Too Many Joke Quests (in my opinion) [Archive]

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Shackleton1

01-14-2008, 03:18 PM

Let me tell you about my recent questing experience.I helped a chef cook something. I got some vegetables I washed in the river and cooked and gave back to him. I think before that I probably killed some stuff for him for ingredients, but I can't remember. Then he told me there's something in his rubbish pile or something and I go there after dark and "Cookie's Monster" shows up. Cookie, but the way, is the name of the chef.Then I went and killed some things for a merchant. Then I killed some other things for a different merchant. No real reason for it.Then I helped an iksar woman make a dress for a party.Then her Spectral Godmother showed up and I had to rescue her. Intriguing! So I rescue her and now the Spectral Godmother wants me to tame some chokadai for the iksar's carriage. /groan-----So, I'm wondering if the people that write these quests have played an RPG before.I'm really biting my tongue trying to not be too scathing, cos although a lot of the quests are cookie cutter, some of the quests someone's obviously spent some time on. But if they're not "kill 10 mobs", if there's any depth to it, chances are it's just a joke. From unleashing the snake in that fortress in the first zone (did you see their faces? haha!), to the cookie monster, to the spectral godmother. Cutesy burynai with their adorable collecting habits (did someone say Ewok?). Hilarious merchants and their foibles. Where's the heroism? Where's the lore? Where's the intrigue, the immersion, the politics, the drama? I can understand the odd easter egg. I can withstand the odd cutesy bit (i.e. halflings & pies, fae & cookies, burynai & shinies). But a fortress assault that ends with a practical joke? An iksar wanting a dress for a party and turning into cinderella?This isn't an RPG. It's a spoof <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

Kizee

01-14-2008, 04:09 PM

Thats the nice thing about quickly clicking thru the text and not reading. You don't have to endure the stupid story lines. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" />

shadowdragon665

01-14-2008, 04:11 PM

Well, I have to agree with you on a few points, but in all fairness to the game, EQ2 isn't exactly a serious or hardcore RPG. Think of it as, RPG Lite.Don't get me wrong, I love EQ2, I think it's a very fun way to pass the time and have some laughs. But in no way is it a serious RPG, and in defense of the Devs, I don't think they ever meant it to be.The game is colorful, vibrant and has some truly silly characters, but that's part of the games appeal. I can understand your point though. Players looking for a serious RPG experience with intrigue, politics, etc., etc., might be better off looking elsewhere.You might want to look into Dungeons & Dragons Online, it might be a better fit as to what you're looking for.

brightwhite

01-14-2008, 04:15 PM

I really like those kind of quests! Kind of a break from all the kill kill kill of regular quests. Lots of fun and clever too sometimes.

Gasheron

01-14-2008, 04:20 PM

Well, yes, some of the quests in RoK are a bit... uninspired. The whole Cinderella thing was kind of spooky, and the Cookie Monster one was silly. However, the mundane quests, the ones with "no real reason," are perfectly justifiable in this world.Now I know people dislike having to do mundane things like helping someone carry a package, or deliver a message, or harvest scales from some random lizard for someone, but that's the kind of thing adventurers are *supposed* to do. That's who we are playing. You can't compare the importance of quests in a regular RPG with the importance of the quests in this game.Why? Because, unlike in the average, regular, non-MMO RPG, we *aren't* the heros of the story. We are the extras, the somewhat capable people running around doing all the extra little things that make the world go 'round. Adventurers in Norrath can't accomplish anything on the scale of "saving the world from evil" or "defeating the threat to the world" without being in such numbers that the individual people aren't recognized individually. We aren't the main protagonists of the game, we are the soldiers, the people being told what to do, the people who take care of such mundane tasks.We aren't those that save the world daily, or even ever, really. We aren't those that legends are told about. We aren't the people from the prophecies. Those roles belong to characters such as Lucan D'Lere, Antonia Bayle, etc.We are adventurers.

Shackleton1

01-14-2008, 04:26 PM

I did think about that. EQ2 has always had a light hearted side, but it's usually very subtle or restricted to certain things.I can remember light hearted quests in Antonica. The halfling and the dwarf, one for food and one for drink, kind of light hearted.But against that there's the messenger you find dead, being eaten by wolves, which leads to an instance where a bunch of magi are summoning demons. Best solo quest I've done, probably.And there's the scarecrow questline which is quite chilling.How about that staff you go chasing after? Can't remember its name, but it was a quest which felt important.Or that firesomething gully place. Filled with undead.Antonica has its collect 10 bear pelts quests too. But it also has serious quests, that really get you involved in the story. That's only happened to me in two quest lines in RoK, and both of them turned into joke quests. It's very disappointing. I mean, what's the point in having lore, when the quest designers abandon it in favour of having a bit of a joke?

Phemme

01-14-2008, 06:14 PM

I'm with you, Shack.As much as I have enjoyed the nostalgia of Kunark, I, too, have been disappointed with the quests I've encountered. Not all quests, as there have been some that have been well-crafted, but having done every quest available in Kylong Plains, then all that I could stand in Fens, I have set my 78 conjy aside and gone to playing young alts-again.I suspect, (translates hopeful), that this expansion was rushed to launch, and that there was supposed to be more meaningful content included, but that may not be the case. Yes, the solo content is certainly there, and that works for those who really enjoy being alone, but I am not one of them. Mostly, I'm bored silly by the lack of excitement in these zones/quests, and disappointed by the complete absence of Heritage Quests, Heroic Series, and the well-touted Epic Quests, as well as seriously sorry that there seem to be no instances for the lower to mid-seventies folks....and don't even get me started on quest rewards. Talk about a lot of goofy gear that no one wears! I won't fuss about the coin, though. It has been nice. I've been an avid player since Kunark launched in EQ1, and for my money, EoF has been the best expansion I've yet to see. Well-rounded zones, each with varying levels of quests and adventures. Quest series with interesting progressions and useable rewards.I hope that there will be some improvements to these zones, and that as I progress through Kunzar Jungle I will see some more interesting activities than I have so far.Interesting points, too, Gasheron. I can't say I'd ever really given any thought to the fact that we aren't intended heroes, but I can say that I would much rather be given a series of tasks that feel as if they are accomplishing something, if only important to me, than to kill 10 of these, 8 of those, then go see that guy and kill more for him./shrug

Valdaglerion

01-14-2008, 07:54 PM

<cite>Phemme@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite><blockquote>I'm with you, Shack.As much as I have enjoyed the nostalgia of Kunark, I, too, have been disappointed with the quests I've encountered. Not all quests, as there have been some that have been well-crafted, but having done every quest available in Kylong Plains, then all that I could stand in Fens, I have set my 78 conjy aside and gone to playing young alts-again.I suspect, (translates hopeful), that this expansion was rushed to launch, and that there was supposed to be more meaningful content included, but that may not be the case. Yes, the solo content is certainly there, and that works for those who really enjoy being alone, but I am not one of them. Seems most of the content and questlines thus far convey the importance of the factions and set out teh story lines between them. Perhaps a minority but I do read the quest text and while some is purely silly and entertaining some is important to understanding game mechanics. Mostly, I'm bored silly by the lack of excitement in these zones/quests, and disappointed by the complete absence of Heritage Quests, Heroic Series, and the well-touted Epic Quests, as well as seriously sorry that there seem to be no instances for the lower to mid-seventies folks.To play devils advocate it took less than a week to get from 70-80 doing the various quest lines and amassing over 120p in rewards in the mean time. What real purpose other than farming would 70-74 instances serve? The dungeons of Chadrok and Karnors Castle are both for the lower to mid 70's players....and don't even get me started on quest rewards. Talk about a lot of goofy gear that no one wears! I won't fuss about the coin, though. It has been nice. I've been an avid player since Kunark launched in EQ1, and for my money, EoF has been the best expansion I've yet to see. Well-rounded zones, each with varying levels of quests and adventures. Quest series with interesting progressions and useable rewards.Personally, DoF was my fav - the quest lines were FAR more interesting than any other in the game I have encountered and more in depth.I hope that there will be some improvements to these zones, and that as I progress through Kunzar Jungle I will see some more interesting activities than I have so far.Kunzar Jungle is by far my least favorite in this expansion, I keep putting it off every time I start working through the quest lines there I just cant seem to engage in it. The others flew by.Interesting points, too, Gasheron. I can't say I'd ever really given any thought to the fact that we aren't intended heroes, but I can say that I would much rather be given a series of tasks that feel as if they are accomplishing something, if only important to me, than to kill 10 of these, 8 of those, then go see that guy and kill more for him.Couldnt agree more. The progression of DoF quest lines meets this criteria which is why I enjoyed them so much. You should do the Courts series and Peacock line if you havent done so, you sound as though you would enjoy those quests and stories. Be prepared, they are both long and involved. The only problem with DoF was the rewards were sub par IMO but then again, this is lower level content so I dont do them now for the rewards anyway./shrug</blockquote>

Redbed

01-14-2008, 11:10 PM

Heres an excercise in Understanding. Write a quest. This quest should contain beginning, a middle and an end. Write all the dialogue for all the NPCs and script out the events. Finished?Now compare it to every other quest in the game and see how many times its already been done. There are only a finite amount of themes that can reasonably be done. You notice the unique ones because they spark some form of attention in you. I mean, how many times do you think the programmers can stomach writing a go hand this NPC this and Kill that NPC or Mob quest before their brains seize up.Its a catharsis for them. Just let it go. They attemtped to throw something new or something reenvisioned into the mix to hopefully give themselves and a you a break from the tedium of the established norm.Thats what people dont understand, if you do the same thing time and time again, people will complain you lack originality. If you try new things then your too radical and impetious. Sometimes you just want to strangle somebody, usually the person whose given you contradicting feedback.

Slapfish

01-18-2008, 03:13 PM

I agree with the OP. In fact I think there is too much silliness all the way around in the game. I like silliness, I do, but when there's too much of it, it makes it hard to take the serious parts seriously. I don't like the Gigglegibber Goblins, I don't like the gnomes in KoS, I don't like the goofy Frostfell quests and goofy Frostfell decorations ( I think there are much more tasteful alternatives) etc... I did like zoning into Frostfell and seeing "Fleck" with his tongue stuck to a poll and I did like the brothers from Night at the Roxbury hanging out by the mailbox on Ellrosi Day. I agree that not all quests can be serious, and I like some of them to just be fun, but the ones I enjoy the most are those that give me sense that I'm really accomplishing something that relates to the story line of the game. I also liked DoF best for this reason. I absolutely loved the quest lines in that expansion and overall there was a lot less "silliness".

TheSpin

01-18-2008, 04:04 PM

I have mixed feelings about this thread. I do feel like overall the game could use a bit more serious tone. This applies to a lot of content, and not just kunark. Neriak, and dark light woods even, is a good example of non kunark that has all the potential to give a nice in depth atmosphere, but fails. I do like the easter eggs and I like the occasional odd silly quest, but it does seem a little overboard at times.However, the hard stuff is serious and has a good tone to it. The Jarsath Wastes quests didn't seem silly to me, in fact those were some pretty challenging quests and gave quite the sense of accomplishment to finish some (especially the skyfire mountains ones). I guess what the reality is, is that there are lots of 'filler' quests and those dont' really matter and therefore have a lot of silliness about them, and then there are some major quest lines with good stories that include lore and have a sense of challenge to them.