Quest Design | Roman Sanchez

I am actively writing quests for different genres of video games in order to continue expanding my knowledge in Narrative Design. I would love to hear your feedback on my work!

Trees Don't Laugh

Bloodborne
Action Role Playing
~1-2 hours of gameplay
Side quest

Summary:

This quest can be unlocked once the player has entered the Forbidden Woods area. After stumbling into the Forbidden Woods, the player moves through an onslaught of enemies and obstacles. While traversing the woods, the player will have the opportunity to come across a tall green tree. Laughter can be heard as soon as the player enters the area. The player is prompted to talk to the tree. A high-pitched voice with a giggle to it emerges from the tree. The tree informs the player that they have been frightened due to a nearby NPC. The tree asks the player to “deal” with the NPC so that the tree can live freely without the worry of being chopped down.

If accepted, the player will wander through the woods searching for the nearby NPC. Due to the linear nature of Bloodborne, there will not be a quest marker. As soon as the player approaches the NPC they will have the opportunity to rid them of the area through combat.

Once the player has rid the NPC of the area they will be able to trek back and re-approach the tree. Laughter will again be heard as the player approaches the area. The tree rejoices in grace and thanks the player for getting rid of the NPC. The tree stops giggling and communicates in a monotone voice. As the player reaches the last prompt, the tree will split open and a straggly man will emerge. The man continues to talk in a monotone voice and explains that they were trapped in the tree due to the NPC in the area. The man attacks the player with an elongated wooden weapon. This wooden weapon infects the player with poison water to slow them down. This simulates sticky tree sap. An item drops once the player defeats the man from the tree.

Quest Path: (Map Credit: IskandarDND)

This is essentially the starting point of the forbidden woods, this is also the nearest lantern which the player can use to return to the overworld or take a rest from enemies.
The quest starts in front of the tall green tree.
1. Talk to the Tree
2. Search the forbidden woods for the nearby NPC
The quest will take the player deeper into the forbidden woods.
1. Fight off enemy mobs and dodge obstacles on the way to the NPC.
The player will come across the NPC and engage them in battle. `
1. The player will engage in combat.
2. Once the player defeats the NPC they will trek back to the Green Tree.
The player will approach the Tree once again.
1. The player is attacked by a man that emerges from the Tree.
2. The player engages the man in battle.
3. The player defeats the man in battle and picks up the left-behind item.

Rewards:

Once the quest is completed, the player will be rewarded with a powerful, yet light weapon. This weapon was used by the deranged man that emerged from the tall green tree. This weapon has a physical damage of 92 and poisons any mob with a slow-moving effect. The material used to create this weapon was from inside the tree that the deranged man was hiding from.

Please check out a complete breakdown of my "Trees Don't Laugh" quest!

Trees_Dont_Laugh.PDF

Sustainable Search Party

Kingdom Hearts 3
Action Role Playing
Non-Specific Length
Side quest

Summary:

This quest can be started once the player unlocks the Misty Stream area. As the player embarks on one of the four mystery worlds, they will see an object spurting out white foam throughout the galaxy. This will be WALL-E flying with a fire extinguisher. An audio cue from Sora will activate and the player will be prompted to fly towards the flying object. Once the player gets close enough, WALL-E will fly toward the Gummi Ship. (Cutscene) Sora's group welcomes the friendly robot aboard the Gummi Ship, they will question why it is flying around the galaxy. WALL-E will attempt to communicate but to no avail, the group does not understand WALL-E besides the fact that it keeps stating its own name. The group decides to take WALL-E back to Twilight Town to see if Uncle Scrooge can make sense of their new robot friend. (End Cutscene)

The player will have the choice to go to Twilight Town immediately or continue the main storyline while having WALL-E aboard the Gummi Ship.

When the player returns back to Twilight Town, they will be met with a cutscene at the Bistro.

(Cutscene) Sora's group and WALL-E meet up with Uncle Scrooge at the Bistro. Uncle Scrooge immediately understands WALL-E and lets the group know that it is only looking for new plant life to take back home. WALL-E has been nurturing its planet back to life for some time now but has decided that it is time to expand in terms of plant life variety. Uncle Scrooge quickly thinks of a place to take WALL-E and leads the group to the outside of the Old Mansion, which is full of greenery. WALL-E then requests that the group helps it find plant life from different worlds so it doesn’t have to return home empty-handed. Uncle Scrooge relays the message and the group immediately agrees. (End Cutscene)

The player will be notified via Gummiphone that they have a new task. Inside the Gummiphone will be a new tab called “Plant Documentation”. The player will then be notified that they must search past and future worlds for a Unique plant to bring back to WALL-E. From here the player will have free range to either pursue the side quest right away or to continue with the story while participating in the side quest.

Quest Path:

Starlight Way

Kingdom of Corona - Sundrop Flower - (Marsh)

Olympus - Madonna Lily - (The Cliff Ascent)

Toy Box - Building Block Kit - (Babies & Toddlers: Outdoors)

100 Acre Woods - Kerits - (Rabbit’s House)

Misty Stream

Arendelle - Willow Tree - (Valley of Ice)

The Caribbean - Thai Giant (Elephant Ears) - (Isla Verdemonaña)

San Fransokyo - Cherry Blossom - (North District)

Monstropolis - Queen of the Alps - (Laugh Floor)

Once a plant is acquired, the player can return to Twilight Town to check in with WALL-E. WALL-E will have set up a garden-like structure with eight empty plots. The player will then be able to place the unique plant in a plot of their choice. This will prompt a quick mini-game.

(The right side of the mansion is where WALL-E will place the empty plots.)

Mini Game:

(Controls are mapped to a PS4 Dualshock Controller)

The gardening mini-game consists of three different parts, digging, burying, and watering.

Digging: The player must tap X in a specific rhythm to make Sora dig up the perfect size hole.

Burying: The player must tap both the right arrow on the D-pad and the Square button to make Donald plant the seed correctly.

Watering: The player must move the left analog stick up/down while moving the right analog stick in a circular motion in order to make Goofy water the area correctly.

If failed, the player will have to restart.

If done correctly, Sora’s crew will celebrate in excitement while WALL-E checks out the plant. WALL-E will then celebrate as well.

Rewards:

Once every unique plant has been given to WALL-E. WALL-E will give the player a new Keyblade. This Keyblade will be named Foreign Contaminant. Foreign Contaminate will have the default stats of 3 strength and 4 magic.

Keyblade Abilities:

Form changes
1. Ion Blasters - Allows Sora to transform the Keyblade into two twin blasters and fire ion projectiles at enemies.
2. Quasar Cannon - Allows Sora to transform the Keyblade into a cannon that fires giant bursts of plasma at enemies.
Shotlocks
1. Ion Surge - Basic Shotlock of the Foreign Contaminant Keyblade and has a max lock of 27. When activated, Sora will teleport in a cross-diagonal direction while blasting ion projectiles toward the enemies.
2. Final FUN-tier - The max level Shotlock of the Foreign Contaminant Keyblade and requires 32 locks to use. When activated, Sora will fly into the air and form change the Keyblade into the Quasar Cannon. Sora will then launch a heavy ion projectile downward that will eventually spread underground to reach enemies at a greater distance.

Please check out a complete breakdown of my "Sustainable Search Party" quest! Sustainable Search Party.PDF