft. Quests aren't nearly as throw-away as they used to be, and to some degree they're almost engaging. Daily Quests still suck though.

[Kiote]

Umm, what you described was a quest chain. How do you know that in the video that was shown wasn't smaller quests in a quest chain?

Yes, what I wrote was similar to a quest chain, but with one major difference.

A quest chain a a series of the quests demoed with little text in between to fein interconnectivity.

What I wrote was a single experience designed to be played in a linear fashion.

The difference is subtle, but the impact on storytelling is massive.