The Memory Stone, Wow...where are more quests like this?

marshill88

I'm tired to saving the universe. I've had this game 3 weeks and already I have saved the world too many times. The memory stone was just a sublimely written story. First, I would love to know the employee name that wrote that just to congratz them. Second, I really want more quests like this...quests that aren't about me stopping a superweapon or saving the universe.

Are there any humble quests like the memory stone that also involve killing a boss? How cool would that be.

Sangwyne

There's a quest in Auridon called Spirited Away that I believe is pretty similar, it involves helping a grieving mother come to terms with the loss of her children by visiting and praying at their shrines. No boss fight though. You'll find that a lot of the side quests usually have a more measured pace, whereas the Story quests in each zone are always about saving the world yet again from some Daedric Prince, fighting an entire army or putting a stop to some nefarious conspiracy.

Pyr0xyrecuprotite

You may also enjoy Eoki and Sun-in-Shadow's story arc in Sadrith Mora (Vvardenfell), although it's a lot longer.

There are a lot of side quests throughout all zones which have stories with pathos and nuance, as well as the usual morally ambiguous situations and choices. (The main quests in each zone are usually too full of drama and urgency for what you enjoyed, but you should do them anyway for the skill points etc.)

marshill88

Sangwyne wrote: »

There's a quest in Auridon called Spirited Away that I believe is pretty similar, it involves helping a grieving mother come to terms with the loss of her children by visiting and praying at their shrines. No boss fight though. You'll find that a lot of the side quests usually have a more measured pace, whereas the Story quests in each zone are always about saving the world yet again from some Daedric Prince, fighting an entire army or putting a stop to some nefarious conspiracy.

are there any quests that are a mix of saving the world and yet focused on a humble theme? For example, if you have seen the movie interstellar (just an example), they save the world but the heart of the story was about a father's love for his daughter. I really like the "human" element of a well written story that combines with epic elements. (LOTR for example). It seems the quests in this game so far are either all action or all story. I prefer the stories, but are any a combination?

WHo didn't have tears when Sam carried Frodo? I'm hoping for quests like that, where you are touched personally, and you still fight epically.

Stokowski

Pyr0xyrecuprotite wrote: »

You may also enjoy Eoki and Sun-in-Shadow's story arc in Sadrith Mora (Vvardenfell), although it's a lot longer.

That's also one of the quest lines that's frequently mentioned in "quests you hate" threads.

Fleeing the Past (starts in Balmora) is the Vvardenfell quest I found most memorable with all its twists and turns and interesting characters.

rauyran

I found the Torn Asunder quest in Eastmarch to be very memorable with an emotionally charged story and a boss fight.

Fischblut

I'm tired to saving the universe. I've had this game 3 weeks and already I have saved the world too many times. The memory stone was just a sublimely written story. First, I would love to know the employee name that wrote that just to congratz them. Second, I really want more quests like this...quests that aren't about me stopping a superweapon or saving the universe.

Are there any humble quests like the memory stone that also involve killing a boss? How cool would that be.

I think you are talking about the side quest in Vvardenfell? One of my very few favourite quests in whole game too

My other favourite quest - it is less cute and even more tragic - is little quest in Eastmarch, "Torn Asunder". You can start it by talking to a ghost a little south of Jorunn's Stand.
I did it some years ago, and it was such a surprise that there were no quest markers on the map - I had to figure out locations just based on their descriptions in journal. The atmosphere of this quest is truly dark - take the time to read all journal pages you find in process, they set the mood.

Olauron

marshill88 wrote: »

Sangwyne wrote: »

There's a quest in Auridon called Spirited Away that I believe is pretty similar, it involves helping a grieving mother come to terms with the loss of her children by visiting and praying at their shrines. No boss fight though. You'll find that a lot of the side quests usually have a more measured pace, whereas the Story quests in each zone are always about saving the world yet again from some Daedric Prince, fighting an entire army or putting a stop to some nefarious conspiracy.

are there any quests that are a mix of saving the world and yet focused on a humble theme? For example, if you have seen the movie interstellar (just an example), they save the world but the heart of the story was about a father's love for his daughter. I really like the "human" element of a well written story that combines with epic elements. (LOTR for example). It seems the quests in this game so far are either all action or all story. I prefer the stories, but are any a combination?

WHo didn't have tears when Sam carried Frodo? I'm hoping for quests like that, where you are touched personally, and you still fight epically.

Summerset. A story about epic betrayal and also about parents' love for their daughter (and each other too).

Ashryn

In this game I've always enjoyed the side quests the most, as they are the ones that are more original.

This game isn't the only entertainment venue that has the same problem with always 'saving the world'. I'm an avid reader of fantasy novels and I have the same complaint: ' everyone has super-powers that they discover and have to save the world'. Its the same in the movies out there as well.

The stories I am constantly hunting for and enjoy the most are the ones that don't follow this formula. Creators need to have a little originality! Maybe, though, its the publisher's fault and not the creators...

spartaxoxo

The zone stories in Summerset and Rivenspire are decent at mixing emotion and grandeur

etchedpixels

There are a bunch including collecting things for a memorial, collecting flowers for a funeral, the dark elf wandering vardenfell endlessly calling for his lost netch (not a quest just a character), and collecting the bones of a ghost guided by a loyal dog. Even some of the bigger storylines have these little touches like the character who won't leave during an attack until they find a wedding ring.

There are also some extremely funny ones like the one in Elsweyr where you find a lost barrel and return it to the owning couple, and some quite dark moments - like the final twist on the hand in of the cursed wine collecting quest, or the whole Ossuary of Telacar story.

Destai

Another gem of a quest on Vvardenfell! That and Eoki's quest line are really well written. There's a quest somewhere in Riften where an NPC winds up losing her eyes to some hag and it's just heartbreaking.

AcadianPaladin

My fave quest in the game is actually the series of quests involving the Wilderking/queen in Greenshade. You are not the heroine at all; rather, you help another to achieve her destiny.

DigiAngel

Heh...I once had a quest when I first started this game in 2016 where I had to find three rat guts and put them in someones backpack. I remember thinking "this is stupid" and stopped playing after that. Took until last year to start playing again. I agree about quests not ALWAYS having to be stellar....but quests that were as pointless as the one I just referenced...yea no. A balance is nice

SidraWillowsky

Olauron wrote: »

marshill88 wrote: »

Sangwyne wrote: »

There's a quest in Auridon called Spirited Away that I believe is pretty similar, it involves helping a grieving mother come to terms with the loss of her children by visiting and praying at their shrines. No boss fight though. You'll find that a lot of the side quests usually have a more measured pace, whereas the Story quests in each zone are always about saving the world yet again from some Daedric Prince, fighting an entire army or putting a stop to some nefarious conspiracy.

are there any quests that are a mix of saving the world and yet focused on a humble theme? For example, if you have seen the movie interstellar (just an example), they save the world but the heart of the story was about a father's love for his daughter. I really like the "human" element of a well written story that combines with epic elements. (LOTR for example). It seems the quests in this game so far are either all action or all story. I prefer the stories, but are any a combination?

WHo didn't have tears when Sam carried Frodo? I'm hoping for quests like that, where you are touched personally, and you still fight epically.

Summerset. A story about epic betrayal and also about parents' love for their daughter (and each other too).

The Summerset questline made me cry at some points. Nothing else in ESO has elicited that kind of emotion in me.

The "Most Complicated Machine" quest in Clockwork City is interesting and saddened me at the end.

The "Heart of Brass" quest in Rkindaleft (Wrothgar public dungeon) is interesting, though I found it disturbing in the end because it made me think of ALS. While the choice at the end will have no effect on the game, it's still thought-provoking.

SilverBride

nm

marshill88

I am excited to give these recommended quests a try. I do hope devs read this and consider in the future incorporating a strong emotional storyline into their epic quests. there is a reason why the best "save the world" stories, when you strip away saving the world, have a very simple human message.

SilverBride

nm

Vildebill

Great mentions in this thread 😊 The Rkindaleft quest is one I almost always comes back to with a new character.

One of my favourites is "The sweetroll killer" in the Gold Coast.

marshill88

well so far I'm compiling a nice list to try. I haven't done any of these yet, but based on what you all have said:

Torn Asunder quest in Eastmarch
Fleeing the Past in Balmora
Spirited Away in Auridon
Most Complicated Machine in Clockwork City
Heart of Brass in Rkindaleft
Sweetroll killer in Gold Coast

Love to build an even bigger list!

MasterSpatula

marshill88 wrote: »

Sangwyne wrote: »

There's a quest in Auridon called Spirited Away that I believe is pretty similar, it involves helping a grieving mother come to terms with the loss of her children by visiting and praying at their shrines. No boss fight though. You'll find that a lot of the side quests usually have a more measured pace, whereas the Story quests in each zone are always about saving the world yet again from some Daedric Prince, fighting an entire army or putting a stop to some nefarious conspiracy.

are there any quests that are a mix of saving the world and yet focused on a humble theme? For example, if you have seen the movie interstellar (just an example), they save the world but the heart of the story was about a father's love for his daughter. I really like the "human" element of a well written story that combines with epic elements. (LOTR for example). It seems the quests in this game so far are either all action or all story. I prefer the stories, but are any a combination?

WHo didn't have tears when Sam carried Frodo? I'm hoping for quests like that, where you are touched personally, and you still fight epically.

Summerset Main Quest. Yes, you're saving the world from a timeless evil and a plot centuries in the making, but at the heart of the story is a couple who lost their child and, in their grief, withdrew from each other, devoting themselves to very different paths, eventually finding themselves on opposing sides of the great conflict.

Czeri

Personally I like Lady Laurent and Stibbons' quests the most.

xAarionx

Stokowski wrote: »

Pyr0xyrecuprotite wrote: »

You may also enjoy Eoki and Sun-in-Shadow's story arc in Sadrith Mora (Vvardenfell), although it's a lot longer.

That's also one of the quest lines that's frequently mentioned in "quests you hate" threads.

Fleeing the Past (starts in Balmora) is the Vvardenfell quest I found most memorable with all its twists and turns and interesting characters.

The again, that idiot veya...I saved her, just fopr her to sell her soul to Nocturnal
NOCTURNAL!!!

At least pick a decent daedra like Azura or Hircine...
Or even Uncle Sheo
But no...
She went straight to the shadowy... I cannot use that word here, so i'll stop...

Mythreindeer

For me the Wrothgar main quest line was pretty engaging emotionally and not always positively though that is part of its appeal.

Wrothgar in general is a great piece of MMO gaming.

Mettaricana

The trans quest in summerset at house of reveries no combat really and alot of dialogue to dip into

Loves_guars

Sorry if it was mentioned before but I highly recommend :The Astronomer's Apprentince in Clockwork City. Plus you get to learn a little about Sotha Sil's past.

Czeri

Mythreindeer wrote: »

For me the Wrothgar main quest line was pretty engaging emotionally and not always positively though that is part of its appeal.

Wrothgar in general is a great piece of MMO gaming.

I love the fact that the main quest has an element of randomness, where the fate of High Priestess Solgra depends on a completely unrelated choice a few quests before. I was so confused when the forum was full of players mourning her death when Wrothgar came out :-)

RedMuse

marshill88 wrote: »

Sangwyne wrote: »

There's a quest in Auridon called Spirited Away that I believe is pretty similar, it involves helping a grieving mother come to terms with the loss of her children by visiting and praying at their shrines. No boss fight though. You'll find that a lot of the side quests usually have a more measured pace, whereas the Story quests in each zone are always about saving the world yet again from some Daedric Prince, fighting an entire army or putting a stop to some nefarious conspiracy.

are there any quests that are a mix of saving the world and yet focused on a humble theme? For example, if you have seen the movie interstellar (just an example), they save the world but the heart of the story was about a father's love for his daughter. I really like the "human" element of a well written story that combines with epic elements. (LOTR for example). It seems the quests in this game so far are either all action or all story. I prefer the stories, but are any a combination?

WHo didn't have tears when Sam carried Frodo? I'm hoping for quests like that, where you are touched personally, and you still fight epically.

If that's your milage I'd recommend doing Rivenspire, the Balmorra side quest in Vvardenfell and then the Summerset main quest in that order. You may want to do Coldharbor too between Rivenspire and Balmorra though that one is a classic, 'save Nirn from the bad daedric prince' but it introduces Darien even more than he was in Rivenspire.

You may enjoy the Markath main quest too and a lot of the side quests in that zone too. "Prerequisite" Rivenspire, and Greymoor, kinda, but less than Rivenspire imo.

QuebraRegra

IMHO, most emotionally charged story with great writing comes from THE VILE MANSE public dungeon...

"..and then came Graccus"

SidraWillowsky

Loves_guars wrote: »

Sorry if it was mentioned before but I highly recommend :The Astronomer's Apprentince in Clockwork City. Plus you get to learn a little about Sotha Sil's past.

Clockwork City has some really great quests. I've always thought that you see Sil at his most cruel there, though.

"Will it hurt?"
"You won't remember." *zaps away memory*.

The Everwound Wellspring quest there is also great, and I forgot to mention it. Another one of Sotha Sil's unfortunate creations. This was another quest that I actually paid attention to because I was interested in the mystery.

Miragent

marshill88 wrote: »

well so far I'm compiling a nice list to try. I haven't done any of these yet, but based on what you all have said:

Torn Asunder quest in Eastmarch
Fleeing the Past in Balmora
Spirited Away in Auridon
Most Complicated Machine in Clockwork City
Heart of Brass in Rkindaleft
Sweetroll killer in Gold Coast

Love to build an even bigger list!

Wouldn't you rather stumble upon them and allow yourself to be surprised though?

Maybe if you didn't see each quest or storyline one-dimensially as simple separate quests or stories, if you didn't slap only one label on them, but instead allowed the stories unravel before you and weave a web, you wouldn't have to "suffer through" or ignore them. To me, save-the-world quests aren't just that, they are also a great source of lore and various subtleties and cultural backgrounds. As you "save the world", you meet various characters whom you later may meet again in unexpected places, stories and even shocking or reversed roles. Someone big may be someone big later on again but in an unexpected way, someone insignificant may be someone important in another time and place. You may do a seemingly completely standalone public dungeon quest, but it later adds quite the flavor to some seemingly completely unrelated DLC zone story and a huge story arc. It really adds another dimension when those NPCs remember you when you meet them throughout the game.

Just do quests and experience stories as you explore the land and its lore and culture, and you might encounter a lot of pleasant surprises not only from seemingly stand-alone side quests (though they often complement the zone's main story in some way anyway, giving it some context or another angle) but also from the quests that at first glance seem flat.