diff --git a/doc/NPCs.md b/doc/NPCs.md
index 0062c4628488a..37be97bd15082 100644
--- a/doc/NPCs.md
+++ b/doc/NPCs.md
@@ -559,7 +559,7 @@ Effect | Description
 ---|---
 `message: message_string`, (*optional* `sound: sound_bool`),(*optional* `outdoor_only: outdoor_only_bool`),(*optional* `snippet: snippet_bool`),(*optional* `type: type_string`),(*optional* `popup: popup_bool`) | Displays a message to the player of `message_string`. If `snippet_bool` is true(defaults to false) it will instead display a random snippet from `message_string` category.  If `sound` is true(defaults to false) it will only display the message if the player is not deaf.  `outdoor_only`(defaults to false) only matters when `sound` is true and will make the message less likely to be heard if the player is underground. Message will display as type of `type_string`. Type affects the color of message and can be any of the following values: good, neutral, bad, mixed, warning, info, debug, headshot, critical, grazing.  enums.h has more info on each types use. If `popup_bool` is true the message will be in a modal popup the user has to dismiss to continue.
 `sound_effect: sound_effect_id_string`, *optional* `sound_effect_variant: variant_string`, *optional* `outdoor_event: outdoor_event`,*optional* `volume: volume_int`  | Will play a sound effect of id `sound_effect_id_string` and variant `variant_string`. If `volume_int` is defined it will be used otherwise 80 is the default. If `outdoor_event`(defaults to false) is true this will be less likely to play if the player is underground.
-
+`assign_mission: mission_type_id string` | Will assign mission `mission_type_id` to the player.
 #### Deprecated
 
 Effect | Description
diff --git a/src/dialogue.h b/src/dialogue.h
index 0ea3acb49d395..287db2b3ed4f1 100644
--- a/src/dialogue.h
+++ b/src/dialogue.h
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ struct talk_effect_fun_t {
         void set_mod_pain( const JsonObject &jo, const std::string &member, bool is_npc );
         void set_add_wet( const JsonObject &jo, const std::string &member, bool is_npc );
         void set_add_power( const JsonObject &jo, const std::string &member, bool is_npc );
+        void set_assign_mission( const JsonObject &jo, const std::string &member );
         void set_sound_effect( const JsonObject &jo, const std::string &member );
         void set_add_var( const JsonObject &jo, const std::string &member, bool is_npc = false );
         void set_remove_var( const JsonObject &jo, const std::string &member, bool is_npc = false );
diff --git a/src/npctalk.cpp b/src/npctalk.cpp
index 7a7b671266463..54704213ee84d 100644
--- a/src/npctalk.cpp
+++ b/src/npctalk.cpp
@@ -2192,6 +2192,22 @@ void talk_effect_fun_t::set_add_power( const JsonObject &jo, const std::string &
     };
 }
 
+void talk_effect_fun_t::set_assign_mission( const JsonObject &jo, const std::string &member )
+{
+    std::string mission_name = jo.get_string( member );
+    function = [mission_name]( const dialogue & d ) {
+        avatar &player_character = get_avatar();
+
+        const mission_type_id &mission_type = mission_type_id( mission_name );
+        tripoint_abs_omt mission_target;
+
+        std::vector<mission *> missions = player_character.get_active_missions();
+        mission *new_mission = mission::reserve_new( mission_type, character_id() );
+        new_mission->assign( player_character );
+        mission_target = new_mission->get_target();
+    };
+}
+
 void talk_effect_t::set_effect_consequence( const talk_effect_fun_t &fun,
         dialogue_consequence con )
 {
@@ -2445,6 +2461,8 @@ void talk_effect_t::parse_sub_effect( const JsonObject &jo )
         subeffect_fun.set_add_power( jo, "u_add_power", false );
     } else if( jo.has_member( "npc_add_power" ) ) {
         subeffect_fun.set_add_power( jo, "npc_add_power", true );
+    } else if( jo.has_member( "assign_mission" ) ) {
+        subeffect_fun.set_assign_mission( jo, "assign_mission" );
     } else {
         jo.throw_error( "invalid sub effect syntax: " + jo.str() );
     }