3 Shortcuts to Super Side Quests
It's easier than you think
Not all the players could show up for our Monday night Shadowdark live play, so we put it to the audience, “should we continue with the adventure..” which involved a scary fog covering the city, “or should we turn the clock back and have a side quest?” They voted for a side quest and away we went.
If you’re a new DM, side quests are those adventures that are not a part of the main adventure or campaign you are currently running. Side quests can occur on purpose such as when all your players don’t show up or by accident when your players notice something “shiny” and they want to investigate or explore.
Here is the first piece of advice, especially, to new DM’s to executing a good side quest,
Be Prepared
As a DM you have to be prepared for anything your player’s character might do, like
I want to seduce the dragon (bards)
I want to pickpocket the king (thief)
I want to climb the giant (rogue)
We want to go over there, that place you have no plan for (entire party)
Having a few side quests in your pocket will help with the last one, you’re on your own with the others.
Here are 3 shortcuts to super side quests that could help you shape your own side quest
Your side quests should be
simple
self-contained
satisfying
Simple
The side quest for our party was to go and protect a money lending store (a medieval Title Max) during a festival. That was the assignment the adventurers guild gave us.
We showed up, role played with the owner and then….shenanigans.
A thief from the local thieves guild tried to break in and steal some loot. They snuck in from an underground tunnel through a hatch in the floor.
We had combat with the thief, thwarted their attempt and then… more shenanigans.
Seems the owner was in on it, hiring the thief to steal from him so he could collect insurance money to pay an overdue debt.
Your side quest could be any episode from any streaming show
protect the thing/person
escort the thing/ person
clear out the thing/place
find the thing/peron
Whatever side quest you give your players, make sure the task it simple but add a twist, if you like.
Self Contained
The side quest you use should be easily resolved within a single session and it should probably have nothing to do with the main adventure or campaign unless you need to get the party back on track.
Having a self contained side quest is a boon for the DM because it does not require you to tie it to the main plot or NPC’s so there is nothing to remember to keep the stories interwoven.
In our party’s case, this self-contained quest introduced new elements and locations without disrupting the overarching story. This side quest allowed us to
make friends with and now have leverage against a money lender (this might come in handy)
meet a member of one of the biggest thieves guilds in town and now have leverage with because we allowed her to live
discover an underground tunnel should we need to hide out or travel undetected through the city
Even though your self contained side quest has nothing to do with the main plot, the adventure can give the DM a chance to expand connections, introduce new NPC’s or share additional lore about the city or world you’re playing in.
Satisfying
The quest should offer a reward or conclusion that feels fulfilling.
For our party, we were happy with how this side quest went. Everyone’s character played a part, we hit on the 3 pillars of exploration, combat and role play and our characters gained some experience.
As players, we were happy to not have to go into the death fog short handed.
A side quest, as mentioned early, should be like an episode of a streaming show, like Leverage, Supernatural or the Ark, that does not focus on the main plot but gives room to explore another character’s arc or a chance to find new weapons, spells, etc. that might prepare a certain party for what’s in the nasty fog.
Resources
If you’re looking for side quest ideas, and you don;’t want to have to come up with your own, I recommend Side Quest decks from Inkwell Ideas. Each deck has over 50 cards with a quest, a map and plot hooks (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases).
Physical Decks on Amazon
Dungeons, Caves, & Ruins Fantasy
Drivethru RPG
100 One Page Side Quests for 5e
Evocative One Page Fantasy Side Quests and Encounters I OSE/OSR
The Book of Random Tables: Quests System Agnostic
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Tell me, what was your last side quest like? Did it follow my 3 suggestions? Let me know in the comments.
I love the Inkwell cards. It’s a great product line. Great suggestions too.