Changing Departments

Well, the title says some of it, but not all:

In the foreseeable future my science officer will probably be offered the job of XO of the USS Galahad. That would of course require her to switch from Sciences to the Command branch. Right now she is the Department Head for sciences + Bridge Officer Certification allready done.

What do you think would be the requirements for that change, apart from what's in the core rules (like replacement in the original department, etc.). Ie. what skills would be required and how long would she have to learn those skills 'on-the-job' while allready serving in a command position?

Would a change like this only be possible with the same skill levels a command officer has or would it be okay to have the same level in the relevant specializations, but not the main skill? (eg. Command(Starship) at 1(3) instead of the 2(3) command officers learn at the academy)

Well, what do you think. Any feedback welcome.

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"To seek, to strive, to find and not to yield" - Alfred Tennyson

If they fit the bill and are required 'on the spot' then I'd let them have 'on the job' training.

Maybe even staying Chief Science Officer. A number of crew have held mutiple positions:

Spock: CSO and xo
Data: COO 2nd officer and perhaps even CSO?

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SIRSIG :D
AKA: SirPostalot
AKA: The MapMaker
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Originally posted by StyroFoam Man:
Why not do what is done in real-life?
Tina has a GED, two months at Burger-Fink, lost her arm in freakish shaving accident, has an IQ of -430 and wears a size 32DDD bra.... Looks like Tina gets the job...."
(edited 06-12-2001).]

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Why, what a nice thought! Good thing my science officer is a woman with the 'Sexy' advantage - that would mean I get the job easily. http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/biggrin.gif

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"To seek, to strive, to find and not to yield" - Alfred Tennyson

Originally posted by Lancer:
Why, what a nice thought! Good thing my science officer is a woman with the 'Sexy' advantage - that would mean I get the job easily...

Sounds like the military, too...if you've got a third leg, get in line, otherwise...

As for changing brnaches. We had a chief engineer go to XO. He just changes branch as far as I'm concerned...then he's got to get up to speed fast on the stuff he doesn't know.

For the sci officer, really play up the sudden amount of paperwork: fitreps to sign, equipment to sign for, oversight on the other departments where she has little experience. Play up her weak points -- make her sink or swim.

This has always confused me. Can you not have an officer from one branch (say Chief Engineer) become the XO without changing dept. Like Spock in TOS, he was CSO and First Officer. As long as they have the Leadership skills necessary shouldn't they be able to just shift their postion in the chain of command.

I know it isn't Navy, but then again I am just a GROPO at heart. http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/smile.gif

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In the Praetors Name!

Look in the TNG Core Book, pages 181 - 183. You will find the guidlines and suggestions for Promotion and Rank, Transferring Departments, and Transferring to a Larger Ship.

Wihle the second section, Transferring Departments, doesn't give mechanics for the process, if you look at all three sections, you should be able to come up with something that will suit you...

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"...and more controversial than Oolon Colluphid's trilogy of philosophical blockbusters Where God went Wrong, Some More of God's Greatest Mistakes, and Who is this God Person Anyway?"
- The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams (dec.)

In answer to phantom's question...if Starfleet's anything like the modern forces, then no...you don't need leadership skills. Just a very active ability to kiss ass and pass the blame.

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Originally posted by StyroFoam Man:

I try to add a bit of "gritty reality" to the Utopia of the Federaton. This promotion/reassignment thing never comes up in my games 'cause every one dies off so often.

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Everyone dies off? Jeeez man, you might want to take it easy on your players. http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/wink.gif

In my campaign, if the officer doesn't have most of the skills required already then they aren't qualified for the position. The person who would be picked is the one ready to do the job. If you're only missing a few, maybe a "pre-command" refresher course would fill in the blanks.

Becoming XO is slightly different than a straight branch transfer.

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"I'd rather die standing than live on my knees..."
Shania Twain

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Quote:

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Originally posted by Paul:
Look in the TNG Core Book, pages 181 - 183. ... Wihle the second section, Transferring Departments, doesn't give mechanics for the process, if you look at all three sections, you should be able to come up with something that will suit you...

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The thing with the stuff in the corebook is this: I've always seen this more as suggestions than anything else. In particular I don't agree with the Promotion and Rank stuff. It seems to me the difference in required skills between Lt.Cmdr. and Commander is to big if you consider that a Lt.Cmdr. can serve in the same functions a Cmdr. does, just on a smaller ship.

Quote:

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Originally posted by Phantom:
This has always confused me. Can you not have an officer from one branch (say Chief Engineer) become the XO without changing dept. Like Spock in TOS, he was CSO and First Officer. As long as they have the Leadership skills necessary shouldn't they be able to just shift their postion in the chain of command.

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I guess this would for the most part depend on what job you have to do in your starting branch. My impression is, that in the TNG era the XO has a lot more paperwork to do than during TOS (can you remember Spock ever doing fitreps?).

If you picture the typical XO as someone who just acts as a stand-in for the CO sometimes and leads the occasional away-team you could possibly keep your original job. But if you think the XO has to do a lot of paperwork and bridge-duty it could be difficult.
After all you would possibly want your Chief-Engineer in Engineering and not on the bridge when the s*** really hits the fan.

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"To seek, to strive, to find and not to yield" - Alfred Tennyson

Im not sure... I think job description can also depend on the ship.

Remember the Defiant where some non-essential roles were multi-tasked.

Worf as XO and Tactical, and Jadzia as CSO and Conn.

That was to allow for such a small ships crew (50) to be as efficient as possible, and something I can easily understand.

Now on a Galaxy Class (or any of the other Large ships) the XO is a stand alone role, there is a large number of crew to seperate these other roles and allow greater diversification. But also the upkeep of a crew of 500+ is going to be a larger role than that of a ship with 100-odd crew.

Now this does get scuppered by Voyager (what doesn't?) but in that case the XO should be multi-role.

In the case of the larger ships, its a proving ground for potential captains, a slightly more advanced version of the same position on a smaller ship...

Can you see what Im getting at here?

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Dan.

"A couple of thoughts from a random mind!"
http://www.theventure.freeserve.co.uk

In the Players Guide is written that you need to have the Commnd School TRaining to become XO. So he has to reenter Starfleet Acadamy. Additionally I would make some kind of test to see if he fits the new job :)

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"I am a great one for rushing in where angels fear to tread." - Cpt. Kirk, Star Trek VI


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