One of the most important things I wanted to tackle was ensuring that players always had a reason to return to earlier places and earlier NPCs. Builders put in a lot of work making even the simplest village so being there once, burning through quests then moving on seems like a waste. This weekend I put in the work to make a good template for a continuing story with a single NPC.

Take Louise from Kilkaen as an example. She’s lost her doll. When you first meet her she just wants the doll back. She leads you in the right direction to find the doll and you’re off! Return with the doll and she’s not happy, the doll got damaged so now she is looking for you to help get it repaired. Off to find the person who originally made the doll to get it repaired. Once thats complete you continue your adventure, but as you grow the world grows and later, that doll and Louise’s own history will bring you back.

The more quests you complete for each settlement also raises your prestige with them, and is tracked with a series of titles and rewards along the way. With each settlement having three or four NPCs that have long term stories, it means players always have a reason to come back and say ‘hello’