dan
Cato Would Be Proud
He is the Keymaster
Posts: 642
|
Post by dan on Aug 17, 2021 22:15:27 GMT
The TNG period has a lot going on - there are adventure set around the DOminion meeting, yes but you can slide easily enough. There is a lot fo tech and a lot of space to explore however the downside is that exploration is done and there is a lot of backup flying around with very high speeds and very long sensors losing a lot of the feel of 'we must deal with this'. The five year mission sort of thing just isnt there. But you get a lot of toys, races and so on. Also franbkly the story arcs in existence are vastly more codified. Enterprise conversely has very few ships and fewer toys, shorter ranges and very much alone in the void feel. THis limits the races and options you can showcase while giving you a lot of space to play in. THe TOS period has a blend of both and is the era of the classic five year missions and its the era I lean towards - though the choice of ships will affect that. All the above assuming the Trek is where we go. THe entire 'how to handle the captain' issue is a BIG one. A PC in that role can be a nightmare. An NPC who is often not around is unsatisfying and leaves the most senior PC in the role, an NPC who is present and GM controlled essentially runs the game and has me reacting to myself and leaving hte PCs as dice rolling towers. The only workable solution is to share control of the NPC in question. Again with any Trek game this is always the single biggest issue unless you play a lot of Away Team missions and the PCs become a microcosm of that and use the Primer Directive heavily to keep the ship out of it (ship weapons from orbit are - potent shall we say). THis is why there are other systems to discuss.....as I dont think anything is going to be perfect. There's still plenty of exploration to be done on the other side of the Bajoran wormhole though Tim... well until the Dominion start shooting anyway lol.
|
|
jokulhaup
Cato The Elder
Prefab Lego Camper
Posts: 253
|
Post by jokulhaup on Aug 31, 2021 12:36:37 GMT
Hello, apologies but holidays and childcare have got in the way of responding.
Anyhow Trek would be interesting, particually TNG setting(esp Dominion War)as its the setting I know the best and I've recently started rewatching DS9.
Star Wars is always fun, so is fantasy and future Grimdark. These would be my preferences but am happy to give alternatives a whirl.
|
|
dan
Cato Would Be Proud
He is the Keymaster
Posts: 642
|
Post by dan on Aug 31, 2021 19:25:55 GMT
Hello, apologies but holidays and childcare have got in the way of responding. Anyhow Trek would be interesting, particually TNG setting(esp Dominion War)as its the setting I know the best and I've recently started rewatching DS9. Star Wars is always fun, so is fantasy and future Grimdark. These would be my preferences but am happy to give alternatives a whirl. We can break out the Ketracel white to celebrate if that option gets taken up haha.
|
|
jokulhaup
Cato The Elder
Prefab Lego Camper
Posts: 253
|
Post by jokulhaup on Sept 1, 2021 8:27:33 GMT
Hmmm wonder if we'll meet Kim Cardassian?
|
|
dan
Cato Would Be Proud
He is the Keymaster
Posts: 642
|
Post by dan on Sept 1, 2021 9:31:32 GMT
Hmmm wonder if we'll meet Kim Cardassian? Knowing Tim then yes haha.
|
|
|
Post by Timf on Sept 3, 2021 17:31:21 GMT
I was thinking more Kylie Jem'Hadar.....
|
|
|
Post by Timf on Sept 3, 2021 18:02:14 GMT
Also when it comes to period - it helps if I know something about the era and the background. TNG I am a little weak on and the Dominion War I really know nearly nothing about. Thats a problem when DMing.
One problem in WFRP and the 40K RPGs was when vast quantities of background information characters had no way of knowing got spilled, significantly altering the campaign flow. I did get comments from players as well.
There are three ways of dealing with that - playing games where I know more (unlikely for Trek), running games where the information simply isnt known as canon laid nothing down (for Trek that means TOS and Enterprise) or I simply change the details from canon (swap friends and enemies, change tech). The latter is the most effective in terms of allowing for the same surprise/work it out scenario but that jars the game feel and its usually obvious when it has happened.....
|
|
|
Post by listy on Sept 4, 2021 9:04:08 GMT
Also when it comes to period - it helps if I know something about the era and the background. TNG I am a little weak on and the Dominion War I really know nearly nothing about. Thats a problem when DMing. One problem in WFRP and the 40K RPGs was when vast quantities of background information characters had no way of knowing got spilled, significantly altering the campaign flow. I did get comments from players as well. There are three ways of dealing with that - playing games where I know more (unlikely for Trek), running games where the information simply isnt known as canon laid nothing down (for Trek that means TOS and Enterprise) or I simply change the details from canon (swap friends and enemies, change tech). The latter is the most effective in terms of allowing for the same surprise/work it out scenario but that jars the game feel and its usually obvious when it has happened..... That'll be me then... In which case I can only apologise. It would seem that Enterprise is the best option here then, as it's a place where we really do not know anything, we're on our own without massive amounts of support, and we're the plucky underdogs. Meeting a KDF battlecruiser in enterprise is a very different kettle of fish than meeting the same in TNG. I'll say go for Enterprise. Still hesitant on the Captain mechanics though.
|
|
|
Post by listy on Sept 4, 2021 9:25:21 GMT
A thought on ST Captain mechanics.
Instead of having the rotating captains chair why not have the players as the captains muses (for want of a better description). Each time the captain is faced with a decision, we the players make vote (maybe in secret) as to course of action. Then the captain can issue fairly open ended orders which will achieve that end. Tim can also play the captain in line with that decision as he sees fit, and can massage events into the most dramatic TPK... err... I mean events and story line.
|
|
|
Post by Timf on Sept 7, 2021 22:13:56 GMT
That'll be me then... In which case I can only apologise. It was a widespread issue, actually, I was definitely pointing out what is a common issue and not just a single person or a couple of people. It is also one of strengths and weaknesses in any Star Wars game, indeed probably any licensed property…widespread basic knowledge but quite a few players with canon encyclopaedias. TOS actually has huge holes to work in while retaining enough visibility. The more I read, including Enterprise options the more Im struggling for material there. The Captain as a Supporting Character thats jointly or cyclically controlled is actually well within the structure of the game. However its one bit that loses immersion. The values attribute system can be used to guide and with players going to have three personas. This all assumes Trek is where we go. Thus far all discussions here and elsewhere is definitely pointing at SciFi to be the next game but there is clear system in the lead. We have a focussed discussion here mostly because I rereading the system rulebook to see how it works and if It will work and the discussion is visible but its not the only candidate.
|
|
|
Post by Timf on Sept 7, 2021 22:16:12 GMT
Other Captain option is someone plays the boss…..theyll have two other characters for non bridge time so it might work - but I have seen it go wrong many times. If this option is chosen then Id make it someone’s permanent Supporting Character
|
|
dan
Cato Would Be Proud
He is the Keymaster
Posts: 642
|
Post by dan on Sept 8, 2021 18:25:48 GMT
Tbh I much prefer role-playing in a world I know well or well enough to know what's going on. Playing in a world I know next to nothing about is far less interesting or satisfying for me personally.
|
|
|
Post by Timf on Sept 9, 2021 20:43:37 GMT
Yes, thats the strength in licensed properties. Familiarity helps.
In some respects Traveller fits because Firefly was someones Classic Traveller campaign so it can be familiar - edge of society hauliers running round in mixed tech worlds with an overarching galactic empire. However that is still notably less instant recognition for most than “2 stormtroopers come round the corner and level blasters at you”
|
|
jokulhaup
Cato The Elder
Prefab Lego Camper
Posts: 253
|
Post by jokulhaup on Sept 13, 2021 13:22:23 GMT
Ok...the Firefly link has certainly made me want to play Traveller more.
|
|
dan
Cato Would Be Proud
He is the Keymaster
Posts: 642
|
Post by dan on Sept 13, 2021 15:07:26 GMT
Ok...the Firefly link has certainly made me want to play Traveller more. Sounds like that'd be the most free form option.
|
|