Does this game have any sidequests?

[Romual]

Title. I'm new to the series and as far as I'm in now, and I'm looking from a Grim right now on the island, I didn't have any single side quest, even though I've been checking every single ! mark on the map I found. Does this game have and normal side quests or does it feature anything outside of story progression other than optional areas grind?

This really puzzles me out, because game looks linear as hell, giving me features all the way up to 30 hours mark, but it still feels like it should be more branched. I keep feeling I'm missing something.

[Romual]

Oh, and one more question I forgot. Can I somehow get my hand on early game equipment? I didn't know I will get more people joining so I sold all of it, and now I can't learn early game equipment skills for them, since there is no way (at least for now) to get back to those areas to grind/buy them and current merchats don't sell them.

[Happy Fun Cat]

It does. The main side quest you will do deal with the main cast, so 1 for each (there is an achievement tied to them). The game will start branching once you are able to travel wherever you want. Other than that, there are no real side quest, just side achievements I guess. There are a few more side quest, but most of them are near the end of the game, the part you are on right now is indeed VERY linear.

[Romual]

So I will be able to sail ship anywhere eventualy? Since for now I can sail it to 3 islands and 1 arena.

[Happy Fun Cat]

You are able to go back and get the equipment later if you want, but if you missed them, you are not going to be able to go back for them until you unlock the ability to use the ship as you see fit. I don't believe at the point you are right now that there are pieces of gear that you can only get once (or rarely get again) since they are Chest Only gear drops that you would have sold off. (not chest as in armor, chest as in the thing you open and it plays the FF or zelda theme, atleast in my head).

So... best bet is to wait. I don't remember when you get the ability to travel wherever, but it should be close, so yeah :D

EDIT: Yes, you will have the ability to sail anywhere in the world (atleast to ports, everywhere else you have to walk until the teleport bottle (atleast to ports and main cities, not sure if you have it yet). There are places you can sail to that you can't teleport to and vice versa.

[Happy Fun Cat]

Oh, and the code reds are also side questish, some of them require you unlock them, or go out of your way to get them while the first few you would have most likely just seen while traveling. So there might be around 10 or so side missions you can do.

If there is anything I typed that seems confusing or if you have any questions about it, let me know. Just rereading this makes me confused but I think that is because I am not all here at the moment :D

[Romual]

Well, I got one question from your answer. You've told about unique equipment. Is this equipment that has name other than "Material" "Equipment" type or is it something trully unique? Because I get some differently named stuff from monsters as well on occasions.

[Happy Fun Cat]

The gear isn't unique (most are not, some are), but the materials to upgrade them are. The material equipment are easier to upgrade, thus making it easier for you to get the Potentite effects that require a certain amount of upgrades on all your equipped gear.

The unique gear are better in some ways, but are a pain to upgrade in the game without forcefully farming for the things you need, mostly the Odorless Fluid. As I said, there are a few unique pieces that you most likely will only get 1 of per playthrough out of chest (and in 1 case, given to you, the daggers), but as long as you master that piece of gear, it doesn't matter since the chances of you taking it to end game most likely will not happen.

[Romual]

Thanks, all clear now.

[Happy Fun Cat]

Here is your new best friend

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1K0zrpKx_YKH3tV74LX-n7eO6ciJkAOTXS7LRMO0x_Cw/edit#gid=777382611

Under Weapons, Accessories, Armor, Rings, and Shoes tab, if it said they are from a chest, chances are you will only get 1 per game unless you activly try to get more copies of it by spam looting chest you already looted before in hopes they spawn.

[Romual]

Oh, thanks again. I seems I was one the verge of destroying one of unique items. Will keep it for collection then.

[Arkeus]

Mmmh, it seems to me most of those 'chest' "unique items" are in fact things you can find from specific enemy drops.

Offhand the only ones I can think of that are truly chests are a few r19 and r20 drops.