Starfield Long Side Quest Chains: A Detailed View

Starfield Long Side Quest Chains: Diving Deep into the Settled Systems

Starfield, Bethesda’s epic space RPG, is filled with more than just the main story. It’s brimming with side quests that can take you on amazing adventures across the Settled Systems. Some of these aren’t just short little tasks; they are long, winding quest chains that can keep you busy for hours. These long side quest chains can lead to interesting characters, provide great rewards, and even change the world around you! Let’s jump in and explore some of the exciting and engaging quests you can find in Starfield.

What Makes a Quest Chain “Long”?

Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about what makes a side quest chain truly “long.” It’s not just about the number of missions involved, but more about the depth and scope. Here are some key factors that define these expansive quests:

• Multiple Missions: Instead of just one or two tasks, these chains have many steps, often spread across different planets and locations.
• Character Development: You’ll often meet and interact with the same characters across the chain, watching them grow and change as you do.
• Branching Paths: Some long quest chains offer choices that alter the story or your relationships with characters, creating a personalized feel.
• Significant Rewards: Completion of these chains usually gives better rewards, from unique gear to special abilities.
• World Building: They often provide a deeper understanding of the game world, its factions, and its history.

Faction Questlines: Your Ticket to Extended Adventure

One of the best ways to experience long quest chains in Starfield is by joining one of the game’s major factions. These organizations offer branching narratives and multiple quests that can keep you engaged for a significant period. Let’s explore some of them:

The United Colonies (UC) Vanguard

If you want to be a space hero and protect the galaxy, the UC Vanguard is the place to go. The Vanguard questline is a great example of a long and involving journey. Here’s what you can expect:

• Becoming a Vanguard: You’ll begin by taking the Vanguard oath and participating in training simulations.
• Investigating Alien Threats: Much of the questline involves dealing with the mysterious alien threats that plague the settled systems.
• Uncovering Conspiracies: As you progress, you’ll find yourself deep in political intrigue, fighting to protect the UC from inside and outside enemies.
• Moral Choices: You’ll face difficult decisions that will impact the course of the story.
• Unique Rewards: You’ll gain access to high-tech gear and even the chance to command your own UC ship.

The Freestar Collective

If you prefer the life of a space cowboy, the Freestar Collective is your home. The Freestar Collective questline is a fascinating dive into the history and culture of the Settled Systems. Here’s a look at what you will experience:

• Becoming a Ranger: You’ll start as a new recruit in the Freestar Rangers.
• Investigating Crime: Much of your time is spent investigating and solving criminal cases, dealing with outlaws and corruption.
• Protecting the innocent: You’ll be involved in dangerous situations, where you have to protect the innocent from dangerous outlaws.
• Moral choices: Again, you will face moral choices that will affect your relationships with the Freestar Collective.
• Unique Rewards: You’ll get access to custom Ranger gear and your own Freestar Collective-branded ship.

Ryujin Industries

If you are interested in the world of corporate espionage, the Ryujin Industries storyline might be the best option for you. Here’s what you can expect from this questline:

• Starting as an Employee: You will start as a low-level employee at Ryujin Industries.
• Corporate Espionage: You’ll become involved in a world of secret missions, hacking, and corporate intrigue.
• Climbing the Corporate Ladder: You’ll work your way up through the ranks of Ryujin Industries, facing unique challenges and moral quandaries.
• High Tech Gear: You will gain access to some of the most advanced tech in the game.
• Moral Choices: You’ll need to make difficult decisions, balancing your personal morals with the needs of the company.

Crimson Fleet

If you are interested in something less law-abiding, the Crimson Fleet might be for you. This questline allows you to explore a different side of the Settled Systems.

• Joining the Crimson Fleet: You’ll begin by infiltrating this group of space pirates.
• Pirate Life: You’ll become involved in the dangerous life of a space pirate, raiding ships and engaging in criminal activities.
• Dealing with the other Factions: You will need to navigate the politics of the criminal underworld, building alliances and making enemies.
• Moral Choices: You’ll have to decide how far you’re willing to go down the path of crime.
• Unique Rewards: You’ll gain access to pirated gear, ships, and other rewards, and a lot of credits.

Beyond Factions: Other Notable Long Quest Chains

While the faction questlines are some of the most extensive, Starfield also has several other long side quest chains outside of them, these non-faction quests can also give you a deep dive into the world.

The Mantis Quest

This mysterious quest is a fan favorite and it shows you the past through a hidden hero that you can become. Here is what you can expect:

• A Mysterious Message: You’ll start by finding a mysterious message, hinting at a legendary figure.
• Exploring a Secret Lair: You’ll explore the Mantis’ secret base, battling through various enemies and traps.
• The Legendary Mantis: You’ll learn about the Mantis’s past and the reasons behind their legendary status.
• The Mantis Gear: After completing the quest, you can acquire a special set of armor and ship.

The “Operation Starseed” Quest

This quest is interesting and full of philosophical questions, that can make you question your ideas. Here’s what the quest offers:

• Discovering a Strange Colony: You’ll start by finding a colony run by a strange group.
• Meeting Historical Figures: You’ll meet several historical figures that were cloned and that are now living in this colony.
• Making Difficult Choices: You’ll have to decide what to do with the colony and how to help these clones.
• Consequences of your choices: Your decisions will have impact on the colony, its people, and the future.

The “Entangled” Quest

This is a very unique quest that tests your decision-making and problem-solving. Here is what you will experience:

• Discovering a Strange Phenomenon: You’ll find a research facility dealing with some anomaly.
• Switching Dimensions: You’ll need to switch between parallel realities to figure out what happened in the lab.
• Solving the Mystery: You will need to understand and solve the mysteries of this anomaly in order to complete the quest.
• Consequences for the lab: Your choices will determine the fate of the research lab and the scientists working there.

Why Invest Time in Long Side Quest Chains?

You might be asking yourself, why spend all this time on long side quests when there’s a main story to follow? Well, here’s why these quest chains are a crucial part of the Starfield experience:

• Deeper Immersion: Long quest chains allow you to get more involved in the game’s world, learning about its history and politics.
• Character Growth: You develop strong relationships with the characters you meet, and see their character evolve, just as your own.
• Meaningful Choices: These quests usually have decisions that affect the story and your character, making your journey feel unique.
• Valuable Rewards: You can get many useful things that are impossible to find elsewhere, including weapons, armor, ships, and skills.
• More Content: These questlines add a huge amount of gameplay to Starfield and can extend your adventure significantly.

Tips for Tackling Long Quest Chains

Here are some tips to make sure you are making the most out of your long side quest chains:

• Track Your Progress: Make sure to use the game’s quest log to track the progress of your quests and remember where to go next.
• Talk to Everyone: Make sure to speak to all NPCs, they may give you more missions and give you more insight into the story.
• Be Patient: Some long quest chains will have a lot of steps. Don’t rush through them. Enjoy the experience.
• Plan Your Time: These quests can take a lot of time, so make sure you plan and are prepared before starting a long quest.
• Don’t Be Afraid to Explore: Exploring is a big part of Starfield, so make sure to get off the beaten path and see where your quests lead you.
• Use Your Resources: Make sure you take advantage of all the resources at your disposal, like fast travel, crafting, and vendors.

Starfield’s long side quest chains are some of the best content it offers, and they give you an even better chance to engage with the world and its people. These quests can often be more memorable than the main story, and I hope this guide has provided you with the knowledge you need to take on these expansive adventures.