Quest "Time Limit"

[SimonConnor]

In Oblivion Mod forums, I've had various encounters with people who found it odd that during an intense quest, one could stop half-way through and go do another. The best example of this is when you hurry to Kvatch, talk to Martin, assuring him that you will close the gate, but then you have the opportunity to do every free-form quest and then return to it, months later in game- or real-time. I propose that some sort of quest time-limit is added, such as in your current quest book, there will be a small message telling you that there is a urgent quest that requires action immediately. One example that comes to mind is the Bruma Quest "A Brotherhood Betrayed" when you track down a phoney vampire hunter to a cave, as he is hiding from the town guards. It would make more sense if after leaving it too long, he would take his chance and leave the cave. The guard in the quest would then approach you, telling you that Raynil managed to flee, and that you have failed. You would not receive any rewards, and the wife of the dead man, Bradon Lirrian, would have a very low disposition with you, which could not be shifted. Perhaps even your fame or infamy would go up or down respectively.

Another short example, in the form of the quest "Go Fish", which requires you to collect Rumare Slaughterfish scales. The fisherman informs you that he has grown too old to fish, and he needs those scales, because he has a deal with a young alchemist. Perhaps if you leave the quest for too long, the alchemist will grow impatient and tell the fisherman that the deal is off. You wouldn't receive the reward, The Jewel of the Rumare, and his disposition would me fixed at an appropriate 0.

This is just an idea. It's probably too esoteric an idea to be accessible at all, but give your input and your own adjustments