RuneScape Forum Archive | ‡ The best quest ever? Vote! ‡

Autumn Elite

Posts: 3,487 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

In the base, we meet Overlord Mornid and get made lieutenant. The whole promotion feels very out of place and just to cover something that should have been done earlier if the series was paced better. Anyway Drakan has returned and I’m glad the return was connected to previous actions rather than random or like Vanstorm the sudden issue that needs resolving boss fight in Branches. Also Velief points out the terribleness of the plan which is nice. Overall a solid if not remarkable section.

We then teleport to the arboretum where quite nicely the rest of blisterwood items are unlocked. Then we get uniforms for disguises. Its interesting to note how each quest seems to undercut the previous ones. Branches removes the significance of the Ivandis flail whilst here the costume gathering is Branches is voided. This is less of a complaint than a note of how each developer seems to say “well thats not convenient, lets rewrite that”. I’m fine with harder quests making the tedious parts simpler but a more consistent writing could have saved this time in the first place.

The roof reputation building reflects the previous experiences in Branches. My thoughts remain pretty much the same. Its a nice feature but a shame all it does it showcase the vampires are a cruel species. A missed opportunity to explore the vampires and generate a more grey conflict but its not like Branches did that either. It basically follows a similar path to what Branches had us do.

04-Dec-2015 04:48:25 - Last edited on 04-Dec-2015 05:05:27 by Autumn Elite

Autumn Elite

Posts: 3,487 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Enter Drakan. Straight to the point - Drakan quickly becomes the best character the Myreque series has even had by a country mile . Thats says something about how badly the series has handled characters and how good Drakan is. He’s also one of the best things about the quest. He dominates from the start, quickly cutting through Vanescula’s babble and seeing through our disguises. He is determined, ruthless and three dimensional. Anything he shows up the quest gets better. Drakan was a great addition and everything he did was fantastic.

There are a few flaws. Apparently Drakan’s dialogue isn't consistent based on answers. So when I talked to him, he sounded cruel but fairly likeable. But others say he plans to massacre all humans to fuel his portal. So there’s a contradictory view here. Anyway Safalaan attacks and his Icyene plot device - I mean powers - activate.

Now seems to be a reasonable time to discuss Safalaan. Having spent the last two quests being insufferable and unlikeable, here he is determined to kill Drakan to the level of absolute stupidity and trusting Vanescula. Unless I’m missing the point of his arc, he is just really bad. Safalaan has been an awful leader, is downright unlikeable and makes horrible decisions. Also his powers are never explained and just act as a convenient plot device when needed. It is a shame we never get the chance to call Safalaan out on these issues. Honestly I don't want to help this guy.

That is part of the issue with the series. It feels quite forced to do these things. I don't want to kill Drakan. He has never been an issue for me and talking with him is a hell of a lot more interesting that the Myreque. Speaking of them, I don't want to help the Myreque. We’re not friends, they have the depth of redshirts and the plan is moronic. At least this quest links it as repercussions to previous actions and the need to survive which helps but the issue still stands.

04-Dec-2015 04:49:16 - Last edited on 04-Dec-2015 05:06:28 by Autumn Elite

Autumn Elite

Posts: 3,487 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Some people have taken Drakan’s dialogue as support for the Vanstrom is Ascertes. Personally I don’t see it. Not that theory doesn’t make sense, but I don’t see what it adds. Vanstrom wasn't particularly developed. I just don't see what retrospectively messing with his backstory at the last minute does anything. There’s just no weight to this other than some fan service to people who like this theory. Its also rather too clean for the supposed resistance movement and invasions. It reminds me of how Legend of Korra season 2 was poorly received so future series had to add more details to try to make it sound better. I just fail to see how this helped. Branches and the other quests will remain flawed.

Anyway we are now locked in at the bottom of the tower. Then we free the other characters. Couple of points. I don’t think how Drakan left everyone alive for no reason other than ‘fair sport’. Its just a weak narrative device to get the characters out of a unlikely spot. It makes little sense why Vanescula or Safalaan wouldn’t be extinguished as threats and it really doesn’t feel satisfying when villains are taken down by their emotional mistakes rather than anything we achieved.

The mysterious stranger. I really don’t like this plot. Firstly you cannot pull of a "who is this woman?" plot when you only have 4 female characters. There is only two routes it can go - Queen Efarity or a unknown Icyene. A random character would make little sense or be a let down. Queen Efarity would be weak move, far too convenient and just doesn’t have any weight to it. Basically I can't see any way this plot will turn out well.

04-Dec-2015 04:49:41 - Last edited on 04-Dec-2015 05:07:58 by Autumn Elite

Autumn Elite

Posts: 3,487 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Anyway we solve puzzles and fight our way up the tower. Not too much to say about this although the puzzle where the Myreque have to donate blood really show how thin the characters of the Myreque are. It also might have been better if one clan needed a mixture of bloods. I did like the information on the clans although it could have went into more depths. The Myreque series is quite lore light - it only briefly glosses over the interesting parts instead of covering them in depth. So whilst this quest is an improvement in this regard, it still fails to reach the good standards other quests have set.

Drakan returns and everything suddenly gets better. He declares his intention to hunt us down which gives a reasonable answer to why the tower has puzzles and sets up a solid section of combat versus the venators combined with losses for the Myreque. Also the tower itself is graphically impressive in vampiric style. I’m generally always very impressed with the environmental artists who always pull of great work and this is no exception. Plus the music is also fantastic. There is also a few references to previous developers although I do wish there could have been a few more examine options. This quest really nailed what it was going for in tone and atmosphere excellently. There is the actual feel of suspense and being hunted.

04-Dec-2015 04:50:19

Autumn Elite

Posts: 3,487 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

However this is the part where the rest of the series lets this quest down. I’m talking about the deaths of the Myreque. For five quests, these characters have been there but we never really knew them or saw any development. So when it came time for them to die, their deaths hardly feel anything at all. The Myreque are redshirts of the worst kind because at this point we are supposed to feel something yet the deaths are simply ineffective. I assume if these were characters who were developed and liked, this sequence would have been devastating but it simply isn’t. “Oh no, not Kael, he … “. Well what do we actually know about him? Nothing - no ambitions, no family, little motives, little uniqueness. For some of the most unique names in game, we are dealing with some of the least memorable characters ever. This is illuminated earlier by the fact the Myreque fall so easily into the blood categories as they are that limited as characters. This can't really be blamed on this quest as there has been five previous quests of poor character work but it is felt especially harshly. The deaths are barely felt from one to the other. Its just flitting down characters that aren't cared about and has little effect because of this.

Also Ivan’s importance is revealed. This fits well as he is the Legacy of Seergaze having blood of the seven. It was a little random in its placing and I’m still unconvinced by the need to hid this. On the other hand, I think Ivan is probably one of the better characters although that may purely be as his arc has generally played out in the background so no developer has blundered it yet.

04-Dec-2015 04:50:44 - Last edited on 04-Dec-2015 05:08:52 by Autumn Elite

Autumn Elite

Posts: 3,487 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Onto the roof where it is revealed we are on vampyrium. I’m not sure how I feel about this. It works to break the boss fight up and looks fantastic. But it also seems out of the blue - the quests never really set up the next instalment properly so ideas seem to spring out randomly - and I sort of wish it was left to a clear quest chain that isn't burdened by the Myreques problems.

The boss fight was excellent. I believe it was just the correct level of difficulty without making it too much of a combat expert needing fight. A lot of higher level quests can learn from this. It set limitations without being too technical. A fun challenge for all that didn't frustrate.

So after a excellent boss fight, we return to Gielinor and kill Drakan. I’m a little disappointed for a few reasons. Firstly whilst I understand why Drakan had to die for the plot, he was the best character this series had and we had to get rid of him for the weaker plot. Also it continues the trend of killing important characters in the quest they are introduced in - not a good trend. I would have liked to have seen a choice in the final blow rather than having no other option to kill him. Have us deal the blow or if we chose not to Vanescula. That would have the same result but not force us into anything. Again Drakan was not my enemy. I like how he respects us as an opponent. None of this Vanstrom “you cause the Myreque problems” junk, appreciation we are the only person in the series getting things done.

04-Dec-2015 04:55:04

Autumn Elite

Posts: 3,487 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Back to the plot, in a shock twist that shocks no one Vanescula turns. Seriously all the developers mentioned keeping her shifty, being shifty is her core characteristic, there is no other vampiric character left to be the enemy - it was obvious. More surprising, Safalaan appears to die. If true, this may be the first surprise the series has actually delivered although I am skeptical. Not that surprises are inertially good but I have been critical of what the series has done on the execution front so a welcome change of pace. I hope we don’t see a cheesy return or reveal.

Vanescula’s plan sounds pretty silly. Not only is she somehow planning to just waltz into a kingdom she has no idea how powerful could be which just lets a core vampire slayer warn in advance, it has no long term solution and she plans to turn more vampires for *security”. Ultimately the conflict really hasn't been fleshed out so its hard not to see her as just delusional. Hoping the next quest will give a chance to show the glaring flaws and kill her off.

We leave going back to the base and to, in my option, a low point of the quest.

04-Dec-2015 04:55:46

Autumn Elite

Posts: 3,487 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Calsidiu. Sigh. Calsidiu is revealed to be a lie and this is a symbol of why I cannot understand why the Myreque series is liked. The entire plot goes nowhere. It is introduced, brought up a few times then ended. Nothing is gained for the plot being in the series - there is no weight to this reveal. You could remove Calsidiu from the plot and absolutely nothing is lost. This is Ranis all over again - why introduce plot points if you aren't going to properly bother with them? You may as well not introduce these things if this is how poorly they will be handled. I’m not blaming this on Rowl*y because he may be using the notes of previous developers and at this point there is no good solution to the issue. No existing character makes sense as Calsidiu and having a new character enter at the finale would be a stretch that comes off weak. There were no good options but a choice had to be made to deal with this plot thread. Its unfortunate it has to leave a bitter taste in this quest but thats the series.

Ivan returns to Drezel and Roald is informed of the situation. For a series I’ve criticised for not properly setting up sequels and instead going off on random plot turns based on the developers whims, the finale was set up very nicely and giving clear indication of what will happen next.

04-Dec-2015 04:56:13 - Last edited on 04-Dec-2015 05:09:50 by Autumn Elite

Autumn Elite

Posts: 3,487 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Normally I don't refer to the rewards of a quest being easily satisfied with some cosmetics and titles however in this case I am making an exception. This was a polled update and some people would have cast their vote based on the promises there. Especially as the other option promised an end to a skill I believe it is justifiable to point out this is a flaw. The poll promised castle Drakan would be open for all with skilling and combat opportunities. Before people start saying this will happen with the finale, yes I know but that is taking up development time there when it was promised here. If it was delivered here, we could see more things with the final. At best its a delay, at worse a loss of content maybe something that would have helped November. Also unexpected truths about other members and more opportunities to act like a vampire which also never materialised.

Also a small note about the pre release kidnappings. I don’t think it was well integrated as it wasn’t really integrated at all. There is some forum posts about how it was for Vanescula’s plans but really if you have to go to the forums for the answer, kinda says how well it translated. I liked the pre release content and appauld the idea, I just don’t think the execution stuck.

I appreciated the attempts to reference the novels and fully canonise some parts so kudos for those inclusions. A small addition but one that adds to the work.

04-Dec-2015 04:57:55 - Last edited on 04-Dec-2015 05:10:17 by Autumn Elite

Autumn Elite

Posts: 3,487 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Having completed Branches of Darkmeyer a day before completing this quest, it gives me a special perspective when comparing the two. Ultimately Lord of Vampyrium is a step up and a better quest. The characterisation of Drakan blows anything the series has done previously out the water, the focus was better, the handling of the Myreque as a group was superior, the puzzles were integrated better if not risking being repetitive and it felt like a satisfying chapter in its own right rather than a bunch of stuff thrown together. Although neither are my enemy, Drakan’s death felt more satisfying than randomly thrown in Ranis dies or Vanstrom boss fight. The only place it could be argued Branches triumphs is scope although it could be argued that limitation boosts Lord of Vampyrium's tone.

So I would say Lord of Vampyrium is the best quest in the Myreque series. It has high points with Drakan being wonderful, an increased focus on lore that still being below what I would approve of a improvement, a challenging but not frustrating boss fight, terrific graphical work, a great tone and nicely setting up the future.

04-Dec-2015 04:58:22 - Last edited on 04-Dec-2015 05:10:51 by Autumn Elite

Forums

‡ The best quest ever? Vote! ‡