Gaming
Among the activities commonly undertaken in gaming, “questing” is a popular one. Although the concept has been around for some time, WoW has taken it to a new level. This is not surprising, of course, as WoW has basically revolutionized every aspect of gaming, from character depictions to graphics to topographical features of the worlds involved.
So what is questing, then? And what is unique about the way that WoW depicts it?
Let’s take a look at the concept as a whole, what types there are, and the most popular ones in the world’s most popular game.
Questing and its various types
A quest (otherwise known as a mission) is a task that a player or group of players must complete in a game. They are common in MMORPGs. Questing takes players in different directions, incentives them to push through challenging mazes and do whatever they can to come out on top.
Quests fall into different groups according to types. The major ones are:
- Kill quests. Kill quests involve chasing down and killing one or more other players or non-player characters (NPCs). In completing a kill quest, the successful player often needs to collect evidence in the form of body parts or other types of evidence.
- Delivery quests. A delivery quest involves delivering (or collecting and then delivering) an item from one place to another. Routes are often complicated and tricky, which is why they are difficult to complete.
- Gather quests. Gather quests are basically the opposite of delivery quests. Gather quests require players to gather different items, often in difficult circumstances and having to kill other characters in order to obtain completion.
- Escort quests. An escort quest involves the inclusion of a non-player character, and the task is to protect the NPC while simultaneously making your way through difficult terrain. The player will likely have to kill a lot of enemies in his efforts to protect the NPC.
- Hybrid quests. Hybrid quests involve combining two or more other quest types. For example, a player might be given a gathering and delivering task (that might involve killing along the way!). This adds an additional level of complexity to a given game.
There are also “side quests” that don’t directly affect players’ scores or standings in the games, but are more like little detours you can take for additional challenges. You can receive extra spoils by successfully completing side quests.
In addition, there are quest chains, in which multiple quests follow one another, and you have to complete all of them in order to finish the task. Quest chains are often progressively difficult and involve a single plot line with tasks becoming more and more complex and dangerous from quest to quest.
How are WoW quests different?
WoW quests take questing a step further than other games. WoW quests involve a variety of different lengths and levels of difficulty, and some are hidden. In fact, there are dedicated groups that have gotten together for the purpose of finding some of the hidden quests.
Some of the more popular WoW quests include:
- Linken. Linken is the name of a character whose mission is to make his way through a convoluted 13-part quest. It resembles The Legend of Zelda and is considered the most popular quest in the WoW.
- The hivemind. The Hivemind is a combination scavenger/puzzle hunt that takes place across several continents and involves intricate mazes, puzzles, and other assorted challenges as you make your way through.
- Waist of Time. One of the more cleverly termed quests takes players to a secret cosmetic belt that came about during the Battle for Azeroth. In order to make your way to the belt, you need to solve a complicated series of riddles.
- Lucid Nightmare. Lucid nightmare is said to be as intimidating as its name implies. Making your way through the quest involves solving a series of convoluted puzzles. It ends with the notorious Endless Halls maze, which supposedly only true masters of the game can complete.
- Riddler’s mind-worm. This is one of the less challenging of the quests, but it is nonetheless still popular among players. The quest takes you through space and time in search of lost pages before you finally taking you to your goal, a secret mount.
- Sun Darter Hatchling. This quest will take you through a complicated puzzle cave in search of a secret battle pet in Tomb of Sargeras. Making your way through the Caverns of Consumption in Winterspring, you eventually come upon a strange looking egg in which you will find rhis rare secret pet that vaguely resembles a butterfly.
Other features common to the game exist in the quests. For example, you can still make your way through different worlds, buy land, and purchase WoW gold. Questing simply gives players additional incentives to win. And the more complex and enticing a given quest is, the more players will become and stay engaged.
What does the future of questing hold?
Only time will tell. But with the gaming world developing as quickly as it is, quests are sure to become more and more complex, diverse in type, and intriguing for players. Whether WoW will continue to hold the top spot is yet to be seen. Being as popular of a pastime as it is, competition is sure to develop as many will see potential business opportunities in it. Keep your eyes peeled for more…
