---
title: "Guided museum quest design"
description: "How World of Warcraft improved on EverQuest's open ended structure."
canonical: https://tomsharman.com/bookshelf/play-nice/guided-museum-quest-design/
updated: 2026-11-03
---

# Guided museum quest design

> How World of Warcraft improved on EverQuest's open ended structure.

Jason Schreier's framework, from Play Nice, pp. 13 to 109.

Framework 3 of 15 from [Play Nice](https://tomsharman.com/bookshelf/play-nice/index.md) by Jason Schreier. Category: Life and thinking.

## The steps

1. **Start in a beginner area.** Elwynn Forest or the Valley of Trials gives every player a clear opening.
2. **Mark the quest givers.** Characters with yellow exclamation points send players to collect pelts or clear a camp.
3. **Reward with levels.** A few quests grant a level, which unlocks more quests.
4. **Spiral out from quest nodes.** Players move from one quest hub to the next, so following the path is the most efficient route.

## Where it comes from

From chapter: PART ONE: RISE, pp. 13–109

## The animation

24 seconds, 4:5, no sound.

- MP4: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/play-nice/guided-museum-quest-design.mp4
- MP4, dark: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/play-nice/guided-museum-quest-design-dark.mp4
- Still: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/play-nice/guided-museum-quest-design.png
- Still, dark: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/play-nice/guided-museum-quest-design-dark.png