QSTR Limitations

[Mediocrity]

So, I while I was online, the urge to have a quick trivia quest struck me. No QSTR's being around I decided to sponsor my own quest. I had some extra gear I didn't need, that would be desirable. 32 Questions later, the morts had succesfully answered 15 of em. I handed out incredible prizes for a trivia quest but everyone had a good time, including me.
My comment is this. Had a QSTR been on, (or I was a QSTR myself), the prize would have been at a max 250k gold. No items. No booby prize. Not that it's a bad limitation for a trivia quest. However, variety *is* the spice of this game and QSTR's should have a variety of simple prizes they could distribute, beyond the 250k gold. Maybe unenchanted stale waybreads. Just an idea.

[farbekrieg]

From what Ive been told about quests, the policy has been set to what it is currently at due to abuse that occurred before the policy was in place.

Curretly if you run a quest and get permission from a (god+ I think it was at the time, might be differant now) you can deviate from the listed policy prizes.

Currently there does exist a list of 'quest low' items that are available to be given out for well planned low end quests, Im unsure if you have to be a qstr or not to be given the list of said items.

The greater issue with this is that when quest low objects are usually given out they are met with some resentment from some mortals who find the items to not be worth their time. (IE items without the limit flag, druid rings, etc). But gold being always appreciated.

It would be interesting if we (and by we I mean I) could see the list of quest low items and then make some suggestions of additional items that could be added, I for one think a 1 dam 1 str or 1 dam 1 wis ring would kick ass as a quest prize (whereas a druid ring is nice but not nearly as spiffy in my opinion) and perhaps they already exist just not often thought of as being given out(seeing as 1 dam 1 dex rings already have 100% load)... Just an idea on the topic.

[DaHart85]

I remember seeing the rankings for what can be handed out in one of the policy files somewhere. It's currently set that DEMI+ can hand out items and even DEMI's get basic little crap and about their only quest-only item to give is a druid ring I think. Almost all the decent items are CIMP+.

That is out of memory and has no basis on anything I've read recently. :-)

[Ciara]

This is already an issue that is being addressed. While we won't be posting a list of 'low level quest eq' we will be adding to the variety that is available to QSTRs. Of course, normal quest approval policies will continue to apply.

Anyone Imm-Cimp can plan a quest. If you a under QSTR level tho, you are required to have approval from QSTR+ If you are seeking to give out eq in a sponsored quest, your sponsor will know what level they can approve and should suggest appropriate prizes.

[Ciara]

DaHart85 said:

I remember seeing the rankings for what can be handed out in one of the policy files somewhere. It's currently set that DEMI+ can hand out items and even DEMI's get basic little crap and about their only quest-only item to give is a druid ring I think. Almost all the decent items are CIMP+.

That is out of memory and has no basis on anything I've read recently. :-)

Actually you're fairly incorrect. The current guidelines as to what can be handed out by what levels can be found in the Immortal Handbook. AVTR is the starting level to be able to approve eq for handing out and the guidelines have been well considered.

[Arizhel]

DaHart85 said:

I remember seeing the rankings for what can be handed out in one of the policy files somewhere. It's currently set that DEMI+ can hand out items and even DEMI's get basic little crap and about their only quest-only item to give is a druid ring I think. Almost all the decent items are CIMP+.

That is out of memory and has no basis on anything I've read recently. :-)

Just to set the record straight, here's a few examples.

AVTR approval:

+3dam +1stat holdables
a combat jumpsuit
a stellar fragment

DEMI approval :

Arcane leggings
an amulet of stasis
a purple heart medallion

GOD approval - a GOD can approve anything with the exception of the following: assembly quest items, phasers (either), artifact, firedragon items, ATM card, decanter, trump, and any level 31+ items. Here's a few examples of popular and/or powerful GOD approval level gear:

a Black Onyx Ring
the Augustan Diadem
a Ring of Blood
a strange multicolored armlet

A CIMP can approve anything they damn well please.

[farbekrieg]

It is wonderful news to hear that additional items are being created/approved for the differant quest levels (im assuming more high, medium, low classifications, or are there even more?)

However (isnt there always one of these in my posts) isnt that list going to have to be distrobuted to at the very least to people with a QSTR flag or higher? I understand that giving a list of quest item names is very unlikely, and giving a list of names and stats to the general populace is strictly forbidden by policy of both the board and ingame imms.

My hope is that the process created quest items for every class for every slot for the 3 differant quest levels (at least as far as im aware their are 3 quest levels, but that might be a bit of info from a differant mud) Or if not items made for each and every class (which is what 12 (i think?) classes x15 equipment slots x 3 items per slot (one for each quest level) gets to be alot of items ( 540, but still would be a nice goal to shoot for) Or a creation of a set of Quest high/med/low Plate, Chain, Leather, Cloth armors (fewer overall but still 180 items)

The advantage of such a system is that morts when given a quest prize will have something fairly unique that will not count towards the load limit, quest rewards will be easier to track in game, and load items will not be offered as prizes.

The draw back of course is 180-540 items created, and in all likelyhood many of them would never see the light of day and the time taken to create them. It all depends how worthwhile a goal the quest department thinks it is, personally i think it would be quite spiffy.

Will the new quest prize list be so expansive as to pose a change in the current quest system, making handing out normal load items a thing of the past, or will the current system of admins choice between quest/load continue. On a similiar note is a quest point system being considered or is that idea in the garbage can?

I know its alot to ask but can morts expect the addition of the new quest prizes to go in before or after the revision of equipment. Id guess after but Im wrong all the time. What can I say I like timetables, even as vague as it is.

What do the following items qualify as far as quest level? An onyx necklace, diamond shield, can of whoopass, and evil scimitar. Additionally if there are construction quests (like the halloween, xmas, fourth of july, easter because the items are sooo spiffy wreath, firecracker, penguin, bunny ears/suit to name a few) that do exist in the database are those items excluded under the policy of assembly and require a chimp/imp approval to be rewarded to questors (ie likely never outside of their construct quest time limits?).

Additionally would there be some way to automate the execution of say an xmas/easter quest every year, it seems that it will skip a number of years before they are run again, which is slightly unfair to the newer members as well as give people something to look forward to every year? I have always had school/business every time such a quest was held, and would have loved to participate in such quests.

Even if it is a rotating quest where only 1 such quest is scheduled for each year ie 2005 xmas, 2006 easter, 2007 4th of july etc. Of course my preference would be a year round quest, but that is just me.

[Arizhel]

For now, there's a list of maybe a couple dozen items that's under discussion, mostly in the 'low to medium' quest gear category, where we seem to have a large dearth of them. That's not to say more won't go in in the future. Heck, if you have an idea for an item, mail it to one of us. In fact, some of the ideas under discussion -were- suggested by a player.

It's not enough items to make it so that we can always give out a quest only item. That's something to aim for, though. It will probably always be up to the administrator involved to determine whether prizes should be gameload or quest-only. However, with more quest-only prizes to choose from, we'll at least have more options to choose from.

The quest items, I believe, are going in before the equipment review is complete.

To answer your question:
What do the following items qualify as far as quest level? An onyx necklace, diamond shield, can of whoopass, and evil scimitar.

Onyx Necklace -- GOD approval
Diamond shield -- GOD approval
Can of Whoop-Ass -- GOD approval
evil scimitar -- GOD approval

(I just looked at these quickly, and just woke up, so if any of you out there see a glaring error on my part, go ahead and point it out.

A quick note on holiday quests: Those items are considered "relics", and can -never- be given away after their particular assembly quest is over.

Automating the quest was tried in the last Halloween quest that we had (not 2004, the previous one. I can't remember if it was '02 or '03. The one with the trick or treaters dressed up at supermobs. Anyone? Bueller?). It turned out to be slightly problematic, though I'm fuzzy on exactly why.

In any case, I'd like to see more holiday quests run.

[Pink]

Last I heard the Onyx necklace is demi approval because it isn't quest only. At least the last 3 I've asked for were given out by demis.

All the stat restrictions are in the immortal handbook, including what level and how much gold/eq each level is responsible up to.

As far as I figure, anyone can run an assembly quest, it's just a matter of getting an approval and running it when someone(s) are available. Obviously, it would suck to run one at QSTR and below cuz you can't do squat. (I've tried, it hasn't worked yet, and probably won't.)

To me, QSTR shouldn't be a glorified GRDN but more of someone who can run a quest without approval that involves more than trivia. But what do I know?

I love hearing QSTRs are being rethought but how about including some of us who have been there? Sending email into the great beyond or relaying info thru someone and never hearing back about it isn't the way anyone wants to be treated. I'd like to speak for both of us and say we want to be involved! (and I'm sure anyone else who comes to be with us would want to as well)

That's all for now, but I am working on my ideas on how to improve QSTR.. it's very hard to explain the frustration we feel on a weekly basis tho.

Pink

[Arizhel]

Pink said:

Last I heard the Onyx necklace is demi approval because it isn't quest only. At least the last 3 I've asked for were given out by demis.

Ah yeah. I seem to remember giving it away as a DEMI.

All the stat restrictions are in the immortal handbook, including what level and how much gold/eq each level is responsible up to.

Hell, I helped write em.

I just couldn't remember if it was gameload or not.

As far as I figure, anyone can run an assembly quest, it's just a matter of getting an approval and running it when someone(s) are available. Obviously, it would suck to run one at QSTR and below cuz you can't do squat. (I've tried, it hasn't worked yet, and probably won't.)

Right. Anyone can plan/run an assembly quest. DarkWolf did one last Christmas iirc. Honestly, if you have a holiday you want to run one for, just email it to one of us to try to get approval. Just make sure to give yourself enough time to work out names of items and stats, build the items and the pieces, and to test them out thoroughly to make sure there's nothing buggy; not to mention enough time so that a few higher-level immortals can make the time to help you out with dropping the pieces and such.

Honestly, it's probably no fun to try to place quest pieces as a DEMI either, because of the restrictions on certain powers (force, switch) at that particular level.

[Tam]

Pink said:

To me, QSTR shouldn't be a glorified GRDN but more of someone who can run a quest without approval that involves more than trivia. But what do I know?

Actually, we've had some fairly creative non-trivia QSTR- quests in the past several months. There have been themed quests (continuations of previous themes), there have been different types (races, hide and seek, recall, etc), and there have been combinations as well. All it requires is a little creative thought and utilization of your immortal abilities.

< Due to the topic I'm delving into, this post will be continued on the general board under the title of "BLDR/QSTR/GRDN = AVTR">

[farbekrieg]

The quest I most enjoyed was indeed the halloween quest with the mobs masquerading as big mobs in other zones.

Creation of a special quest zone with a maze path the and a % load for the mob to occur and at the end of the maze have several parachute rooms with 10 exits to the zone rooms you want the mobs to appear and start wandering in.

Of course the zone would have to be deconnected during non quest time, which i understand is a beastly experience, and the time and effort of whereing the quest mobs to get the properly load and entry into the mud rate would be extensive, but well worth it, but from what I understand their are some pretty impressive zone builders, for which creating a few dummy rooms and chutes for pre-existing mobs and items would be no problem, just let them know the rate of approx Z mobs every X to Y hours added to the mud would take them a few hours tops.

Or maybe Im over looking something VERY obvious.

[Griffon]

What about this...

Has anyone ever thought about using a point system for quests? Giving out points to winners of quests, and allowing them to save up their points for prizes that they wish. For example...

I win a trivia quest, and win 1 point. Now, this entitles me to some gold, maybe an unenchanted stale waybread, or other things like that.

On the other hand, take my wedding quest I ran a few months ago. It was a slightly more difficult quest, with a few more mid-range prizes (stasis, druid ring, etc). That might give out... o, idk... 5 points or so... maybe 7

Then, using these points, we could determine point values for various pieces of eq, gold values(?), or other things, and allow people to use capatalism to get things that they would enjoy.

Now, in the case of Ching's quests (that's sad, the exact type elludes me at the moment), or other special quests where a set prize has been determined for a reason, the winner would recieve that prize, no if's, ands, or buts.

Otherwise, people would no longer junk eq, sell it, or not enter because of "bad prizes". This might encourage more quest participation.

Let me know what you think of this idea (yes, I'm sure I'm getting a lot of ADMIN comments on this one, but that's all right.).

-Nic

[farbekrieg]

Has anyone ever thought about using a point system for quests?

to quote my own bad self

On a similiar note is a quest point system being considered or is that idea in the garbage can?

I knew no one was reading.