Confusing Order of Events? What Next?

[SP2244]

I really enjoy this game, but I am constantly going in circles, no idea what to do next or the order of things.... wish was more clear the main quest order, then supporting quest ... and then the quest tell you something very general, like go talk to XYZ, I have no idea where to go for that, and no real hint. Hope developers can improve the flow of things .... at stage of 5th Crusade.... but long list of Red little hour glasses, no idea if order is important... already messed up in early game when jumped to next point and bypass all the quest by mistake... again, if more clear would not have (will be more careful 2nd play through). Thanks

[jlawleraz]

The game gives you warnings when going to a certain place will not let you return to your current place. Or will cause quests to fail.

But general RPG logic works here, too.

1) quest is important because specific people will die if you don't do it soon - do those quests soon
2) quest doesn't relate to the main plot (it doesn't specifically involve the large scale fight against the demons) but it has to be completed this chapter - those quests CAN be completed soon - it makes sense to do those next
3) quest doesn't relate to the main plot and does NOT have to be completed this chapter - most of those actually can't be completed this chapter, but some can, try to do them if you want
4) quest is related to the main plot and does NOT have to be completed this chapter - as above, that is generally a sign that it can't actually be completed this chapter - but if it can there are likely prerequisites so it makes sense to wait
5) quest is related to the main plot and needs to be completed this chapter - do those last because they have a higher chance of advancing the story - you'll be warned if this is the ONE - also, some of these have a non-specific group of people that will die if you don't do it quickly but it is a clear difference from the specific group in #1

Beyond that, you can generally go back to an area later if you find you need a specific key or need to pass an early skill check or something like that.

[Foefaller]

In general there is usually a popup in that says something to the effect of "events are in motion, opportunities that are available now could be loss forever" which is your red flag that going any further will fail most red hourglass quests. I think Act IV is actually missing this popup for its finale, but it should be so obvious you are reaching a point of no return that I would have to question your reading and observation skills if it suprised you.

Also, other than the Tavern Defense in Act I and the secret ending, there are 0 actual time limits that change the plot/quest availability if you take too long doing other stuff (though sometimes that "other stuff" might have similar effects)

Otherwise, the "finale" quest/dungeon of each Act that cuts you off from quests/locations/etc becomes available and/or forced on you at these points:

Prologue: Leaving the Shield Maze.

Act 1: Assault on Grey Garrison, though the Market Square, Blackwing Libary, and Tower of Estrod all change after the Tavern Defense (I think Woljif's quest needs to be done before the defense too, but I'm not 100% on that)

Act 2: entering Leper's Smile will cut off rescuing the Hellknights (or at least changes the outcome), while entering the camp after taking the fort *after* Lost Chapel will railroad you to the Siege of Drezen.

Act 3: Finale becomes available after completing the Temple of the Ivory Labyrinth and the Mythic Quest related to Areelu' Lab, though even if you start the countdown till it becomes available, it won't start until you walk up to the person opening it for you and then agree to it in dialog once said countdown is finished.

Act 4: Completing the three quests related to Battlebliss, Sheran, and Vellana opens up the place you are trying to get to, though even entering it and meeting the one who lives there doesn't start the finale, but rather when pick which Airship crew (Nocticula's, the captain in the Flesh Markets, or the one in the Last Ditch Tavern) to take you to the Mines

Act 5: The finale for the act (and in some ways, the game) arguably begins at Iz, but AFAIK you aren't locked out of the rest of the game until you reach Threshold, which is a separate map location that appears after you complete Iz.

[Star Paladin]

I read everything written above, but, can someone please say in a simple sentence two what the red hour glasses signify please.

[Conquista]

quest will automatically fail at the start of the next act

[Star Paladin]

Ahhh. TYVM.

[Star Paladin]

BTW OP, I feel the same way. I just wander around, trying to find what I can or should do next. I read the journal multiple times; hover my pointer over every map location; but it's like half the time you just stumble into doing a quest.

[SP2244]

Originally posted by Star Paladin:

BTW OP, I feel the same way. I just wander around, trying to find what I can or should do next. I read the journal multiple times; hover my pointer over every map location; but it's like half the time you just stumble into doing a quest.

Exactly - they turn on all the hour glasses , just meaning that if you move forward to next quest without finishing these things you won't be able to come back ... that is all it really means... not priority quest or anything else... at one point I have like 12 of those on, but no direction of priority, what was main story quest (wish would group them or allow you to select a quest and then see on map, something).

[jlawleraz]

Originally posted by SP2244:

Exactly - they turn on all the hour glasses , just meaning that if you move forward to next quest without finishing these things you won't be able to come back

The indicator means they will fail if you don't do them in the current CHAPTER - they have nothing to do with quest order. You can do most of them in whatever order you choose.

[SP2244]

Originally posted by jlawleraz:

Originally posted by SP2244:

Exactly - they turn on all the hour glasses , just meaning that if you move forward to next quest without finishing these things you won't be able to come back

The indicator means they will fail if you don't do them in the current CHAPTER - they have nothing to do with quest order. You can do most of them in whatever order you choose.

Sorry worded that wrong, I meant next ACT .....

[ExcaliburV]

Originally posted by SP2244:

Sorry worded that wrong, I meant next ACT .....

It's the same thing. Chapter, Act. I even refer to them as "Books" because I play far too many tabletop Pathfinder modules.

The general gist is that there is no set order, especially in book 3. You're given a list of things to do, so... go do them. It's not a linear story, you have full control of where you want to go on the world map and what you want to tackle first.

[rcourtney44]

Originally posted by jlawleraz:

The game gives you warnings when going to a certain place will not let you return to your current place. Or will cause quests to fail.

But general RPG logic works here, too.

1) quest is important because specific people will die if you don't do it soon - do those quests soon
2) quest doesn't relate to the main plot (it doesn't specifically involve the large scale fight against the demons) but it has to be completed this chapter - those quests CAN be completed soon - it makes sense to do those next
3) quest doesn't relate to the main plot and does NOT have to be completed this chapter - most of those actually can't be completed this chapter, but some can, try to do them if you want
4) quest is related to the main plot and does NOT have to be completed this chapter - as above, that is generally a sign that it can't actually be completed this chapter - but if it can there are likely prerequisites so it makes sense to wait
5) quest is related to the main plot and needs to be completed this chapter - do those last because they have a higher chance of advancing the story - you'll be warned if this is the ONE - also, some of these have a non-specific group of people that will die if you don't do it quickly but it is a clear difference from the specific group in #1

Beyond that, you can generally go back to an area later if you find you need a specific key or need to pass an early skill check or something like that.

This is all well and good, but a lot of times you DO NOT know which quests fit these criteria. Besides the ones that have the red hour glass icon. most do not give you ANY indication that they need to be done in this chapter, in any chapter, or some times not any clue is given if they are even related to main quest or not.