How do you find the side quests?

[hockeygirl]

Maybe I'm just stupid but I can't find any of the side quests. What do you need to do to unlock them? I can find the walkthroughs online telling you how to complete them but that doesn't help me when I can't find them to start with!

[jcnoren]

the arena fight to unlock the bonus area. each bonus area has a special bllostone you need to get the sword in the stone in plane of valor.

in norrath the pit you need to save all 8 gnomes for babik nurn to take you to the castle.. but don't go the first time you play the pit.

in faydark you only have to destroy (or enable in the evil path) the anchors. clearing the town of orcs (or the cave of elves in evil path) is a side quest
that lets you into the orc cave (or elf town-evil) where you find the shovel- again needed later.

in nighmare plane you also find words of hamony.. the shovel and words of harmony are needed to enter the lost tomb and open the doors to the area you can find the bloodstone of faydark

i leave the sidequests until after main game is done- but do get the shovel and words..

after i kill vanerost-- plane of nightmarwes- i do all the arena fights. then i do the earing quest..here's the route.

planr of fire bonus area (torment's fire] kill both minotaurs and get the twisted key.. go to hell's cells
which is the plane of torment bonus area and release sylea.. sylea gives you a bag to carry bloodvine.. go to the pit and save all 8 gnomes.. babik takes you to the castle where you get bloodvine.
return to sylea and she will pierce your ear so you can wear 2 earrings.. did you get the bloodstones in the bonus areas??

ok collect 10 bloodstones and go into bloodstone ally.. find the last bloodstone and enter twisted nightmare.. beat 5 bosses in a row and
you gget a message..you are a true champion... go back to plane of valor collect the sword in the stone..

side quests done..