The Quest Manifesto!

About Linktober Quest...

Linktober Quest is a drawing challenge that focuses on visual development in a linear journey that you create.
The Linktober Quest concept is from the mind of D.B. Root and then collaborated on with Joel to put together the QUEST CALENDAR. Click any of the topics below to jump to that section or scroll and read all.
How Does it Work?          New Game          Prompts          Clarification
Domain 1          Domain 2          Domain 3          Domain 4          Final
How Does it Work?
Like many drawing challenges there are 31 prompts that give a topic for what to draw in that month. The difference is that in Linktober Quest, the drawing challenges are like a new page in your own adventure...

On the first day you create a new or re-imagine a popular character in the style of Legend of Zelda as if you are designing a new game.
After designing your character each new daily prompt will be another part of the world you'll uncover, ranging from characters, to props, and environments.
At the end you'll have built a small view into a world you've crafted.

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New Game
Imagine that you have been chosen as an artist to develop a new Legend of Zelda game.

In the Legend of Zelda, the world is divided into specific domains: Zora, Goron, Kokiri, Gerudo, etc. Each domain biome with their own respective land: water-centric, mountainous, fairy forest, dry and sandy desert.

Each week you visit a new domain with a series of prompts aimed at helping you design your vision of the world! At the end of each week you face a “BOSS” prompt that is designed to give you an extra challenge, marking the end to your visit to that domain. The next week you visit the next domain and continue your Quest!

You pick and design the places your Quest will take you. For example:

Hyrule Castle > Zora’s Domain > Rito Sky City > (Your invented) Sheikah village > Final Boss

In this case Your characters come from (Hyrule castle) designed in that style. Your Main Character goes to your first domain (Zora) you decide what their characters and environment looks like. After the boss you do the same for the (Rito). Then you make your own invented domain as if you were designing an original place (Sheikah Village) using information from the Legend of Zelda World. At the end you Face a final boss with no specific domain in mind.

Each of the domains in parentheses you choose, you can think of it as a kind of Mad Lib for your own Legend of Zelda game. Want to make a game with your main character as young Ganon starting in Gerudo valley? Go for it! It's your chance to make an epic quest that only you can design!

Why do Linktober Quest vs. the Original Linktober?
Linktober Quest was designed as an interactive journey through your own world and as a chance to practice visual development. This focuses on storytelling, design, and continuity within a structured format. This, also gives an opportunity to enrich the Legend of Zelda world with characters and places that may not be canon to the series. By the end of the game you'll have a body of visual development material that could be polished up for things like portfolio entries, inspiration for other characters/stories, or a window into a world you built.
Linktober Quest Prompts:    (or see them on the Quest Calendar)

Your Character*   
Your Friend
Your Rival
The Guardian (Not Link, Zelda, or Ganon)   
Your Weapon/ Tool   
Zelda   
The Trial Room Mechanism
BOSS**: Trial Beast inspired by the room   
Link   
Domain Choice Zora/Goron   
Your character Dressed for that Domain
Domain Specialty Item   
Opposite Gender Zora/Goron   
Leader Zora/Goron   
BOSS**: Master of the Domain   
Monster of your Choice   
Ganon   
Domain 2 Character(Zora, Goron, Rito, Twili, Sheikah, Hyrule, Gerudo, etc.)   
Domain 2 Temple Tool   
Domain 2 Transportation   
Domain 2 Merchant   
BOSS**: Part Temple/ Part Boss   
Invent a Domain Character   
Invented Domain Treasure   
Invented Domain Monster   
Invented Domain Buildings   
Invented Domain Animals/Nature   
Invented Domain Magic   
BOSS**: Your (Friend, Rival, or Guardian) as the Surprise Final Boss   
Your Choice (Free prompt)
Goddess

* If you choose Link, Zelda, or Ganon for your Main Character, Friend or Rival, when you encounter them later they will be shadow or another version of themselves.
** After each Boss you no longer have to stay with the theme of your chosen domain


It’s dangerous to go alone, take this!

Need help figuring out what to do with your prompt? Check out the Linktober Pintrest for inspiration and references to help you along your way.

Prompt Clarification and Examples

The color coded Character Design/ Prop Design/ Environment Design/ Creature Design/ Costume Design exist to help clarify the proposed outcome of each prompt.
Your Quest starts here:

Domain 1: You can choose anywhere in the land of Hyrule that your character starts from. It can also be a domain you revisit later.

1. Design your main character! This can be anyone from the Legend of Zelda series or a new original character in attire suited for your starting domain. Character Design

2. Design your main character’s friend, someone who is close to your character. This can be anyone from the Legend of Zelda series or a new original character in attire suited for your starting domain. Character Design

3. Design your main character’s rival, someone who might be opposed or challenges your main character. (This can be anyone from the Legend of Zelda series or a new original character in attire suited for your starting domain.) Character Design

4. Design a Guardian that sets you on your journey. (This can be anyone or anything as long as it is not Link, Zelda, or Ganon.) Character Design

5. Along your way you find or earn a tool that will help you on your Quest. Example: If your character is a chef they might find a mystical looking frying pan, or magical seeds that sprout flying pods. Prop Design

6. You find Zelda who sends you to your first trial, marking the the beginning to your journey. Design what Zelda looks like. (If you chose Zelda as your Main character, friend, or rival this is an alternate or shadow version)  Character Design

7. In your first trial you encounter a trap. What does the trap look like and how does it work? Can you use your Tool to get out of it? Design your trap. Environment Design


BOSS: The Trial spawns a creature inspired by your trap. Design a creature that has a similar weakness as the trap.  Environment Design/ Creature Design
Domain 2: Your character now goes off on their quest by completing the Trial, You have two well known places you can visit for your next domain. One path leads to the Zoras the other leads to the Gorons. Choose one of these two.

1. On your way to your next domain you find Link. Design what Link looks like in your world.  (If you chose Link as your Main character, friend, or rival this is an alternate or shadow version)  Character Design

2. Design what your Goron/Zora look like.  Character Design

3. Your character needs to change their outfit to suit their new surroundings. Design what their new attire looks like to fit in with their environments. Costume Design

4. You come across an item that is a specialty of that domain. Design that item. Example: A shark fin hat from the Zora domain or a bomb flower bracelet from the Gorons Prop Design

5. You meet a Goron/ Zora of the opposite gender than the one you found earlier. Or get creative on how they represent themselves. Character Design

6. The leader of the Gorons/Zora comes to meet you. What do they look like? Character Design


BOSS You discover that the Master of the domain is a deity of that culture, a sort of ancient God to them. What does it look like and how does it shape their world? Creature Design
Domain 3: Your character either spends more time in the domain you were just in previously or go onto the next domain of your choice. Either stay in Goron/Zora’s Domain or move onto any other domain that has been featured in the Legend of Zelda series. Example: Zora, Goron, Rito, Twili, Sheikah, Hyrule, Gerudo, etc.

1. Along your way you find a monster in the Legend of Zelda world. (This does not have to be part of the domain but it can be). Design what it looks like. Examples: Lizalfos, Skulls, Moblins etc.     Creature Design

2. On your way you meet Ganon. Design what Ganon Looks like (If you chose Ganon as your Main character, friend, or rival this is an alternate or shadow version) Character Design

3. Design what the denizens of your domain look like (If you stayed in the last domain create a citizen with a specific job for the town) Character Design

4. On your way you find a tool in this domain well suited to help you along your way like your first. Design a tool that would be useful in this domain. Example: A hook shot for an area with lots of tall hard to reach places, or a lens of truth to peer through illusions. Prop Design
   
5. Tired of walking you come across something to help you travel. What is this mode of transportation how does it work in your domain? (This could be a mount, object, ship, boat, etc.)    Prop Design/ Creature Design

6. Coming to the end of this domain you find a mysterious merchant they want to sell you something. What does this merchant look like and what are they selling? Example: mask merchant, store clerk, potion witch, etc.  Character Design


BOSS: You’ve made it to the next trial! You can choose if your trial is a temple of traps or face off against a beast of this domain. Your tool must help you succeed in this trial. Design a temple or a beast that can be bested by your new tool. Environment Design/ Creature Design
Domain 4: Your character now comes to their final destination, a domain that you have invented or re-imagined. Like the Sheikah village,  an underworld inhabited by Poe, or a Lizalfo world. You choose what this place is and what it looks like. You can also develop an already established domain if you choose.

1. Design what the people of this new domain look like and imagine how they would fit into the Legend of Zelda World. Character Design

2. What kind of treasure might exist in this domain? What objects might be special here? Design that Treasure.
Prop Design   

3. What would the monsters in this domain look like? How does the environment suit them? Creature Design   

4. What do the inhabitant's of this domain live in? Draw what they live in or how they live. Environment Design

5. What kind of animals, plants, rock formations, or ruins exist here? Pick one or a few to draw.
Environment Design / Creature Design

6. What kind of magic exists here or do they use machines? Design a “magical” or “mechanical” item that you can use. Prop Design   

BOSS: In this world you come to your greatest challenge, re-imagine your Friend, Rival, or Guardian as a final boss. Your Friend, Rival, or Guardian has come to challenge you. They test how far you have come in your quest, this is your final trial. Character Design
Final: Your Main character has come to the end of their quest and has come out stronger for it. They look back at the world they have traveled through and the experiences they have encountered. The only thing left is to tie up loose ends and do a few side quests. Congratulations you have come far! There is no specific domain theme for these last two prompts.

1. Design something that you have not encountered on your journey yet this can be anything you choose. Or take a day of rest to finish your final prompt Character Design/ Prop Design/ Environment Design/Creature Design/ Costume Design

2. You have received the divine blessing of the goddesses. Draw an personification or interpretation of one or all three goddesses..Nayru, Din and Farore have come in your honor. Character Design