So, you’re right about the Project Milestones basically just being three things that gotta happen. Beyond that, they’re answering the cliche set-up “Good, quick, cheap: pick two.” (Only in this case “quick” is “on-time” and might mean preempting something or sweeping in on the tail end of things)

In one of my 1st sessions, my crew went up against Pacific Security in Vancouver and their Objective was to replace the police force (exactly as it says in their description). So I thought about what it would cost them to take the job, when they would do it, and what a success would look like. For cost?

Well, I figure they need to be less-expensive alternative to local police, yeah? Or make the city council an offer they can’t refuse? Bam, Pacific Security has kidnapped the child of an influential council member to make them champion bringing PacSec into the city full time.

They need to replace the police at juuuuuuust the right time, yeah? They can’t just swoop in, they need a reason to swoop in. So, bam, they orchestrate a fake ration shortage, stash the surplus in some evacuated police lockups, and let the word slip to the media. Once the city goes berserk about police “corruption,” that’s when PacSec will make their move.

And quality-wise, what does the end result look like? It looks like PacSec are the big damn heroes Vancouver needs in trying times! Like they’re the most competent folks to ever wear the badge! So, they need a chance to play hero. That’s my last milestone: they let some rioters from the restricted zones into the reclaimed zones and let them run roughshod, just so they can sweep in and clean up their own mess.

So, I had three things they were doing to get their way. Then, just like the rules say, I asked the players which of those legs they were cutting out from under PacSec, and what their three-stage op looked like.