World Changing Quests

robert4818 · 2005-07-23T10:17:10

Here’s a thought. One thing that I’ve seen on a very limited basis in games are world changing quests. EQ2 is one of the first games I’ve seen (personally) that allows the playerbase to unlock something. In its case it’s the Froglocks. However I think the opportunity for these sort of quests in MMO’s is not used nearly enough. Final Fantasy, does real good at incorporating quests to unlocking content. However they focus completely on the single player. Each player has to do that specific quest in order to get the content. I suggest some compromises. I’ll use a VERY generic world description to facilitate my examples. You have a world that after some great cataclysm, has been divided into many different segments. The story is advanced to the point where the world has slowly begun to reconnect. Some segments have been able to make contact with others, while some have remained closed off. Rumor has it that even a whole half of the world may even be “lost”. Now how do we use quests here for world changing effects? Well First off there are the segments already connected. In order for a player to access one of these segments they have to do some sort of personal quest. This unlocks the “Friendly segment” for free access back and forth. Next are the segments that are still closed off. These have some quest that must be completed by someone, or a small group of someone. Once this quest is completed, the segment opens up for the world at large. This usually opens up new adventuring areas, perhaps a new town, or even a dungeon. This is usually about a zone sized thing. Finally is the “lost half” of the world. Similar to opening up the other zones this requires a quest. However this quest is going to be VERY big, long, involved and require a great number of people to complete. This will open up about as much content as an expansion. New zones (some which would need to be unlocked themselves), new starting areas, new classes/races, and a wealth of new items would all be come available. As players discover new things throughout the world they get the option to name landmarks. (Submitted to GM’s for approval of course.) As new expansion packs get released for the game, they follow the same sort of pattern, some easy personal zones to unlock, some that must require a group/guild to open, and one or two that require the playerbase to open up…usually the second half of the pack itself.

Game Design and Theory Game Design

Started by robert4818 July 16, 2005 10:45 AM

9 comments, last by Ronixus 19 years, 6 months ago

Ronixus

130

July 23, 2005 10:17 AM

I saw a need for a multiplayer focused world questing system even before MMOGs came into mainstream. IMHO, if the player can't effect anything on their own or with a group, then what's the point of adventuring?

Although it still needs testing, I have some big plans to do just this and still balance the gameplay for those who just want to power-play.

- Ronixus

World Changing Quests

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World Changing Quests

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