Quest (role-playing game)

Last updated

Quest
Quest RPG cover.jpg
Designers T.C. Sottek
IllustratorsMarianna Learmonth, Celia Lowenthal, Grim Wilkins
PublishersThe Adventure Guild
Publication2019
Genres tabletop role-playing game, fantasy
Website adventure.game

Quest is a rules-light, fantasy tabletop role-playing game designed to welcome beginners to the hobby. [1] It was created in 2019 by T.C. Sottek, executive editor at The Verge. [2] It was published by Sottek's indie publishing company, the Adventure Guild, after a Kickstarter campaign raised $153,614. [3] Quest was nominated for the 2020 ENnie Awards in four categories. [4] Since 2022, the digital edition of Quest has been available for free. [1] Other creators are allowed to make and sell products based on Quest. [5]

Contents

Gameplay

Quest uses a quick character creation system based on answering simple, Mad Libs-style questions. [1] [6] Players roll a single 20-sided die to address challenges. The gamemaster is called the Guide. [1]

Publication history

Quest was first published in 2019. In response to the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020, the Adventure Guild announced that physical copies of the core rulebook could be ordered by libraries, public schools, and counsellors free of charge. [7] [8] Later that year, an audio tutorial was released. [9] In 2021, the expansions Fantastic Characters and Wondrous Treasures were released after a Kickstarter campaign raised $53,473. [4] [10] In 2022, the digital edition of Quest became available for free download. [1]

Third-party creators are permitted to make and sell products based on Quest using the game's Community Creators Resource, which was published under a Creative Commons license. [5]

Reception

Quest was nominated for the 2020 ENnie Awards in four categories: "Product of the Year," "Best Family Game / Product," "Best Layout and Design," and "Best Writing." [4]

Several actual play podcasts and web series have used Quest as their game system. [11] [12] The Asians Represent show on One Shot Podcast Network switched their "Dungeons & Da Asians" campaign system from Dungeons & Dragons to Quest in July 2020. [13]

Beth Elderkin for Gizmodo praised Quest's decision to make the core rulebook available to schools during the COVID-19 lockdowns, writing, "It’s a welcoming, positive, and (dare I say) educational roleplaying game, and seems like a great way to bring educators and students together during a difficult time." [8]

Several reviewers noted that Quest was beginner-friendly. Charlie Hall for Polygon wrote that Quest "has been custom-made for people who are new to these sorts of games." [14] Meaghan Colleran for Bell of Lost Souls called Quest "easy to jump into, easy to learn, easy to play and easy to GM. It’s a perfect game for kids or beginners." [6]

Aaron Marks for Cannibal Halfling Games called Quest's "layout and document design" "superior" to that of typical role-playing games. However, he dismissed one of Sottek's early design goals – to "overtake D&D" – writing, "I can say Quest isn’t going to upend any existing hierarchy [...] That said, one need not start any revolutions to be successful." [3]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Meehan, Alex (2022-05-24). "Beginner tabletop RPG Quest is now available to play for free". Dicebreaker. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  2. ↑ "T.C. Sottek Profile and Activity". The Verge. 2024-04-25. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  3. 1 2 Marks, Aaron (2020-07-15). "Quest Review". Cannibal Halfling Gaming. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  4. 1 2 3 "2020 Nominees and Winners – ENNIE Awards" . Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  5. 1 2 "Resources". www.adventure.game. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  6. 1 2 Colleran, Meaghan (2020-07-17). "RPG Spotlight: Quest, The Roleplaying Game For Everyone". Bell of Lost Souls. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  7. ↑ Meehan, Alex (2020-07-13). "Beginner-friendly RPG Quest is now available to schools, libraries and counsellors for free". Dicebreaker. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  8. 1 2 Elderkin, Beth (2020-07-21). "Steven Universe Rocks Out and Hello Neighbor Does Hidden Identity in the Latest Gaming News". Gizmodo. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  9. ↑ Carter, Chase (2020-12-04). "Quest RPG's narrated rulebook melds tutorial, actual play and scripted audio drama". Dicebreaker. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  10. ↑ Meehan, Alex (2021-01-26). "Quest's first expansion adds a character book, bestiary and treasure book to the RPG". Dicebreaker. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  11. ↑ "Quest: the Soaring City (No Initiative)". YouTube. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  12. ↑ Heroes Without Limits (2020-09-01). Planes of Providence - Episode 1: "Welcome to Agni" (Quest RPG) . Retrieved 2024-11-03– via YouTube.
  13. ↑ "Agatha Cheng – The One Shot Podcast Network". 2022-07-06. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  14. ↑ Hall, Charlie (2020-06-30). "2020's best tabletop RPGs (so far), as chosen by fans". Polygon. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
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