The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Q&A

ComputerAndVideoGames.com has posted a Q&A with Bethesda’s Bruce Nesmith, quizzing the senior designer about how the team created the quests in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.

Q: How do the guild quests work then?

A: Guild quests are a little bit different; they’re usually given to a particular designer to oversee the entire quest storyline. That designer then puts forward an idea or over-arching story that he or she would like to implement. That’s then put forward to the group, then the group looks at it and makes comments. Frequently in the early stages, the decision process can be very brutal; ideas can undergo dramatic metamorphoses. The group finds big flaws, little flaws, comes up with extra ideas to put in, but it’s much more in the hands of the individual who’s going to be managing that quest line from birth to death. So the group has an awful lot of input, but the original idea comes from one person.