So have a game idea which I'm still sorting out and wanted to ask for help since its currently quite generic and would also need advice on making it more setting specific.
So far the Players are running characters who start the game being "escorted" to a meeting with an underworld fixer who is fully aware of their aware debts and problems and offers them a way out in return for a "favour".
If none of the PCs have access to a ship (very likely) one will be provided but what he wants in return is for them to use that ship and intercept an automated transport aboard which they need to recover one specific cargo crate and deliver it to a deep space station where they'll be paid 10,000 each along with the fixer's help with their debt and other problem and if they do the job well will get a bonus along with additional work if they want it.
Now my main problem is making it clear its to their advantage to accept and actually do the job rather than just steal the ship and try and sell it once clear hoping to escape the Fixer's obviously extensive underworld connections.
Secondly the automated transport turns out to be a prison transport holding alot of prisoners in a form of suspension until they reach their destination its autmated with noone aboard because I figure the contract was put out to bid and the winner cut everything back that they could and the transport being automated meant it could be left unmanned as the odds of anything happening was considered irelevant.
However the cargo they're after is listed numerically but the records they use list them alphabetically because thats what the transport is carrying meaning they need to figure out who they're after quickly and as long as they don't mess about its just a matter of deduction...
Yeah thats the third problem since what might seem simple to me might not be the case for them so I need to run that part past you in case it does rear its head although that still leaves the possibility of a player or players' messing around deliberately!
So the cargo they're looking for is unlisted in the transport records, simply checking the system for the one left unlisted will turn up one which on inspection will turn out to be holding someone clearly not in prison overalls and also not been processed in the transport's manifest indicating she shouldn't be aboard.
If they spend too long searching they will discover a ship on intercept and unless they get clear before it gets into range it will fire on their ship the instant it undocks, if it hasn't undocked they will send boarding parties to intervene resulting in a firefight aboard the transport.
The woman they're both looking for was kidnapped and sent aboard the transport as it was the easiest means of getting her offworld and into their custody.
Whilst the ship that intercepts them isn't the authorities they have no intention of leaving evidence of their presence so will blow up the transport once they confirm their target is no longer aboard. Unlike the PCs they know what they're looking for...
Now once they reach their destination this could go any of several ways.
1) If they revive her before reaching their destination they could find out why the fixer arranged her rescue namely that she's related to someone very powerful and wealthy making that 10,000 reward actually quite paltry in comparison.
2) The ship that intercepted them still has people in pursuit of them and will try to steal back their cargo as the PCs meet their contact,
3) If she was revived aboard the transport they will need to get her to safety as she's the only reason the bad guys haven't blown up the transport, then there's the matter of the other prisoners... now imagine if they're all woken up...
I'll leave that there and see what you think... thanks in advance by the way!
So far the Players are running characters who start the game being "escorted" to a meeting with an underworld fixer who is fully aware of their aware debts and problems and offers them a way out in return for a "favour".
If none of the PCs have access to a ship (very likely) one will be provided but what he wants in return is for them to use that ship and intercept an automated transport aboard which they need to recover one specific cargo crate and deliver it to a deep space station where they'll be paid 10,000 each along with the fixer's help with their debt and other problem and if they do the job well will get a bonus along with additional work if they want it.
Now my main problem is making it clear its to their advantage to accept and actually do the job rather than just steal the ship and try and sell it once clear hoping to escape the Fixer's obviously extensive underworld connections.
Secondly the automated transport turns out to be a prison transport holding alot of prisoners in a form of suspension until they reach their destination its autmated with noone aboard because I figure the contract was put out to bid and the winner cut everything back that they could and the transport being automated meant it could be left unmanned as the odds of anything happening was considered irelevant.
However the cargo they're after is listed numerically but the records they use list them alphabetically because thats what the transport is carrying meaning they need to figure out who they're after quickly and as long as they don't mess about its just a matter of deduction...
Yeah thats the third problem since what might seem simple to me might not be the case for them so I need to run that part past you in case it does rear its head although that still leaves the possibility of a player or players' messing around deliberately!
So the cargo they're looking for is unlisted in the transport records, simply checking the system for the one left unlisted will turn up one which on inspection will turn out to be holding someone clearly not in prison overalls and also not been processed in the transport's manifest indicating she shouldn't be aboard.
If they spend too long searching they will discover a ship on intercept and unless they get clear before it gets into range it will fire on their ship the instant it undocks, if it hasn't undocked they will send boarding parties to intervene resulting in a firefight aboard the transport.
The woman they're both looking for was kidnapped and sent aboard the transport as it was the easiest means of getting her offworld and into their custody.
Whilst the ship that intercepts them isn't the authorities they have no intention of leaving evidence of their presence so will blow up the transport once they confirm their target is no longer aboard. Unlike the PCs they know what they're looking for...
Now once they reach their destination this could go any of several ways.
1) If they revive her before reaching their destination they could find out why the fixer arranged her rescue namely that she's related to someone very powerful and wealthy making that 10,000 reward actually quite paltry in comparison.
2) The ship that intercepted them still has people in pursuit of them and will try to steal back their cargo as the PCs meet their contact,
3) If she was revived aboard the transport they will need to get her to safety as she's the only reason the bad guys haven't blown up the transport, then there's the matter of the other prisoners... now imagine if they're all woken up...
I'll leave that there and see what you think... thanks in advance by the way!