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Some positive insight...or...How to make a long, explorative quest perfectly!
shorlong
Member, Neverwinter Beta Users Posts: 286 Bounty Hunter
So, last night, my wife and I decided to re-start my owed reviews for the people who played my quest. I chose Gloomlight (mainly due to threats against my life and a hopeful return of my son.....)
I have to say, this is how you do a Foundry quest. Those of you who have made long quests with lots of exploring and not a lot of direction, you need to play this quest to see how it is done.
This was perfect. The custom made environments were very well done. The dialogue was engaging, the encounters were well thought out and challenging. Great use of teleporters, NO idea how you got all that done with the current 1500 budget. Every single part was so well done.
Where there issues? Of course, you don't make something that grand of scale with so much customization without having some issues. A lot of the interactable items still had the stock names (fountain 01, broken barrel 4 02, etc.) and there were some issues with floating items, but it was easy to overlook that when the quality of the quest was this high up.
"Now, Shorlong," you ask me, with a look in your eyes that says I haven't reviewed your quest yet "Why are you making a separate thread for this instead of putting it in your review thread?"
The answer is simple. My review thread is all well and good, but this is something that has been talked about a lot recently.
In the last few weeks, we have had two people, possibly more, talk about bad reviews or no plays for their very long, exploration themed quests. We mentioned adding more to it, make the actual giant empty feel more full...split them up into several smaller rooms, really use that design limit, don't be afraid of splitting up what needs split up. Make it more intriguing, more engaging, and less boring.
Want to know how to do that? GO PLAY THIS QUEST! It is a perfect example. For those of you complaining saying "I don't want to split up my maps!!!!!!" Well, why not? This quest had six actual map transitions (not including the first or last) that I can remember. Boat, Town 1, Town 2, Town 1, Dungeon, Sewer. However, you spent so much time on each map, you weren't upset when it came time to go to the next one. Yeah, it added loading screens, but the fact that you accomplished SO MUCH in the time you were on those maps shows that you CAN split your maps up IF YOU CHOOSE TO! YOU are in COMPLETE control over how your quest is presented to the public. This quest shows that you can make a very long, detailed, exploration-themed map with tons of sidequests, story, dialogue, RP options, mild cinematics, great detail and engaging content without making it a series of long boring hallways and large empty rooms.
Quest Details:
Gloomlight: Beneath The Veil - NW-DOA2BOHVS @Nyghoma
For more examples of in-depth quests that contain lots of detail, please see the following:
Ask Not Whence The Thunder Comes - NW-DUGJKXYE8 @ellindar1
The Cragsteep Crypt - NW-DKZHULOVG @apocrs1980
Oh, one quick note. This is to Nyghoma....if in the first part, on the boat, you click the lifeboat before completing all the other objectives, the quest breaks and you can't move forward. Just letting you know! Oh, I also had an issue in one of the custom rooms in the second part of town, where you run into the day shadow person (can't remember the name). One of the Duergar got knocked through the ceiling and I couldn't leave the room. Thankfully, my wife was out and about and I am an expert at breaking maps. I got on her computer and jumped up some trees and up to the rooftops, made my way outside of the city map and over to the "room" and found him just standing on top. Thankfully, she had a range attack and was able to kill him so I could leave. (Funnily enough, I probably could have done /killme, which she had to do anyway to get back within the walls.) Anyway, point of the funny story is that there may be a few gaps that some people can get pushed through....maybe some invisible walls around those rooms so that doesn't happen?
I have to say, this is how you do a Foundry quest. Those of you who have made long quests with lots of exploring and not a lot of direction, you need to play this quest to see how it is done.
This was perfect. The custom made environments were very well done. The dialogue was engaging, the encounters were well thought out and challenging. Great use of teleporters, NO idea how you got all that done with the current 1500 budget. Every single part was so well done.
Where there issues? Of course, you don't make something that grand of scale with so much customization without having some issues. A lot of the interactable items still had the stock names (fountain 01, broken barrel 4 02, etc.) and there were some issues with floating items, but it was easy to overlook that when the quality of the quest was this high up.
"Now, Shorlong," you ask me, with a look in your eyes that says I haven't reviewed your quest yet "Why are you making a separate thread for this instead of putting it in your review thread?"
The answer is simple. My review thread is all well and good, but this is something that has been talked about a lot recently.
In the last few weeks, we have had two people, possibly more, talk about bad reviews or no plays for their very long, exploration themed quests. We mentioned adding more to it, make the actual giant empty feel more full...split them up into several smaller rooms, really use that design limit, don't be afraid of splitting up what needs split up. Make it more intriguing, more engaging, and less boring.
Want to know how to do that? GO PLAY THIS QUEST! It is a perfect example. For those of you complaining saying "I don't want to split up my maps!!!!!!" Well, why not? This quest had six actual map transitions (not including the first or last) that I can remember. Boat, Town 1, Town 2, Town 1, Dungeon, Sewer. However, you spent so much time on each map, you weren't upset when it came time to go to the next one. Yeah, it added loading screens, but the fact that you accomplished SO MUCH in the time you were on those maps shows that you CAN split your maps up IF YOU CHOOSE TO! YOU are in COMPLETE control over how your quest is presented to the public. This quest shows that you can make a very long, detailed, exploration-themed map with tons of sidequests, story, dialogue, RP options, mild cinematics, great detail and engaging content without making it a series of long boring hallways and large empty rooms.
Quest Details:
Gloomlight: Beneath The Veil - NW-DOA2BOHVS @Nyghoma
For more examples of in-depth quests that contain lots of detail, please see the following:
Ask Not Whence The Thunder Comes - NW-DUGJKXYE8 @ellindar1
The Cragsteep Crypt - NW-DKZHULOVG @apocrs1980
Oh, one quick note. This is to Nyghoma....if in the first part, on the boat, you click the lifeboat before completing all the other objectives, the quest breaks and you can't move forward. Just letting you know! Oh, I also had an issue in one of the custom rooms in the second part of town, where you run into the day shadow person (can't remember the name). One of the Duergar got knocked through the ceiling and I couldn't leave the room. Thankfully, my wife was out and about and I am an expert at breaking maps. I got on her computer and jumped up some trees and up to the rooftops, made my way outside of the city map and over to the "room" and found him just standing on top. Thankfully, she had a range attack and was able to kill him so I could leave. (Funnily enough, I probably could have done /killme, which she had to do anyway to get back within the walls.) Anyway, point of the funny story is that there may be a few gaps that some people can get pushed through....maybe some invisible walls around those rooms so that doesn't happen?
My quest was deleted in July of 2013. There were no issues, it had not violated any rules. Was deemed a bug. That quest is still missing.
RIP - Dirty Politics May 21st, 2013 - July 30th, 2013
RIP - Dirty Politics May 21st, 2013 - July 30th, 2013
Post edited by shorlong on
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(I'm just kidding, dude
p.s. More maps may mean more loading screens, but (if they use overland transitions) it also means more opportunities for people to "pause" halfway through a long quest and save their progress. For longer quests, this is almost essential.
RIP - Dirty Politics May 21st, 2013 - July 30th, 2013
ATTACK OH NO. ANOTHER ATTACK OH NO.
45 minutes later...
DEAR GODS JUST LET IT END
Pacing is one of the many invaluable traits in good content.
Wicks and Things: NW-DI4FMZRR4 : The Fenwick merchant family has lost a caravan! Can you help?
Beggar's Hollow: NW-DR6YG4J2L : Someone, or something, has stolen away many of the Fenwicks' children! Can you find out what happened to them?
Into the Fen Wood: NW-DL89DRG7B : Enter the heart of the forest. Can you discover the secret of the Fen Wood?
Cheers bud! Posts like these make it worth spending endless hours in the foundry.:cool:
Every time they idiot-proof something...they make better idiots.
Are you crazy? This quest is total junk. I spent 5 minutes in there and quit. The guy has no decorating skills and dumb dialog. Have you played any other quests out there? Go play any quest by Dzogen and compare it to this one. You'll see a stark difference.
Thanks, glad you've enjoyed it.
Every time they idiot-proof something...they make better idiots.
Why is everyone being so mean lately? I thought we had a good foundry group with all of us in here? I'm starting to think Dzogen is right about the alts though as this troll looks like he just joined as well
As for these comments you can tell this is a troll since the first 7 minutes of Gloomlight is crazy awesome with details on that ship to ship battle with that water giant shooting the water across the deck. Good stuff Nyghoma and don't let the trolls get to ya. Kill em with kindness. Everyone needs to start being nicer
Obvious character attack is obvious.
I don't use alts and have nothing to do with this post.
Bill's Tavern | The 27th Level | Secret Agent 34
No I knew you didn't, I haven't ever seen you bomb someone like that. But someone around here is really trying hard to disrupt. I'm starting to think Thunderspank IS back lol.
Every time they idiot-proof something...they make better idiots.
Every time they idiot-proof something...they make better idiots.
Thanks for the bug report. I have fixed the issues. Seems like every time Cryptic does a patch, my quest breaks. Oh well...
Every time they idiot-proof something...they make better idiots.