In the new MMORPG Lost Ark there is the feature of the Adventure Folio. It is a kind of checklist that you can work through while exploring the areas. MeinMMO author Irina Moritz is so excited about it that she wishes for it in other MMORPGs.
What kind of feature is this? You unlock the Adventure Folio within the first hours of Lost Ark. It consists of checklists that are different for each “main area”.
You work through tasks that relate to various aspects of Lost Ark:
- Progress of the story and in certain quests
- Mastering dungeons
- Victories over world bosses
- Collecting hidden items
- Killing rare monsters
- Crafting food
With each completed item, your progress increases by a few percent, and every 10% there are cool rewards. These can be feathers for resurrection, status boosters, various currencies, and other items.
It is a feature that became a little highlight for me in my progress in the Russian version of Lost Ark. And the Western release reminded me of how much fun I had with it.
The failed Astellia also had such a feature, and in some other MMORPGs there are systems that are similar in their fundamentals to the Adventure Folio, but there can certainly be more of that. It’s something that other MMORPGs can take as a model from Lost Ark.
Combining the Pleasant with the Useful
I am generally a fan of systems that show me a steady progress in something that is worthwhile in the end. It is one of the reasons why I enjoy simply leveling classes.
It is even better when the tasks in the progress system are as varied as in the Adventure Folio in Lost Ark. From the moment I unlocked it in the game, I was “hooked”.
I immediately knew I would spend hours trying to reach 100% in every area… or at least I would try to get as far as possible.
The system is so simple: It combines the exploration of the world and its lore with the enjoyable feeling of making good progress with every little discovery. And that already happens at very low levels.
It starts with you getting smaller rewards like healing potions, feathers for resurrection, or gifts for NPCs. And later it goes over to boost potions for status values, engraving books, or even skill potions that give you additional points for your tripod skill builds.
Additionally, there are small lore snippets from the descriptions of the items and in the book that reveal more about the world and its history. Right at the beginning, the fragments of the Regulus statue tell a cool little story about a master sculptor who (apparently) goes insane and foretells the coming invasion of demons.
And while the first percentages in the book are quickly reached, you have to work for the higher levels. I often caught myself staying longer in an area because I wanted to get the last few percent until the next reward.
For me, it was a very cool change in the pacing of many modern MMORPGs, which always rush to the endgame. However, it also contributed to the endgame and did not feel like a waste of time.
The Content Sparks Curiosity
Another effect that the books had on me was that they sparked my curiosity. Every time I entered a new zone, my first action was to open the Adventure Folio.
There I could see roughly what to expect in the respective area:
- What dungeons are there?
- What lore items can I collect?
- Is there something I should look out for?
- And most importantly: What big bosses can you defeat in this area?
You could see immediately: Aha, there are items hidden all around, but I have to find them myself (or cheat and read a guide, because, damn, that speed puzzle in Yudia is annoying).
At this point, some of you might say: “But Irina, you can be curious and explore without all these hints.” And you would be right. However, I am a burned child.
Too often in games, I have searched the map and found excitement equivalent to a dry bun. It felt like a complete waste of time and was frustrating. It simply feels good to know that there is indeed something to discover and that the discovery is worthwhile.
A Simple Way to Make Mundane Content Relevant
For me, the Adventure Folio is a very simple example of how to make seemingly boring content interesting and relevant to players. The feature also does not completely drown in grind, as is often the case with achievements.
- Most tasks are short and crisp. They can either be completed quickly or you automatically pick them up while progressing through the areas.
- The rewards apply to all characters on a server, and you do not have to grind anew for each individual character.
- Everyone benefits: both players who are more casual and hardcore raiders.
Therefore, I believe that it is a system that would enrich every MMORPG.
Of course, other games should not adopt the feature 1 to 1. This would not work for many. But I would greatly welcome similar systems adapted to the gameplay, and especially improvements to the feature.
What do you think about the feature of the Adventure Folio? Do you also enjoy checking off the tasks, or do you find it boring? How could the system be improved? Let us know in the comments.
