Writing Your Own Solar Echoes Mission (part 4)

I don't have a set formula for writing a mission, but I do seek a fair amount of balance among the different activities. Though this can vary because of the mission plot, I'd recommend that squad combat events should range somewhere from 30% to 50% of the mission, while vehicle/starship combat can be anywhere from 10% to 30%. Hacking should be about 5% to 15% of the mission, and dialogue encounters should be present in all missions, ranging anywhere from 20% to 50%. I try to include all of these activities in a mission if possible, but sometimes the story doesn't warrant certain things. For instance, if the story involves a planetside scenario for the entire mission, trying to fit starship combat into the story will just feel contrived. In a situation like that, though, terrestrial vehicle combat is a great alternative. But do try to include everything if possible, because you want players to feel that the skills they've invested in are useful to the team. A player who was excited about starship combat and designed his character with related skills will be very frustrated and disappointed if he doesn't have a chance to shine. Thanks to the Solar Echoes skill point system which forces skill diversification, no character will ever be unable to contribute, but think about the players you are writing for and try to include situations in the mission that will make them feel special. If you're not writing for a specific group of players, then keeping the different activities balanced is even more important!