tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4522018539311056682.post916636209258785540..comments2024-03-27T01:28:28.346-07:00Comments on False Machine: Fetch-Quest Generatorpjamesstuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13288777018721199748noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4522018539311056682.post-4696468196037052242020-10-13T10:07:45.158-07:002020-10-13T10:07:45.158-07:00I usually highlight that both the quest giver and ...I usually highlight that both the quest giver and the PCs are specialists. Their specialty is deriving value from [maguffin], your specialty is being well positioned to retrieve [maguffin].<br /><br />A favorite way to make the PCs "specialists" as compared to the quest giver is to make the quest giver sessile or immobile in some way. Maybe they are just an animate carving or painting paying you in secrets to fetch something for them. You are useful to them because you have... legs.Salindayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03474506269950104807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4522018539311056682.post-59075123140832024102020-10-07T16:09:04.653-07:002020-10-07T16:09:04.653-07:00Hmm, let me take a stab at some approaches to make...Hmm, let me take a stab at some approaches to make quest-givers make more sense in light of these questions:<br /><br />a1) the object presents some danger if you hold onto it, but less so for the quest giver because they are immune or otherwise prepared to deal with it. (a robot asks you to retrieve something radioactive, or an alchemist asks you to retrieve a volatile compound).<br />a2) the object is far more valuable if you know how to use it correctly. the quest-giver has this knowledge and you do not. you may not know that there are hidden properties to the object.<br />a3) the item is sentimental to the quest-giver, but not otherwise valuable. or maybe the quest-giver is actually a helpful character, providing more worthwhile and challenging jobs as their trust grows.<br />a4) you CAN keep it! but the quest-giver is going to hire rival adventurers to come after you. <br /><br />b1) this is dangerous because the quest-giver has the upper hand if you are conducting business in their home or place of business (in the form of traps, deceptively well-trained servants, a wand duct-taped to the underside of their chair, etc.).<br />b2) the quest-giver ISN'T willing to pay for it; it's a manipulative ruse. or their gold is stashed elsewhere; they give false gold or counterfeit treasure as payment. now you have a hook to deal with the quest-giver too.<br />b3) you CAN take their money by force and run! you just turned a potentially straightforward NPC into a rival or gained the attention of another powerful person or gang.<br /><br />c1) the quest-giver can retain plausible deniability if some random adventurers are caught or killed. maybe they've done this before. maybe they plan to do it again if you fail.<br />c2) the quest-giver doesn't like dealing with messy situations themselves. too much guilt and blood and curses and whatnot.<br />c3) the quest-giver WILL go get it themselves if you take too long. or they wait for some gullible adventurers to expose all the defenses so they can breeze through and get it themselves.leepshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01513591914609446377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4522018539311056682.post-9933756657048980162020-09-27T04:35:23.554-07:002020-09-27T04:35:23.554-07:00Perhaps one day a greater mind than mine will addr...Perhaps one day a greater mind than mine will address those questions in a table.pjamesstuarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13288777018721199748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4522018539311056682.post-18246311330475648852020-09-21T06:10:11.241-07:002020-09-21T06:10:11.241-07:00My players have never been bored of fetch quests. ...My players have never been bored of fetch quests. It is the currency of geomancers and great lords alike.vilecultofshapeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14457093812421502016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4522018539311056682.post-11879538374128445482020-09-21T01:28:27.543-07:002020-09-21T01:28:27.543-07:00The issue I have eternally had with fetch quests i...The issue I have eternally had with fetch quests is:<br />a) If the object is so valuable, why don't I just keep it?<br />b) If the quest-giver is willing to pay so much for it, why don't I just take their money by force and run?<br />c) If the quest-giver is so strong that we can't defeat them, why don't they just get it themselves?<br /><br />Still, these are very good, unquestionably so!Spwackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07247063374457045751noreply@blogger.com