Decipher's RPG Net Rep

Hi, folks! Finally checking in as Decipher's RPG Net Rep. Not only have TPTB okayed my posting here, but have heartily encouraged it. So here I am...

I currently have access to a final proof of the Player's Guide and will soon have a final proof of the Narrator's Guide. Though I do currently have access to an early proof of the NG, some of it's information may change so my information in that regard may not be as complete as it will be at a later time.

If you guys have any questions about the game that can be answered without in essence copying the book itself into posts, feel free to post them here. I'll do my best to answer them as quickly and completely as possible.

Or, if you prefer a more private discussion, I can also be reached at either trekrpginfo@decipher.com or trekrpgquestions@decipher.com.

I look forward to hearing from you. :)

Good to hear from you, and welcome to the board :)

Could you tell us what the word is on the UK release dates please?

Cheers :)

Thanks for taking the time to post here and answer questions, Doug. That says a lot about a company's integrity.

I'd like to see an overview of the character creation process. Do we still choose tours of duty? What attributes do characters have?

Doug:
Welcome to the boards. We all look forward to the game... some of us are bursting at the seams on this board for more information (i.e. release date for the Player's Guide) or other tidbits, so bear with them:)

Best regards,
Charles

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Originally posted by Capt Daniel Hunter
Could you tell us what the word is on the UK release dates please?

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I have received no word yet on a specific release date for the UK. However, I did some research on what kind of lag is usually expected, and found out there are a LOT of variables that are completely out of our hands. Things like shipping, customs, distribution problems, whether pre-orders have been made by distributors, retailers and customers. These things can delay the release by up to a month or more after the US Release.

The best weapon against this sort of delay is to head to your FLGS, pre-order the game, and have your friends do the same. ;) With luck, you will help to shorten the delay. :)

Thanks for the quick reply Doug.

I'm guessing Amazon will have it ASAP on release. I'm thinking of ordering it online. Game shops aren't very prolific where I live.

Cheers :)

Huzzah! Another official presence. Very, very encouraging.

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Originally posted by Sarge
That says a lot about a company's integrity.

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Well, now that we've got the information to give, we're more than happy to do so. :)

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I'd like to see an overview of the character creation process. Do we still choose tours of duty?

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Okay. Basic overview is as follows:

1) Pick your Species (out of ten different choices rnaging from human to bajoran to betazoid and back).
2) Choose your Profession (Starship Officer? Soldier? Merchant?)
3) Determine your Attributes. (You can choose between Random and Pick Methods)
4) Choose Development Packages for Personal and Professional stages of development. (These packages provide skills and the chance to obtain Edges (Advantages) and/or Flaws (Disadvantages)).
5) Determine other characteristics. (How old are you? Figure out you rreactions (Quickness, etc.). Dteermine your Health and Courage.)
6) If you wish to created a more experienced character, you would at this point add Advancement Picks as determined between yourself and the Narrator. (These work just as they would when spending experience and are covered in the Advancement chapter. No tour of duty packages, per se, but there is a generic "Department Head Advancement" package you can use.)

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What attributes do characters have?

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The attributes are fairly self-explanatory, being Strength, Agility, Intellect, Vitality, Presence, Perception, and (for those who qualify) Psi.

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Originally posted by ImperialOne
Welcome to the boards. We all look forward to the game... some of us are bursting at the seams on this board for more information (i.e. release date for the Player's Guide) or other tidbits, so bear with them:)

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Don't worry, Charles. I've been here on the boards since the LUG days myself, so I've been waiting along with the rest of you. :)

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Originally posted by Capt Daniel Hunter
I'm guessing Amazon will have it ASAP on release. I'm thinking of ordering it online. Game shops aren't very prolific where I live.

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Sorry to hear that, but at least you'll still be able to get a copy online... :)

what kinds of chapters we looking at?

;)

Player's Guide Chapters are

Thirty-Five Years of Star Trek
Species
Professions
Attributes
Development
Skills
Traits
Characteristics
Advancement
Equipment
Starships
Adventuring
The Galaxy
The Federation
Appendix

Doug,

Let me add my hearty welcome aboard to you. As much as we've bashed poor Ross around, I'm sure he's glad to have another target for us to shoot at. :D

One question I had was to the reasoning behind including the species you folks did in the PG (specifically, the two DQ races). Personally, I would have chosen a different path (i.e., Ocampa and Talaxians in the NG instead, allowing for two more "mainstream" races in the PG), but I'd like to hear some of the thought processes that went into that decision.

Also, I don't believe I've seen anything on what, if any, races will be included in the NG. Can you give us that sneak peak? And if so, who are they?

Thanks in advance.

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Originally posted by Sea Tyger
Let me add my hearty welcome aboard to you. As much as we've bashed poor Ross around, I'm sure he's glad to have another target for us to shoot at. :D

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I'm glad to provide another target, Davy. :)

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One question I had was to the reasoning behind including the species you folks did in the PG (specifically, the two DQ races). Personally, I would have chosen a different path (i.e., Ocampa and Talaxians in the NG instead, allowing for two more "mainstream" races in the PG), but I'd like to hear some of the thought processes that went into that decision.

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While I was not involved in the decision-making myself, but as I understand it, TPTB had threir reasons. Namely that the ten races presented in the PG were selected because every major character in all four of the Trek series covered was a member of one of those races. Bajoran (Kira), Betazoid (Troi), Cardassian (Garak, Dukat), Ferengi (Quark, Rom, Nog), Human (lots of folks) , Klingon (Worf), Ocampa (Kes), Talaxian (Neelix), Trill (Dax), Vulcan (Spock, Tuvok).

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Also, I don't believe I've seen anything on what, if any, races will be included in the NG. Can you give us that sneak peak? And if so, who are they?

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There are three new races presented in the NG. Romulans, Orions, and Andorians.

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Namely that the ten races presented in the PG were selected because every major character in all four of the Trek series covered was a member of one of those races...

...There are three new races presented in the NG. Romulans, Orions, and Andorians.

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It makes a lot of sense when you put it that way. :rolleyes: I suppose we so-called Trekkies should have seen the pattern... ;)

And the NG races will definitely help tide people over until the "Big Book o' Races" is released.

One question posed by darkwingduck1 on another thread is worth asking here, I think:

Will there be guidelines in the NG for Narrators to create their own races (i.e., for the Tellarite engineer that a player wants to continue playing)?

Based on the information I have (which, as I mentioned, may be subject to change), yes. There are guidelines for creating PC and NPC species.

First, let me say that for some odd reason I am suddenly reminded of the scene in Undiscovered Country where there is now the Excelsior as well as the Enterprise for the BoP to shoot at. :)

Second, Welcome Doug, I know I and a couple of friends are glad to see the decloaking of your Ambasadorial shuttle. :)

Third, Seeing as how I hope to restart a Campaign of mine.... How easy will it be to use the existing LUGTrek items with the new game? (Since I'm assuming that some of that info has been sorted out better with the NG on the horizon and proofing)

Also, any word on Maps or Deckplans? :D

THank you greatly!
Tom

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Originally posted by Doug Burke


Sorry to hear that, but at least you'll still be able to get a copy online... :)

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Heck, I'll probably get it faster ordering online than if I wait for the shops over here to get it in :)

I so love the internet. :D

Role on release date :)

:D I can't get over how everyone thinks your a newbie to the boards from Decipher Doug ;)

Seriously though when did Decipher pick you up as such?

And thanks for the extra source of info.

I suppose we should have said 'congratulations on the job' rather than 'welcome to the board' :D

Doug! Are you interested (or allowed, or both:)) to participate in a scheduled chat so people can come for an hour and ask you questions? Please send an email to jonasbashir@sevspace.com or reply with a possible date here, and I'll make the arrangements.

As always, www.magicstar.net, channel TrekRPG. By mIRC, choose MagicStar as your server, or type "/server irc.magicstar.net 6667" and then "/join #TrekRPG"

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Originally posted by Doug Burke
Player's Guide Chapters are

Thirty-Five Years of Star Trek
Species
Professions
Attributes
Development
Skills
Traits
Characteristics
Advancement
Equipment
Starships
Adventuring
The Galaxy
The Federation
Appendix

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Is the game playable with just the Player's Guide? Are there combat rules and the like in the book? I see character gen and background chapters in the list, but are there enough rules to get going without the NG?

--Eric

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Originally posted by Arknight
First, let me say that for some odd reason I am suddenly reminded of the scene in Undiscovered Country where there is now the Excelsior as well as the Enterprise for the BoP to shoot at. :)

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Funny, but that same scene popped into my head as well. :)

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Seeing as how I hope to restart a Campaign of mine.... How easy will it be to use the existing LUGTrek items with the new game? (Since I'm assuming that some of that info has been sorted out better with the NG on the horizon and proofing)

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At this time, a conversion between ICON and CODA is still in the works. Until that time, conversion would be done by basically winging it. But it's not like we haven't done that before, right? :)

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Also, any word on Maps or Deckplans? :D

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I know they have been discussed, but as I understand it, they haven't come to any concrete conculsions as of yet.

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Originally posted by SIR SIG
:D I can't get over how everyone thinks your a newbie to the boards from Decipher Doug ;)

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Yeah, I found it amusing as well, Sig. :D

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Seriously though when did Decipher pick you up as such?

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Remember when Decipher posted a press release back in April about email addresses to ask RPG questions? (For the curious, that release is right here.) Those addresses went (and still go) to me. :)

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Originally posted by Capt Daniel Hunter
I suppose we should have said 'congratulations on the job' rather than 'welcome to the board' :D

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No biggie, Capt. Hunter. I know how excited everyone's getting about the new game, so forgetting about a semi-lurking regular like me is no skin off my nose. :)

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Originally posted by Dr. Jonas Bashir
Doug! Are you interested (or allowed, or both:)) to participate in a scheduled chat so people can come for an hour and ask you questions?

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I'm honored that you think I'd have anything interesting to say, Doc. :) Seriously, tho, I need to install mIRC on this system and then see what's going on with my schedule, but otherwise I don't see why I can't try to work something out...

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Originally posted by Eric.Brennan
Is the game playable with just the Player's Guide? Are there combat rules and the like in the book? I see character gen and background chapters in the list, but are there enough rules to get going without the NG?

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Yep. The Appendix is the basics of the CODA system and combat rules.

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Originally posted by Doug Burke


Yep. The Appendix is the basics of the CODA system and combat rules.

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Great! Thanks for replying so quickly.

--Eric

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Funny, but that same scene popped into my head as well.

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Considering that's what was going through my mind as I wrote it.... :rolleyes:

And thanks for the prompt and enlightening responses. It makes the wait a little more bearable. :)

Thanks for the info on character creation, Doug. Sounds good to me.

One more related question: when we're creating characters, can we do it with less page-flipping than ICON?

OK, make that one-and-a-half more related questions: when we do have to flip pages, are there cross-references to point us in the right direction? IE, "Choose one new starship op skill (pg 44)." Of course, the hypothetical page 44 would list and/or describe starship op skills.

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Originally posted by Sarge
Thanks for the info on character creation, Doug.

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Glad to be of service, Sarge. :)

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when we're creating characters, can we do it with less page-flipping than ICON?

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The chapters regarding each part of the character creation process are placed in the same order they would be used in the process. Species, Professions, Development (Packages), followed by Skills & Traitsd (which are gained in the packages) and then Characteristics.

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OK, make that one-and-a-half more related questions: when we do have to flip pages, are there cross-references to point us in the right direction? IE, "Choose one new starship op skill (pg 44)." Of course, the hypothetical page 44 would list and/or describe starship op skills.

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Except in cases where the reference is fairly self-explanatory, the references given seem to have signs posted where necessary. :)

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Originally posted by Doug Burke


No biggie, Capt. Hunter. I know how excited everyone's getting about the new game, so forgetting about a semi-lurking regular like me is no skin off my nose. :)

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Well I do have a tendecny towards obliviousness........ Is that even a word? :)

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Originally posted by Dr. Jonas Bashir
Doug! Are you interested (or allowed, or both:)) to participate in a scheduled chat so people can come for an hour and ask you questions? Please send an email to jonasbashir@sevspace.com or reply with a possible date here, and I'll make the arrangements.

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I'm available since the veil of silence has been lifted. :)

mappin@xmission.com

Hey, maybe we could both do it. As if we weren't bad enough when we get together in person! ;)

I was about to say 'wahoo' after I read Don's post. But now it merits a double 'wahoo'. :p

Pick a day, Gentlemen! Any day, except Saturdays, from 6 PM to 12 AM USA ET. That, provided you're getting DST next week. If not, from 5PM to 11 PM. :)

mmm.... the player's guide is reminding me of how i felt when i read Mayfair Games' Chill corebook!

wowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowow

....BREATHE

How about telling us about the contents of the narrator's guide?

What happened to the Klingon, Starmaps and Deckplans books?

I'm guessing that the Klingons is now part of the Aliens book.

If Starmaps has been put on hold I'm disappointed.

I would love to see Pocket Books' version blasted off the map!

:D

How's the PDF situation going (I have seen on the Star Trek CCG webpage samples of the cards)?

What about the website?

What about advertising?

I've contacted EVERY bookstore in my area they have no idea that the Star Trek RPG is a reality. Anything being done to change that?

Anymore stealth marketing going to happen...or not happen (that's what stealth marketing is)?

Is there any offical response to GURPS doing a Klingon book?

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Originally posted by jedimuldoon
How about telling us about the contents of the narrator's guide?

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As I said earlier, the copy of the Narrator's Guide I have now is just a proof and may be subject to change. So it would be a little premature to give a listing of the table of contents as yet. Check with me again in a couple of weeks.

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What happened to the Klingon, Starmaps and Deckplans books?

I'm guessing that the Klingons is now part of the Aliens book.

If Starmaps has been put on hold I'm disappointed.

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I am not privvy to the decision-making process as to which products will and will not be produced. So, I really can't give any insight into what other products are coming and what the reasoning for them is.

I'd love to give you more information along those lines, but I simply don't have access to the requested information. All I have is the PG and an early copy of the NG. Questions about them and the game system itself are within my purview. Any questions about development or marketing are most deifnitely beyond my capacity.

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How's the PDF situation going (I have seen on the Star Trek CCG webpage samples of the cards)?

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Again I refer you to the above comment. :) Ross and Don have explained before the current attitude toward PDF supplements and, should things change, those in the know (Ross and others) will inform us of it.

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What about the website?

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TPTB have assured me that a stronger web presence is one of their top priorities at the moment.

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What about advertising?

I've contacted EVERY bookstore in my area they have no idea that the Star Trek RPG is a reality. Anything being done to change that?

Anymore stealth marketing going to happen...or not happen (that's what stealth marketing is)?

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See my earlier comment about development and marketing. :)

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Is there any offical response to GURPS doing a Klingon book?

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None that has been relayed to me.

Doug,

My last campaign took place in the DS9 period, aboard an old Regula-1 starbase and had the players with a Talon - Class ship + a ship being built of their own design.

ANother person I know showed interest in an Intrepid - Class vessel campaign.

Any of these ships or stations going to appear in the PG or NG (I'll take a tentative yes if necessary. ;) )

WHat about the Creation rules ofr Stations and ships?

Tom

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Originally posted by Arknight
Any of these ships or stations going to appear in the PG or NG (I'll take a tentative yes if necessary. ;) )

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I am fairly sure the Intrepid will appear in the Narrator's Guide. As for the Talon, see my answer below. :)

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WHat about the Creation rules ofr Stations and ships?

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There will be ship creation rules in the NG.

I thought the Intrepid was in the Player's Guide?