My favorite quest in the whole game:

[spoiler]Amulet of N'Tala.

There are zero hints given. Even finding this quest requires being somewhat observant. Finding the solution is even more a matter of being observant and having a good memory, since it doesn't pop up (with no warning) until a considerable amount of time has passed. Actually acquiring the amulet is a bit tricky, and requires deciding on the best approach depending on your character. Finally, solving the quest not only allows you to circumvent a much more tedious, pointless quest, it provides you with a sweet (and unexpected) reward, and gives you the opportunity to stick it to one of the games more obnoxious NPCs. In fact, the only thing I would add would be some dialogue mocking that NPC after you complete the quest.[/spoiler]
A+

I can see where you are coming from albeit I think the lack of follow-up on it with said NPC kind of hurts it a little. I'd like the ability to ask that NPC about it first and then go from there. A directionless quest is good, especially in this day and age where ever RPG has a compass telling you exactly where to go... I would say that at least a hint would be nice, just one. Vague, but enough that you know who or what to look out for, or where.

As for my own favorite quest... I would have to go with either "Brigands at the Bridge" or stealing the elven funerary stone. I like these quests because they give you several different methods to complete them and have a few different consequences.

With the brigands at the bridge you can either pay them, kill them, help them, or trick them. Paying or helping them of-course has long-term consequences for Shrouded Hills and persuading them also tips you off to the Thieves Underground. (I think helping them might do this as well) This of-course can lead you to a whole new quest-line. Another good thing about this quest and the different ways to complete it as that it is a shining example of the different approaches that are available in Arcanum. A strong thieving, diplomatic, or combat build can each complete the quest in a very different way.

The elven funerary stone is similar as well. You can persuade the dark elves to leave, in which case you avoid a fight can retrieve the stone (mostly) unhindered. However you can also choose to sneak passed them, which in at least some of my games has caused them to sneak into the tomb and ambush me. You can also rat out Mrs. Pettibone and get her killed or shoot down her quest at the start because it conflicts with your character's morality.

Again, like with Lukan, this quest can lead you to the Thieves Underground.

Of-course I could never leave out the Half-Oger Conspiracy quest. That one doesn't have quite as much variation, but it is so well written that after all these years people still remember it. It's one of the best quests in any RPG ever simply because it is so satisfyingly unsatisfying.

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Senk yu of tovarishch'! Truth of glagolish. But that is ridiculously straight to look,u Americans it is straight fixation kakyata.

Anything to do with Madam Lil's.

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You need to determine how to get Pelojian's spirit to answer
your questions when it appears above Pelojian's pool at midnight.

Sadly not challenging anymore after one learns the solution, but I really enjoyed figuring out that quest in my first game. Required a bit of thinking, it did. Same could be said about the Pagan Gods quest as well.

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Where we're going, we won't need eyes to see.

Half-Ogre island? Too easy, mayhap.

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The crystal ball quest remains an all-time personal favourite. And of course the infamous Gnome Conspiracy.

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By the way, what happens if you steal back the evidence?

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ONE DAY, IGNUS WILL KILL YOU ALL!

You end up holding the evidence, without the possibility of doing anything sensible with it.

Other than killing any and all gnomes you encounter by throwing it at them, that is.

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Where we're going, we won't need eyes to see.

That is one way of dealing with them by the book... hawr hawr hawr

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I thought of that, but the problem is it would add a dialogue line that would be a dead giveaway to the solution. If you could choose, "Hey, I notice you have the Amulet of N'Tala," it would be a big flashing red light. Without that line, you not only have to remember on your own what it is you're looking for, you have to be snooping someone else's inventory to even see it's there.

Some followup would be good though. I really dislike that guy.

the Elven graveyard quest is great in how it fleshes out the game lore and allows for multiple solutions.

I also like the reward for returning the statue of the Elven goddess... we will have a feast in your name! Well golly!! Not that I expected gold or anything... checking the journal... well at least the blessing is measurable in terms of game mechanics

Is this the moment where I remind the audience that the correct way to dispatch Magnus is to deal with him by the newspaper?

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Lacy: How did I fall in love with such a jerk like him? Why can't I ever meet a nice man?
Tom: You've met lots of nice men, Lacy. I'm a nice man. The biggest lie all of you women tell yourselves is that you like nice men, when, in fact, we bore you silly.
The trouble is, you tell this lie out loud and so damned often that some of us more gullible types hear it growing up and work hard to become nice men.
Well, from all the nice men in the world, Lacy, fuck you very much.

Wow, what a great thread and you really made me laugh there, the power of free press. I suppose it is true what they say, no news is good news!

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Geshtianna is the human goddess of love. The org-, err, feast was more in the name of the Goddess, but if the Living One decided to participate in the celebration, I'm sure his merits were remembered and properly rewarded.

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Where we're going, we won't need eyes to see.

In my game they certainly were...




Dark Elf, very nice. If only I had been around a year ago to make an appropriate sarcastic comment. Arcanum continues to amaze me to this day. I'm sure I still haven't discovered everything there is to be discovered....if only you could put your enthusiasm for such endeavors into more productive modding endeavors, should you have the time.

True, true. I guess I just assumed that in a game that has Elves, such an immaterial reward could only be handed out by them. The stereotypes demand it.

Geshtianna makes sense as a human deity seeing as free love and sex is her thing and humans are always creating half-breeds...

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Senk yu of tovarishch'! Truth of glagolish. But that is ridiculously straight to look,u Americans it is straight fixation kakyata.

The Iron Clan quest is pretty killer, too. Another one with some clues, but not many hints.

Considering the view the elves of Qintarra hold towards marriage, I'd say they're into all sorts of kink.