gaming Sidequests: Now, Later or Never?

[PoisonClaw 8,164]

i'm the kind of person that once sidequests or side missions become available, I stop the story dead in its tracks to do all the sidequests that I can at the time. For example, not counting the intro missions, I was something like 8-10 hours into Mass Effect 1 before I even started the first story related mission.

 

Of course, they're secondary missions so they can just as easily be left until later or avoided all together. Do you do I what I do and do them all as soon as possible, leave them until later, or just walk right by them and never look back?  

[AzureNightLight 122]

I always do them because I can't even count the number of times I've decided not to do it and later in the game it's like...

 

"You need to have completed *this side quest* to take the easy route. If you haven't then... hoo boy... you're in for a ride."

 

Besides, if you do them, you're getting the full experience out of whatever game you got.

[Megas 27,695]

Depends on what game it is. In something sidequest heavy like Xenoblade or Skyrim I have no problem with stopping what I'm doing to do it(especially considering Skyrim's story kinda blows). With something like Final Fantasy or Tales though I'm willing to wait until near the endgame to start doing them(unless they're only available for a specific time-frame)

[cmarston1 5,959]

I don't do every sidequest, but sometimes they can make for a nice distraction.

[Darknesskight 49]

I do sidequest when they come available so that I dont end up forgetting about them or having them locked off to be later. There are times where I have skipped though because of either difficulty at that time or something that would hurt my character in some way. (Bad karma)

[Discordian 6,015]

Depends a lot on the game. If it's not too far out of the way I'll usually do it before I move on with the story. Some games will beat you down if you don't do at least a few of the sidequests to get equipment or levels.

 

Then there's Hyperdimension Neptunia which beats you down even after you've done all the sidequests available at the time. Twice.

 

The thing is, though, that sidequests are often only meant to be played when you first get them or a little afterward. The rewards aren't useful after that point so whether you actually need them or not it's best to do them right then and there.

 

But even then I'll sometimes end up moving on with the story because "sidequest" often equates to "pointless fetch quest with nothing of value to be gained storywise". You can usually find something that trumps the rewards not long afterward so it's not even necessary to do everything unless you're an anal completionist or hunting for trophies/achievements.

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,611]

At this point, I mostly explore around and if a sidequest comes up, then I decide right then if I want to do it or not. If I decide to, then I will do it then. If not, then I will save it for later. Sometimes I go a sidequest binge.

[Dash In Black 18]

I tend to agree with the first two posts, I love squeezing as much story/backstory out of RPG type games as I can (Fallout is so great for that ), and along with whatever items you come across, the xp doesn't hurt either.  And, hey, worst case scenario, you got a few more hours of gameplay for your dollar.

[Shift 4,272]

@@PoisonClaw,

 

Oh boy, if that's how you treat sidequests you are never going to finish Xenoblade Chronicles or Xenoblade X

 

If a sidequest interests me, then i'll usually do it first before all else, but otherwise I wait until I complete the story.

[Chigens and Kay 3,832]

I tend to do the story missions last or whenever I've run out of side missions to do. So, I am in the now and later category. I do them as they become available or along the way if they are further on from the side mission I am already on.

[Thuja 3,659]

A game like Skyrim or Fallout 4, I might explore around a bit and take my time with the quests.  In a game like mass effect 2 or 3, I might do all of the side quests before moving on in the story.  So I guess all-in-all, I'll do the side quests before completing the main story.

[Celli 4,338]

Depends on the game. If it's a game like Zelda, or Dragon Quest, I'll do sidequests later. If it's a game like Fallout/Witcher, I'll do sidequests first.

[Celtore 2,770]

NOW! Do it now! You'll appreciate the experience later in the story quests, you won't have to mindlessly grind as much. Plus, think of all the extra loot and gold you'll be rewarded with!

[Willow Blossom 6]

I would have to say that it depends on heavily invested I am in the story and the implications of the mission. For example in Fallout 4... *no spoilers* if I have to choose between saving some people in a side quest, and traveling a far way away for the main story I'd probably take the time to save the folks... because morals.

[Scrubbed user 3,416]

I usually do them. More XP and/or items I can sell is always better.

[Stormlight 1,371]

It depends on the game I'm playing. If side quests are available to do and easy to accomplish I will sidetrack from the main storyline and then go back once I've finished.

[VengefulStrudel 1,486]

I usually try to do all sidequests in most games, though if it's a game I'm replaying, I might skip out on some that I know won't benefit me. Otherwise, it'll probably be like Skyrim: do 30 sidequests before even getting into the main quests. Even as a warrior/assassin, gotta finish those magic college quests.

[SquipyCheetah 449]

Side missions are things I always wind up doing the moment they appear. Eventually, I do so many that I completely forget what the main mission was.

[Dynamo Pad 11,356]

It usually depends on what game I'm playing. If I'm close to where the side mission, I will do the side quest right away. It's always nice getting extra experience or items before going back to the main story. 

[EpicEnergy 23,219]

I do them ASAP, once they become available, because they level me up faster and make me stronger to easily defeat the enemies in the main quests, plus they are interesting to do and my completionistic behavior disallows me to skip them (except the repeatable ones).

[Cash In 22,373]

Depends on the game and what I'm getting out of it. If it's something useful, I'll do it ASAP, but if not, I'll usually come back later to do it.

[ZiggWheelsManning 10,584]

So many in Star Wars:  The Old Republic that they're too deep to turn down  

[Pastel Heart 6,466]

Depends~ in games where the sidequests effect the overall world and ending like Mass Effect and The Outer Worlds I'll do them before the end but if it's like unimportant to the story or bonus stuff I'll save it for postgame ie Ocarina of Time