couldn't agree more about the "stutter step" in escort quests.
It is ridiculously annoying!
And agree again with the top 2, which are the most common. You always to be a quest to cull or collect something. Reminds of the sheer frustration when the wolf you just killed for the umpteenth time drop 0-1 teeth!
The kill X mobs is slightly more bearable when you can kill them in mass, sometimes nearly bordering on satisfying.
The biggest problem with this list is that you've covered 99% of the quest types in current MMOs I've played ...
#3 "Go talk to this person" should be renamed to THE ENTIRE ZELDA FRANCHISE
But honestly, none of these quest types are bad, it's just how they're dressed up that matter.
If a quest says Kill 10 dudes. People will say it's boring themepark garbage.
But if Dragonage Origins says, "Fend off the attack!" and throws enemies at you until the attack ends, you likely did not pay attention that you just did a Kill 15 dudes quest, because that's what it is.
Or in Skyrim where you have to go get Item X from some outpost. The quest doesn't say, "Kill 20 dudes in the outpost." But once you get there, you will kill all the dudes in the outpost (all 20 of them) in order to get the item.
How horrible are fedex/talk to so and so quests? Pretty horrible right? Now go play The Witcher (either one). Yeah, nearly everything you do in that game is a fedex/talk to so and so quest. It's obscene. Yet, look at the rave reviews. That's the power of well written dialogue and narrative.
The other thing my examples have in common? They're single player games. People think differently when playing SRPG vs MMO. In MMO's people are rushing and competing to get to stuff first (because #winning) and they'll click through dialogue and voice scenes. In SRPG people listen and read and take their time to enjoy the experience. Amusingly enough, I think that's why so many people have a favorable view of TSW. Gameplay wise it's pretty lackluster (possibly even terrible), but it has good atmosphere, dialogue and narrative so it draws you in - unless you try to play it like an MMO and just run around Killing X (because that's what you do in TSW too).
#3 "Go talk to this person" should be renamed to THE ENTIRE ZELDA FRANCHISE
But honestly, none of these quest types are bad, it's just how they're dressed up that matter.
If a quest says Kill 10 dudes. People will say it's boring themepark garbage.
But if Dragonage Origins says, "Fend off the attack!" and throws enemies at you until the attack ends, you likely did not pay attention that you just did a Kill 15 dudes quest, because that's what it is.
Or in Skyrim where you have to go get Item X from some outpost. The quest doesn't say, "Kill 20 dudes in the outpost." But once you get there, you will kill all the dudes in the outpost (all 20 of them) in order to get the item.
How horrible are fedex/talk to so and so quests? Pretty horrible right? Now go play The Witcher (either one). Yeah, nearly everything you do in that game is a fedex/talk to so and so quest. It's obscene. Yet, look at the rave reviews. That's the power of well written dialogue and narrative.
The other thing my examples have in common? They're single player games. People think differently when playing SRPG vs MMO. In MMO's people are rushing and competing to get to stuff first (because #winning) and they'll click through dialogue and voice scenes. In SRPG people listen and read and take their time to enjoy the experience. Amusingly enough, I think that's why so many people have a favorable view of TSW. Gameplay wise it's pretty lackluster (possibly even terrible), but it has good atmosphere, dialogue and narrative so it draws you in - unless you try to play it like an MMO and just run around Killing X (because that's what you do in TSW too).
Everything you just said is full of win
I have to agree with you on all points
All of this. More quests that just have to do with you. Not killing 58 rats.
"This may hurt a little, but it's something you'll get used to. Relax....."
LOTRO for example has a huge number of kill x quests, so if you just click through it looks very tedious. But all of the quests have some unique story that relates to what's currently going on in the related main quests. You need to kill wolves for their pelts because some hobbit needs to trade them for winter clothes, or some such.
I have to agree with others here that there are really no bad Quest types just bad Quest presentations. When a Quest is given as "Go collect 'X' of 'Y'" or "Go and kill 'X' of 'Y'" it becomes nothing more than a menial task. When those same Quests are given a good story based context as to why your doing what you're doing and they lead into a variety of other quest types all with the same story line they seem more Epic and a lot less menial. MMO's could really learn a lot from single player RPGs in this regard.
Comments
couldn't agree more about the "stutter step" in escort quests.
It is ridiculously annoying!
And agree again with the top 2, which are the most common. You always to be a quest to cull or collect something. Reminds of the sheer frustration when the wolf you just killed for the umpteenth time drop 0-1 teeth!
The kill X mobs is slightly more bearable when you can kill them in mass, sometimes nearly bordering on satisfying.
The biggest problem with this list is that you've covered 99% of the quest types in current MMOs I've played ...
Everything you just said is full of win
I have to agree with you on all points
All of this. More quests that just have to do with you. Not killing 58 rats.
"This may hurt a little, but it's something you'll get used to. Relax....."
omg manchiz
I agree about presentation being important.
LOTRO for example has a huge number of kill x quests, so if you just click through it looks very tedious. But all of the quests have some unique story that relates to what's currently going on in the related main quests. You need to kill wolves for their pelts because some hobbit needs to trade them for winter clothes, or some such.
I have to agree with others here that there are really no bad Quest types just bad Quest presentations. When a Quest is given as "Go collect 'X' of 'Y'" or "Go and kill 'X' of 'Y'" it becomes nothing more than a menial task. When those same Quests are given a good story based context as to why your doing what you're doing and they lead into a variety of other quest types all with the same story line they seem more Epic and a lot less menial. MMO's could really learn a lot from single player RPGs in this regard.
Bren
while(horse==dead)
{
beat();
}
Most of the "quests" found in current MMO are bad because they are essentially chores. It remove exploration and discovery with chores.
The only thing that makes quest more fun is storyline or lore.
Actually it will be fun for player who loves reading or knowing the lore or background.
The worst kind of quest is "Fight this mob and then use this item on them when they're almost dead"
OMG I killed it too fast.
OMG this item is STILL on cooldown?!
OMG no don't help me no don't kill it!