Running a heist

[Straxus]

Not sure if this should go here or in the Gamemaster-section.

I read a discussion somewhere (here or another forum) about running a heist adventure, and a common challenge when doing this kind of thing.

What usually happens is this:

1. The players get an objective - "Steal artifact X"
2. Player makes plans, debate/argue about the details, plan some more, do a little legwork, including a couple of complications related to the legwork.
3. Revising plans based on legwork info.

This part usually takes hours, and while it can be fun it will end up with two scenarioes:

1. The plan is executed, and works flawlessly. The players are relieved, but it makes for a kinda boring last act of the adventure.
2. The GM introduces some new element/information/stuff that throw the whole plan out the window, and the players need to wing it. (this is usually what happens in the sessions I've played)

In a typical heist movie, you often only get to know part of the plan the main character has, so when you think they are in serious trouble, they pull a trick out of their sleeves that surprises both the audience and the adversaries.
This is a bit difficult to translate to a RPG session, but someone had this idea:

Give the players an objective, and some basic information.
Let the players make a rough plan, but put a time limit (say 10 min or whatever, but make sure they know they can't ponder forever). It is assumed that the characters spend a lot of time planning, perhaps several days.

Then start the execution of the plan. Whenever the PCs faces a challenge, they are allowed to call for a "flashback scene", and throw a relevant skill to see if the character had something planned for just this situation.

Eg: The PCs need to get into a nightclub to place a hidden camera somewhere. Only problem is, on that night there is a "guest list only"-event. One player calls for a flashback, to see if he was able to tamper the list in some way. The player needs to decide how, and roll a relevant skill. Maybe he hacked the clubs computer, or maybe he bribed one of the guards earlier, or managed to discover the names of someone on the list, and is able to impersonate this person (showing a fake ID, perhaps?.

Depending on the roll, the GM describes how the character solved it in the flashback. If he fails, say he didn't pay the guard enough, the guard still won't let them in, and they need to figure out something else.

The goal of doing it this way is to a) avoid hours of useless planning in the game session (because the GM is gonna throw them a curve ball anyway) and b) Keep some suspense for both players and GM, while still keep the Well Planned Heist Movie feel.

In theory this seemed like a good idea, I was just wondering if anyone here has tried running an adventure this way? What did you think of it? Was it a successful technique, and how did the players feel about it?

[Mamatried]

I have been part of a game very like that in shadowrun, it was fun enough, but too much time was spent between characters and players arguing the best course of action.

In short the mission was "get thing X, located at place Y"
And then from there, doing survaillence etc etc, then planning the entry then executing, with a whole bunch of going here and there to try and get info etc etc.

[Wajeb Deb Kaadeb]

Just out of coincidence, there's a heist that the players can stop (or do nothing), in the Graveyard of Alderaan adventure. If the PCs do intervene, they get an introduction to some important NPCs.

[Straxus]

[Mamatried]

[garhkal]

[Straxus]

[Straxus]

[Mamatried]

[Whill]

[garhkal]

[Straxus]

[Raven Redstar]

I like the idea of a flashback mechanic, where the player rolls to see if it was anticipated during the planning stage.

I also suggest that you can be able to sum up the "planning stage" by having the player(s) roll Tactics: Heist. They give you the gist of the plan, and then depending on how well they roll, that's how well the characters anticipated what might have come up.

So instead of sitting around for hours and hours doing the planning. You can just have the players roll Investigation for figuring out what they're up against, Streetwise to get into contact with someone for illicit materials, and whatever other rolls are appropriate. Just role-play major interactions with NPCs during the planning stage, and move on. No reason to get super bogged down in setting time limits and such.

Give bonuses for certain rolls during the heist based on high rolls with Tactics: Heist or Investigation to give the characters an edge, if appropriate.

D6 is meant to be played fast and loose.
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RR
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[garhkal]

True, but its also supposed to be a role playing game, not just purely ROLL playing..
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Confucious sayeth, don't wash cat while drunk!

[Straxus]