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Running Missions and Quest Chains

by Mike on 25 March 2024

This article is one in a series where we look at types of adventures and examine

how we prepare them.
how we run them.
what pitfalls we might run into.
how we avoid these pitfalls.

These articles include:

Your own adventure types and how you run them may differ from mine. That's totally fine. There are many right ways to enjoy this game.

Robin Laws's book Adventure Crucible – Building Stronger Scenarios for any RPG inspired my thoughts on this topic.

Understanding Missions and Quest Chains

In mission-based adventures the characters accomplish several goals across a series of scenes. The scenes may be linear or run in a network where players choose different paths leading to different future missions.

Often mission-based adventures take several sessions, perhaps an entire campaign, to complete. Each leg of the mission might be its own adventure.

Each mission or quest of the quest chain might be small – like killing a fire giant boss at a burned out watchtower, acquiring one of several needed items, or getting information from the shady vendor in the Lower Reaches. In a series of wartime missions, the characters accomplish specific missions while war rages around them.

Missions might also be built so the characters attempt to accomplish tasks before the bad guys, or the characters face a rival group attempting to complete the same or parallel quests. This competition results in an ever-changing situation as both groups follow their chains of quests.

Some example missions include:

Collecting three keys (out of 5) to open the vault of Ibraxus.
Destroying the four sub-lieutenants of King Lucan the vampire lord.
Disabling the four obelisks to prevent the opening of the doorway of the Black Cathedral.
Conducting four missions to thwart the hobgoblin armies of Lord Krash.
Recovering four powerful artifacts required to defeat Orcus, Lord of Undeath.

Preparing Mission-based Adventures

GMs may prepare for mission-based adventures by

determining the overall goal of the mission or quest chain.
building an outline or tree for the quests in the chain.
filling out the adventure details of the next quest or mission in the chain with the eight steps such as locations, NPCs, monsters, and treasure.
outlining which quests might follow the next one.
determine the path and progress of rival groups following these same quests if any.

Running Missions

When running mission-based adventures or campaigns, the GM should

clarify the goals of the overall quest chain.
clarify the paths the characters can take and choices they can make when conducting their missions.
run the current mission or quest as its own typical RPG scene or adventure.
offer the choices for the next possible quests in the chain.

Mission or Quest Chain Pitfalls

When running mission-based or quest-chain adventures, GMs might encounter the following pitfalls:

The choices aren't clear. Players don't know which mission to follow next.
Players forget why they're following these quests.
The mission paths don't offer meaningful choices. Characters just follow the steps in a predetermined order.
Large chains of missions can be thwarted when only one mission is accomplished (see all or nothing collection quests).

Avoiding Pitfalls

GMs can avoid these pitfalls by

regularly clarifying the goal of the mission or quest chain.
clarifying the options the characters can take and ensuring each option is meaningful.
not running too many missions.
ensuring each leg of the quest chain shows clear progress towards the goal.
ensuring the success of a single mission doesn't thwart the large plans of the villains or characters by using the three of five keys quest model.

A Common Adventure Style

Mission-based adventures are one of the most common styles of adventures. Hopefully these guidelines help you keep your mission-based adventures on track with meaningful choices, clear options, and dynamic situations.

More Sly Flourish Stuff

Last week I posted a couple of YouTube videos on Roll Twice and the Elven Orb – Shadowdark Gloaming Session 24 Lazy GM Prep.

Last Week's Lazy RPG Talk Show Topics

Each week I record an episode of the Lazy RPG Talk Show (also available as a podcast) in which I talk about all things in tabletop RPGs. Here are last week's topics with time stamped links to the YouTube video:

Patreon Questions and Answers

Also on the Talk Show, I answer questions from Sly Flourish Patrons. Here are last week's questions and answers:

RPG Tips

Each week I think about what I learned in my last RPG session and write them up as RPG tips. Here are this week's tips:

Show players the results in the world of the choices they made.
Show players how powerful their characters have become.
Throw in lots of low CR monsters to fireball or turn or otherwise blow away.
Always lean towards putting meaningful choices in front of the players.
Clarify goals selected by the characters often -- at least once per session.
Bring old NPCs back and show how they’ve changed.
Mix your adventure types. Dungeon crawls, heists, and intrigue all work together into a unique mashup of an adventure.