Quantomas
Savant
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2017
- Messages
- 260
Jokes and cheesy quests make a point, but are hardly incline. — Why not have a quality quest that gives the Codex credit? Something that is memorable and an example of good encounter design.
General structure
— One quest giver who is shrouded in mystery, that is you don't know her/his true motivations and goals
— Multi-stage quest, easily scalable to match available resources and writing team
— Reuses already existing game locations for quality encounters; i.e. typically the player clears the locations from the adventure path and it is a waste that they are used once only, e.g. the hidden dwarven fortress shown during the Kickstarter. Why not use these locations again? Something like PoE's Warden's Lodge quests, only better.
— Each quest stage has the following components:
It depends on Owlcat to tell us, whether this concept is too involved, but it doesn't hurt to ask.
If Owlcat would be willing to do more, we could have a more involved quest introduction like the following:
A kobold as a quest giver might sound cheesy, but for a quest of this type an evil aligned character makes more sense. In principle the quest giver could be from any race and alignment.
General structure
— One quest giver who is shrouded in mystery, that is you don't know her/his true motivations and goals
— Multi-stage quest, easily scalable to match available resources and writing team
— Reuses already existing game locations for quality encounters; i.e. typically the player clears the locations from the adventure path and it is a waste that they are used once only, e.g. the hidden dwarven fortress shown during the Kickstarter. Why not use these locations again? Something like PoE's Warden's Lodge quests, only better.
— Each quest stage has the following components:
- The quest giver provides a cryptic hint: a parchment, a book, a riddle that the player has to figure out to find the location and the kind of opponent that is waiting there (or go in there blind and unprepared which should be punished)
- Quality encounter design on reused iconic game locations
- Customized loot to be collected after the encounter
- RPG opportunities to engage with the opponent instead of a mandatory fight
- Narrative like the enemy boss giving you cryptic hints with his dying breaths about who the quest giver truly is and how you may thwart him.
- A key item that the player retrieves and delivers to the quest giver
- Simply follow the instructions of the quest giver — smaller but still worthwhile reward at the end
- Alternatively figure out what is really going on; thwart the quest giver's plan and collect the big prize yourself
- The general idea is to have a quest that can play out like standard RPG fare, i.e. receive instructions, follow these and get your reward. But use your wits and probe deeper and you will reap a richer reward. Figure out what the real plan of the quest giver is, who uses you to do the dirty and dangerous work.
- Can be implemented by reusing what is already in the game
- Scalable
- Most of the work is in the writing of the dialogs, narrative and encounter RPG elements
- Quality encounter design with customized loot tables
- A mystery and riddles that can be embedded well into the adventure paths and add to game
It depends on Owlcat to tell us, whether this concept is too involved, but it doesn't hurt to ask.
If Owlcat would be willing to do more, we could have a more involved quest introduction like the following:
In the palace
A clearly shaken guard enters the palace and hurries towards you. With a frightened voice he reports: "Your grace, a powerful mage has appeared in the ruined watchtower facing the town square and said that he will tear this place apart, if it is necessary in his search for a gateway to," he pauses a moment, "--I didn't catch the name." He sighs. "I was too frightened. He just turned Miller who was with me on guard duty into stone and claimed that he is a dark underlord. I ran as fast as I could to report to your grace without delay." A moment later he adds: "He is a kobold."
"A kobold, you say? Let me investigate."
In the ruined watchtower
You enter the watchtower in full armor and in the company of your trusted party, everyone fully armed. You spot the interloper immediately. He is indeed a kobold in a richly embroidered robe sitting on a makeshift bench.
You approach: "I heard you are threatening our citizens and I will not—"
"No, no, you are getting it all wrong. I am not interested in this place. There are much bigger powers at work and your best chance is that they won't take an interest in you. I am merely passing through in my search of the gate to Ranglator."
"What with the guard you turned to stone?"
The kobold grins, "Merely a cantrip. He lacked courtesy and will reanimate before noon."
You grit your teeth, "What is this intrusion about?"
"You see, I can provide you with lore and priceless knowledge in exchange for your help."
A clearly shaken guard enters the palace and hurries towards you. With a frightened voice he reports: "Your grace, a powerful mage has appeared in the ruined watchtower facing the town square and said that he will tear this place apart, if it is necessary in his search for a gateway to," he pauses a moment, "--I didn't catch the name." He sighs. "I was too frightened. He just turned Miller who was with me on guard duty into stone and claimed that he is a dark underlord. I ran as fast as I could to report to your grace without delay." A moment later he adds: "He is a kobold."
"A kobold, you say? Let me investigate."
In the ruined watchtower
You enter the watchtower in full armor and in the company of your trusted party, everyone fully armed. You spot the interloper immediately. He is indeed a kobold in a richly embroidered robe sitting on a makeshift bench.
You approach: "I heard you are threatening our citizens and I will not—"
"No, no, you are getting it all wrong. I am not interested in this place. There are much bigger powers at work and your best chance is that they won't take an interest in you. I am merely passing through in my search of the gate to Ranglator."
"What with the guard you turned to stone?"
The kobold grins, "Merely a cantrip. He lacked courtesy and will reanimate before noon."
You grit your teeth, "What is this intrusion about?"
"You see, I can provide you with lore and priceless knowledge in exchange for your help."
A kobold as a quest giver might sound cheesy, but for a quest of this type an evil aligned character makes more sense. In principle the quest giver could be from any race and alignment.