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Quest idea for DA3 : Instead of fetch quests and doing everything yourself-delegate to party members?

Débuté par Guest_Begemotka_* , avril 12 2012 07:14

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#1
Guest_Begemotka_*
Posté 12 avril 2012 - 07:14

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I just wanted to run this by you,guys - I know a lot of you despise filler quests,and I have just been thinking of another type of side quest for DA3.
I am bored to tears myself by incessant,unnecessary and sometimes downright absurd (in their timing,anyway) fetch/FedEx quests. The Hero,who is the key to resolving the actual world-threatening event,cannot really afford to put his/her life on the line to collect....flowers or fluffy bunnies.A beginner character,perhaps,and some fetching is OK.
(:)hell,I remember playing  a few truly hilarious fetch missions in my time),but as the plot thickens and the stakes are getting higher,I find it quite ridiculous to run errands for the local tavern/corner shop/cafe/brothel/dog shelter/what have you.
How about you delegate? Especially towards the end of the game,you could get some really meaningful and relevant quest,and its success would depend entirely on how well you know your team,who you have available,and who you send.As others already pointed out on other threads,the reward could also be somthing othet than a new set of armor-a skill / talent to learn or upgrade,whatever.

EDIT : Comments by Filament and Dejajeva made me realise I forgot to elaborate how,if any,fetch quests would be delegated.It could be more like giving your companions the option to be spokespeople,if the PC does not want to be or is not probable to succeed without their input,thus making the party members more like companions,not just hired swords/bows/mage staffs:)
Suppose you have a fedex quest,or one where you have to pry mission critical info out of an NPC,and the NPC is someone the PC cannot or wishes not to deal with.You will have to use another companion to go up and talk to the target person.Using DAO companions as an example,it could play out like this (similar to the DAO quest mentioned later) : 
NPC is a woman that can be seduced - depending on the lady`s preference as to how to be "wooed",you could send Zevran,Alistair or Oghren:)
NPC that likes to play "The Game",Orlesian style : you would definitely not send someone brusque like Sten or Loghain,but rather Leliana,who has mastered The Game.
If the NPC is a military officer or soldier,however,Sten or Loghain`s pragmatic approach could work.

BW already did this once - if you remember a certain quest involving a prison cell,your hero(es),and the option to pick the prison break party.Quests like that would be quite the change,would provide replay value and could lead to some truly hilarious moments,not to mention an opportunity for character interaction and relationship development.
Different party setups would require different approach to the certain missions,etc. ,with the possibility of mission failure.
What do you think?
PS. English is not my first language,do not be too hard on me:):?

Modifié par Begemotka, 13 avril 2012 - 09:18 .

#2
CENIC
Posté 12 avril 2012 - 07:19

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I really like this idea. The "Fedex" side-quests in DA2 were unpopular with a lot of players. A delegation system similar to the one in Assassins Creed: Brotherhood and Revelations would be awesome.

#3
Guest_Begemotka_*
Posté 12 avril 2012 - 07:26

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Oh,AC2 and Revelations had this?I really had no idea.I suppose I will have to rethink playing those...I only played AC1,loved the atmosphere,but found it repetitive at times.I might just check out this delegation system for myself,thanks:)

#4
LolaLei
Posté 12 avril 2012 - 07:36

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I loved that quest! Oghren and Zevran variety act FTW!

I think fetch quests are fine if they make sense and are expanded upon. Picking up some dead guys beard and automatically knowing who it belongs to was just too weird, did the guy stitch his name and address on the inside of it or something?

I like the delegation idea but I'd also like to see fetch quests being replaced with things like random mini quests where you have to use charm/persuade/intimidate to stop someone committing suicide, or you happened to come across a drunk guy who tells you that his wife is having an affair and asks you to get evidence in exchange for payment, so you and your companions follow the couple using things like stealth or silly things like diving into a nearby bush as the couple pass you/kissing one of your helpless companions pretending to be a courting couple to deflect suspicion, finally you confront the cheating pair but the wife claims that she's in an abusive marriage and offers you double the money to kill her husband, you then decide whether to help her or continue to help husband, depending on your actions you later find out which of them was the innocent party and pay for your actions accordingly.

#5
Guest_Begemotka_*
Posté 12 avril 2012 - 07:45

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Dead guys beard and body parts....Andraste`s Shiny Pants,you had me ROFL just now.
LOL @ dead guys beard.As far as I know,my husband never stitched his name in any of his beards,as he normally does not hold onto his facial hair long enough,but even if he did....And how do you know the guy was dead,just by picking up the beard?Do you have to shave him to get the beard,or the beard is just lying about in a dark alley somewhere?:D LOLz. Your second example sounds familiar...perhaps a British-humour inclined game starting with F.....

Yeah,that kind of variety is what I`ve been missing. Fewer,but more engaging side quests with a little ROFL here and there.

#6
Guest_Puddi III_*
Posté 12 avril 2012 - 07:57

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Playing as different party members in appropriate circumstances (usually, when the party is separated) would be welcome, giving it more of an ensemble cast feel than having one irreplaceable protagonist. The Final Fantasy games do this quite a bit. However, dev statements after Leliana's Song have indicated that that's a direction they'd prefer to move away from in the future. Don't know if that only applies to DLCs or to their narrative approach on the whole.

But I don't know how this really  relates to delegating fetch quests to companions... which doesn't sound like a great idea to me.

Modifié par Filament, 12 avril 2012 - 07:58 .

#7
LolaLei
Posté 12 avril 2012 - 08:06

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Begemotka wrote...

Dead guys beard and body parts....Andraste`s Shiny Pants,you had me ROFL just now.
LOL @ dead guys beard.As far as I know,my husband never stitched his name in any of his beards,as he normally does not hold onto his facial hair long enough,but even if he did....And how do you know the guy was dead,just by picking up the beard?Do you have to shave him to get the beard,or the beard is just lying about in a dark alley somewhere?:D LOLz. Your second example sounds familiar...perhaps a British-humour inclined game starting with F.....

Yeah,that kind of variety is what I`ve been missing. Fewer,but more engaging side quests with a little ROFL here and there.


LOL, didn't you do that fetch quest in your game? I swear it actually happened! I was mincing around the Wounded Coast or the Bone Pit or something and there was a skeleton, so I clicked on it and it gave me some dead guys beard that you had to give to an Elf on Sundermount. Did you get the "One True Pantaloons" quest where you had to return a pair of manky pants to a Dwarf in high town?

The second example I made up myself, it does sound like it should be in Fable though doesn't it! It's probably been in a few games, it certainly sounds like something that should be if it hasn't already lol.

#8
Guest_Begemotka_*
Posté 12 avril 2012 - 08:18

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@Filament : sorry,the OP might not have been entirely clear about this : I meant to suggest these kind of quests as alternatives to the Fedex quests,which merely serve as playtime buffers and fillers instead of giving the hero something meaningful to do.These delegated missions need not be too many in number,just to give you a sense of variety,and as you mentioned,an ensemble cast feel.Your party members are not just mercenaries,but...companions.
If what they said after Lelianas Song is true in general,I am one sad camper:(

@LolaLei : No,I am afraid I missed the Beard quest as well as One True Pantaloons...to be honest,I kind of played Da2 on autopilot,could not get the feel of it-although at the cost of such hilariousness!
Speaking of Pantaloons : I did,however,play DAO entirely wearing only my shiny pants(as did all my party,including the secret companion lol) for less encumbrance...And I have to say,surprise and ridicule worked as our most terrifying weapons:)Foes just rolled over in laughter or dropped their weapons Life of Brian-style at the sight of our holy pants. LoL

#9
LolaLei
Posté 12 avril 2012 - 08:22

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Begemotka wrote...

@Filament : sorry,the OP might not have been entirely clear about this : I meant to suggest these kind of quests as alternatives to the Fedex quests,which merely serve as playtime buffers and fillers instead of giving the hero something meaningful to do.These delegated missions need not be too many in number,just to give you a sense of variety,and as you mentioned,an ensemble cast feel.Your party members are not just mercenaries,but...companions.
If what they said after Lelianas Song is true in general,I am one sad camper:(

@LolaLei : No,I am afraid I missed the Beard quest as well as One True Pantaloons...to be honest,I kind of played Da2 on autopilot,could not get the feel of it-although at the cost of such hilariousness!
Speaking of Pantaloons : I did,however,play DAO entirely wearing only my shiny pants(as did all my party,including the secret companion lol) for less encumbrance...And I have to say,surprise and ridicule worked as our most terrifying weapons:)Foes just rolled over in laughter or dropped their weapons Life of Brian-style at the sight of our holy pants. LoL


LOL you should really try playing DA2 as male Hawke using only humourous answers, he has some real crackers! The whole game becomes ridiculously funny like that, especially in The Mark of the Assassin dlc I was in stitches after that one! My current female Hawke game runs around in her underwear and flirts with everything that moves, which is fun! 

#10
Guest_Begemotka_*
Posté 12 avril 2012 - 08:27

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Modifié par Begemotka, 12 avril 2012 - 08:31 .

#11
Guest_Begemotka_*
Posté 12 avril 2012 - 08:28

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LOLz,good to know I am not the only one having a shiny pants fetish:)
I will have to try the male Hawke thing one day:D
I wanted to attach a cartoon about the skeleton quest,but it doesnt work:(

Modifié par Begemotka, 12 avril 2012 - 08:30 .

#12
LolaLei
Posté 12 avril 2012 - 08:39

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Begemotka wrote...

LOLz,good to know I am not the only one having a shiny pants fetish:)
I will have to try the male Hawke thing one day:D
I wanted to attach a cartoon about the skeleton quest,but it doesnt work:(


Do you have photobucket? You can upload pictures to it, then use the image code in your post and it should show up.

#13
Dejajeva
Posté 12 avril 2012 - 08:41

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........@wall of text above.

I can see it now.

Hawke "Hey Anders, babe, did you run down to the deep roads for that knitted scarf yet? I wanted to run that over to Ser Aaragornorwhatever so I can get the fifteen silver for it. No? Well do you mind? I need to do that before I can finish this act. K thx. What do you mean you don't want to?? I just waded through dragon **** for you!"

#14
Guest_Begemotka_*
Posté 12 avril 2012 - 08:45

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Image IPB

#15
Guest_Begemotka_*
Posté 12 avril 2012 - 08:47

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Thx LolaLei,I am new to posting in BSN,and did not know how to do this without linking....QL.

#16
Guest_Begemotka_*
Posté 12 avril 2012 - 08:52

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@Dejajeva : lol. No,I didn`t mean fetch quests where your companions do the fetching for you,but now you put that image in my mind....some things cannot be unseen,lol.Fetch quests can be fun,after all:) Knitted scarf in the Deep Roads?I am sure Seraragornsonofwhoever has a spare one,but the poor,shivering darkspawn down there...Perhaps we should just leave the scarf alone lol

#17
King Cousland
Posté 12 avril 2012 - 08:54

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Begemotka wrote...

Image IPB

The sherrif of Rottingham in DA? Incidentally, the clip is how I wanted Hawke to react to peasants as Champion ;)

Seriously though, I think it could be a decent idea if implemented well, and for the right reasons. You've given me inspiration for my own thread as well :wizard:

Modifié par harkness72, 12 avril 2012 - 08:54 .

#18
Amycus89
Posté 12 avril 2012 - 08:57

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if it was like you had to play like your companions for a while, it would be really fun. I believe it was also done in origins when you had to send someone to the fade in order to help a boy. Playing as morrigan there was really funny.

And the whole Arl Howe quest was an excellent example of how a quest in general should be handled.

#19
Guest_Begemotka_*
Posté 12 avril 2012 - 09:32

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@harkness72 : Yeah,it does look like the Sheriff of Rottingham a little bit...but I miss the tights:)
Inspiration for your own thread?*blushes* Seriously,I will go and check it out.

@Amycus89 : Yupp,those are great examples - BW knows how to do this,I just wish they`d do it more:(

#20
LolaLei
Posté 12 avril 2012 - 09:48

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Amycus89 wrote...

if it was like you had to play like your companions for a while, it would be really fun. I believe it was also done in origins when you had to send someone to the fade in order to help a boy. Playing as morrigan there was really funny.

And the whole Arl Howe quest was an excellent example of how a quest in general should be handled.


I really hope they give the companions more dynamic during quests again, there was a little in DA:O but hardly any at all in DA2.

I have this grand image in my head of a quest set inside an Orlesian Masquerade Ball that your character and companions have to attend/inflitrate, whilst your main character mingles with important guests for information (think MotA but on a much bigger scale) your companions search for ways to get into the back rooms *cue funny party banter.* At some point you take control of your companions as they sneak up on the entertainment for the evening, knocking them out and stealing their clothing as much hilarity ensues when one of them realises that their costume is too small but they have to go "on stage" anyway and improvise ways to entertain the guests (imagine a Dwarf trying to read soppy Orlesian poetry whilst the other plays the lute badly, of course the choice of entertainment would vary depending on which companions you use) in order to create a distraction for your main character to sneak into a private room or poison the punch bowl etc. Meanwhile, else where in the mansion one of your other companions is working under cover as a member of staff in order to steal a key to help you gain access to the armory/treasure room *cue amusing banter between companion/NPC's.*

I'll be quite disappointed if we don't get quests that to take full advantage of your companions, it seems a waste to have them with you only as hired help during fights.

Modifié par LolaLei, 12 avril 2012 - 10:06 .

#21
Guest_Begemotka_*
Posté 13 avril 2012 - 11:11

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LolaLei wrote...

I have this grand image in my head of a quest set inside an Orlesian Masquerade Ball that your character and companions have to attend/inflitrate, whilst your main character mingles with important guests for information (think MotA but on a much bigger scale) your companions search for ways to get into the back rooms *cue funny party banter.* At some point you take control of your companions as they sneak up on the entertainment for the evening, knocking them out and stealing their clothing as much hilarity ensues when one of them realises that their costume is too small but they have to go "on stage" anyway and improvise ways to entertain the guests (imagine a Dwarf trying to read soppy Orlesian poetry whilst the other plays the lute badly, of course the choice of entertainment would vary depending on which companions you use) in order to create a distraction for your main character to sneak into a private room or poison the punch bowl etc. Meanwhile, else where in the mansion one of your other companions is working under cover as a member of staff in order to steal a key to help you gain access to the armory/treasure room *cue amusing banter between companion/NPC's.*

I'll be quite disappointed if we don't get quests that to take full advantage of your companions, it seems a waste to have them with you only as hired help during fights.


Oh Maker,yes,a Masquerade Ball,it would be so QL! I would definitely try and poison the punch bowl by pouring "Essence of Truth" in it,then sit back and enjoy the political s***storm that is sure to ensue,when all those Orlesians suddenly start to speak the truth:) Would be a grand way to gather intel without resorting to therats of bodily harmB)
How about you have a talking darkspawn companion,and use them to infiltrate the masquerade ball.He would sure win the "best costume" contest,and if questioned,he could just go "HOHOHOHOHO".None of those Orlesians could believe that he actually WAS a darkspawn:lol:

Modifié par Begemotka, 13 avril 2012 - 11:39 .

#22
AkiKishi
Posté 13 avril 2012 - 11:30

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It's been done a number of times before. It's a good way to make use of party members you are not using like it was used in Final Fantasy Tactics AII.

#23
Guest_Begemotka_*
Posté 13 avril 2012 - 11:42

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BobSmith101 wrote...

It's been done a number of times before. It's a good way to make use of party members you are not using like it was used in Final Fantasy Tactics AII.


Yep,BW have also done it themselves....I have missed out on FF Tactics,thanks for the tip:) I just wish BW used this kind of approach more often-it would really feel like you have a living,breathing party. I do not mind fedexing from time to time,but with DA2 and ME3,BW went overboard with those,I think.

#24
LolaLei
Posté 13 avril 2012 - 12:43

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Yeah the ball thing has been done a fair amount, but it's a good one especially if done right. The nice thing about them is that you have such a broad scope to play with design wise. Do you make it a dark and forboding quest where you discover something nasty going on behind the scene, or a romantic yet serious one, or do you go all out crazy and fill it with eccentric characters and make it comical like I described above, or a mixture of all 3.

It's also a good excuse to really show off the art style of the game. They touch on it briefly in MotA. Alternatively maybe change the setting to a street celebration/festival (think of it a bit like a medieval Mardi Gras but on smaller scale) that spans a cross a whole day/evening/weekend. During which you have to do mini quests with your companions like the ones I suggested above. Some take place during the day and some in the evening. Then you'd get to see vast differences in the art style during the day and night as the ambience changes.

Actually, I've just made a thread about that idea, feel free to give me your feedback/ideas:

http://social.biowar.../index/11355868

Modifié par LolaLei, 13 avril 2012 - 01:02 .

#25
Guest_sjpelkessjpeler_*
Posté 13 avril 2012 - 02:31

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Love the idea of some quests for companions without the presence of the main character.
But when it is done please give the quests some meat. Let them be about their background for example.

FF was mentioned above. In FFIX there was this feature called "active time event". Wasn't a quest thing but you could click a symbol during parts in the game when your characters weren't with you and you could watch what they were doing. Gave a lot of background information and additional info on them.

Das Tentakel posted the comic about the fedex quests by the way and he hit the nail on its head with itImage IPB.
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