GM alternative ways of challenging a PC Options

[Kohake]

No mater how you build a runner, it can't be prepared for everything and I find that instead of challenging the players by making everything really hard it is often a good idea to put them in situations where they need to do something they weren't optimized for. This might be hard in a big group because there is usually one player who covers that area. But sometimes that isn't enough to save the entire group. It is important to let the characters shine, but you should make them remember their weaknesses. I would much rather suffer from a choise I made during character creation than simply fighting enemies that are too strong.

The point of this topic, aside from entertaining me, is to learn more about how we can challenge players in new ways. I'm sure there are a lot of people who have trouble dealing with certain players being overpowered but even if you don't have that problem you could probably learn, or help others learn.

One important thing is that these are examples of how you could challenge a player, not a group. Because if the whole group is involved it is likely that one character can just breeze through the challenge so that the others don't have to. Note that the following are very general examples, but how to challenge someone with a certain combination of skills is relevant as well.

Examples:

[ Spoiler ]

Low strength(and body)
On a run that doesn't take place in a city, when separated form the rest of the group the player finds something valuable that he/she isn't strong enough to bring with him/her.(Maybe something stuck like Excalibur or just something heavy)

Low charisma
The players are supposed to meet someone at a club(even worse if it's a trap) and the bodyguard won't let him enter. The rest of the party will go to the meeting without him.

Blandness
An ally if his/hers(NPC) won't help him/her because they don't recognize him/her.(Not really a tricky situation, but it might lead to one)

First impression
Have the benefit of this quality absolutely ruined by the circumstances. Make the players get of on the wrong foot with an NPC even if they'll be able to fix it later.(again, not really a tricky situation, but it's an exception that removes something the player would usually rely on)

Guts
Have a player not be afraid of something that he/she really should be.(While the rest of the group will probably want to run)

Photographic memory
Make the player see a haunting image that thy can't get out of their head.

Astral beacon
Have the players know that someone able to track astral signatures is after them.(Obviously, someone they don't want to encounter)

Elf/Ork poser
Put this guy in a place where everyone hates elfs/orks.

Low lifestyle
Have a recent event make life on the streets so much worse.(Example: Ghouls are rumored to have come into town at night but the law enforcement doesn't care since it's just the poor getting killed)

Low infiltrate
Make it necessary to have the entire group sneak past something.

Low unarmed combat
Provoke a player to insult an NPC(a strong NPC, but not a threat to the entire group) and have the NPC challenge him to a duel without weapons.(of course he could say no, but that really doesn't make him look good)

Low climbing
Have the entire party climb something.

Low Swimming
On a run that doesn't take place in a city, have the players encounter a strong enemy and the only way to escape is by water.

Low con
When working under cover, have the player with the lowest con dice pool meet someone who feels like having a chat with him/her and make them start asking questions. (Like, when did you join us* and why.(*us being the group of people who they are pretending to belong to))

Few languages
Have the player approached by someone who seems to have important information but make him/her tell the player in a different language.

Mountain mentor spirit
Offer the players some help(resources or manpower) and then go back on the offer after the planning is done. The magician with a mountain mentor spirit will be compelled to stick with the plan.

I hope you find this an interesting read and I hope that this could help any GM that has problem handling their players without throwing dragons at them. You are all more than welcome to give your own sugestions. Infact I actually need some advice myself.