Enjoying this game far too much for my own good = sanity.
But such is the D&D (dark & dangerous) path we here-ohz choose.
Or perhaps the path chooses up, like the abyss staring back into our shattered minds.
Been enjoying reading (ok, lurking) thru the many informative, insightful & crafty-amusing posts here.
Wish I could add to this body of excellence, but a Growler's job veers more towards chaos than helpful/structural support. At least that's what they taught us in the young-cub growler's academy.
To the point.
What about more micro-quests scattered throughout the game?
And by 'micro' I really mean nano, perhaps even pico -quests.
In fact, not even 'quests' per se, but more like jauntily strolling along..and Bam!
Hey, there's a Damsel-in-Distressed Jeans!
Ex: Say you're walking along, slicing & dicing the usual slender serpent, rabid rabbit, revolting raccoon, sleepy sheep--what have ye, and you see a NPC standing in a middle of a pack of wolves..perhaps you kill one just to get to the person, then dialog with them:
You: Howdy there, NPC! How goeth life in distressed jeans?
NPC (old guy, smelly, hence the flies buzzing round): Eh? What's that?
You (holding nose with clothespin, thus uber-nasal voice): No time for chatter. Need some help with these wolves?
NPC (hobbling & bobbling, scratching in PG-17 environs): No, wouldn't care for any smelt!
You (shaking your head, feeling itchy-twitchy as Grandma usta say): OMG. What are my Options, game-script?!?
*voila*
Options:
1) Walk away & seek nearest shower + delousing powder
2) Help the old guy out in spite of his stinky recalcitrance & slay the nearby threatening wolves
If choose 1) You get whatever Gold the old guy had -- collected after wolves & vultures finish (shouldn't take long, a couple rounds of game-time)
2) You get his utter indifference, but 500 XP
Gold & XP would be generally modest, but commensurate to the area & threat-level/difficulty of killing the monsters.
Could come up with several basic generic situations (old guy or lady trying to cross street scenario, damsel in distress, kid who wandered too far from home, etc), tweak them for difficulty level and scatter throughout the game. They could periodically re-spawn in same or semi-random spot (tho within a general region, so dif-lev would match), but not so fast to warrant sticking around to grind same micro-quest.
Would be fun & compelling to engage in more of these type transactions--especially out in the wilds. Along lines of the 2 (maybe more?) 'travelers' who try to shake you down for Gold, so get option to pay their price or fight for life!
Amazing & very robust game.. hearty Thanks to all who have contributed to it!
Hope development continues!