What are major types of adventures - Attack, defend, explore, etc?

[RangerWickett]

I used to think of adventures in terms of site-based vs. event-based, but lately I've been interested in making sure the adventures I plan have sufficient variety. If we were to reduce different types of adventures to just a few words, what are the main varieties?

Attack - There's someone bad you need to defeat. Doesn't have to be physical violence.
Defend - You're protecting someone from the bad guys.
Solve - You try to find out the answer to a question.

Explore - You want to see interesting things in a place. (Sort of falls under 'solve'.)
Retrieve - You try to get a particular someone or something. (Sort of falls under 'attack'.)
Survive - You need to stay alive against danger. (Sort of falls under 'defend'.)

I think those are the basics. Beyond them, what are classic adventure archetypes?

Dungeon crawl
Find and stop bandits/monsters
Escort someone to safety.
Long journey through dangerous area
Military mission - sneaky scout or strike
Military mission - assault
Rescue the missing person
Figure out who killed the victim
Prove yourself worthy to potential allies

What other things am I forgetting?

 

[Cedric]

This could fit into 1-2 of the other categories, but I think "The Chase" should be in there somewhere. You have something the bad guys want and a limited time to get somewhere with it, they are chasing you.

Or, vice~versa.

 

[DonTadow]

I think you're mixing up a bunch of different types, but this is definately worth exploring. First I'd say there are kinds of adventures. These have nothing to do with the plot but are tye basic kinds of adventuring a party would go on.
urban exploration, dungeon crawl, mystery, wilderness (other climates included )exploration, political intrigue.

From there you have types of plots.
Thats were the ones you chose come in.

Attack - There's someone bad you need to defeat. Doesn't have to be physical violence.
Defend - You're protecting someone from the bad guys.
Solve - You try to find out the answer to a question.
Explore - You want to see interesting things in a place. (Sort of falls under 'solve'.)
Retrieve - You try to get a particular someone or something. (Sort of falls under 'attack'.)
Survive - You need to stay alive against danger. (Sort of falls under 'defend'.)

 

[Harlekin]

SJohn's list

Let me elucidate with the wisdom of the ancient:

http://www.io.com/~sjohn/plots.htm

Sebastian

 

[thompgc]

Escape

What about Escape

Could be escape from some sort of prison/capture

or the place is collapsing/about to explode we need to get out of here

 

[Psion]

Let me elucidate with the wisdom of the ancient:

http://www.io.com/~sjohn/plots.htm

Beat to the punch. :\

I highly recommend this product/service.

 

[sniffles]

What about Investigate and Rescue?

 

[Numion]

Kill & loot

 

[takasi]

Instant Adventures from Dragon 48 and the Dragon Compendium have the best list I've seen with pretty good explanations for each. I'm using it religiously to adapt the 100 campaign ideas list from the DMG for one of my campaigns.

TYPE OF ADVENTURE
Assault/Raid ("Body-snatch")
Assault/Raid (Ambush)
Assault/Raid (Fortress)
Assault/Raid (Ship)
Assault/Raid (Skirmish)
Assault/Raid (Town)
Banditry (Building)
Banditry (Caravan/convoy)
Banditry (Mugging)
Bounty Hunt/Posse
Brawl
Breakout, jail
Breakout, prison camp
Breakout, private prison
Cattle Drive
Coup d'etat
Duel, one-on-one
Duel, team vs. team
Escort/Crusade
Execution/Assassination
Exploration
Feud, inter-business
Feud, inter-family
Hijack
Hunt, big-game
Hunt, commercial
Intrigue
Kidnap
Madman
Obstacle Course
Parcel/Message
Personnel Escort
Pilgrimage
Piracy
Rescue, from men
Rescue, from natural forces
Riot
Sabotage/Arson, building
Sabotage/Arson, ship
Salvage
Smuggling, general
Smuggling, weapons
Spy/Undercover, civil
Spy/Undercover, military
Sting/Switch/Swindle/Scam
Tournament
Trail blazing