Quest Indicator of some sorts...

[azmodyne]

As a new player here, I've noticed that I stopped hailing NPC's pretty fast, as it just seemed to be a waste of time. Sounds Like I have probably actually missed out on quite a few quests because of this.

If there was someway to indicate a NPC had a quest, whether it was a coloring to the name, or something else distintive. That would really rock in my book.

Of course, maybe WoW spoiled me with the huge question marks and exclamation points over quest giver's heads I'm not talking about anything that drastic!!

Thanks for listening!
Azmodyne

 

[Devook]

Personally, I like the mystery. If you don't want to discover a quest on your own, wait until a write-up comes out. Putting in indicators spoils immersion, imo.

 

[Xeldan]

Very doubtful this would happen - like Wiz said, having NPCs say "hey yo guy I have a huge mark over my head, come talk to me" just kills part of what an rpg is. Being the first to find and complete a quest is pretty rewarding when there's mystery surrounding it and you have to guess.

 

[Antignition]

I would enjoy some sort of quest *log*, similar to the journal but not so...annoying. I'm not sure if that can be done without modifying the client though.

After playing WoW though, I have to say actually taking the time out and looking for quests instead of having a huge neon arrow pointing out NPC's is refreshing, it's a nice sense of accomplishment when you find an out of the way quest that most people overlook.

 

[Tarrax Ironwolf]

Its too bad the journal in the game doesn't work. It is rather helpful to keep track of quests.

 

[Devook]

/note

 

[Tarrax Ironwolf]

Oh I know about the note feature (I spoke about it in the general section in another topic)... But the journal feature was really cool cause it would log the dialog you had with a quest giver (plus anyone else around who spoke out loud). But you could just click on the persons name in the journal and it would show you all the dialog they gave you.

 

[zodium]

No.

 

[azmodyne]

Actually it would be much more, roleplay if a npc came to you and said, Hey, can you help me.

Instead of, "HAIL" then they spit out some message.

 

[Devook]

I disagree. I don't think it would be roleplay at all for an NPC to sitting around spamming "Wanna help me?" to every person that walks by.

 

[Tarrax Ironwolf]

Jeez, could you imagine all the spam on a crowded night...

"Say there druid! Can you help me out for a minute?"
"Say there ranger! Can you help me out for a minute?"
"Say there cleric! Can you help me out for a minute?"
"Say there cleric! Can you help me out for a minute?"
"Say there bard! Can you help me out for a minute?"
"Say there beastlord! Can you help me out for a minute?"
"Say there warrior! Can you help me out for a minute?"
"Say there ranger! Can you help me out for a minute?"
"Say there enchanter! Can you help me out for a minute?"
"Say there druid! Can you help me out for a minute?"
"Say there mage! Can you help me out for a minute?"
"Say there necromancer! Can you help me out for a minute?"
"Say there wizard! Can you help me out for a minute?"
"Say there cleric! Can you help me out for a minute?"
"Say there beastlord! Can you help me out for a minute?"
"Say there paladin! Can you help me out for a minute?"

That would get old real quick... Especially if you went afk near him for a moment.

 

[azmodyne]

Think outside of the box folks.

It doesn't have to be like that.

When you think of a new idea, and you go, yeah, but it'd suck for X to happen. Well, think of a way to make X not happen.

This is obviously a time you have to weigh, gameplay vs roleplay.

Yes, it would be more roleplay to have a NPC to seek out someone for help, instead of wait for someone to hail them.

But, in gameplay, it actually breaks the mood if there's a bunch of spam. Not to mention, once an NPC gets helped (for most quests) he wouldn't need another adventurer to come along and do the same thing.

BUT

What if an npc sent a whisper to a player (only one time) and said something like, "Pssst! (in a soft voice) Hail, adventurer, you look like the sort that could help me on a task"

Then you could either hail him, or not, but he wouldn't ever whisper to you again.

I'm not saying this would be something easy to code, but do I think it would add to gameplay and actually some to roleplay. Yes I do.

I disagree. I don't think it would be roleplay at all for an NPC to sitting around spamming "Wanna help me?" to every person that walks by.

Ever been to a food court? "Would you like to try a sample"? Definately people needed help (want you to buy their product) and they sure spam it quite a bit. It's realistic, and yes it's annoying, but it's reality.

If somebody was stuck on the side of the road, and needed a tire fixed, he'd probably spam a bit to try and get help?

Take it back to fantasy times. Why wouldn't he want as many people out there helping him as possible?

It's hard to call any idea about the Quest system, any less roleplay, than the Quest system already is.

 

[Tarrax Ironwolf]

What if an npc sent a whisper to a player (only one time) and said something like, "Pssst! (in a soft voice) Hail, adventurer, you look like the sort that could help me on a task"

Then you could either hail him, or not, but he wouldn't ever whisper to you again.

I'm not saying this would be something easy to code, but do I think it would add to gameplay and actually some to roleplay. Yes I do.

They had something like this on live. Once you reached a certain level, a mysterious voice IM'd you about meeting someone. Was interesting to say the least, especially when you weren't expecting it. But the novelty wore off after playing a few new characters when they attained that level, it became annoying after a bit. I could see how it would be an interesting way to start a quest. But you wouldn't use this often on numerous NPC's, otherwise you start running the gammut of it becoming annoying after a while, even if it was a one-time only tell.

 

[azmodyne]

What if an npc sent a whisper to a player (only one time) and said something like, "Pssst! (in a soft voice) Hail, adventurer, you look like the sort that could help me on a task"

Then you could either hail him, or not, but he wouldn't ever whisper to you again.

I'm not saying this would be something easy to code, but do I think it would add to gameplay and actually some to roleplay. Yes I do.

They had something like this on live. Once you reached a certain level, a mysterious voice IM'd you about meeting someone. Was interesting to say the least, especially when you weren't expecting it. But the novelty wore off after playing a few new characters when they attained that level, it became annoying after a bit. I could see how it would be an interesting way to start a quest. But you wouldn't use this often on numerous NPC's, otherwise you start running the gammut of it becoming annoying after a while, even if it was a one-time only tell.

Also, I believe on live, the reason it was so annoying, is that it repeated itself every so often till you went and talked to them.

I don't see how getting a one time tell would be the same. I get what you are saying, and I agree somewhat. It would be easy enough to put a toggle in though to accept those or not as well. So on an alt, youmight turn them off.

In the end, from how melwin responded, it doesn't even look like something like this would ever be considered anyway

 

[Wiz]

No. No "PSST HEY YOU QUEST HERE".