81 réponses à ce sujet

[Jackal19851111]

I'm actually quite curious about the criticism behind DA:I's side quests. Especially those who feel the quests are MMO-like fetch quests.

Now admittedly I have had a bad first impression within the first 10 hours of the game while I was in the hinterlands, but after leaving it, I found myself interested in the side quests to follow. I also realised requisition quests were optional (and stopped doing them), as well as the fact that I could buy elfroot/spindleweed etc (and stopped farming - not to mention after seeds are easy to get for all the rare plants), and that I can avoid enemies rather than fight them (and stopped grinding).

 

As a result I've never felt like I was playing an MMO past the hinterlands. Although I am still frustrated with PC controls/UI and the lack of a proper AI tactics system, this is one complaint I simply do not understand - as I found the quests generally quite fun, even the shards! As they lead you to splendid views of the amazing environments (and I'm a sight-seer). Am I alone in enjoying the side quests post-hinterlands? Also, if you still feel like DAI plays like an MMO past the hinterlands, can you provide a few examples and why you feel it plays like an MMO?

[Chuvvy]

I agree that they aren't all bad, but the bulk of them are menial and uninteresting. Quests like the crestwood mayor, or the haunted mansion in the Emerald Graves are great, but unfortunately those are in the minority. I'd have liked to see more of those. Many of the potentially interesting side quests go nowhere fast. Like the freemen of the dales or the cult in the hinterlands.

[OriginalTibs]

There are so many players with varying tastes I think it is a good thing that there is such variety in the side quests. The consequence is that most players will find side quests they like and a few will like none and a few will like all. What is disheartening but sadly predictable is that some players who find side-quests not to their liking will fail to appreciate that the values of other people who do happen to like those side-quests and do not judge them menial and uninteresting have values that are just as valid as anyone else'.

[Hobbes]

Perhaps the side quests I encountered were all the bad ones and I missed the good ones?

The largest majority of the side quests were simple fetch quests, busy work.  There isn't much depth, choice or interaction within them.  A small handful did verge on the good side, but they were few and far between and in my opinion the world was bloated  with the more shallow sidequests.  The simpler kill x, collect y, without much else is a common trait in MMOs, so I suppose that's where people draw the comparison.  Which is sad because Bioware did a pretty good job with their sidequests in their own MMO SWTOR.

[Jackal19851111]

Ah, I see. Guess it's a matter of taste in the end.

 

I still don't see the MMO connection post hinterlands however, taking away requisitions/collection quests that is.

Also, alot of DAO/DA2's quests were kill x, collect y quests.

[OriginalTibs]

Perhaps the side quests I encountered were all the bad ones and I missed the good ones?

The largest majority of the side quests were simple fetch quests, busy work.  There isn't much depth, choice or interaction within them.  A small handful did verge on the good side, but they were few and far between and in my opinion the world was bloated  with the more shallow sidequests.  The simpler kill x, collect y, without much else is a common trait in MMOs, so I suppose that's where people draw the comparison.  Which is sad because Bioware did a pretty good job with their sidequests in their own MMO SWTOR.

More likely you simply didn't care for them. Your approach to the game was different from the approach others took. Your values varied. So long as you don't imagine that your values are universal, so long as you accept that the experience of others is also valid, then where is the problem? I suppose I can find sorrow that you played a less fullfilling game than I did (am), but where is the blame in it?

[Zwingtanz]

The current generation of roleplayers is maybe a bit spoiled. Almost any great rpg has some meaningless grind quests, and DAO had chanter boards, Mass Effect planet exploring which got tedious faster for me than running around the Hinterlands. In DA:I they just did a whole lot of it, but not ALL of it is boring and it has enough interesting content to not deserve to be called singleplayer MMO in my opinion.

 

That said, i'd have loved getting more prisoners for judgement.

[Baerdface]

Because most quests aren't dialogue based where you can interact with other characters and have multiple choices in how to solve them. It's mostly either someone telling you their problem and you solving them in a singular way or just finding a wall of text that tells you "go kill/collect" stuff. It's boring and uninvolving. Good sidequests shouldn't be linear like that.

 

It's not a matter of taste, it is a matter of quantity over quality. They wanted "MOAR STUFF FOR SKYRIM AUDIENCE" and in the process they gutted the choices and ability to craft  your own character which are the two most important things of an RPG experience. Now the only interaction you get is an NPC feeds you their problem and you saying "goodbye" and the only choice you get is to either go to the quest marker or not. You know, like in every MMO ever.

 

I know Bioware is capable of doing the quests right because they proved it by making Dragon Age Origins, this just feels like such a such a step backwards. "MORE STUFF" isn't always an improvement. Big empty areas with pointless busywork is not an evolution, I'm sick of every developer thinking that making their games bigger and more shallow somehow makes them better.

 

I'd take one interesting multiple choice quest over 20 stupid pointless "go kill 5 bandits" any day.

[Hobbes]

More likely you simply didn't care for them. Your approach to the game was different from the approach others took. Your values varied. So long as you don't imagine that your values are universal, so long as you accept that the experience of others is also valid, then where is the problem? I suppose I can find sorrow that you played a less fullfilling game than I did (am), but where is the blame in it?

Well yeah, that's pretty much what I'm, saying.  But there is no denying they for the most part were simple and lacked interactivity.  I suppose it could be argued they were there more to encourage exploration and fill space/time.  If you or others are into that, that's fine, different people will always find different things interesting in different ways.  I personally and obviously at least a few others, would prefer something with a little more depth and interaction, even if that meant fewer quests.  

[FreshRevenge]

The only thing that somewhat annoyed me was the requisitions. I would complete one geological survey and then the same geological survey pops up to replace the one that I just did. I know they are there to build influence. I would try to do the ones that made sense. Tents and caravans and weapons and the such.

[Jackal19851111]

There were alot of linear side quests in DAO though, like paint the doors of Denerim, go clear the back alleys, hunt down the apostate, etc etc.

However I agree that the interactions with NPCs was alot more involving in DAO side quests. Interesting opinions, thanks for that.

 

 

The only thing that somewhat annoyed me was the requisitions. I would complete one geological survey and then the same geological survey pops up to replace the one that I just did. I know they are there to build influence. I would try to do the ones that made sense. Tents and caravans and weapons and the such.

 

Yeah I don't even consider them side quests, more akin to DAO's "elfroot/runes/gold for XP" that you can use in your base camp to boost your XP.

[Murloc Knight]

There were alot of linear side quests in DAO though, like paint the doors of Denerim, go clear the back alleys, hunt down the apostate, etc etc.

However I agree that the interactions with NPCs was alot more involving in DAO side quests. Interesting opinions, thanks for that.

 

 

 

Yeah I don't even consider them side quests, more akin to DAO's "elfroot/runes/gold for XP" that you can use in your base camp to boost your XP.

The game lacked side quest at the level similar to dragon age 2 where you have interactions with NPC and can make decisions for their fate. Ex. dreamer mage in DA2 where you can send him to tevinter, elven rapist, rescue vicount's son or that quest where merril and hawke had the funny conversation where hawke tried to tirck the bandits that there was fire.

 

http://dragonage.wik...econdary_quests

[Fandango]

On aggregate, I found Inquisitions ancillary quest content to be largely repetitive and dull. Easily the most disappointing thing about an otherwise excellent game for me.

[JPajaY9]

I agree, side quests could've been more intresting and with more converastions, but I enjoyed doing them anyway. Some of them actually led to very intresting caves and location and I will surely do them in every playthrough. Though, there's a lot of stupid quests like searching for a ram called Woolsley or bringing back a deadly slow druffalo which I didn't like at all because they were freaking waste of time. I was like "reaaaally dudes....".

[Catastrophy]

[...]

 

As a result I've never felt like I was playing an MMO past the hinterlands.[...] Also, if you still feel like DAI plays like an MMO past the hinterlands, can you provide a few examples and why you feel it plays like an MMO?

Neither do I - there are literally no other players in my playthrough. I think my game must be bugged, because so many people talk about this MMO thing.

[Proposition_Joe]

Good for you

[Vyndral]

Neither do I - there are literally no other players in my playthrough. I think my game must be bugged, because so many people talk about this MMO thing.

Then you literally aren't playing multiayer.

Look we can all literally miss literally the literal point if we literally try hard enough. Good job. Literally.

[Marshal Moriarty]

Because the side quests have absolutely no depth to them. Most have no story beyond 'Go and get X of these', and even those which ostensibly have characters and involve an actual ongoing mission (the Hissing Wastes for example) still feel like a glorified fetch quest. Clearing out the Undead Ramparts in the Exalted Plains has something to do with a guy named Gordian who's mentioned in a few notes, but its just one big grind through undead, with a small battle against Freemen and Gordian at the end.

 

But he has nothing to say for himself really. No dialogue where you learn what he's up to or who he is. He just shouts 'Die!' or something along those lines and the only way you notice he's not a regular mook is because he has more health. Its the same with the Freemen leaders in the Emerald Graves. The notes told me who these guys were, but I had no emotional connection to anything. They were just some hoods who had more health than their lackeys, and nobody at Fairbanks camp seemed much interested in any of it either. Fairbanks basically just says 'Ta for that' and that;s that.

 

The Freemen thread and their exploitation by the Red Templars, corrupting what was is actually a pretty worthy cause at its core, is potentially interesting. The tragedy of how they are betrayed by Samson and the returning Caroll as the ringleaders behind the plot has great promise. But there's just so much distance between it and you, no attempt to really engage you or make good on these story hooks. Its just MMO grinding with a few 'and that's who those guys were' notes.

[Catastrophy]

Then you literally aren't playing multiayer.

Look we can all literally miss literally the literal point if we literally try hard enough. Good job. Literally.

The "neither do I " part still stands - the rest is just making fun of people trying to compare stuff with an entirely different genre.

[SkyKing]

Don't see MMO quests past hinterlands?   Every zone the same, close rifts, find locations, find camps, gather shards, find stupid letter on the ground of last dying wish to go to location of stupid letter to complete quest (no NPC interaction at all). 

[sch1986]

There are so many players with varying tastes I think it is a good thing that there is such variety in the side quests. The consequence is that most players will find side quests they like and a few will like none and a few will like all. What is disheartening but sadly predictable is that some players who find side-quests not to their liking will fail to appreciate that the values of other people who do happen to like those side-quests and do not judge them menial and uninteresting have values that are just as valid as anyone else'.

So well said! I liked the side quests. Everytime I say that it seems like I am told my opinion is invalid. Or they try to tell me all the reasons I'm wrong or imply I'm blindly following Bioware. Is it so hard to believe I enjoy this?

I can admit the game had it's faults or could have included more main story content but I've played countless other RPGs with these type of quests and enjoyed those too. Somehow because it's dragon age though I get labeled as a blind follower who supports garbage.

[katokires]

I'm actually quite curious about the criticism behind DA:I's side quests. Especially those who feel the quests are MMO-like fetch quests.

Now admittedly I have had a bad first impression within the first 10 hours of the game while I was in the hinterlands, but after leaving it, I found myself interested in the side quests to follow. I also realised requisition quests were optional (and stopped doing them), as well as the fact that I could buy elfroot/spindleweed etc (and stopped farming - not to mention after seeds are easy to get for all the rare plants), and that I can avoid enemies rather than fight them (and stopped grinding).

 

As a result I've never felt like I was playing an MMO past the hinterlands. Although I am still frustrated with PC controls/UI and the lack of a proper AI tactics system, this is one complaint I simply do not understand - as I found the quests generally quite fun, even the shards! As they lead you to splendid views of the amazing environments (and I'm a sight-seer). Am I alone in enjoying the side quests post-hinterlands? Also, if you still feel like DAI plays like an MMO past the hinterlands, can you provide a few examples and why you feel it plays like an MMO?

Everything is plain MMO unless you skip lots of things. The game was never mmo, not even hinterlands, if you skip some stuff.

The thing is since the first Bioware game I did everything, got the best equipment and no MMO feeling, Now I have to farm for schematics, farm for material and so on to craft a good equipment. Stupid.

Also if I want to explore it all and do all quests (besides the infinite requisitions) there is a lot of roaming, wandering, either without enemies which is boring or with llots of enemies which is irritating.

I always achieve maximun level allowed in a given game, and in DAI case it involves lots of grinding to get to soft cap level 27, DA2 I just explored till no mob respawn (even outdoor zones and caves) since you could not reach the level cap, DAO I didn't even need it, always lvl 35 by the end of Awakening (ealier in fact).

Well, everything is fetchy, a hidden map, a hidden item, a hidden cave, a puzzle, most of it with uniteresting relation to story. It gives you a codex, great, they could have given you it anyway without the quest.

There are FEW interesting side quests like the one you learn what happened in Emerald Graves, but 90% are just go there find X, goo there kill Y, go there talk to Z. Now on my third playthrough, I am again wandering through the Hissing Wastes and thinking... how could Bioware fall so low? Hope they enjoy their money, they earned it, took the money of millions of fools who believed them, great, not anymore, I never thought I would not play a Bioware RPG but they convinced me, DAI is the worst game ever and I will not buy Bioware bullshit anymore.

[Fandango]

So well said! I liked the side quests. Everytime I say that it seems like I am told my opinion is invalid. Or they try to tell me all the reasons I'm wrong or imply I'm blindly following Bioware. Is it so hard to believe I enjoy this?

I can admit the game had it's faults or could have included more main story content but I've played countless other RPGs with these type of quests and enjoyed those too. Somehow because it's dragon age though I get labeled as a blind follower who supports garbage.

Aye, this whole topic is really a measure of what different people enjoy about games and why they come to BioWare. For me, the time I spent collecting shards, herding Halla, clearing camps and harvesting materials was time spent away from the things I most enjoy about BioWare games. I just don't find that stuff in the least bit fun or interesting. Other opinions are - of course - available.

[SkyKing]

Everything is plain MMO unless you skip lots of things. The game was never mmo, not even hinterlands, if you skip some stuff.

The thing is since the first Bioware game I did everything, got the best equipment and no MMO feeling, Now I have to farm for schematics, farm for material and so on to craft a good equipment. Stupid.

Also if I want to explore it all and do all quests (besides the infinite requisitions) there is a lot of roaming, wandering, either without enemies which is boring or with llots of enemies which is irritating.

I always achieve maximun level allowed in a given game, and in DAI case it involves lots of grinding to get to soft cap level 27, DA2 I just explored till no mob respawn (even outdoor zones and caves) since you could not reach the level cap, DAO I didn't even need it, always lvl 35 by the end of Awakening (ealier in fact).

Well, everything is fetchy, a hidden map, a hidden item, a hidden cave, a puzzle, most of it with uniteresting relation to story. It gives you a codex, great, they could have given you it anyway without the quest.

There are FEW interesting side quests like the one you learn what happened in Emerald Graves, but 90% are just go there find X, goo there kill Y, go there talk to Z. Now on my third playthrough, I am again wandering through the Hissing Wastes and thinking... how could Bioware fall so low? Hope they enjoy their money, they earned it, took the money of millions of fools who believed them, great, not anymore, I never thought I would not play a Bioware RPG but they convinced me, DAI is the worst game ever and I will not buy Bioware bullshit anymore.

 

Great, well said.  Here is a tip for you, the merchant Ferris in your keep, he sells influence for 136 gold, EACH influence also awards 1 power point.  So you can buy all the power points you need and finish the 'story' side of game without farming for stupid power points doing those hollow boring repetive grind and seek quests.  It seems even bioware knew the game sucked so put in an option to skip all that crap

[Aesir26]

While I do dislike the MMO-style fetch quests of DAI, when you boil a lot of the side-quests of DAO and DA2 down to their base elements they were the same way. I think the big thing was that the quests of DAI weren't quite as "dressed up" as those in DAO and DA2 so they weren't as interesting or memorable. I can easily remember the quest where I had to track down the Magistrate's son in DA2 or when I had to accompany the blind Templar through a haunted Alienage orphanage in DAO just to name a couple. However, outside of a few interesting side quests like the Crestwood one, I really struggle to remember any of them. Although I really do need to look for this haunted mansion in the Emerald Graves that I keep hearing about.

 

On top of that, I don't think it really helped that there were so many of them in order to fill out the larger maps.