I run a sandbox sci fi and sometimes I struggle to come up with enough simple encounters to pepper around; when the players are struggling to push the story forward.

I had a search in Community Chat, but couldn't find anything ... so I figured I'd start this; & see where it goes.

Attempting a basic format/template, with dot points, to keep things simple, and scannable. Nobody likes huge walls of text.

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#1

Genre: Sci Fi

Name: "Well looky here..."
A stowaway is discovered aboard the ship! They may have caused some damage.

Stowaway NPC ideas:
- Psychic child; running from oppressors
- Slave; running from his owners
- Rebel; running from the government
- Small robot (like Johnny 5, or R2D2): found the ship's next waypoint, & needs to get to that system to deliver a payload of data

This encounter should challenge the PC's morals & ethics. Are the PCs sympathetic to the stowaway? Hopefully this divides the PCs, for some inter-group tensions.

It could easily lead to a larger plot hook, if needed. Or it could be quickly dealt with for some quick XP, bounty, reputation gains with factions, or loot.

XP/Alignment Ideas
- You helped the stowaway!
- :o You killed the stowaway!
- We need more hands on deck (Forced labour)
- An offer not to be refused (Offer work)

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#2

Genre: Sci Fi

Name: "Unexpected Storm"
Out of nowhere, without warning, a huge environmental/atmospheric storm hits the planetside location the PCs find themselves in. The locals are scrambling to save themselves.

- Buildings collapsing
- Locals trapped
- Farms being destroyed
- Biodomes damaged & atmosphere leaking
- Critical infrastructure damaged (terraforming, energy production, water, communications)
- Low visibility
- Need for vacsuits or biosuits

Do the PCs help the locals? Or do they save themselves?
How far are they willing to go?
Do they investigate the cause of the storm?

- Atmospheric manipulation from a stealthed ship in orbit
- Chemical manipulation from a faction
- The weather forecast data was sabotaged (so people couldn't prepare for major storm, as they usually would)

XP/alignment ideas
- "Quick, get in!" (Take locals on board your ship)
- Selfish, but safe. (Just get the hell outta dodge - help nobody)
- Opportunist (Salvage damaged/abandoned goods/equipment)
- Survivalist (Survive a night in the storm, using makeshift shelter etc)

http://donjon.bin.sh/ is a website I go to for random generator stuff. I use it more for encounters and maps, but it also has a random generator for plot hooks. It might help you out.

Thanks for the link... I'd rather engage with the wealth of knowledge in the RPOL community; & see if anyone wants to contribute :)

Something like this, perhaps?

Genre: Historical/Fantasy.
Name: Witch!
The PCs approach a village tavern for the night only to find the locals alert. A deranged old woman has just been arrested for witchcraft and, as they take her away, she points a finger at a female member of the party and accuses her of being an accomplice...

- accusations and denials
- combat
- witchcraft trials
- courtroom drama
- imprisonment and (offstage) torture
- moral dilemmas

Grossly outnumbered, do the party rally round their member or abandon her? Do they make a fight of it, or use their wits in a trial? Do they come up with something entirely different? Do they rescue the old woman, or leave her to her fate?

You talk your way out of it
You fight your way out of it
You think your way out of it
You can’t get out of it
You leave your friend and run
You leave the woman and run
The old woman really is a witch...

That's the spirit!