The Summer Repeats

With AoC being a let down for me, and I have already finished Deus Ex 2 and Mass Effect (both of the fun games, but not much motivation for replay) I am seeing what else I can get for free-ish.

Being the old geek that I am, SOE really likes me. I think have been at the beginning of every game they have except Matrix Online. So right now I have free access to play Vanguard, Everquest and Everquest II, again. And I since they count veteran rewards since initial account creation and not timed played, I have a decent amount of swag waiting for me.

So this weekend I chose Vanguard. Of the games, it has the most interesting "other features" then the basic quest-grind-loot-level. I was a big fan of Vanguard Diplomacy and had a few server and world firsts to my credit when the game came out.

Most of the time was spent figuring out where I was again and what I could do. It took a while to relearn my character's skills, but I seemed to get the hang of it.

However, I realized something. I hate "quests." Well I hate the plethora of quests that are not littered in games these days. I thought it was a good thing when WoW made it possible to "quest" your way from 1 to 50. But then it seemed that was the only way. And with that many quests their importance and significance was diminished. And I felt like I was running around doing errands for just some bits of coin.

Going back I liked the early days of Dark Age of Camelot. There were enough quests to point you in the right direction to hunt at your level, but they were not a major part of your XP. Quests did offer rewards like good pieces of equipment for your level that although they were nice, not needed.

Also I think all "quests" should be solo-able. They are something to give you direction when you are on your own. You don't need a quest to kill and loot the Boss at the bottom of a dungeon. The "quest" reward should be looted there and then using something similar to the DDO treasure method. (Everyone gets an equal share and the "quest" items.")

Bring back the Epicness of quests by making them rarer and more significant. Make it such that you have a choice in how you want to achieve it.