Why do we need all of these quests in a MMO telling us exactly where to go and what to kill?

Stacking 25-50 quests in a log and being lead around a map like a dog is fun?

Why do you need that Npc to tell you to walk passed that hill and kill ten wolves? Do you lack the motivation to actually explore over that hill on your own and kill a few wolves?

Why must I be told to explore a ruin or deep cave and kill a boss? Why can't we just explore the map with friends discover a ruins or cave and kill the boss on our own?

So much hand holding is needed in todays MMOs, Noone wants to just explore, group up and take shit down.

Why must we follow a lame story set on rails? Do you lack the imagination to create your own adventures and Rp with a group of friends?

Why do we need all of these stupid collection quests? can we not just go find a nice camp and kill mobs and vendor the stuff we loot? is it not the same thing?

It seems people need Quests to lead them, they are incapable of doing anything on their own.

The MMOs I played Gave us these epic sized gameworlds, filled it with challenging mobs and just said "Go".

We didn;t need to be lead around like an animal, Sure we may have had missions in game but they were optional and only gave currency kinda like a job.

In todays MMos Quests give you so much more XP that you cant do anything else, if you do your gimped to hell.

They basically kill Exploration and Rp. I'm sorry if a NPC has to tell you to travel to a location you're not exploring.

The lack of imagination to Rp and create our own adventures and the lack of motivation to explore and set out on our own little adventure kills me. Play MMos like your a dog, I refuse to.

I agree, but it also gave me an idea. I do like quests. I like that they add motivation beyond simply loot and experience. I also like the idea of just getting out and exploring without having quests to guide you.

So here is the idea... What if all quests were given at the destination rather than the NPC quest giver? Lets say there was a kidnapped little girl in some cave. You aren't given a quest to go find her. Instead, once you get to the little girl then you get the quest to return to an NPC for a reward. There might be an NPC in town complaining about a missing girl, but they aren't the one giving out the quest.

It would work for kill quests as well. Kill enough of any creature type and there might be a rare drop that you would scavenge from them that you could turn in. Many MMOG's have items that initiate quests, so the technology is nothing new.

You'd never even know there was a quest until you've completed it. The player would just have to head out and find adventure. In the process of exploring around they would still be getting involved in the story.

You sound like my grandfather... he always started with "Before the war..."  whereas you start with "In the old MMOs..." times change. If you don't want to do the quests, don't, nobody is forcing you. Play the game as you want and let people play it as they want. Or alternatively you can pay everybody $15/month and tell them how to play.

If you no longer feel you can play these type of games because of quests find a new hobby.

     What's sad is that most of the newer games you dont even have to read the quests.......The quest will either be located nearby, appear with a mark of some sort on your mini map, or have a NPC show a question mark or some other symbol above their head.........Also with all the quest helpers and and trackers you dont have to read them because they will appear on the right side of your screening telling you exactly what you need...... The problem, for me at least, is that I never feel any immersion with any of the newer MMOs.....It feels like there is too much hand holding and the games are just too easy to stay around for very long......Gaining levels doesnt feel like any accomplishment, nor does making max level.......

Good grief, these post pop up once or twice a month like clock work.  I could do a long post stating why I find your post ridiculous, and wrong, but then what would be the point?  You've pretty much convinced yourself, that you know what's best for all the gamers out there.  That how you think MMO's should be played, is the only real fun way.  So let me just say thank you.  I'm glad that you know me, and so much of the gaming community.  That you can dictate what we should find fun, and not fun.  I'll be able to sleep so much better at night now.

I remember when I used to play Everquest back in the good old days, I had to walk ten miles barefoot in the snow uphill both ways just to take a bio break...

I'm disappointed, JGM.  It sounds like you're turning into a troll.  Venting on here about games you don't enjoy and extrapolating from the fact that you don't enjoy them that the people who do must be inferior to you doesn't do any good - it's not even cathartic. 

Originally posted by mbd1968

You sound like my grandfather... he always started with "Before the war..."  whereas you start with "In the old MMOs..." times change. If you don't want to do the quests, don't, nobody is forcing you. Play the game as you want and let people play it as they want. Or alternatively you can pay everybody $15/month and tell them how to play.

If you no longer feel you can play these type of games because of quests find a new hobby.

What did you do Add Eve as your "current" mmo to seem cool to fellow forum goers?

Dude of all people that should atleast understand where im comming from it should be a Eve player.

Games like Eve and Ryzom are exactly the types of MMOs that let you Rp, Explore and not follow handholding quests areound like you dont have a brain.

I doubt you even play Eve because you last line wouldn't have even been typed.

Originally posted by bmdevine

I remember when I used to play Everquest back in the good old days, I had to walk ten miles barefoot in the snow uphill both ways just to take a bio break...

I'm disappointed, JGM.  It sounds like you're turning into a troll.  Venting on here about games you don't enjoy and extrapolating from the fact that you don't enjoy them that the people who do must be inferior to you doesn't do any good - it's not even cathartic. 

I'm not trolling, this topic is something that's been bothering me for a long time.

When people talk about RP or just exploring without a quest leading you around they sually laugh like its something you're not supposed to do.

Seriously, no troll intended I would just like to know why most people need a quest to guide them instead of actually adventuring on their own.

Originally posted by Roin

Good grief, these post pop up once or twice a month like clock work.  I could do a long post stating why I find your post ridiculous, and wrong, but then what would be the point?  You've pretty much convinced yourself, that you know what's best for all the gamers out there.  That how you think MMO's should be played, is the only real fun way.  So let me just say thank you.  I'm glad that you know me, and so much of the gaming community.  That you can dictate what we should find fun, and not fun.  I'll be able to sleep so much better at night now.

If you're not the type of person that likes quest to lead them everywhere and actually enjoy exploration and Rp.

Why are you posting?

Obviously my thread isnt directed to you.

Instead of just mocking my thread and telling me im wrong why dont you tell us what you enjoy doing in MMOs so maybe we can carry on a discussion.

Hell thats why i put these god damn threads up in the first place!

I am personaly SICK of quests. I want a dymnamic world where me completing a quest actually DOES CONTRIBUTE SOMETHING to this world, rather then "ow you completed this quest!"..."yeahh."..yawn. log off.

Originally posted by JGMIII

Originally posted by mbd1968

You sound like my grandfather... he always started with "Before the war..."  whereas you start with "In the old MMOs..." times change. If you don't want to do the quests, don't, nobody is forcing you. Play the game as you want and let people play it as they want. Or alternatively you can pay everybody $15/month and tell them how to play.

If you no longer feel you can play these type of games because of quests find a new hobby.

 

What did you do Add Eve as your "current" mmo to seem cool to fellow forum goers?

Dude of all people that should atleast understand where im comming from it should be a Eve player.

Games like Eve and Ryzom are exactly the types of MMOs that let you Rp, Explore and not follow handholding quests areound like you dont have a brain.

I doubt you even play Eve because you last line wouldn't have even been typed.

Nope, I started playing EVE again about a month ago. That's why I put it back on there...  but unlike you, I don't feel a need to tell people how they should play MMOs. I play them the way I want to play them and let others do the same.

Originally posted by Aganazer

I agree, but it also gave me an idea. I do like quests. I like that they add motivation beyond simply loot and experience. I also like the idea of just getting out and exploring without having quests to guide you.

So here is the idea... What if all quests were given at the destination rather than the NPC quest giver? Lets say there was a kidnapped little girl in some cave. You aren't given a quest to go find her. Instead, once you get to the little girl then you get the quest to return to an NPC for a reward. There might be an NPC in town complaining about a missing girl, but they aren't the one giving out the quest.

It would work for kill quests as well. Kill enough of any creature type and there might be a rare drop that you would scavenge from them that you could turn in. Many MMOG's have items that initiate quests, so the technology is nothing new.

You'd never even know there was a quest until you've completed it. The player would just have to head out and find adventure. In the process of exploring around they would still be getting involved in the story.

Sorry I missed this post.

First let me say thank you for actually responding to me and not calling me a Troll, old timer or an idiot.

First I don't hate missions/quests I just hate an entire game having quest stacking as a focus.

I have no problem with quests that give currency that can be done optionaly.

Also I think quests that you stumble on while exploring are pretty cool. I would mind finding a little Npc to escort while clearing a Cave with a few buddies.

The finding an item while Adventuring is pretty cool also.

Thanks for your post.

Originally posted by mbd1968

Originally posted by JGMIII

Originally posted by mbd1968

You sound like my grandfather... he always started with "Before the war..."  whereas you start with "In the old MMOs..." times change. If you don't want to do the quests, don't, nobody is forcing you. Play the game as you want and let people play it as they want. Or alternatively you can pay everybody $15/month and tell them how to play.

If you no longer feel you can play these type of games because of quests find a new hobby.

 

What did you do Add Eve as your "current" mmo to seem cool to fellow forum goers?

Dude of all people that should atleast understand where im comming from it should be a Eve player.

Games like Eve and Ryzom are exactly the types of MMOs that let you Rp, Explore and not follow handholding quests areound like you dont have a brain.

I doubt you even play Eve because you last line wouldn't have even been typed.

Nope, I started playing EVE again about a month ago. That's why I put it back on there...  but unlike you, I don't feel a need to tell people how they should play MMOs. I play them the way I want to play them and let others do the same.

Then would you mind actually telling me why you like a more quest focused game instead of one with a more exploration and RP focus? instead of flaming and trolling eachother It would be better to actually have a discussion.

I don;t post these thread to get aggrivated.

Originally posted by Roin

Good grief, these post pop up once or twice a month like clock work.  I could do a long post stating why I find your post ridiculous, and wrong, but then what would be the point?  You've pretty much convinced yourself, that you know what's best for all the gamers out there.  That how you think MMO's should be played, is the only real fun way.  So let me just say thank you.  I'm glad that you know me, and so much of the gaming community.  That you can dictate what we should find fun, and not fun.  I'll be able to sleep so much better at night now.

You make it sound like JGMIII just personally eliminated all quest trackers from all games in one single post. You're right that there would be no point in telling him that he is wrong because opinions are just like buttholes, everyone has one. It doesn't make your crappy opinion any better.

How about this... Play games with quests and quest trackers and auto-play and auto-attack and auto-levelup and auto-raid and all the auto-play features you want, then people like JGMIII can play the ones without all that garbage. There is a niche market that would like to see these types of games, but no one is dictating which ones you have to play.

I agree with everyone on this thread lol I like mmo's with quests if they are tied to an over arching storyline that makes me feel apart of the story. I also like an mmo where exploration is held higher than quests. There are plenty of mmo's out there that cater to both players thats why I have a game for each of those things I like ;) Not really seeing the point of the thread =/ I mean there are soooo many mmo's on the market there is bound to be at least a couple that will satisfy all kinds of players.

Originally posted by JGMIII

Originally posted by Aganazer

I agree, but it also gave me an idea. I do like quests. I like that they add motivation beyond simply loot and experience. I also like the idea of just getting out and exploring without having quests to guide you.

So here is the idea... What if all quests were given at the destination rather than the NPC quest giver? Lets say there was a kidnapped little girl in some cave. You aren't given a quest to go find her. Instead, once you get to the little girl then you get the quest to return to an NPC for a reward. There might be an NPC in town complaining about a missing girl, but they aren't the one giving out the quest.

It would work for kill quests as well. Kill enough of any creature type and there might be a rare drop that you would scavenge from them that you could turn in. Many MMOG's have items that initiate quests, so the technology is nothing new.

You'd never even know there was a quest until you've completed it. The player would just have to head out and find adventure. In the process of exploring around they would still be getting involved in the story.

Sorry I missed this post.

First let me say thank you for actually responding to me and not calling me a Troll, old timer or an idiot.

First I don't hate missions/quests I just hate an entire game having quest stacking as a focus.

I have no problem with quests that give currency that can be done optionaly.

Also I think quests that you stumble on while exploring are pretty cool. I would mind finding a little Npc to escort while clearing a Cave with a few buddies.

The finding an item while Adventuring is pretty cool also.

Thanks for your post.

This was a reply to the post above this one... my mistake.

It depends on my mood. Sometimes I enjoy a level oriented quest driven game, it gives me focus to get things done when I need it. At the moment I am not in the mood for that type of game and am not interested in the restrictions that a level based game has to offer. Which is why i went back to EVE as I am ready to play an open ended skill based game that allows me to do what i want.

To summarize: I like both. i see the advantages and disadvantages of both. I do not feel there is one correct way to do things -  probably just loads of wrong ways - who knows, if I knew I'd be making millions as a game designer.

Originally posted by JGMIII

The MMOs I played Gave us these epic sized gameworlds, filled it with challenging mobs and just said "Go".

These games being...?

Originally posted by blueturtle13

I agree with everyone on this thread lol I like mmo's with quests if they are tied to an over arching storyline that makes me feel apart of the story. I also like an mmo where exploration is held higher than quests. There are plenty of mmo's out there that cater to both players thats why I have a game for each of those things I like ;) Not really seeing the point of the thread =/ I mean there are soooo many mmo's on the market there is bound to be at least a couple that will satisfy all kinds of players.

Well in the last few days i've noticed a good amount of posts saying Open ended games lack content or they were just grinds and boring.

Now I wondered why anyone would say such a thing.

Players like that basically need to have quests and storylines lead them around the world or they think a MMO is empty and without content.

So i started this thread to get a discussion going from both sides.

Originally posted by Dibdabs

Originally posted by JGMIII

The MMOs I played Gave us these epic sized gameworlds, filled it with challenging mobs and just said "Go".

These games being...?

UO, EQ, SWg, AC, Eve, Ryzom, Wurm.

Do you need me to go on? I'm basically speaking of open ended games that are Rp and Exploration friendly.

My main problem with threads like this is that they always seem like a personal insult directed at me.  I like quests and the fact that they give your in-game activities direction and a conclusion.  At the same time I disagree with the assertion that I lack imagination or need handholding.  As such from the beginning the OPs theory is WRONG and my response will have to be based on me proving him wrong rather than merely discussing the mechanics of the system on a purely intellectual basis.

The reason I like quests is the same reason I liked having a Game Master when I was doing Pen & Paper roleplaying.  I can make up my own stories just fine but they lack any suprise.  I'll choose the conclusion I like and there is no suprise for me. 

When I am doing a quest I know that there is no 'real' reason for me to be doing this but ultimately there is no 'real' reason for me to be playing the game.  I need that suspension of disbelief to make my actions interesting.  If I lose that suspension of disbelief then I am just pressing buttons to move pixels on screen.  Having an outside source providing me with the motivation to do an activity allows me a better suspension of disbelief than if I had to make it up all myself and thus lose any suprise at it.