Comments on: Fascinating, Captain http://critical-hits.com/2009/05/14/fascinating-captain/ The Journal of Gamer Culture Sat, 11 Feb 2012 08:43:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Marcelo Dior http://critical-hits.com/2009/05/14/fascinating-captain/#comment-65829 Marcelo Dior Fri, 15 May 2009 13:26:23 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=3787#comment-65829 I half-solved the problem presented by Dave here establishing that the PCs, no matter their ranks, are part of the Away Team: in my Star Trek game, none of the "main NPC cast" goes out on off-ship missions: this is for a specialized team of officers and crew members trained exclusively to be the Away Team (not very dissimilar to the homonym videogame). Another thing that I determined is that the tech guy character must be played by the player that is a computer engineer in real-life, and the science guy has to be played by the player who likes fringe science stuff. To avoid freezing the players in set characters, the ship (the USS Thunderbird) has two Away Teams, the Bravo Team and the Alpha Team, and each player has two PCs (one on each team). After each mission is presented by the First Officer, the players are left to decide which of their characters will go on that particular venture. One of my players, for example, made a Betazoid Diplomat and a Klingon Weapons Officer to choose from. And he has much, much fun smacking his own forehead after realizing half-way through the session that he chose the wrong PC for that mission! <abbr><em>Marcelo Dior´s last post: <a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/marcelodior/~3/TD6laUJOdaA/filme-do-deadpool.html" rel="nofollow">Filme do Deadpool</a></em></abbr> I half-solved the problem presented by Dave here establishing that the PCs, no matter their ranks, are part of the Away Team: in my Star Trek game, none of the “main NPC cast” goes out on off-ship missions: this is for a specialized team of officers and crew members trained exclusively to be the Away Team (not very dissimilar to the homonym videogame).

Another thing that I determined is that the tech guy character must be played by the player that is a computer engineer in real-life, and the science guy has to be played by the player who likes fringe science stuff. To avoid freezing the players in set characters, the ship (the USS Thunderbird) has two Away Teams, the Bravo Team and the Alpha Team, and each player has two PCs (one on each team). After each mission is presented by the First Officer, the players are left to decide which of their characters will go on that particular venture.

One of my players, for example, made a Betazoid Diplomat and a Klingon Weapons Officer to choose from. And he has much, much fun smacking his own forehead after realizing half-way through the session that he chose the wrong PC for that mission!

Marcelo Dior´s last post: Filme do Deadpool

]]> By: tim http://critical-hits.com/2009/05/14/fascinating-captain/#comment-65828 tim Fri, 15 May 2009 12:30:06 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=3787#comment-65828 I blogged about Star Trek a few weeks ago and how I really like the universe/setting but find the various faults (many of which you mention here) rather difficult to overcome. We've attempted it several times over the years -- the last being with the LUG ruleset -- and each time the games have basically fallen apart due to a lack of tension. I think that's the true problem with trying to construct a campaign. Regardless, I still have visions of one day pulling another game together. <abbr><em>tim´s last post: <a href="http://805pm.wordpress.com/2009/05/14/last-minute-change/" rel="nofollow">Last minute change</a></em></abbr> I blogged about Star Trek a few weeks ago and how I really like the universe/setting but find the various faults (many of which you mention here) rather difficult to overcome. We’ve attempted it several times over the years — the last being with the LUG ruleset — and each time the games have basically fallen apart due to a lack of tension. I think that’s the true problem with trying to construct a campaign. Regardless, I still have visions of one day pulling another game together.

tim´s last post: Last minute change

]]> By: Bartoneus http://critical-hits.com/2009/05/14/fascinating-captain/#comment-65827 Bartoneus Fri, 15 May 2009 12:08:26 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=3787#comment-65827 I'm not sure I agree with Graham. It's definitely a great point/observation and it may be true, but I think it might be a simple case of what got there first is most popular. D&D for all intents and purposes started the hobby, so it's pretty natural for it to consistently have a larger audience. I’m not sure I agree with Graham. It’s definitely a great point/observation and it may be true, but I think it might be a simple case of what got there first is most popular. D&D for all intents and purposes started the hobby, so it’s pretty natural for it to consistently have a larger audience.

]]> By: Graham http://critical-hits.com/2009/05/14/fascinating-captain/#comment-65826 Graham Thu, 14 May 2009 22:28:42 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=3787#comment-65826 Not that odd, actually, Dark Young. Sci-Fi presents things that are beyond current tech, but most of those things are theoretically possible, or at least close to it, given appropriate advancement. At the bare minimum, they're presented to sound plausible through ample use of technobabble. But in fantasy, we get the truly fantastic. Things that we know definitively to not be possible. And we get to do these things. This is, similarly, why I think many DMs dislike Psionics in their D&D games. Theoretically, it might happen one day. Not that odd, actually, Dark Young.

Sci-Fi presents things that are beyond current tech, but most of those things are theoretically possible, or at least close to it, given appropriate advancement. At the bare minimum, they’re presented to sound plausible through ample use of technobabble.

But in fantasy, we get the truly fantastic. Things that we know definitively to not be possible. And we get to do these things.

This is, similarly, why I think many DMs dislike Psionics in their D&D games. Theoretically, it might happen one day.

]]> By: Dark Young http://critical-hits.com/2009/05/14/fascinating-captain/#comment-65825 Dark Young Thu, 14 May 2009 22:11:56 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=3787#comment-65825 On a less crazy note, I'm always surprised at the significantly smaller RPG player base for a science fiction games than for fantasy. I understand DnD is the mega giant in RPGs. And there are many many smaller but successful fantasy and Sci-fi games out there, but none with the power of DnD. Does this seem odd to anyone else? I am a fantasy fan, but I'm much more a sci-fi boy. On a less crazy note, I’m always surprised at the significantly smaller RPG player base for a science fiction games than for fantasy. I understand DnD is the mega giant in RPGs. And there are many many smaller but successful fantasy and Sci-fi games out there, but none with the power of DnD. Does this seem odd to anyone else?

I am a fantasy fan, but I’m much more a sci-fi boy.

]]> By: Dark Young http://critical-hits.com/2009/05/14/fascinating-captain/#comment-65824 Dark Young Thu, 14 May 2009 21:56:09 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=3787#comment-65824 Do it! Do it! Do it! Do it! Do it! My doctor still stands ready to serve! Do it! Do it! Do it! Do it! Do it! My doctor still stands ready to serve!

]]> By: Geek's Dream Girl http://critical-hits.com/2009/05/14/fascinating-captain/#comment-65823 Geek's Dream Girl Thu, 14 May 2009 20:49:33 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=3787#comment-65823 Who would be the red shirt? <abbr><em>Geek's Dream Girl´s last post: <a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GeeksDreamGirl/~3/Xhy5UCBIluo/" rel="nofollow">Vintage Tech: Useless Nostalgia or Respect for Dreams Past?</a></em></abbr> Who would be the red shirt?

Geek’s Dream Girl´s last post: Vintage Tech: Useless Nostalgia or Respect for Dreams Past?

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