Quests: different symbols/meanings?

[myself]

Quests: different symbols/meanings?

So, probably a simple answer i should know, but how come some quests have a "shield" shape behind it, and some don't; whether or not the quest is completed, the background "shield" remains for some quests, and not others... for those in the know, what does this difference signify??

 

[dragonbird]

The ones with shields are main quests, that, in most cases, MUST be done at some stage in the game. There are a small number of main quests that are optional, for reasons that will be clear as you reach them.

The ones without shields are side quests and therefore optional.

I can't think of any that change from having a shield to not having a shield. Can you give an example?

 

[myself]

OK, so i kinda figured that the shield icon meant the difference between optional/main quests, but didn't see it specified anywhere, so wanted to make sure. i didn't mean to imply that certain quests went from having a shield to not having one, or visa versa; indeed, they are either/or. but, there is a significant number of un-shielded (ie optional) ones, which is fine... it enlarges the game. thanks.

 

[volsung]

OK, so i kinda figured that the shield icon meant the difference between optional/main quests, but didn't see it specified anywhere, so wanted to make sure. i didn't mean to imply that certain quests went from having a shield to not having one, or visa versa; indeed, they are either/or. but, there is a significant number of un-shielded (ie optional) ones, which is fine... it enlarges the game. thanks.

If you're new to computer RPG's then my suggestion is: contrary to what "optional" implies, it is recommended that you do all these quests because:

1) They are fun!
2) They add to the story
3) They add to character development

And finally, opposite to how other games like The Elder Scrolls series work, side-quests in The Witcher 2 are significant to the game world and the story. In other games, side-quests are pretty much what you said: game enlargers.