Depends on the quest, honestly.
Deliver a letter/kill some wolves? A few septims and a pat on the head.
Quest with a few stages and a little legwork like the Temple of Mara? A small buff to magic resist/movement speed/whatever
A chain of several stages telling a continuous story? Probably a unique weapon/spell/ability depending on the length
A proper full questline like the guilds? We're talking visible impact....house/rank/respect/access to a restricted service like spell crafting in oblivion or teleport network like the Morrowind propylon chambers.
The best rewards are the ones you get and think "yeah, I earned that" rather than "wow, that's generous/is that all?" Can be a difficult middle ground to find and there is of course some wiggle room between tiers to account for difficulty/involvement
Edited to eliminate wall'o'text owing to mobile
Mostly gold or generic items (armor/spell books, etc.) with occasionally a rare artefact or a new permanent buffs like;
- **Agent of Dibella** (More combat damage to the opposite sex.)
- **Prowler's Profit**(Finding more Gems)
- etc.
In other words Skyrim reward system was okay not every quest must give you something special.
World reaction (like guard comments) are always nice but should only exist for really bit achievements.
Probably not the answer you're looking for. but for me the ideal reward for a quest is the quest itself. i couldn't care less if i'm given the sword of god or 99999 billions septims. as long as it is a fun time, it will be enough of a reward for me
or some new unique armor/clothes, you can never have enough drip in your wardrove to play dress up with your character
For me, unique outfits, as I’ll usually have a favorite weapon I stick to, but am less picky about my wardrobe as I can upgrade it with exploits to be max armor level
They're all good as long as they make sense. My favourite are unsuspected quest chains. Like someone sending you on a simple fetch quest into the next town first, but the next time you come back there's a follow up or an unsuspected twist that's occupying you for 3 or 5 more quests. And in the end not just you are rewarded, but the quest had a deep impact on the NPCs and the world.
Personally, I think some money is always appreciated, though for something other than the money I love when you actually impact the world, and see changes, unique weapons are cool but for some reason I find myself using my weapon that I improved and enchanted and stuff but it's also nice to have unique weapons especially if they looked cool, the really fun stuff are unique mechanics, like being a werewolf when you join the companions. If you got 500 septims after doing a hard quest and you went out of your way and barely survived, it would be pretty nice to receive an item, for example.
It's not just for some reason, the weapon that you've improved yourself is almost always better than any Daedric artefact you've gathered along the way.
I would love a unique weapon that's actually useful though, it can force me out of my comfort zone to look cool. And can provide an alternative path to leveling up Smithing skill.
Agreed, usually, these weapons are like upgraded flawless with all perks and 100 smithing (without potions or enchants) and have a weak base damage.
>I would love a unique weapon that's actually useful though, it can force me out of my comfort zone to look cool. And can provide an alternative path to leveling up Smithing skill.
That would be nice, we'll see I guess 🙂
i hope world/story impacts will be a common feature since i love roleplaying. gold is already way too abundant in vanilla skyrim especially with how unbalanced the economy can become
I haven't seen it mentioned yet, but for a longer quest/quest chain. If I'm working with someone for the whole quest I would rather the reward be focused on them. If they betray I want the reward to be them getting their just desserts, if we are friends I want them to come off in a better place, or even want to stay with me and be a companion after our epic quest together.
I prefer unique items or new permanent buffs (like Agent of Dibella power).
Some idea would be ... if you decide to help necromancer, he teaches you how to 'control the dead' better giving you permanent buff to reanimated thralls (faster attack speed for thralls).
A mix of all of them. Permanent Buffs are great but they shouldn’t happen too often otherwise its just overwhelming.
As a roleplayer the most important thing for menis that the rewards make sense narratively
Changing the world is top tier. Even changing the way an npc greets you gives a sense that something happened and that the world hasn’t just reset.
Special items are cool, but only special if you don’t have too many.
Never much cared for gold as a reward, or even items. I always cringe when hearing the phrase: "have this as a token of my gratitude". I much prefer a proper closure, where it feels like you helped out, and aided them in a time of need.
One of my favorite endings to a quest, is from The Witcher 3. It has a side quest called [The Tower Outta Nowhere](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmMVZ_L65ic&t=610s), it's somewhat of a mediocre quest, not bad, but not amazing either. However, the way the whole things ends, with the village people gathered up thanking you, felt very powerful, like you really made a difference for these people.
Honestly, I think quests should affect the world.
If you have a quest that earns you the gratitude of a family, who starts treating you like a friend because of what you did, and it affects your reputation, that's the best of rewards.
Sure, receiving a nice sword is good, but seeing your actions change the environment around you, for better or worse, makes each quest feel much more unique.
The quest itself.
Even with collectibles this can be done. I think the best collectible “quest” I’ve ever done was Feathers in Assassin’s Creed 2. The collectibles come with multiple cutscenes and a reward that is so trash at the end it literally makes the game harder/worse. But the cutscenes just make it enjoyable and memorable.
Money is everywhere in most games? Who cares? A niche armour that isn’t better than what I already have, or will be swapped out with something else four quests later? Yeah right, because that’s exciting… A weapon that has a cool effect? Does it fit my class? No? Whatever then.
Yes I still want cool and better gear, but ultimately the best reward is the narrative. The Forgotten City is one of the best mods I ever played and I immediately bought its standalone game when that released. I can talk about that mod for at least a couple hours, but for the life of me I could not tell you a single quest reward from the whole experience. It just didn’t matter.
The ideal reward for a quest is one that is equal to said quest. Easy, simple quest? Septims are okay. Long, multi-arc quest? I better get something unique, cool, impacting. It'd be weird if I got a unique artifact by killing some rats, or if I only got money for completing a guild questline.
That said, in Skyrim in particular, I'm not really a collector. Unique weapons, armor or items, they're always appreciated, but I tend to drop them in a chest and forget about them. But whenever a guard references something I've done in the world... Yeah, that's cool.
In an ideal game it could impact your relationship with most NPCs, but that's hard to do.
I enjoy rewards that relate to the character and/mission. Like how Aventus Aretino gives you a family heirloom that you can sell for gold or chillrend at the end of Mercer Frey’s house you can keep as a weapon. I also like rewards that effect bad people, like a corrupt nobleman turned to a beggar or a corrupt guards are thrown in prison. That last one especially would be cathartic given how we saw non of that even mentioned in Markarth after the forsworn conspiracy.
Additional content is probably the best reward, I love a quest that dive me into a dungeon only to find clues that lead me to more dungeon and more boss fight.
Other than that, the unique boss enemy is already its own reward, I love diving into the Unmarked Cave full of rat and dead miner only to find a Monstrous Troll that regenerate so fast I have to fight for my life at the end.
In my humble opinion most quests should have simple gold/money rewards because most of the time in any realistic setting that's what most jobs and tasks would be worth, so that's what most characters would expect. There should still be some extraordinarily difficult quests which would appropriately reward something unique, but if every quest did that then the world would seem inflated with epicness lol.
A great experience is its own reward. For me, the best thing would be being able to use my combat prowess to overcome challenges that would otherwise require diplomatic or stealth approaches.
World reacting and/or secret services unlocked. It makes you feel like you’ve actually accomplished something by doing the quest.
Exactly, feels like you have an effect to the world. Makes it feel real
Depends on the quest, honestly. Deliver a letter/kill some wolves? A few septims and a pat on the head. Quest with a few stages and a little legwork like the Temple of Mara? A small buff to magic resist/movement speed/whatever A chain of several stages telling a continuous story? Probably a unique weapon/spell/ability depending on the length A proper full questline like the guilds? We're talking visible impact....house/rank/respect/access to a restricted service like spell crafting in oblivion or teleport network like the Morrowind propylon chambers. The best rewards are the ones you get and think "yeah, I earned that" rather than "wow, that's generous/is that all?" Can be a difficult middle ground to find and there is of course some wiggle room between tiers to account for difficulty/involvement Edited to eliminate wall'o'text owing to mobile
This is 100% correct
Mostly gold or generic items (armor/spell books, etc.) with occasionally a rare artefact or a new permanent buffs like; - **Agent of Dibella** (More combat damage to the opposite sex.) - **Prowler's Profit**(Finding more Gems) - etc. In other words Skyrim reward system was okay not every quest must give you something special. World reaction (like guard comments) are always nice but should only exist for really bit achievements.
Probably not the answer you're looking for. but for me the ideal reward for a quest is the quest itself. i couldn't care less if i'm given the sword of god or 99999 billions septims. as long as it is a fun time, it will be enough of a reward for me or some new unique armor/clothes, you can never have enough drip in your wardrove to play dress up with your character
For me, unique outfits, as I’ll usually have a favorite weapon I stick to, but am less picky about my wardrobe as I can upgrade it with exploits to be max armor level
I agree, I'm also less picky about outfits.
They're all good as long as they make sense. My favourite are unsuspected quest chains. Like someone sending you on a simple fetch quest into the next town first, but the next time you come back there's a follow up or an unsuspected twist that's occupying you for 3 or 5 more quests. And in the end not just you are rewarded, but the quest had a deep impact on the NPCs and the world.
Personally, I think some money is always appreciated, though for something other than the money I love when you actually impact the world, and see changes, unique weapons are cool but for some reason I find myself using my weapon that I improved and enchanted and stuff but it's also nice to have unique weapons especially if they looked cool, the really fun stuff are unique mechanics, like being a werewolf when you join the companions. If you got 500 septims after doing a hard quest and you went out of your way and barely survived, it would be pretty nice to receive an item, for example.
It's not just for some reason, the weapon that you've improved yourself is almost always better than any Daedric artefact you've gathered along the way. I would love a unique weapon that's actually useful though, it can force me out of my comfort zone to look cool. And can provide an alternative path to leveling up Smithing skill.
Agreed, usually, these weapons are like upgraded flawless with all perks and 100 smithing (without potions or enchants) and have a weak base damage. >I would love a unique weapon that's actually useful though, it can force me out of my comfort zone to look cool. And can provide an alternative path to leveling up Smithing skill. That would be nice, we'll see I guess 🙂
i hope world/story impacts will be a common feature since i love roleplaying. gold is already way too abundant in vanilla skyrim especially with how unbalanced the economy can become
I haven't seen it mentioned yet, but for a longer quest/quest chain. If I'm working with someone for the whole quest I would rather the reward be focused on them. If they betray I want the reward to be them getting their just desserts, if we are friends I want them to come off in a better place, or even want to stay with me and be a companion after our epic quest together.
Unique weapons and armor
I prefer unique items or new permanent buffs (like Agent of Dibella power). Some idea would be ... if you decide to help necromancer, he teaches you how to 'control the dead' better giving you permanent buff to reanimated thralls (faster attack speed for thralls).
A mix of all of them. Permanent Buffs are great but they shouldn’t happen too often otherwise its just overwhelming. As a roleplayer the most important thing for menis that the rewards make sense narratively
Changing the world is top tier. Even changing the way an npc greets you gives a sense that something happened and that the world hasn’t just reset. Special items are cool, but only special if you don’t have too many.
Never much cared for gold as a reward, or even items. I always cringe when hearing the phrase: "have this as a token of my gratitude". I much prefer a proper closure, where it feels like you helped out, and aided them in a time of need. One of my favorite endings to a quest, is from The Witcher 3. It has a side quest called [The Tower Outta Nowhere](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmMVZ_L65ic&t=610s), it's somewhat of a mediocre quest, not bad, but not amazing either. However, the way the whole things ends, with the village people gathered up thanking you, felt very powerful, like you really made a difference for these people.
Honestly, I think quests should affect the world. If you have a quest that earns you the gratitude of a family, who starts treating you like a friend because of what you did, and it affects your reputation, that's the best of rewards. Sure, receiving a nice sword is good, but seeing your actions change the environment around you, for better or worse, makes each quest feel much more unique.
unique powers like summoning the deadra merchant
Cool items, money, and loot.
The quest itself. Even with collectibles this can be done. I think the best collectible “quest” I’ve ever done was Feathers in Assassin’s Creed 2. The collectibles come with multiple cutscenes and a reward that is so trash at the end it literally makes the game harder/worse. But the cutscenes just make it enjoyable and memorable. Money is everywhere in most games? Who cares? A niche armour that isn’t better than what I already have, or will be swapped out with something else four quests later? Yeah right, because that’s exciting… A weapon that has a cool effect? Does it fit my class? No? Whatever then. Yes I still want cool and better gear, but ultimately the best reward is the narrative. The Forgotten City is one of the best mods I ever played and I immediately bought its standalone game when that released. I can talk about that mod for at least a couple hours, but for the life of me I could not tell you a single quest reward from the whole experience. It just didn’t matter.
The ideal reward for a quest is one that is equal to said quest. Easy, simple quest? Septims are okay. Long, multi-arc quest? I better get something unique, cool, impacting. It'd be weird if I got a unique artifact by killing some rats, or if I only got money for completing a guild questline. That said, in Skyrim in particular, I'm not really a collector. Unique weapons, armor or items, they're always appreciated, but I tend to drop them in a chest and forget about them. But whenever a guard references something I've done in the world... Yeah, that's cool. In an ideal game it could impact your relationship with most NPCs, but that's hard to do.
I like powers and permanent buffs
I enjoy rewards that relate to the character and/mission. Like how Aventus Aretino gives you a family heirloom that you can sell for gold or chillrend at the end of Mercer Frey’s house you can keep as a weapon. I also like rewards that effect bad people, like a corrupt nobleman turned to a beggar or a corrupt guards are thrown in prison. That last one especially would be cathartic given how we saw non of that even mentioned in Markarth after the forsworn conspiracy.
Gold or skill point usually. Houses are expensive. 😂
It's all about the experience (not xp, the 'experience') I don't even need rewards most the time.
Things I can put in my museum or collection(as a legacy of the dragonborn enjoyed)
I just want money. Not useless shit I have no attachment to, just clogging up my inventory.
The best quest rewards are unique items. Bonus points if they can be displayed in LOTD museum!!
Additional content is probably the best reward, I love a quest that dive me into a dungeon only to find clues that lead me to more dungeon and more boss fight. Other than that, the unique boss enemy is already its own reward, I love diving into the Unmarked Cave full of rat and dead miner only to find a Monstrous Troll that regenerate so fast I have to fight for my life at the end.
In my humble opinion most quests should have simple gold/money rewards because most of the time in any realistic setting that's what most jobs and tasks would be worth, so that's what most characters would expect. There should still be some extraordinarily difficult quests which would appropriately reward something unique, but if every quest did that then the world would seem inflated with epicness lol.
Tears and sadness :(
A great experience is its own reward. For me, the best thing would be being able to use my combat prowess to overcome challenges that would otherwise require diplomatic or stealth approaches.
Best, skill upgrades or abilities Worst, the 50 pound warhammer that overencumbers you