Strategic Operations Officer Overlay

On DS9, Worf held the post of "strategic operations officer" for four years, with responsibility for coordinating Starfleet operations in Bajor Sector. Worf transferred into the post from a security assignment, but it seems reasonable that there would be a program for strategic operations personnel at Starfleet Academy. For anybody who might wish to create a PC or NPC for a career in strategic operations, I put together the overlay below. It differs from the standard command overlay in that it reflects skills needed for larger-scale strategic planning rather than "tactical" field command.

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS OFFICER (COMMAND BRANCH)
Strategic operations officers serve as planners and coordinators of Starfleet operations in the sectors where they are stationed. Most often, strategic operations personnel are assigned to starbases, from which they coordinate communication among base commanders, intelligence personnel, and starship captains in the field to ensure that overall strategic goals are covered. Strategic operations officers also sometimes act as field officers supporting strategic objectives from the "front lines" of Starfleet or allied deployment.

Administration (Logistics) 2 (3)
Command (choose Specialization) 1 (2)
Espionage (Traffic Analysis OR Signals Analysis) 1 (2)
Shipboard Systems (choose Specialization) 1 (2)
Starship Tactics (choose Specialization) 1 (2)
Strategic Operations (choose Specialization) 2 (3)

Athletics (choose Specialization) 1 (2)
Computer (choose Specialization) 1 (2)
Dodge 1
Energy Weapon (Phaser) 1 (2)
History (Federation) 1 (2)
Language
Federation Standard 1
Law (Starfleet Regulations) 1 (2)
Personal Equipment (choose Specialization) 1 (2)
Planetside Survival (choose Specialization) 1 (2)
Vehicle Operations (Shuttlecraft) 1 (2)

I like it.

not to be ignorant or anything . . . maybe I didn't read the core that well . . . but what does that mean . . . the bold v the unbold . . . what do the characters get in the beggining?

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"See Everything; overlook a great deal; correct a little." -Pope John XXIII

The boldface skills are the "core" skills for that overlay (they're shaded in the LUG books). These are the ones referred to when a development package says "+1 increase to a Primary skill from your overlay" or when a high-ranking officer "should possess two skills from a branch other than his own".

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"The more top brass briefings I attend, the more I want to take a phaser to the whole lot of them..."

Captain Matt Hunter, USS Tempest, NCC-81205

Oddly, I did one of these a while back too, although mine was a member of the Tactical department... When I get home from Work I'll post it here for comparison...

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Dan.

"A couple of thoughts from a random mind!"

[This message has been edited by Dan Gurden (edited 03-27-2001).]

Quote:

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Originally posted by Capt.Hunter:
The boldface skills are the "core" skills for that overlay (they're shaded in the LUG books). These are the ones referred to when a development package says "+1 increase to a Primary skill from your overlay" or when a high-ranking officer "should possess two skills from a branch other than his own".

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Correct. Shading wasn't an option for posting the overlay here, but boldfacing seemed a perfectly sound alternative.

Quote:

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Originally posted by Dan Gurden:
Oddly, I did one of these a while back too, although mine was a member of the Tactical department... When I get home from Work I'll post it here for comparison...

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I put strategic operations under command because for Worf, the position entailed a branch change (and not just a uniform color change, but a change of service branch that was remarked upon in dialogue several times during early season 4). It seems reasonable, then, that strategic operations is normally a command-branch position. I feel that the role of the s.o. officer versus security/tactical personnel (who almost always operate as clearly tactical, not strategic, assets on the air)also supports this.

I would like to see how skill breakdowns compare between our versions of the overlay.

So does that mean in using the overlay that starting characters only get the nonbold skills? Or some of the Bold Skills depending on what rank they start with?

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"See Everything; overlook a great deal; correct a little." -Pope John XXIII

JALU3 you have the wrong end of the stick. Thats an entire package. The skills in Bold are the key job skills.

But the character takes all the skills in the package.

I think you may have missed a line in the Rulebook.

Anyway, back to my promise. Heres my version of the Strategic Ops officer;

Command (Starship or Starbase Command) 2 (3)
Planetary Tactics (Choose Specialisation) 2 (3)
Espionage (Traffic Analysis) 2 (3)
Strategic Operations (Choose Specialisation) 2 (3)
Ships Systems (Tactical and Sensors) 1 (2) (2)

Athletics (Choose Specialisation) 1 (2)
Computer (Choose Specialisation) 1 (2)
Dodge 1
Energy Weapon (Phaser) 1 (2)
Language; Federation Standard 1
Law (Starfleet Regulations) 1 (2)
Personal Equipment (Choose Specialisation) 1 (2)
Planetside Survival (Choose Specialisation) 1 (2)
Unarmed Combat (Choose Specialisation) 1 (2)



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Dan.

"A couple of thoughts from a random mind!"

To which I say "Fine"

You dont have to use the templates. Really, Im not going to force you...

I tend to offer my version in my games to players who wanted to put a face to the canon fact that the final couple of years of Academy are focused on a specialised area, allowing a Cadet who has picked their preffered branch of service to enter a job with the correct skills.

That said any Strategic Operations officer could easily hold the position with a Security, Operations or Command template.

Its all a matter of perspective and preference.

As another example I have introduced a Conn officer template, to account for the red shirted conn officers as opposed to the Operations dept. But again, the position can equally be filled by an Operations or Command officer.

But just as you are both right to disagree, so are we to diversify. Its all a matter of preference...

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Dan.

"A couple of thoughts from a random mind!"

Quote:

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Originally posted by calguard66:
I have to disagree with this package. Not every job in Starfleet has it's own package. Strat Ops Officer is a position, a job, not a unique branch... as shown by the fact that Worf took it.

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By all means, then, ignore it. However, in light of the fact that published LUGTrek material includes a number of equally 'trivial' overlays (e.g., The Price of Freedom with just as unnecessary overlays for JAG specialists, starship assembly specialists, and rapid-response security personnel), I don't think that either Dan's nor my strategic operations overlays are incompatible with LUGTrek design. YMMV. That's your game and your decision, not my problem.

Incidentally, this fuels my argument against what I believe is the largest misconception by TNG fans... Operations Manager isn't a separate branch either. It's a job. I would imagine that anyone with tactical, astrogation (flight ops), or engineering background would be eligible. Again evidenced by the fact that Sito Jaxa (a security ensign), and that male command ensign were both up for the job.

Sigh... another thread...

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

Quote:

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Originally posted by Dan Gurden:
JALU3 you have the wrong end of the stick. Thats an entire package. The skills in Bold are the key job skills.

But the character takes all the skills in the package.

I think you may have missed a line in the Rulebook.

Anyway, back to my promise. Heres my version of the Strategic Ops officer;

Command (Starship or Starbase Command) 2 (3)
Planetary Tactics (Choose Specialisation) 2 (3)
Espionage (Traffic Analysis) 2 (3)
Strategic Operations (Choose Specialisation) 2 (3)
Ships Systems (Tactical and Sensors) 1 (2) (2)

Athletics (Choose Specialisation) 1 (2)
Computer (Choose Specialisation) 1 (2)
Dodge 1
Energy Weapon (Phaser) 1 (2)
Language; Federation Standard 1
Law (Starfleet Regulations) 1 (2)
Personal Equipment (Choose Specialisation) 1 (2)
Planetside Survival (Choose Specialisation) 1 (2)
Unarmed Combat (Choose Specialisation) 1 (2)

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I think our versions of the overlay are compatible in a lot of ways. It looks to me as if yours places more emphasis on a package of skills that will enable an S.O. officer to operate as a kind of interface between strategic planning and tactial operations in the field, where I was working from a perspective in which strategic operations is a more strictly "rear echelon" job. But we both seem to see the position as closely tied to the synthesis of tactical and intelligence information.

Quote:

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Originally posted by Erik Filean:
By all means, then, ignore it. However, in light of the fact that published LUGTrek material includes a number of equally 'trivial' overlays (e.g., The Price of Freedom with just as unnecessary overlays for JAG specialists, starship assembly specialists, and rapid-response security personnel), I don't think that either Dan's nor my strategic operations overlays are incompatible with LUGTrek design. YMMV. That's your game and your decision, not my problem.

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I agree... that's why I posted my opinion.

However, of the 3 you mention from PoF, I would say that only the starship assembly specialist is really redundant. JAG officers are lawyers... certainly different than any other SF training. RRT members are far better trained in certain security things, and less so in in others. Either a seperate overlay is required, or additional training in the form of additional skill points. I think the overlay is the most game balanced way to go... certain areas of the officer's training were slighted to the benefit of other areas.

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

I like the overlay personally, in todays Navy line officers are sent to a variety of schools to specialize in certain areas such as Navigator, Weapons, Comabat Systems and Operations. If you read The Valiant about Captian Picard he was the Second Officer and the ships Navigator.

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You don't have to like you just have to do it .
Richard Marcinko

Quote:

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Originally posted by Dan Gurden:
To which I say "Fine"

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Ouch. Harsh. Sorry, I didn't get the memo that said we weren't allow to disagree / have an alternate opinion. http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/wink.gif


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Don
trekrpg@trekrpg.net
http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/sig_don.gif

Quote:

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Originally posted by Erik Filean:
I don't think that either Dan's nor my strategic operations overlays are incompatible with LUGTrek design. YMMV. That's your game and your decision, not my problem.

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Oh, FYI, calguard66 and I are having a nice little talk on just this issue in another thread if you’d like to join us.

We don’t mind a few dissenting opinions. Really. http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/smile.gif

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Don
trekrpg@trekrpg.net
http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/sig_don.gif

[This message has been edited by Don (edited 03-27-2001).]

I like the overlays that have been presented above. They are well thought out and seem to work for the respective games.

However, I do have to say that, personally, I think the Strategic Operations Officer should be more an Academy package rather than overlay. They are after all either from Tactical, separate from Security (see "The Wounded" O'Brian was the Rutleges Tac. Officer) or Operations personel.

Quote:

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Originally posted by Phantom:
I like the overlays that have been presented above. They are well thought out and seem to work for the respective games.

However, I do have to say that, personally, I think the Strategic Operations Officer should be more an Academy package rather than overlay. They are after all either from Tactical, separate from Security (see "The Wounded" O'Brian was the Rutleges Tac. Officer) or Operations personel.

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Yes, it could also be done either as an Academy package or an advanced training program. In fact, I think any of the three (Academy specialty, Academy special training, or later advanced training) is valid.

I have to disagree with this package. Not every job in Starfleet has it's own package. Strat Ops Officer is a position, a job, not a unique branch... as shown by the fact that Worf took it.

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

Quote:

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Originally posted by calguard66:
I have to disagree with this package. Not every job in Starfleet has it's own package. Strat Ops Officer is a position, a job, not a unique branch... as shown by the fact that Worf took it.

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Well said.


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Don
trekrpg@trekrpg.net
http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/sig_don.gif

I think it should be advanced training, with a minimum rank of Lt (SG). It isn't the sort of job you give to a new Ensign, even as an assistant.

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

I like the looks of both overlays. I can't see why both couldn't be used, one for each branch to show subtle differences.
Maybe Academy packages would be in order as well as the overlays, or just make a custom package at the Academy. (the books say you CAN do that !)
One thing I love about these boards is the original work submitted to compliment/enhance the game...I dare say that had all the books/boxed sets been released we'd have a LOT more overlays, packages et al that are being submitted now by fans...seeing as that won't happen (short of the excellent works submitted by Steve Long & Don Mappin and all the fan-based submissions...apologies for missing anyone !), why not use your imagination & creativity !?!
Personally I've created a few non-trek (or any other sci-fi genre) species, and when I do I include Early Life, Training packages, Overlays etc...
It works for me, and no doubt, many others...and I, for one, hope the original submissions keep on coming ! ...along with the basically canon things like Spacedock, SRMs, DSW et al of course ! http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/smile.gif

I don't have anything against new templates, anything that makes your life easier is cool; that said in my own experiance Strategic Operations Officers in my own game came up from other areas of the fleet and gain that position based on their experience and knowledge.

In the case of Worf, he started out Red Shirt (Command Branch) first season of Trek, changed departments, then changed back with his new assignment.

That a StOpsO would be Command Branch seems pretty logical; Tactical/Security Officers aren't even required to have Starship Tactics to do their jobs, and Command Branch (mostly Admirals wouldn't you say?) are the ones who dictate Strategic Operation Policy.

How you get to the role of StOpsO would of course be fraught with so many possible routes that I wouldn't dare to say *THIS IS HOW*...but a few things I would suggest for consideration would be:

Having gained the rank of Lt.Commander (showing you have some experiance in the fleet)

Having the prerequisites to at least attend the Strategic Operations School in the Player's Guide, even if you haven't actually attended.

If you haven't attended, being an *expert* through some other mechanism on the Strategic Arena you will be serving that position in.

A tour at the Strategic Planning Council at Starfleet Command would be a plus before being sent out as a Field Strategic Coordinator. (See Price of Freedom, I believe those fellows work for Admiral Venahil who's also the Honcho over Starfleet Security, Rapid Response Teams, and Starfleet Intelligence.)

Non-Standard avenues of entry would probably include Star Fleet Intelligence Officers, particularly analysts -- and even better if they were Command Branch in regular fleet first and then did a tour somewhere in S.I. using one of the packages in The First Line.

And example might be:

Race: Federation Member Race (Yes, yes I know Worf wasn't but he is an exception more than a standard I would think.)

Childhood: Any, but unlikely one of the "dubious" ones.

Academy: If you aren't going Command Branch, then that Advanced Tactical Program might be a winner.

Cadet Cruise:

First Tour: Suit Yourself

Second Tour: Star Fleet Intelligence

Third Tour: Star Fleet Command -- SPC after attending Strategic Operations School

4th Tour: Posting as Strategic Ops Officer.

This path would get your character a Security Clearance, which you will probably need since you are handling really sensitive information like FLEET deployments, you'll pick up Admin for Fleet Operations, You'll have some Tactical Training and skills, You'll have Strategic Operations. You'll have some Espionage -- and you'll have some experiance on how to deal with S.I. and the way they present their data for you to assimilate into your duty planning.

Is this the best way? Probably not.
Is this the only way? Certainly not.
Is this an internally realistic way? Well, I think so at least.

Flame as you like, Peace. =)

One random thought I had concerning the specialized Overlays issue. The ones that appeared on the Price of Freedom sourcebook were published before someone 'invented' the 'Advanced Training Packages', am I right?

So, is it so out of this world to think that those overlays are actually academic specializations for certain officers? Structural and Theoretical engineers, as an advanced training for Engineers (standard Eng template), JAG Officers for Command, Strat Ops Advanced training for Command and Security/Tactical officers, Diplomat advanced training for almost everyone... well, if you follow my train of thought, it would be more intelligent to strip down those overlays and transform them into Advanced Training packages, maybe with a longer duration (say, half a year).

What do you think?

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Chakotay: You didn't poison my coffee, did you?
Janeway: Not any more than I usually do.
"The Voyager Conspiracy", Voyager

Quote:

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I have to disagree with this package. Not every job in Starfleet has it's own package. Strat Ops Officer is a position, a job, not a unique branch... as shown by the fact that Worf took it.

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Well... there's some nuance...

Pilot is a position, not a branch. Still i think that Starfleet will train PILOT, not Operation Officer that will finally Pilot a ship. Training more specialize personnel improve competence...




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Im french so I can pronounce Jean-Luc Picard

Quote:

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Originally posted by Dr. Jonas Bashir:
One random thought I had concerning the specialized Overlays issue. The ones that appeared on the Price of Freedom sourcebook were published before someone 'invented' the 'Advanced Training Packages', am I right?

So, is it so out of this world to think that those overlays are actually academic specializations for certain officers? Structural and Theoretical engineers, as an advanced training for Engineers (standard Eng template), JAG Officers for Command, Strat Ops Advanced training for Command and Security/Tactical officers, Diplomat advanced training for almost everyone... well, if you follow my train of thought, it would be more intelligent to strip down those overlays and transform them into Advanced Training packages, maybe with a longer duration (say, half a year).

What do you think?

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I'd have to agree with the good old doctor. These extra overlays can simply be explained away byt the more uptodate rules in the Players handbook for advanced academy training.

As for all these highly specialist positions, why not swap out a core skill or two and call it another name but the same overlay with such and such modifiers/adjustments.

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'...The Borg have stopped at deck 10...'
'...Deflector Control, no vital systems...'

Not a vital system! What the heck do you think stops the ship going 'poof' every time it goes to warp?

- ST:First Contact; Lt Hawk