Main Quest - would you like the ability to Abandon quests?

mfcostacampos

Hi everyone

Creating this poll as I had a frustrating experience recently.
I messed something up in a Main Quest (doesn't really matter what it was, as it was mostly my OCD that triggered me), which led me to delete my character and restart the game.

What I did realise, is that this is an issue I don't have with other quests because if I mess something up I can just abandon them and restart them. Unfortunately, with missions in the Main Quest line, there is no "Abandon" option.
Logically speaking, there seems to be no logical reason to not be able to Abandon these quests and restart them, as mechanically they don't work any differently to a lot of the other quests in the game - NPC spawns, gives you the quest and if you abandon it the NPC just spawns again when you return to the appropriate location.

Based on the above, I created this poll to see if other people would also be interested in being able to Abandon Main Quest missions and, if so, hopefully we'll get Zenimax's attention to consider this for a future update!

Lunerdog

Other...

Yes, I'd like to be able to abandon/not start the main quest and also switch off the quest naggers.

Reason:

All my characters are different people, they all live different lives and do different quests. My main has done the main quest etc and the others are off doing their own thing.

To me, to do all the same quests on different characters just makes them clones of my main and takes away from who and what they are.

starkerealm

I want the ability to Abandon and restart quests in the Main Quest line.

Lunerdog wrote: »

Other...

Yes, I'd like to be able to abandon/not start the main quest and also switch of the quest naggers.

"DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU!?"

Lunerdog

starkerealm wrote: »

Lunerdog wrote: »

Other...

Yes, I'd like to be able to abandon/not start the main quest and also switch of the quest naggers.

"DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU!?"

Lol, yup, that was running through my mind as I was typing.

starkerealm

I want the ability to Abandon and restart quests in the Main Quest line.

Lunerdog wrote: »

starkerealm wrote: »

Lunerdog wrote: »

Other...

Yes, I'd like to be able to abandon/not start the main quest and also switch of the quest naggers.

"DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU!?"

Lol, yup, that was running through my mind as I was typing.

Yeah, she's the worst offender. At least, "How would you like to do something worthwhile?" has the decency to stay in one place, and not follow us around town like a lost, heavily armed, puppy.

Lunerdog

starkerealm wrote: »

Lunerdog wrote: »

starkerealm wrote: »

Lunerdog wrote: »

Other...

Yes, I'd like to be able to abandon/not start the main quest and also switch of the quest naggers.

"DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU!?"

Lol, yup, that was running through my mind as I was typing.

Yeah, she's the worst offender. At least, "How would you like to do something worthwhile?" has the decency to stay in one place, and not follow us around town like a lost, heavily armed, puppy.

Aye, and the messenger for dear old Abner sounds polite and sweet too, on another note I tell Vanus Galerinutter to foxtrot Oscar every time I enter the mage's guild.

Sylvermynx

I want the ability to Abandon and restart quests in the Main Quest line.

I was shocked when I realized that not only did I not have a choice about "accepting" the MQ from the Hooded Figure, once it was there I couldn't get rid of it!

idk

I don't think I should be able to Abandon and restart quests in the Main Quest line (if you chose this option, please add a comment explaining why if you like)

There is only one quest choice in-game that affects our characters after it is said and done and it is not part of the main storyline.

lolo_01b16_ESO

I don't think I should be able to Abandon and restart quests in the Main Quest line (if you chose this option, please add a comment explaining why if you like)

In my opinion you should only be able to abandon repeatable quests, so they don't mess up your quest log.
If a story quest doesn't go as well as you hope, that's just a nice edge that forms your character. Additionally there are no dead ends in this game, so no matter what you do, there will always be a way to continue and finish the story.

And I'm curious, which quest was it? I can't think of any part of the main quest where you can "fail" (besides dying and having to try again) nor any decision that actually matters later on. Even if you decide to sacrifice a certain person, they will magically appear again when they are needed for a different quest later in the game.

colossalvoids

I don't think I should be able to Abandon and restart quests in the Main Quest line (if you chose this option, please add a comment explaining why if you like)

I'd vote yes if that wasn't worded like "do i want this" but more like "should it be available choice for some". I can't "screw up" because i already made a choice so to speak, it's forming a character and makes you learn upon mistakes if any or at least to cope with that.

VaranisArano

No, because it would create a different, more pressing sort of problem when players abandon the Main Quest and then struggle to pick it up again.

I wouldn't mind a Restart option for the particular quest, but that's not the same as abandoning it completely as you can with other quests.

The Main Quest suffers a lot from the One Tamriel rework. It used to trigger very organically as you progressed through the zones of your Alliance at locations where you'd been before or where you went frequently. Now, its a lot more haphazard and scattered. Worse, the Main Quest can break in a number of unintended places - the Elsweyr Prologue quests "The Demon Weapon" and "The Halls of Colossus" still break the MQ "The Tharn Speaks." Then there's the intended break when the Vestige has to go conquer Coldharbor but the MQ itself seems to stall out.

Keeping the MQ in the Journal means that players always know where they are at on the Main Quest of the game. They can always pick up where they left off. That's pretty darned important continuity in a game that otherwise now sends players off to experience other stories in whatever order they want and months might elapse between the player doing Main Quests. (Yes, I've been that player who decided - years later, in my case - to pick up the MQ on a character again and was like, "where did I leave off..."

A Restart option for the current Main Quest, on the other hand, seems like a much more simple solution to the OP's problem.

Nairinhe

I want the ability to Abandon and restart quests in the Main Quest line.

idk wrote: »

There is only one quest choice in-game that affects our characters after it is said and done and it is not part of the main storyline.

Still no reason to have that one questline special. You don't even start with it anymore!

lolo_01b16_ESO wrote: »

In my opinion you should only be able to abandon repeatable quests, so they don't mess up your quest log.
If a story quest doesn't go as well as you hope, that's just a nice edge that forms your character. Additionally there are no dead ends in this game, so no matter what you do, there will always be a way to continue and finish the story.

And I'm curious, which quest was it? I can't think of any part of the main quest where you can "fail" (besides dying and having to try again) nor any decision that actually matters later on. Even if you decide to sacrifice a certain person, they will magically appear again when they are needed for a different quest later in the game.

Gods, no! I can end up with full quest log of story quests as soon as I finish tutorial. And it's not about the consequences - there are none. It's about immersion, roleplay and doing quests in a way you see fit. Including skipping or not dialogue options.

VaranisArano wrote: »

No, because it would create a different, more pressing sort of problem when players abandon the Main Quest and then struggle to pick it up again.

I wouldn't mind more easily missable Prophet, tbh. Also, I sincerely hope that most players have enough brain to remember where they got the quest last time or look it up. Btw, if I had a quest sitting in my log for years, I surely would like to be able to abandon it, so that I could go to where I got it and restart it properly by talking to an NPC and do from the beginning.

[snip]

[edited for baiting]

Danikat

I want the ability to Abandon and restart quests in the Main Quest line.

I'd like to have the option.

If I could I'd have used it, when my necromancer picked up the first quest in Rawl'ka and then I realised he'd have to go all the way to Davon's Watch to visit the house he was being sent to. If I'd known that I'd have waited until he got to Davon's Watch to start the quest because it would be a more immersive experience.

It's a relatively minor problem compared to the other issues I had with him at the time, mainly getting bitten by an NPC vampire in Reaper's March and then having to go to The Reach to get the quest to become a vampire, just because I'd picked The Pact for his Alliance. (Apparently the vampire and werewolf quests were never updated for One Tamriel.) But it was an added annoyance that made me realise they never finished the job with One Tamriel and there isn't nearly as much freedom to create our own storylines as it seems.

I also found out in the process that if you read the quest journal between talking to the Hooded Figure and visiting the house it gives away what's going to happen because they never added text for that first step, so it starts from the original beginning of the game and talks about what happened before in the past tense.

VaranisArano

Nairinhe wrote: »

Also, I sincerely hope that most players have enough brain to remember where they got the quest last time or look it up. Btw, if I had a quest sitting in my log for years, I surely would like to be able to abandon it, so that I could go to where I got it and restart it properly by talking to an NPC and do from the beginning.

[snip]

[snip] for forgetting where I was in the Main Quest after not playing that character for years. I did look it up...in the quest journal in game, exactly where that information belongs.

I'm willing to debate that, but not if we can't have a polite conversation about it without insults.

[edited for baiting]

Sarannah

I don't think I should be able to Abandon and restart quests in the Main Quest line (if you chose this option, please add a comment explaining why if you like)

No, we should not be able to abandon the main quest. Imagine all the issues the game would get due to new players accidentally abandoning the main quest. Not to mention a rise in support tickets: "I accidentally abandoned the main quest called...".

However, ZOS should add the ability to "Reset current quest stage" to main quest quests. So we can re-do any stages we feel we messed up on.

PS: Your poll is extremely limited.

Nairinhe

I want the ability to Abandon and restart quests in the Main Quest line.

VaranisArano wrote: »

[snip] for forgetting where I was in the Main Quest after not playing that character for years. I did look it up...in the quest journal in game, exactly where that information belongs.

I'm willing to debate that, but not if we can't have a polite conversation about it without insults.

If you would abandon your quest, you wouldn't have to remember where you were, only where to start it, so it's a different situation. Sort of.

I didn't mean that you are dumb. I meant that there are dumb people, like they do exist, but (IMHO) they shouldn't define game functionality. If one wants to do a quest, but cannot remember, or look up, or even ask others where to start it - it looks like a problem with person, not with the game.

Edit for typo

Nairinhe

I want the ability to Abandon and restart quests in the Main Quest line.

Sarannah wrote: »

No, we should not be able to abandon the main quest. Imagine all the issues the game would get due to new players accidentally abandoning the main quest. Not to mention a rise in support tickets: "I accidentally abandoned the main quest called...".

However, ZOS should add the ability to "Reset current quest stage" to main quest quests. So we can re-do any stages we feel we messed up on.

PS: Your poll is extremely limited.

There're chapter main quest lines that are abandonable. How are they different from MQ?

Danikat

I want the ability to Abandon and restart quests in the Main Quest line.

I don't understand why abandoning it and then not knowing where to pick it up again is a concern for the main quest but not for any other quest in the game.

Remember new players now start off in the latest chapter's zone, so the first 'main' quest they get is more likely to be the one for that zone, not the main story to the base game. If anything needs special protections to make sure new and inexperienced players can't lose it it's the chapter stories.

I suspect that's got nothing to do with this one quest chain working differently from everything else. It's much more likely to be a hold-over from before Morrowind/One Tamriel which was never updated (there are a lot of those). Originally everyone started off at the beginning of the main quest and the first step was unlocked automatically. Subsequent steps were unlocked when you reached the right level. It wasn't something you could abandon because it wasn't something you could pick up in the first place, it was just there.

It's been years since it worked that way however and I think it would be sensible to bring it in line with every other quest rather than leaving it with a weird mix of functionality.

VaranisArano

Nairinhe wrote: »

VaranisArano wrote: »

[snip] for forgetting where I was in the Main Quest after not playing that character for years. I did look it up...in the quest journal in game, exactly where that information belongs.

I'm willing to debate that, but not if we can't have a polite conversation about it without insults.

If you would abandon your quest, you wouldn't have to remember where you were, only where to start it, so it's a different situation. Sort of.

I didn't mean that you are dumb. I meant that there are dumb people, like they do exist, but (IMHO) they shouldn't define game functionality. If one wants to do a quest, but cannot remember, or look up, or even ask others where to start it - it looks like a problem with person, not with the game.

Edit for typo

I think a restart option, whether it's for that quest or for the whole questline like you suggest, would better fit that functionality. Then you get to reexperience it while also not having to remember where to start it - the journal will point you there.

Thing is, I do think that players being able to start, then drop the Main Quest for years is a problem with the game that ZOS created. Originally, you couldn't really miss the Main Quest because it was offered every five levels as you leveled up through your Alliance zone. Now, the Main Quest is far more disjointed and easily missed because ZOS broke that when they later switched to One Tamriel's partial sandbox and then destroyed its continuity completely with Elsweyr, Dragonhold, and Greymoor. ZOS created this situation where players have the Main Quest shoved on them, then overwhelms them with loads and loads of stuff to do, some of which actually bugs out parts of the MQ. Its no wonder that some players get lost and forget what they are supposed to do.

The Main Quest of base game ESO ought to, IMO, be easy to pick back up months without having to look in the spoiler-filled Achievements in game, or ask around outside sources like the forums or the spoiler-filled UESP to do the Main Quest of the game. I wouldn't say every quest needs it, but the Main Quest? Yeah, that's important enough to warrant players being able to find it again through in-game sources with comparatively less effort.

Nairinhe

I want the ability to Abandon and restart quests in the Main Quest line.

VaranisArano wrote: »

Nairinhe wrote: »

VaranisArano wrote: »

[snip] for forgetting where I was in the Main Quest after not playing that character for years. I did look it up...in the quest journal in game, exactly where that information belongs.

I'm willing to debate that, but not if we can't have a polite conversation about it without insults.

If you would abandon your quest, you wouldn't have to remember where you were, only where to start it, so it's a different situation. Sort of.

I didn't mean that you are dumb. I meant that there are dumb people, like they do exist, but (IMHO) they shouldn't define game functionality. If one wants to do a quest, but cannot remember, or look up, or even ask others where to start it - it looks like a problem with person, not with the game.

Edit for typo

I think a restart option, whether it's for that quest or for the whole questline like you suggest, would better fit that functionality. Then you get to reexperience it while also not having to remember where to start it - the journal will point you there.

Thing is, I do think that players being able to start, then drop the Main Quest for years is a problem with the game that ZOS created. Originally, you couldn't really miss the Main Quest because it was offered every five levels as you leveled up through your Alliance zone. Now, the Main Quest is far more disjointed and easily missed because ZOS broke that when they later switched to One Tamriel's partial sandbox and then destroyed its continuity completely with Elsweyr, Dragonhold, and Greymoor. ZOS created this situation where players have the Main Quest shoved on them, then overwhelms them with loads and loads of stuff to do, some of which actually bugs out parts of the MQ. Its no wonder that some players get lost and forget what they are supposed to do.

The Main Quest of base game ESO ought to, IMO, be easy to pick back up months without having to look in the spoiler-filled Achievements in game, or ask around outside sources like the forums or the spoiler-filled UESP to do the Main Quest of the game. I wouldn't say every quest needs it, but the Main Quest? Yeah, that's important enough to warrant players being able to find it again through in-game sources with comparatively less effort.

Restart feels like a compromise, I guess, unless we get an option to ignore some quests it's essentially the same, except that if you pick MQ without intention of doing it you are forever stuck with one journal slot less.
As for continuity, it went out of the window with chapter tutorials. On the part of MQ I didn't notice any problems doing it on my new-ish Necro, but I already know the proper order of stories, so cannot speak for newer player.

I don't know, is it in the end about ensuring that new players don't abandon it accidentally? If so, it could ask you to type 'CONFIRM' like some things already do.

VaranisArano

Nairinhe wrote: »

VaranisArano wrote: »

Nairinhe wrote: »

VaranisArano wrote: »

[snip] for forgetting where I was in the Main Quest after not playing that character for years. I did look it up...in the quest journal in game, exactly where that information belongs.

I'm willing to debate that, but not if we can't have a polite conversation about it without insults.

If you would abandon your quest, you wouldn't have to remember where you were, only where to start it, so it's a different situation. Sort of.

I didn't mean that you are dumb. I meant that there are dumb people, like they do exist, but (IMHO) they shouldn't define game functionality. If one wants to do a quest, but cannot remember, or look up, or even ask others where to start it - it looks like a problem with person, not with the game.

Edit for typo

I think a restart option, whether it's for that quest or for the whole questline like you suggest, would better fit that functionality. Then you get to reexperience it while also not having to remember where to start it - the journal will point you there.

Thing is, I do think that players being able to start, then drop the Main Quest for years is a problem with the game that ZOS created. Originally, you couldn't really miss the Main Quest because it was offered every five levels as you leveled up through your Alliance zone. Now, the Main Quest is far more disjointed and easily missed because ZOS broke that when they later switched to One Tamriel's partial sandbox and then destroyed its continuity completely with Elsweyr, Dragonhold, and Greymoor. ZOS created this situation where players have the Main Quest shoved on them, then overwhelms them with loads and loads of stuff to do, some of which actually bugs out parts of the MQ. Its no wonder that some players get lost and forget what they are supposed to do.

The Main Quest of base game ESO ought to, IMO, be easy to pick back up months without having to look in the spoiler-filled Achievements in game, or ask around outside sources like the forums or the spoiler-filled UESP to do the Main Quest of the game. I wouldn't say every quest needs it, but the Main Quest? Yeah, that's important enough to warrant players being able to find it again through in-game sources with comparatively less effort.

Restart feels like a compromise, I guess, unless we get an option to ignore some quests it's essentially the same, except that if you pick MQ without intention of doing it you are forever stuck with one journal slot less.
As for continuity, it went out of the window with chapter tutorials. On the part of MQ I didn't notice any problems doing it on my new-ish Necro, but I already know the proper order of stories, so cannot speak for newer player.

I don't know, is it in the end about ensuring that new players don't abandon it accidentally? If so, it could ask you to type 'CONFIRM' like some things already do.

Having the extra Confirm check might help. I think in my case its more that I've helped a number of players figure out where they are in the Main Quest after coming back to it, and that's with it in their Quest journal and not being able to be abandon it. So with that in mind, I'm sure that even more players would lose track of it if they could delete it to make room for whatever quests they are picking up in the moment. I don't necessarily mind people having to look up where to find most quests, but I think the Main Quest should be easy to pick up again in game without relying on outside sources.

Maybe a dedicated Help page for the Main Quest where players can manage where they are at, similar to the DLC quest starters, is more what I'm looking for in a compromise if that 25th quest slot is really at that much of a premium.

Grandchamp1989

I want the ability to Abandon and restart quests in the Main Quest line.

I would love to!

I also have characters I don't quest with, would love to clear my questlog for those.

PrimusNephilim

I don't think I should be able to Abandon and restart quests in the Main Quest line (if you chose this option, please add a comment explaining why if you like)

No, you made a choice, now you have live with with that choice.

PN

barney2525

I gotta say, that I have hit the wrong choice on minor quests before. (sorry about turning you in for your sister burying that skooma pal. Have fun in jail )

So, If I accidentally did something major, like accidentally tell Cadwell to stay in Coldharbor, I would want a " do over " too.

amapola76

I want the ability to Abandon and restart quests in the Main Quest line.

Yes. God, yes.

Sylvermynx

I want the ability to Abandon and restart quests in the Main Quest line.

I just have a whole other "TES vibe" - where nothing you do causes something irrevocable (like a questline you CANNOT remove from your quest log). I started playing TES with Arena, and every one of the games allowed me to never play the MQ if I didn't choose to.

Until ESO. I've completed the MQ and both Cadwell's on one 50, and just the MQ (no Cadwell's) on another 50. And that's absolutely all I'm interested in doing. But so many of my characters have that eerily ghost-like questline in their logs. I just want it gone. Doing it on the characters I've done now is enough. I don't care if I ever do it on anyone else. It's of no importance, it is NOT fun, and I very much resent that I can't get it out of the quest log.

sammeh1991

starkerealm wrote: »

Lunerdog wrote: »

Other...

Yes, I'd like to be able to abandon/not start the main quest and also switch of the quest naggers.

"DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU!?"

As a new player I'm already sick of hearing that!!! Hahaha

Sylvermynx

I want the ability to Abandon and restart quests in the Main Quest line.

sammeh1991 wrote: »

starkerealm wrote: »

Lunerdog wrote: »

Other...

Yes, I'd like to be able to abandon/not start the main quest and also switch of the quest naggers.

"DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU!?"

As a new player I'm already sick of hearing that!!! Hahaha

There's a lot more of that you're going to hear as you progress. It's.... not a good thing at all.

sammeh1991

Sylvermynx wrote: »

sammeh1991 wrote: »

starkerealm wrote: »

Lunerdog wrote: »

Other...

Yes, I'd like to be able to abandon/not start the main quest and also switch of the quest naggers.

"DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU!?"

As a new player I'm already sick of hearing that!!! Hahaha

There's a lot more of that you're going to hear as you progress. It's.... not a good thing at all.

Oh great.
Lol.

Urgh.

Starlight_Whisper

Nah then I will really never do it. I like to keep hope alive