The Art of the Quest Sending
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OKAY, it's quest time, and there is a problem-
You don't have anyone to quest with. BUT THIS IS OKAY- there is a sending system in game that lets you gather people to the Spire/Grove/Shylock's, etc…
EXCELLENT
Now, what do I say to get people to come with me?
You could, I guess, say, "Hey, some merchant is hiring to kill kobolds, come to spire. //2-7"
You could, I guess, say, "Hey, aldek needs some bears murdered. Come to spire. //7-12"
You could, I guess, say, "Some gnome lost her ring. Come to spire. //1-4"
I guess, you could be boring, uninteresting, and lack any sort of characterization, flair and interest in propagating your Agenda with a group of pcs who could become possible allies, enemies, or both in the career of your PC. You can be another boring dullard who just stands around and makes boring sendings all day that amount to "NADA'S LFG NEED CLERIC 1-4 SPIRE" and leave it at that- however, this isn't a pissing MMO, this is a persistent world server with a Standard called ROLE PLAY and the DMs expect, and your fellow players as well, to keep to a certain standard.
So, instead of, "Hey, Alana lost her sword to some ogres," Why not say, "I am DERVIK GIANTBANE, and I wish to hone my craft in GIANT MURDER as much as possible. Those who join me shall receive a first hand lesson in GIANT MURDERING so we may commit genocide on the GIANT RACE. Come to the Spire if you're willing. //4-7"
Immediately we see that this man is a giant hunter. We see that this man has flair and is entertaining. We know he wants to murder all giants.
"Hey, I'm new to the city, and I heard this woman needs help, a bugfestation has occurred in her home, and by the gods, we need to save her panti- I mean, clothing! If you are a gentle-hearted fellow who cannot stand to see good clothes ruined, come to the spire! //1-4"
We see that this PC is new. Awesome, someone to help you do other quests! We see he is something of a fashion expert by his desire to save her clothes- and possibly a pervert. This is great characterization that other PCs can see even if they cannot join your guy as they are in the Stonelands, but they would no doubt one day might want to involve this guy.
"In the Name of Tyr and the just Triad, an infestation of UNDEATH has forsaken the Crypt of Fickle Tyche, and has devoured the souls of two of her clergy. Justice shall reign like fiery wrath upon the villain who broke the creed of the True God of Law, make for the Congress of Faith to see the threat expelled!"
Obviously a Crusader, obviously an ally for all you good aligned folks out there needing help with your plots. Obviously an enemy for team evil, this is a guy you need to involve, ASAP...
So in short, STOP WITH BORING SENDINGS. Sendings are heard by -everyone- and let -everyone- see the characterization behind you, and grant insight to your goals. Do you want people to think you're a boring random PC, or a PC with genuine goals and stuff to pursue?
And yes, it's that dire.
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Thomas raises a very good point about sending being an excellent, but most of the time ignored means to showcase some of your characters personality, and goals to the entire server. Definitely worth putting effort into your sendings.
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I have done the boring sendings, and I have done the ones with flair.
I often get a more interestingly diverse group when I go with the gusto :-)I also try an not limit the quest to people who actually respond to the sendings, rather chatting up people in the spire, on the streets, etc. Just seems a better way to go.
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"Tymora needs help."
You do not need anything else.
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Bumping this. Sendings can be manipulated to be self promotion for your concept, even for scripted quests. Even when I'm out doing something or out of level range for a quest, an interesting sending always makes me notice a character more. Share who he/she is with the world when you make a sending. It makes people more inclined to want to interact with you.
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Not just quest sendings, but any sending you have to consider how you are publishing yourself and your character. A dull sending will rarely raise eagerness, while a sending with some flair and thought behind it often drags many over. Consider your character, how would they brand themselves and try different ways and see what works best ;)