/vr/ - Retro Games

>>2370313
Stonekeep did it pretty well back in 1994. The player character kept a journal. That journal did not just include player stats, maps and found items, but it also contained the quest log. The quest log was written in the form of short comments and observations in first person. A quest could span several comments, which were added when the player progressed in the quest. I think the log even contained a comment on the resolution of a quest, once it was resolved. It was like a brief diary, like a player taking notes, without the gruntwork of getting out pen and paper.
You can see that "quest log" is actually in the notes section. The game would do some comments for you, but you're free to edit them, or add more info. It was just a friendly fallback, not a read-only thing.
That applies to all the other sections of the journal as well. For example when you picked up an item, the journal would automatically add the picture of the item, plus a brief phrase saying what it is (for example "a brown root"). The player still had the ability to add any info they discovered and considered useful. (say "heals wounds").