The Essential Elements of any RPG Situation

In any situation that the players enter (breaking into a building, escaping from a building, exploring a dungeon), there should be some element of challenge, surprise, interaction and the usefulness of skills.

The players could encounter some of the following:

• a character who has the opposite feelings towards the players that the setting has (someone who dislikes them in a friendly situation or someone who is helpful in a dangerous setting)
• a neutral NPC who can be convinced to do something
• a droid, computer, datapad or communications channel that can be hacked
• a mechanical item that can be modified for their purposes
• something or someone that isn't where it/they are supposed to be
• thieves or other criminals
• damage, construction, repairs or unexpected changes to the map
• unexpected security measures
• someone who is wounded
• a moral dilemma