IDEA 2 : INSERTING QUESTS IN A XIANXIA WORLD

* Xianxia

The word 'Xianxia' means 'immortal hero', which involves around people who can obtain supernatural abilities by absorbing a specific energy known as Qi.

These plots are centered around the adventures of the Protagonist as he cultivates and becomes stronger. There are concepts such as clans, sects, supernatural and intelligent weapons and beasts, etc.

As these are based on the Chinese culture, hierarchy and the difference between the male and female are an important part of the world setting and culture. Unlike the West, the societies depicted in a Xianxia world is stricter.

* Quest

This word has it's origins in Video games, specially those of the genre RPG (Role Playing Game) or MMORPG (Massively Muliplayer Online Role Playing Game).

A 'Quest' is a task which the game character has to fulfill to get the associated reward. By completing certain Quests, one can upgrade their game characters and make them stronger.

The Quests generally are something like killing a target like a person or monsters, escorting someone, finding a treasure, or solving a mystery, etc.

* Quest concept in Web Novel

One can find many novels in which the Protagonist has a system, but there are hardly any novels in which he/she recieves only Quests. After all, the one who would give the Protagonist Quests would also be a system, hence the authors directly give the Protagonist a system instead of a specific Quest system.

Note that a Quest system only appears in two cases :

(1) When the novel is of the Game genre.

(2) When the Protagonist has a system.

It is also worth noting that usually a Quest system mostly appears when the Protagonist is in a Western setting i.e. in a world of swords and magic.

* Inserting Quests in a Xianxia World

Following is my Idea :

01. The Protagonist can have any background setting, and the author can choose any world building.

02. The Protagonist endures a calamity and either by reincarnation/rebirth/another soul transferred to body, the Protagonist gains the ability to receive Quests.

Note that there is no 'System' in existence.

03. The Protagonist, by interacting with the natives of the world can receive various quests.

For example,

P = Protagonist, N = Native of the world.

P sighed, and shook his head. He could not remain depressed forever ! To heal his injuries he needed money. With his fragile body, he could only do meager tasks like chopping some trees.

Outside the village was N, who was a local blacksmith. P had just arrived at his shop when N came out.

"Kid, you came again ?" N grunted.

He looked at the kid again. The kid was thin and weak and not suitable for doing heavy tasks.

"Fine ! Go chop some trees and bring some firewood."

P nodded his head and said : "Okay !"

At the side of his view he saw a line of text floating in the air -

* Quest Available *

Quest Level :

D

Quest Task :

Chop five trees and make firewood.

Quest Reward :

Exp 500

Quest Failure :

N will lose his confidence in you.

04. Note that the crux of this Quest system is not the physical benefits that the Protagonist will receive from the natives, but the Exp that he/she will receive by completing the Quests.

This Exp can be used to comprehend a new skill.

05. Although it seems like the Quest system is inferior to a regular system, it is more realistic and supportive. Also, the author will not have to rack his brains while dealing with numbers.

With a regular system, the author has to keep an accurate track of skill levels, host level, number of skills, armor and weapon levels, etc.

With the Quest system, one only has to keep track of Exp points.

In short, compared to a regular system, the Quest system is more discreet in supporting the Protagonist.

06. Why is the Quest system better than the Regular system ?

It is because the Protagonist has to interact more to receive Quests, and only by completing them and gaining Exp can he use comprehension to advance his/her cultivation.

These interactions can have many moods, like being funny, fooling someone, misunderstanding, flirting, etc. A good reference can be found in the Web novel 'Overgeared'.

07. The theme of this novel is how the Protagonist uses this Quest system to advance his/her cultivation quickly, and gains a higher standing in society.

08. Remember that for a Xianxia world the most attractive thing for the readers is how the Protagonist gains a higher standing in the society. This is not just individual strength, but being the head of an organisation.

09. Readers love to read the Protagonist's journey of how he creates his own organization (Reference : World of Cultivation).

For example,

Protagonist creating his own clan / sect / kingdom / business, etc.

10. The reason why comprehension ability is introduced is because we have to boost the Protagonist's talent. The Protagonist can easily comprehend high level techniques, be it martial techniques, or those related to pill making, forging, formation, etc.

11. There can be hidden quests, or chain quests. There can also be some embarrassing quests, or those which the Protagonist hates but has to do it because of the high Exp.

12. The Protagonist can found a sect and be a sect leader while being extremely young. (Reference : The Strongest System) Thus, the Protagonist will interact with people similar to his age as their elder, which will be extremely funny.

13. The Protagonist may create 'original' techniques which are extremely superior in the world. If the Protagonist is a transmigrator, then the added different world view can make the novel more interesting as the Protagonist can use his/her comprehension ability to create something novel.

14. The comprehension ability must be properly defined, and cannot be freely given to the Protagonist. The comprehension ability might be limited by time, etc.

We can also give out something like a 'Comprehension Ticket' which can enable extremely high comprehension ability of the Protagonist until a specific task is done.

15. One of the interesting parts is that the Quest system is not as advanced as a regular system, and does not have many abilities that a regular system has.

Thus, the Protagonist might be sometimes frustrated over this, and might try to find loopholes.

16. Note that the Quest system is discreetly supportive, and the main content of the plot comes from -

(1) Interaction with the natives.

(2) Creating powerful and 'original' techniques and things using comprehension.