======Continuous Side Quest====== {{:patterns:continuousside-deusex2.png?direct&|}} [[games:deusex2|Deus Ex: Invisible War]] =====Description===== A Continuous Side Quest happens in parallel to the main quest of a game. Usually this is a series of side quests connected to a single story line or character. Continuous side quests expand the apparent depth of the story by providing a group of parallel storylines, rather than a single main story. =====Variables and Affordances===== * **Quest Dependency**: Whether a previous quest in a side story-line requires completion before the next quest. * **Clock Dependency**: Similar to the idea above, describes if a single link in a side quest line can be disabled if the player does not complete it before a certain time, either relative to the main quest line, or relative to a physical clock. =====Examples===== * [[games:deusex2|Deus Ex: Invisible War]]. There is a continuous background war between the coffee shops Pequods and QueeQuegs. In every area the player can complete a side mission for one or the other. A small story forms if the player completes these missions, eventually leading to a climax in the form of the revelation that both coffee shops are owned by the same company, rendering the choice of which shop to help void. * [[games:dragonage|Dragon Age: Origins]]. Supporting character side quests. At any time during the adventure, the player can go to the base camp and talk to the members of his/her party. By persisting, the player can eventually open up more side quests, and possible interactions in the main quest. A great example is the Morrigan/Flemeth storyline, in which certain parts only become available if the player has interacted with Morrigan before a certain point, then continue to interact and complete her side quests. =====Related Patterns===== * [[patterns:timeelapsed|Time Elapsed]]. Continuous side quests can sometimes be time sensitive, like in [[games:deadrising|Dead Rising]]. * [[patterns:linear_hub_pattern|Linear Hub Pattern]]. A common way to implement this pattern it to place one leg of the quest in each of the hubs in a linear hub pattern. =====Quest-Level Relationship===== * [[patterns:base|Base]] or [[patterns:residence|Residence]]. If the side quest is character-related, it may originate from interactions in the base or with residents of cities. {{tag> quest:structure games:dragonage games:deusex2 }}