[Traveller/Star Trek] Holiday Season game (closed)

[Leitz]

Last year I ran a 1e D&D game over the holiday season. It was intentionally minimalist and time bound; beginning of December to the end of January. One small dungeon.

I've been thinking about doing a Star Trek setting based game using the Cepheus Engine/Traveller/2d6 OGL rules. Paul Elliott of Zozer games has a free CharGen PDF for creating Star Trek characters, and I'm thinking through some process modifications to let players pick a crew position to fill and ensure they are fit for the job.

PCs would max out at First Officer (players agree on who does what), pick their spot, and be put into a bad situation. Teamwork will increase the odds of survival and may even allow success. Post rate is twice a week from the DM, game language is PG, and no PvP. Mode is "semi-story" and players must provide 200+ words of back-story for their characters, to include antagonist NPCs and things the PC holds dear.

If enough interest is generated here for the game to move forward then we can also mention it on the Star Trek or CoTI boards. The game runs here, though, and follows Unseen Servant rules.

Any takers?

[The Bindoner]

I'm not a hardcore Trekkie, but I think this sounds like fun. Count me in.

[Leitz]

Happy to have you!

I will not follow Trek canon, but will try to stay in the spirit of things. The setup should provide enough data for folks to fit in well.

[cybersavant]

Mode is "semi-story" and players must provide 200+ words of back-story for their characters, to include antagonist NPCs and things the PC holds dear.

time era? module focus? kind of hard to create a ST background without more concrete setting details

[Leitz]

Mode is "semi-story" and players must provide 200+ words of back-story for their characters, to include antagonist NPCs and things the PC holds dear.

time era? module focus? kind of hard to create a ST background without more concrete setting details

I'm thinking near or shortly after the end of the original series; so there's a body of knowledge, but not a lot of canon to worry about. I'm not a fanatic about canon.

The up and coming officers are sent to crew a reservist ship because someone's uncle is high up in the Federation. The PC officers are over-qualified, and it's reasonable to assume things won't go as expected.

Here's the basic chargen modifications: 2 skills per term. Pick your position and ensure you have the skills for it by swapping out what you don't roll. Basic position, like Chekov or Sulu, needs skill of 1+. Department heads need skill 3+, and Leadership 1+. Roll stats normally, but anything less than a 6 gets raised to a 6. Starfleet doesn't grade on the curve. High Int and Edu can raise skills; Int/Edu 9-11 gives +1 skill, 12-14 gives +2, and 15 gives +3. You get mods for both, max out at 3 terms.

Space battles, on the off chance that they occur, will be abstracted. Each PC rolls for their department skill, and then the First Officer rolls Ship Tactics. Each department success gives the First Officer a bonus, each failure a penalty.

Make sense? Questions?

[Leitz]

Since we're time bound, let's set some mile-stones. If we get four people to confirm basic character concept, like "first term Helm" or "third term First Officer" by the DM's morning of 25 Oct 2021, we move forward with getting a forum and posting questions and answers. Otherwise we table the idea for another time.

If we move forward

We open it up to related boards like a Star Trek forum or CoTI. Max of eight players, so we have at least a 50% USS crew.

The week of 25-31 2021 Oct will be discussion, figuring out what needs figured out, and drafting PC backgrounds. The PCs are some of the best and most capable in the Federation, slackers don't make it through Star Fleet Academy. But they are also people, and imperfect. The PC's background will color how they see and are seen, as well as what things they can do that may not be on the skill sheet.

The week of 1-6 Nov 2021 will include introducing the setting details and adjusting concepts or plans accordingly. Part of the PC background may suggest why they have this assignment, or it may just be bad luck 'cause karma had a big bowl of chili the eon before.

The red alert will sound on 8 Nov 2021.

[gurusql]

I will beam into this game.

[Leitz]

I will beam into this game.

Looking forward to it!

[cybersavant]

what about Aliens?


thinking of a 3term engineering or operations character

[Leitz]

what about Aliens?


thinking of a 3term engineering or operations character

What strikes your fancy? The main parameter is that your species has been in the Federation long enough for you to be through the academy, and you would be a Federation citizen before that.

Things like Klingons and Romulans are off-limits, but Vulcans, etc are fine. I haven't given a heck of a lot of thought about stat or other mods for other species, so you may get tasked to render an opinion and provide some data.

[gurusql]

The primary races around at the time of TOS besides Humans and Vulcans are Andorians and Tellarites (those four races started the federation).

In the Animated Series had two other races as federation officers that I can think of - there was the Arex that was from an unnamed race that had three arms, three legs, red skin and yellow eyes and M'Ress that was a felinoid (human sized humanoid cat)

I was thinking of requesting an Andorian Science Officer named Thelin.

[Leitz]

The primary races around at the time of TOS besides Humans and Vulcans are Andorians and Tellarites (those four races started the federation).

In the Animated Series had two other races as federation officers that I can think of - there was the Arex that was from an unnamed race that had three arms, three legs, red skin and yellow eyes and M'Ress that was a felinoid (human sized humanoid cat)

I was thinking of requesting an Andorian Science Officer named Thelin.

Can't say I watched the cartoon, sorry. Good to know we have an expert though.

If you feel the Andorian would have species modifiers of any sort, feel free to make your case. I'm looking forward to seening a good alien mindset portrayed.

[cybersavant]

The primary races around at the time of TOS besides Humans and Vulcans are Andorians and Tellarites (those four races started the federation).

In the Animated Series had two other races as federation officers that I can think of - there was the Arex that was from an unnamed race that had three arms, three legs, red skin and yellow eyes and M'Ress that was a felinoid (human sized humanoid cat)

I was thinking of requesting an Andorian Science Officer named Thelin.

Alpha Centauri was the 5th - hence the stars
Rigelian
Edoan and Caitian
plus Saurian [Linus from Discovery]

will check Memory Alpha and think on it

[gurusql]

I just left out the Alphas Centauri's since they are humans too, but you are right.

[cybersavant]

Tiburon [ Dr Sevrin ] or maybe Betelgeusian

[Leitz]

The primary races around at the time of TOS besides Humans and Vulcans are Andorians and Tellarites (those four races started the federation).

Just found out that TOS is on Amazon prime, so I'll watch some to get back into the groove. Please keep the "Western in Space" mindset strong; be heroic, be bold. You might die if you do something totally suicidal, or if you wear a red shirt. Otherwise, life will just get worse.

I was thinking of requesting an Andorian Science Officer named Thelin.

Change your mentality, son! This is not:

Code: Select all

SELECT species,position FROM crew_possible WHERE species LIKE '%ALLOWED_POSSIBLY_MAYBE%';

Be bold!

Code: Select all

INSERT into crew (species,position) VALUES ('Andorian', 'Science Officer');

[Leitz]

Okay, we have 75% of the minimum player count, and a draft 50% of the first character concepts! W00t!

Tap anyone you think would be interested. The PCs will drive where scenario attention goes. Having a good First Officer would be helpful.

[The Bindoner]

I'm considering a human medical officer. Or Helm....

Which don't we have yet?

[Leitz]

I'm considering a human medical officer. Or Helm....

Which don't we have yet?

So far I think we have Science and Engineering.

[ybn1197]

I’ll throw my Motorola style communicator into the ring for this.