[My intention is to turn this thread into a sticky in this forum. If you are a mod and agree with me, then maybe we can work something out. If you are a fellow GM and like this list, then say so and help me make this dream a reality. I know I'm new and it probably won't happen, but hey, there's no use in not trying]
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All campaigns start with a basic idea, the foundation that festers in the GM's mind until it becomes a fully fleshed out action-packed pants-wetting adventure. This is a resource for GM's that offers a long list of these basic mission types. Simply pick one off the list, and think of how you can make your own adventure out of it.
Just keep in mind, these are the very basic foundations of a campaign. A campaign is so much more than just an obstacle, but it's a combination of heroes, villains, and complications. This is a tool for the beginning of a single run or campaign, the rest cannot be made into a tool. That's all up to you and your group.
So now that we're done with the introduction, let's get those juices flowing.
Ambush
There's a group of people in a specific location that someone wants either dead or gone. This is where an ambush comes into place: Running in and taking out a stronghold. This obviously has the potential for combat, but what about social interactions? Well, perhaps the best way to initiate the ambush is from within.
Assassination
It's the age-old story: someone wants someone else dead. This is a classic staple for a great run, and can be shifted in so many possibilities. And don't forget to have your players find the guy, finding him can be just as fun as taking him out. Perhaps who you're after is a corporate executive or a paranoid bastard who lives in a bunker in the middle of Antarctica.
Courier
Why move a package when you can hire someone to do it for you? I mean, how long has UPS been in business? 50 years? 100 years? But I digress, this is a fantastic adventure. It has the potential for heart-pounding car chases and don't forget to drive away from exploding buildings in the background. Also a great opportunity to get other factions involved, after all, whatever you're carrying has to be really important. Right?
Demolition
There's something out there that someone wants gone, such as a building or some new super-weapon. But beware, this type of mission can seriously piss off the wrong faction. Someone telling your players to blow up a mafia stronghold? Doesn't sound like a good idea to me, maybe they should just blow up their employer's. And don't forget the moral dilemma of possibly murdering hundreds of people, maybe even thousands if it's a large building. Great for an infiltration mission as well as a narrow and daring escape. And does the employer want something really intimidating to jump out at the target? Well, have your players resort to Arson.
Enforcement
Sometimes breaking the rules can get monotonous, how about enforcing the rules instead? Perhaps there's some cop out there who can't get this unruly gang to behave, and needs some runners to go in there and get them to settle down. This mission can be a great way to break away from the norm, and is fun for the whole family! Well, the older family, anyways.
Extortion
Ever wanted something that someone else has? Of course you have, and those Corporate Executives sure do as well. Extortion is the act of unlawfully obtaining a building, service, or money through the use of threat or just pure force. Most of these missions will involve scaring one group or individual into either being afraid of your runners or afraid of what they have. There's so many ways to go about this, everyone's bound to be in for one hell of an adventure.
Framing
Sometimes people just seem to follow the rules. Crazy, right? This is when you need to frame someone. Who needs to take down that Executive when you could have Lone Star do it for you? All you have to do is plant that evidence and send them off to their doom. Easy, right? Yeah, like you'd make it easy for them.
Gambling
This can be another great way to really mix it up. Perhaps that item the Executive wants is the first-place prize of a poker tournament, and is too heavily guarded to have your players steal it. Perhaps bring in some real cards, or leave the entire game to luck rolls. Roll one D6, and the higher the roll, the better their hand. And of course, don't forget to add in bluffing, hacking, cheating, and all that good stuff that us runners love.
Insertion
Factions are a huge part of Shadowrun, we all know them and love them. This is a great way for us GM's to really show the dynamics of these factions, especially if we've created them ourselves. This mission consists of the players posing as that faction, and blending in until completing a specific task. Perhaps the Mafia has some relic deep down in their main building, or maybe a local gang has some secret about a corporation that you need to weasel out of one of its members.
Investigation
Sometimes life can get out of hand, and sometimes you kill someone or steal something. And, of course, you can't have that information getting out. You're an important man, and you need to keep your image. So how are you going to do that? Hide the evidence, pay the police off, and lay low. But what exactly is your worst nightmare? Why, runners of course. They don't play by the rules, they don't need to prove you guilty in the court. They just need enough evidence to know that it's you, and then take you out. What are the chances of that happening?
Kidnapping
Never forget the basics, the classic kidnap can be a great way to make quick money. Getting a hold of the person, finding a place to stash them, and hiding your trail while trying to get your compensation at the same time. This can be a very difficult mission, especially if you start getting Lone Star and other powerful factions involved. Not to mention the interactions between the player and the kidnapped NPC can make this mission very interesting.
Mission Sabotage
Usually it's the NPC's that are trying to ruin your player's plan, but how about we switch it around this time? Have your players try and stop some other runners from completing their mission. Perhaps weave into finding out what they are really up to, and maybe even putting a stop to their employers. This is another fantastic mission to mix things up with, really see the opposite side of the campaign.
Protection
Another one of those timeless stories. There will always be someone who wants some important object or to kill someone important. In this mission, have your players dress up as security and watch over some new project your team is working on, or perhaps have them protecting some VIP from some no-good assassins.
Recruitment
In this mission, you can have your players complete a wide variety of tasks. Perhaps there's some expert that the mob wants on their side, or maybe you have a new shadowrunner that your players need to add to the team. Using this mission for that is a very fluid and natural way of introducing new players, and it's a fine mission to simply add an NPC to the faction your players are associated with. Also, this mission can be used to have your players find a new contact you need them to have. None of your players have an information contact? Well, it's time to fix that.
Retrieval
This is perhaps one of the most versatile missions on this list. This can have the player retrieve a rival corp's schematics on some new project, or sending your players into an underground cave to find some mystical object. This is also a great way to really mess with your players, such as having the targeted object turn out to be some world-destroying weapon that they must choose to get rid of or turn in, or perhaps it's being protected by a deadly toxic spirit.
Rescue
This is, in a way, a variation of the Retrieval mission. Instead of having to get ahold of an object, your players are trying to get someone out of a dangerous situation. Perhaps they're under heavy weapon fire from the Mafia, or maybe they need to be rescued from a Lone Star jail (Good luck on that one, chummer). This is a great way to introduce some new important NPC's. Such as a main enemy that your team has to negotiate with to get their target out of that hot situation, and their target might just be a badass willing to fight their way out with your players.
Solicitation
You know those awful candy bars that you had to sell in Elementary School? Well, I think it's time we revisit that with a slightly different product. In this mission, you can have your players attempting to sell some good that someone else stole. Finding a buyer, executing the exchange that might just go wrong, and so much more. It's an odd mission, but a surprisingly versatile one.
Tailchaser
This mission can entail a lot of things. Perhaps your NPC's need to locate someone who's gone into hiding, or maybe they need to stick to the shadows and find out what this important corp executive is doing in the middle of the street at night. Maybe they follow him and find out that he's working with a local gang to start a war in the city. Or maybe his favorite restaurant in just in this part of town. Now wouldn't that be exciting? (No, not really)
War
Not your standard shadowrun, this mission puts your players right in the middle of some fantastic conflict. Will they make it out alive, with all limbs, and their sanity intact? Probably not.
If there is anything you would like me to add on the list, please post or PM your input
