MeinMMO reader Zord continues in his comment:
[…] Sure, many quests in current games annoy me too, but mainly the presentation rather than the gameplay. When I, as a dragon-slaying world savior, have to obey a lazy farmer and bring him ten wild boar ears and five wolf hearts, it just feels trivial. […]
Various other comments under the article also brought forth personal wishes and ideas for improved quest systems:
- More complexity and variety in quests
- Dynamic quests that change over time or adapt to players
- Puzzles or tasks with timers
- Quests designed to encourage exploration
In general, the desire for innovation and variety in quest designs was very clear in these comments.
What do you think? Do you think quests are an integral part of MMORPGs, is the concept outdated, or can they be completely abolished?
Would you play an MMORPG without quests? We asked you this question. Here are your answers.
Here’s what it was about: Quests have a long history in MMORPGs and have been a part of the genre since its inception.
But are they a must in MMORPGs? We asked you if you would play an MMORPG completely without quests and you responded to us.
These are the results: The survey ended on January 13. Each MeinMMO reader could cast exactly one vote in the survey. A total of 1,473 users participated.
The distribution of votes is as follows:
- I would try it: 49.22 %
- Yes, definitely: 22.4 %
- No, no way: 21.32 %
- I don’t know: 7.06 %
With 49.22 %, almost half of you are open to an MMORPG without quests. You do not consider quests to be absolutely necessary, but would also engage with an MMO game that does not contain such tasks. 22.4 % even say a clear “Yes, definitely” to an MMORPG without quests.
On the other hand, 21.32 % of you are strictly against leaving out quests in an MMORPG. For this part of the respondents, they are an integral part of the genre and also of role play.
7.06 % of MeinMMO readers are undecided.
Quests are not necessarily required
These are your reasons: In the comments under the article, some of you discussed why you would at least try playing an MMORPG without quests.
Primarily, you provided examples of MMORPGs or MMOs that offer their players very few quests. Games like Lineage 2, Conan Exiles, FlyFF, or the classic Ragnarok Online were mentioned.
I can well imagine that since I enjoy playing Conan Exiles.
A sandbox where you have to join forces with other players to build cities, for trade and diplomacy could work. I would also like a similar system as with the Thralls to potentially learn better recipes or similar things, which can also be achieved through other means (spying, alliances, etc.).
MeinMMO reader Marc
In this case, the MMORPG would need to offer players other systems instead of quests, with which they could engage. This includes a fun loot cycle or a resource and crafting system with a market where players can thrive.
Players would then seek out the activities that they enjoy the most and would not rely on the quests provided by the game. Like in sandbox games, but packaged as MMORPGs.
Conan Exiles is such an “MMO” that almost gets by without quests. You set your own goals, sandbox, roleplay, build, craft, capture, breed animals, etc. The background story is only present through notes and environmental storytelling.
MeinMMO reader diesel
The free choice of activities would then also extend to role play in an MMORPG without quests. In the comments, it was also argued that players could become creative and write their own stories in role play.
They would then be only slightly limited by the MMORPG’s constraints, instead, they could be creative and shape their stories as they like.
Why “must” a story be told? Why can’t you just spawn in a world and create your own story? I don’t need a story campaign to go raiding later, play arenas, or run dungeons […]
MeinMMO reader chack
However, the interest in an MMORPG without quests was also cautiously expressed, with the condition that the game has plenty to offer even without quests. The gameplay must be cohesive and designed so that such predefined tasks are not necessarily required to progress and have fun.
The quest system needs fresh ideas
These are the dissenting voices: On the other hand, there was also a number of readers in the comments for whom MMORPGs without quests are unthinkable. They are part of the genre, and without them, this part of the respondents also feels the RPG aspect is missing.
I don’t think you can still call a game an RPG without quests. Quests not only serve as a form of engagement but also advance the story, guide the player through the world, and occasionally compel you to do things you might not necessarily want to do (like PvP content). […]
MeinMMO reader Zord
Quests provide not only EXP and rewards but also background stories to the worlds and NPCs of MMORPGs, which in turn gives players a basis for their role-playing.
One problem that many of you agreed on is the packaging of quests. Various comments generally supported quests but criticized the usual boring quest designs like “bring me 10 centaur tails”.
MeinMMO reader Zord continues in his comment:
[…] Sure, many quests in current games annoy me too, but mainly the presentation rather than the gameplay. When I, as a dragon-slaying world savior, have to obey a lazy farmer and bring him ten wild boar ears and five wolf hearts, it just feels trivial. […]
Various other comments under the article also brought forth personal wishes and ideas for improved quest systems:
- More complexity and variety in quests
- Dynamic quests that change over time or adapt to players
- Puzzles or tasks with timers
- Quests designed to encourage exploration
In general, the desire for innovation and variety in quest designs was very clear in these comments.
What do you think? Do you think quests are an integral part of MMORPGs, is the concept outdated, or can they be completely abolished?
