Shadowruns w/o Johnsons, How feasable from a game standpoint? Options

[DragonDecker]

Of course we've all heard of them. Maybe even run one or two. But as standard practice how well does it work out, and how much buy-in is required?

Essentially I've hit a wall with my players. They take the jobs because they are supposed to, but if they aren't contacted about the meet they don't go looking for it. I feel half tempted to let the PCs starve because they didn't bother to look for a job, but am hoping for an out first.

The main idea I have in mind is this: calls from contacts late at night about a product available, strangers bumping into you at the club leaving behind contact info and a note about product, but with the contact charging for the info instead of paying. Essentially each contact (or most anyway) would fill the role of Quark (DS9) as a middle man.

I know that setting wise this works fine. But as far as the main thrust of the campaign, would it work? would it be too much effort for the amount of payoff? Is there a munchkin angle I'm missing?