by fendaann » Mon Jun 13, 2016 12:00 pm
I am not going text light (looking at the spreadsheet for a zone, and I still have 2 quests to finish, 144 blocks of text). AND the quests do require having an actual conversation with the NPC. *BUT* from the initial contact I work to have a way to get the quest within 1 to 3 dialogs (and using the word "task" if it at all makes any sense... I am a bit stubborn about "realistic" conversation and if it really makes no sense, I will use another word, but I do look for any way I can get it to be "task". Also, if an NPC gives more than one quest, and does not give an offer pop-up... the succeeding ones may be a different word as well... Though I have some options there as well.)
As for conversations within the quest, there is an element option that I seem to be the only one to use. (it was new when we were putting out Darkened sea). We can trigger a task element on a particular dialog tag. This does not force you to go through the entire conversation, BUT it won't complete on just "hail" and I won't necessarily give you the keyword(s). I give you a word to say to start the conversation, and the keyword(s) will almost always be something to click on in the conversation. AND once you know it, or if you are looking at a spoiler site, you can just say that(the) word(s). There is also no time limitation. As fast as you can click on the links through the conversation you will get to it.
Adam "Ngreth" Bell
Senior Designer, EverQuest