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Okay, I admit it... I still haven't gotten around to getting the Narrator's Guide. I can't find it anywhere in stores where I live, so I'm trying to decide whether to order it online.
Since I can't remember anything about the review that was posted here way back when the NG came out, could someone give me a run-down of what's in the book? Don't worry about sounding like you're advertising the book, that's what I want. :D
The chapters, their sections and subsections are:
01] The Series Concept
What Is A Series
- Star Trek television series
- The Original Series
- The Next Generation
- Deep Space Nine
- Voyager and Enterprise
Your Series Concept
- The series profile
- Setting
- Crew
- Base of operations
- Technology
- Adversity
- Feel
Series Profile
Sample Series Profile
Looking Forward
02] Establishing The Series
Series Creation
Building Your Setting
Base Of Operations
- Base profile
- Base name
- Base type
- Technical data
- Base environment
- Base command
- Personnel
- Resources
- Addenda
Creating Your Crew
- Organization
- Species
- Professions
- Rank and standing
- Crew experience
- Crew equipment
Series Technology
Series Adversity
- Threat and opposition
- Crisis and disaster
03] Running The Series
Season Planning
Season Overview
- Season concept
- Season format: episodic or serial
- Season structure
Creating Your First Season
- Creating a season overview
- Structuring your season
- Creating episodes
- Season prologue
Subsequent Seasons
04] Building Episodes
Creating Star Trek Stories
- Episode types
- The central conflict
The Three-Act Model
- Scenes
- Start at the end
- Go back to the beginning
- The midpoint
- The plot turns
- The pinches
- Other scenes
- Subplots
The Supporting Cast
- Role
- Motivations
Advanced Narrating Techniques
- Cut scenes
- Dream sequences
- Flashbacks
- Flashforwards
- Foreshadowing
- Jump Cutting
- Symbolism
05] Narrating Episodes
Storytelling Basics
- Show, don't tell
- Engage the senses
- Manage the details
Running The Game
- Example of play
- Changing and adding rules
- Pacing
- Improvisation
- Props
- Dramatic synergy
06] Coda Rules
Time
Actions
- Movement actions
- Combat actions
- Free actions
- Full-round actions
- Performing actions
Tests
- Test difficulty
- Degrees of success
- Test types
- Test variants
- Merging test variants
Combat
- Combat basics
- Attack tests
- Inflicting damage
- Armor and cover
Injury And Healing
- Health
- Wound level
- Healing
Movement
- Pace
- Obstacles
- Movement and fatigue
Fatigue
- Encumbrance and carrying capacity
Combat Summary
07] Starship Operations
Starship Systems
- Primary systems
- Secondary systems
- Malfunctions
Starship Combat
- Range
- Initiative
- Actions
- Targets
- Using maneuvers
- Maneuvers
Repair
- Systems
- Structure
08] Rewards
Experience Awards
- Experience from successful tests
- Fulfilling story objectives
- Exceptional roleplaying
- Bonus awards
Spending Experience
Renown Awards
10] Starships
The Starship Profile
- Production data
- Operational data
- Propulsion data
- Tactical data
- Miscellaneous data
- Starship classifications
Constructing Starships
- Starship concept
- Construction steps
- Size
- Operational systems
- Propulsion systems
- Tactical systems
- Maneuver modifiers
- Starship traits
11] Space
The Galaxy
- Other galaxies
- Galactic features
Sectors
- Sector design
Systems
- Quick and dirty stellar evolution
- Star system design
Planetary Design
- Planet name
- Class
- Moons or rings
- Gravity
- Climate
- Demographics
- Civilization
- Resources
- Sample planetary profiles
11] Aliens
New Life Forms
- Crewmember species
- Supporting cast aliens
The Species Profile
- Personality
- Physical description
- Homeworld
- Culture
- Language
- Common names
- Favored profession
- Species adjustments
- Species abilities
New Civilizations
- Motives
- Technology level
- Government
Sample Species
- Andorians
- Orions
- Romulans
12] Creatures
Creature Vs. Species
Creature Role
- Narrative role
- Momentary threat
- Prime mover
Creature Profile
Creature Form
- Animal
- Plant
- Energy
- Gaseous
- Mineral
- Construct
Creature Sustenance
- Diet
- Feeding habits
Creature Defenses
Creature Size
- Attribute modifiers
- Wound level adjustment
Creature Attributes
- Exceptional attributes
- Attribute descriptions
- Assigning attributes
Creature Characteristics
- Reactions
- Defense
- Movement rate
- Lifting and carrying capacity
- Health
- Wound levels and wound points
Creature Skills
- Using skills
- Assigning skills
Species And Creature Abilities
13] Hazards
Using Hazards
Personal Hazards
- Disease
- Radiation
- Toxins
- Other sources of damage
Ship Hazards
- Gravimetric shear
- Ion storms
- Nebulae
- Shockwaves and nucleonic wavefronts
- Subspace anomalies
14] Supporting Cast
Creating Supporting Cast
- Supporting cast profiles
- Series characters
Here are a couple of good reviews for the PG and/or NG:
http://www.rpg.net/news+reviews/reviews/rev_6714.html
http://www.pen-paper.net/reviews.php...wcontent&id=22
Holy shit, RaconteurX! You get a percentage of each sale? :D
Don Mappin you swore. I will have to report you to Don Moppin, the guy who runs these boards:) :) :D
Wait, I thought Dan Moppin ran the boards... Now I'm confused! :confused:
Seriously, though, erhershman, pick up the NG. It's really good. I've been narrating for years and I still found a ton of useful bits in the book. Well worth the $$ and the wait.
As I said in my review on the Pen & Paper site, it's easily the best GM resource I've picked up in the past 15 years or so. Go get it; you'll be glad you did.
No, but the Schwartz was with me early this morning... as well as insomnia. :(Quote:
Originally posted by Don Mappin
Holy shit, RaconteurX! You get a percentage of each sale?