Heyo its Wierdo! Welcome to my splendiferous guide on side quests! This may sound like it has been done before (cough guides on normal quests) BUT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SIDE QUESTS AND NORMAL QUESTS. Also, big thanks to @Rainbow for helping me create this guide :3
This guide is centered around quest games, some of this may not apply to other genres of games
WHAT WILL BE SHOWN IN THIS GUIDE
- What is a side quest?
- Difference between a side quest and a normal quest
- Why side quests should be included in games
- Ideas for postivie/negative side quests
- Rewards/Disadvantages for side quests
- Credits
What is a Side Quest?
A side quest is a smaller version of a quest. You do it, and you get rewarded with small trinkets or power ups. These missions are typically short, allowing the player to do a LOT of them in one gameplay. Side quests are a minor part if the game, and are not required to be done, but can sometimes change the outcome of the story. Side quests can also have a smaller impact on the lore!
The Difference Between a Normal Quest and a Side Quest
Definition of a typical quest
The definition of a quest is basically a goal you try to accomplish. A typical quest is one of the main aspects of the game, and the game can be centered around doing this task. Without it, the game has a chunk missing.
But what if you donât want to center the whole game around doing these quests? This is where a side quest steps in.
Definition of a side quest
A side quest is a shorter quest, and the game would be completely fine without it. But you can get cute lil rewards.
The difference between the two is a typical quest is (normally) more lengthy than a side quest, and holds more importance.
Why You Should Include Side Quests In Your Map?
Imagine youâre playing a Gimkit game, doing your funny little quest, but then you start getting bored. Youâre tired of working for one goal, and start to drift away from the game. This happens because having one thing to do, isnât enough for a large group of people. Some people need more than one thing going on to stimulate their brain and keep them engaged into your game. This is where side quests come in handy. It allows these players to do smaller less significant things along the way of the main goal, keeping them curious, excited, and engaged. This will make them want to play again, to see what other small things they can discover, ending up allowing YOU (the Creator) to get more plays, making it a win win for everyone.
Ideas For Side Quests
When making a side quest, there thousands of things you could base them on. Here are few ideas! (You can add some, this guide will be wikified).
Are you editing?
[Advantage side quests]
- Saving a cat from a tree! New companion (Optional: Cat brings three coins every five minutes) / Reward from owner, (Optional: +50 currency)
- Bringing a baker flour, this can result in: free bread / reward / praise
- Helping a lost child reunite with their family, this can result in: praise/currency/a connection (you might see them again and they can help you later down the road for your hospitality)
- Helping deliver a package/gift (If you accept this, later in the game youâll find the recipient).
[Disadvantage Side Quests]
- Helping a farmer with his goats, getting kicked in face, (Optional: -45 health, +50 currency)
- Letting someone cheat off you, get caught, (Optional: -10 knowledge points or detention)
- Steal from a farmer (or anyone in general), get caught (Optional: 1 min of jail time, -50 currency for bail)
- Littering, (a pop up comes on the players screen after they accumulate trash, whether it be from cans/food wrappers, etc), get sent to jail for a limited amount of time and/or receive a fine
Iâll add more in the future, donât worry!
Rewards for Side Quests
A reward is something granted in recognition of oneâs good deeds. For example, if you help someone out, they might give you an item as a way to let you know their appreciation. More often than not, a reward is given at the end of a side quest (even if the reward is just giving the player a clear conscience).
The main reward I would recommend for side quests is currency. Currency varies from game to game. Some games might have basic gold coins, others fish, and even water bottles. This can give the player an advantage, as they can get âquickâ cash from being a decent person.
Ideas for other rewards:
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Free Stuff (Ex: A coat. This can help them if at one point in you game it gets cold, and instead of having to stop to find shelter/other clothing materials, they already have a coat.)
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Food! (Ex: Bread! If they help a baker, free bread. This can help them in the long run if later down the line they need food, for example, but instead of spending more time in that predicament they can just eat the bread they received).
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A Companion (Ex:Pet/Friend. This can especially be of need if later in the game a pack of animals come and cause injuries (slowing the players speed down) but if they did the quest, therefore the dog saving/protecting the player, their speed is unaffected).
Again, this is a wiki, feel free to add more if you think of any!
(Again, Iâm going to add more to this section as ideas come to me, so more coming soon!).
Disadvantages for Side Quests
When you think of quests, you think of rewards, which is what Iâve been mostly talking about in this guide. However, side quests can be negative too. A negative side quest is going out of your way to do something you know is morally wrong, and yet you choose to do it anyways.
Ideas for disadvantages/punishments
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Jail Time (Ex: If the player chooses to go out of their way to litter, this can result in jail time which keeps the player from doing their main task for a longer period of time).
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A Fine/Loss of Currency (Ex: Instead of having the player wait in jail, an amount of money can be taken away from the players balance)
Credits!
@Rainbow - Emotional support
@Rainbow - Giving many ideas
@Rainbow - Writing portions of the guise
@Y0ur_L0cal_Weird0 - Writing majority of the guide
Credits are only for those who add ideas/major contributions to the guide!
@FedoraGGs - because weirdo said so and he capitalized a whole name
I hope you guys enjoyed this guide! I wrote around half of it while I was sick 
Thanks SO SO much to my pookie Rainbow for helping me!!
âMaybe the real side quest was the edits we made along the wayâ
-Fedora and Yoda probably
